California Fictitious Business Name Publication Requirements
In California, the statute that governs the publication of Fictitious Business Name Statements is California Business and Professions Code Section 17930.
This law requires that after filing a Fictitious Business Name Statement with the County Clerk, a legal notice of the filing must be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the same county where the statement was filed.
The publication must occur within 45 days of filing the Fictitious Business Name Statement and must run for 4 consecutive weeks. If there is no newspaper of general circulation in that county, publication must take place in a newspaper of general circulation in an adjoining county.
If this notice is NOT published, then you are NOT in compliance with the State of California law.
Penalty for Not Publishing Your California Fictitious Business Name Statement
In California, if a business fails to comply with the publication requirement, the business may face legal and operational consequences. Specifically:
• Under California Business and Professions Code Section 17918, no person transacting business under a California fictitious business name contrary to the provisions of this chapter may maintain any legal action in California courts on contracts made or transactions conducted under that fictitious name until the statement has been properly executed, filed, and published as required by law.
• Failure to file and publish the Fictitious Business Name Statement within the statutory deadlines places the business out of compliance with California law.
It’s important for business owners to ensure they comply with all statutory publication requirements to avoid delays in enforcing contracts or conducting business legally.
By having us publish your California Fictitious Business Name Statement, you can ensure full compliance with California Business and Professions Code Section 17930 and avoid these potential issues.
Publishing Your California Fictitious Business Name Statement Can Be Confusing for Business Owners
Publishing your California Fictitious Business Name Statement can be confusing and time-consuming for many business owners.
Common problems business owners face when trying to publish their California Fictitious Business Name notice include:
• Not knowing how to correctly format or prepare the legal notice for publication.
• Confusion about which county-approved newspaper of general circulation to use.
• Difficulty meeting the 45-day publication deadline after filing the Fictitious Business Name Statement.
• Uncertainty about how and when to file the Affidavit of Publication with the County Clerk once publication is complete.
• Spending unnecessary time researching local newspaper requirements and managing the submission and payment process.
With multiple steps, deadlines, and compliance rules, it’s easy to make mistakes that could delay your ability to legally operate under your California fictitious business name.
Why Choose Us for Your California Fictitious Business Name Publishing
From start to finish, we make a complex process simple.
We have long-standing relationships with County Clerk–approved newspapers of general circulation throughout the State of California. Because of our large publishing volume, many of these newspapers provide us with discounted rates not available to individuals. We pass those savings directly on to you.
Our experienced staff knows exactly which newspapers satisfy the California Business and Professions Code Section 17930 publication requirements and will select the correct publication based on the county where your California Fictitious Business Name Statement was filed.
By choosing us, you can be confident that your California Fictitious Business Name Statement will be published correctly, your Affidavit of Publication will be filed on time with the County Clerk, and your business will remain in full compliance with California law.
Our California Fictitious Business Name Publishing Process
• We generate a legal notice that meets all the requirements for publishing a California Fictitious Business Name Statement under California Business and Professions Code Section 17930.
• We select an approved newspaper of general circulation in the county where your California Fictitious Business Name Statement was filed.
• We arrange for the notice to be published once per week for four consecutive weeks, as required by law.
• After the publication period is complete, we obtain an Affidavit of Publication from the newspaper confirming the notice was published as required.
• We then file the Affidavit of Publication with the County Clerk where your California Fictitious Business Name Statement was originally filed.
• A copy of the affidavit is also emailed to you for your business records.
This complete process ensures that your business fully satisfies California’s publication and filing requirements – saving you time, avoiding errors, and keeping you in compliance with the law.
Timeline to Complete California Fictitious Business Name Publishing
The entire process typically takes 6 to 8 weeks from start to finish.
During this time, we will:
• Prepare and format your legal notice for publication.
• Arrange and publish the notice in an approved newspaper of general circulation in the county where your California Fictitious Business Name Statement was filed.
• Oversee the four consecutive weeks of publication required by California law.
• Obtain the Affidavit of Publication from the newspaper once the notice has run.
• File the affidavit with the County Clerk and provide you with a copy for your business records.
Our team ensures your publication is completed accurately and on time – keeping your business compliant with California Business and Professions Code Section 17930.
California Fictitious Business Name Publishing Pricing
The total cost of publishing your California Fictitious Business Name Statement depends on the newspaper advertising rates in your county and our service fee for preparing, submitting, and managing the publication process.
The price you see on our order form is all-inclusive – there are no hidden costs or additional fees. We handle every step to ensure your publication is completed correctly and on time.