Publish a DBA or Fictitious Business Name Statement

How do I Publish my DBA? In California, Fictitious Business Names (FBNs), also known as "Doing Business As" (DBAs), are published to promote transparency and protect consumers by publicly disclosing the true identity and address of the business owners operating under a name other than their legal name, thereby preventing fraud and enabling the public to verify the legitimacy of the entity. This publication requirement, governed by the Fictitious Business Name Act, mandates that the filed FBN statement be published once a week for four consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the business principally operates, with the first publication occurring within 45 days of filing. Failure to publish invalidates the FBN and bars the business from maintaining any court action on contracts or transactions conducted under that name until compliance is achieved. Reference: Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code Sections §§ 17913, 17915, 17917, 17929 et seq.