How to Start a Business in Unincorporated RivCo v13

What is a “Doing Business As” Name? A fictitious name (or assumed name, trade name or DBA name) is a business name that is different from your personal name, the names of your partners or the officially registered name of your LLC or corporation. It’s important to note that when you form a business, the legal name of the business defaults to the name of the person or entity that owns the business, unless you choose to rename it and register it as a DBA name. The legal name of your business is required on all government forms and applications, including your application for employer tax IDs, licenses and permits. Do I Need a “Doing Business As” Name? A DBA is needed in the following scenarios: • Sole Proprietors or Partnerships – If you wish to start a business under anything other than your real name, you’ll need to register a DBA so that you can do business as another name. • Existing Corporations or LLCs – If your business is already set up and you want to do business under a name other than your existing corporation or LLC name, you will need to register a DBA. Register a “DBA” or fictitious business name (if necessary) How to File: Online, in Person, by Mail, by Drop Box, and Newspaper Doing Business As If a business chooses to do business under a name that does not include the surname of the individual owner(s) and each of the partners or the business name suggests the existence of additional owners or the nature of the business is not clearly evident by the name of the business, you will need to file a “DBA” or “Doing Business As.” This is also known as a Fictitious Business Name. Every individual, partnership or other association or corporation who regularly transacts business for profit in Riverside County under a fictitious business name, must file a Fictitious Business Name Statement within 40 days of first transacting business and advertise the notice of filing in a local newspaper within 30

days of submitting your application. Once registered, it is effective for 5 years. It must be re-registered before expiration or if the business moves. Filing Online Complete an online application: https://bit.ly/ rivcoacr-self-service. Upon completion, a confirmation email will be sent. If you do not recieve one, please call 951.486.7000. Filing in Person You can print the application and bring to the County Clerk’s office. Schedule an appointment through this link: https://www.rivcoacr.org/ FictitiousBusinessNames. Filing by Mail Payment may be made by check or Money Order payable to the Riverside County Clerk. Send all completed forms, along with appropriate fees and a legal-sized self-addressed stamped envelope to: RIVERSIDE COUNTY CLERK PO BOX 751 RIVERSIDE CA 92502-0751 Processing Times By Mail or Email Processing times by mail or email is generally 2 weeks once received. In-person applications are processed immediately. • Office hours are Monday - Friday 8am-5pm. Filing through a Newspaper To save you a trip to the County Clerk’s office, many newspapers in Riverside County will file your fictitious business name statement for you. Call your nearest adjudicated newspaper to find out if they offer this service. Advertise in a Local Newspaper Within 30 days of submitting your application, a notice of Fictitious Business Name Filing must be advertised in a local newspaper once a week for 4 consecutive weeks.

Here is a list of publications with their contacts: https://bit.ly/County-Clerk-Publications.

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