Cal. Corp. Code § 15901.08(c) - the only LLLP provisions in California's ULPA 2008 are for a FOREIGN LLLP registering under § 15909.02; the chapter contains no authorization to form a domestic LLLP (domestic LP names may not even contain the LLLP phrase, § 15901.08(b)) · source↗ (opens the official source)
Cal. Corp. Code, ULPA 2008 (§§ 15900-15912.07) contains no annual/periodic report provision (corpus-verified: the only 'annual' references are to the FTB annual tax under R&TC § 17935); Statement of Information obligations attach only to corporations (Corp. Code § 1502) and LLCs (§ 17702.09) · source↗ (opens the official source)
◎Verified
Annual report - LLP
no report required
Cal. Corp. Code §§ 16951-16962 (registered LLP article) contains no annual/periodic report requirement; Statement of Information obligations attach only to corporations (Corp. Code § 1502) and LLCs (§ 17702.09) · source↗ (opens the official source)
Provenance - California fee schedule○Pending review
56 of 58 fee datums on this page are verified against the agency's own published schedule or statute (2026-09-04); the rest are marked pending review in the Status column - portal-surcharge components no official page states, values the official source contradicts (held for a correction package), or sources that could not be reached.
Values were first corroborated across independent internal records; verified cells now also carry the agency's own published schedule or statute as their authority, which is what promotion to verified requires.
Cost position
Ranked 14 of 54 on first-year state
filing cost, at $110.00 against a national median
of $185.00.
Recurring annual cost $820.
See the full ranking.
Where California sits among its neighbours in the first-year cost ranking (USD)Show all 54 jurisdictionsThe full ranking with California highlighted (USD)
Registered-agent statutes, quoted verbatim
The one section on this page that clears the publication gate in full. 10 citations, verified, quoted from the official code with every elision marked.
Cal. Corp. Code § 1502
◎Verified
General Corporation Law · applies to
corporations
(a) Every corporation shall file, within 90 days after the filing of its original articles and annually thereafter during the applicable filing period, on a form prescribed by the Secretary of State, a statement containing all of the following: [...] (b) The statement required by subdivision (a) shall also designate, as the agent of the corporation for the purpose of service of process, a natural person residing in this state or a corporation that has complied with Section 1505 and whose capacity to act as an agent has not terminated. If a natural person is designated, the statement shall set forth that person's complete business or residence street address. If a corporate agent is designated, no address for it shall be set forth.
California Revised Uniform Limited Liability Company Act (RULLCA) · applies to
LLCs
(a) A limited liability company shall designate and continuously maintain in this state both of the following: (1) An office, which need not be a place of its activity in this state. (2) An agent for service of process. [...] (c) An agent for service of process of a limited liability company or foreign limited liability company shall be an individual who is a resident of this state or a corporation that has complied with Section 1505 and whose capacity to act as an agent has not terminated. [...]
(a) One or more natural persons, partnerships, associations or corporations, domestic or foreign, may form a corporation under this division by executing and filing articles of incorporation. [...] (c) The corporate existence begins upon the filing of the articles and continues perpetually, unless otherwise expressly provided by law or in the articles.
California Revised Uniform Limited Liability Company Act (RULLCA) · applies to
LLCs
(a) One or more persons may act as organizers to form a limited liability company by signing and delivering to the Secretary of State for filing articles of organization on a form prescribed by the Secretary of State. [...] (d) A limited liability company is formed when the Secretary of State has filed the articles of organization. [...]
(a) Every corporation shall file, within 90 days after the filing of its original articles and annually thereafter during the applicable filing period, on a form prescribed by the Secretary of State, a statement containing all of the following: (1) The name of the corporation and the Secretary of State’s file number. (2) The names and complete business or residence addresses of its incumbent directors. [...] (d) For the purposes of this section, the applicable filing period for a corporation shall be the calendar month during which its original articles were filed and the immediately preceding five calendar months. [...]
California Revised Uniform Limited Liability Company Act (RULLCA) · applies to
LLCs
(a) Every limited liability company and every foreign limited liability company registered to transact intrastate business in this state shall deliver to the Secretary of State for filing within 90 days after the filing of its original articles of organization or registering to transact intrastate business and biennially thereafter during the applicable filing period, on a form prescribed by the Secretary of State, a statement of information containing: (1) The name of the limited liability company and the Secretary of State’s file number [...]
(a) A domestic corporation, as defined in Section 167, may be subject to administrative dissolution pursuant to this section if, as of January 1, 2019, or at any time thereafter, the corporation’s corporate powers, rights, and privileges are, and have been, suspended by the Franchise Tax Board pursuant to Article 7 (commencing with Section 23301) of Chapter 2 of Part 11 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code for a period of not less than 60 continuous months. [...] (f) If a written objection to the administrative dissolution is not received by the Franchise Tax Board during the 60-day period described in subdivision (d), the corporation shall be administratively dissolved pursuant to this section. [...]
California Revised Uniform Limited Liability Company Act (RULLCA) · applies to
LLCs
(a) A domestic limited liability company, as described in subdivisions (g) and (k) of Section 17701.02, may be subject to administrative cancellation pursuant to this section if, as of January 1, 2019, or at any time thereafter, the limited liability company’s powers, rights, and privileges are, and have been, suspended by the Franchise Tax Board pursuant to Article 7 (commencing with Section 23301) of Chapter 2 of Part 11 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code for a period of not less than 60 continuous months. [...]
...(b) The name of a corporation shall not be a name that the Secretary of State determines is likely to mislead the public and shall be distinguishable in the records of the Secretary of State from all of the following: (1) The name of any corporation. (2) The name of any foreign corporation authorized to transact intrastate business in this state. (3) Each name that is under reservation pursuant to this title. [...] (d) The use by a corporation of a name in violation of this section may be enjoined notwithstanding the filing of its articles by the Secretary of State. [...]
California Revised Uniform Limited Liability Company Act (RULLCA) · applies to
LLCs
(a) The name of a limited liability company shall contain the words “limited liability company,” or the abbreviation “L.L.C.” or “LLC.” “Limited” may be abbreviated as “Ltd.,” and “company” may be abbreviated as “Co.” (b) The name of a limited liability company shall not be a name that the Secretary of State determines is likely to mislead the public and shall be distinguishable in the records of the Secretary of State from all of the following: [...] (e) The name shall not include the words “bank,” “trust,” “trustee,” “incorporated,” “inc.,” “corporation,” or “corp.” [...]
California uses the term 'agent for service of process' (never 'registered agent'). For corporations, the agent must be a natural person residing in California or a corporation that has filed a certificate under Corp. Code § 1505 (a § 1505 corporate agent must be authorized to do business in CA and in good standingGood standingThe state's verdict that an entity exists and is current on required filings and fees.Read the full entry →). LLCs have the identical rule: an individual who is a resident of the state or a § 1505 corporation (Corp. Code § 17701.13(c)). There is no registered-office concept; a natural-person agent lists a complete business or residence street address.
Is the agent's consent required
○Pending review
Consent required: no.
What happens when the agent cannot be served
○Pending review
If the agent has resigned and not been replaced, cannot with reasonable diligence be found at the designated address, or no agent was ever designated, a court may order that service be made by hand-delivery to the Secretary of State; service is deemed complete on the 10th day after delivery. The identical mechanism applies to LLCs (§ 17701.16(c)). The SOS then forwards the process to the entity by registered mail.
Other. Corporation: suspension of corporate powers, rights, and privileges for a corporation that fails to file the Statement of Information, has not filed one in the preceding 24 months, and was already certified for penalty - after a 60-day notice period.
Civil Penalty. LLC: failure to file the LLC Statement of Information (which designates the agent) draws a $250 penalty if not cured within 60 days of the delinquency notice; a parallel provision (§ 17713.09) routes the Rev. & Tax. Code § 19141 penalty through the Franchise Tax Board.
Other. LLC: suspension of the LLC's powers, rights, and privileges for repeated failure to file the Statement of Information (no filing in the preceding 24 months plus a prior penalty certification), after a 60-day notice period.
Dollar amounts named in the registered-agent statutes
What
Amount
Status
LLC penalty for failing to file the Statement of Information within 60 days of the delinquency notice
$250
○Pending review
Disclosure fee added to every corporate Statement of Information filing (the filing that designates the agent)
$5
○Pending review
LLC penalty for failure to keep/maintain the records required by § 17701.13, per day after member demand (payable to the requesting members)
$25/day, max $1,500 ($250 max daily for same-day requests)
○Pending review
10 statutory citations and their supporting verbatim quotations sit behind this section in the record and are withheld from public display until the review pass lands, because a citation presented as authority is a verification claimed. Statutory references appearing inside the summaries above are part of the recorded text rather than an authority claim, and they are not rendered as citations, linked, or emitted in this page's structured data. How the gate works.
Governance rules
7 governance rules are recorded for California - the organizational and annual meetings, action by written consent, and whether bylaws or an operating agreement are mandatory. Each verified rule links to the statutory text it was verified against, quoted verbatim below.
no organizational meeting mandated; if initial directors are not named in articles, incorporators may perfect the organization (adopt bylaws, elect directors and officers) by any necessary and proper action
Organizational meeting required · applies to
corporations ·
no
the incorporator or incorporators, until the directors are elected, may do whatever is necessary and proper to perfect the organization of the corporation, including the adoption and amendment of bylaws ... and the election of directors and officers.
Annual meeting required · applies to
corporations ·
yes
An annual meeting of shareholders shall be held for the election of directors on a date and at a time stated in or fixed in accordance with the bylaws.
Action by written consent allowed · applies to
corporations ·
yes
Unless otherwise provided in the articles, any action that may be taken at any annual or special meeting of shareholders may be taken without a meeting and without prior notice, if a consent in writing
The bylaws shall set forth (unless such provision is contained in the articles ...) the number of directors of the corporation; or that the number of directors shall be not less than a stated minimum nor more than a stated maximum
Operating agreement required · applies to
LLCs ·
no
“Operating agreement” means the agreement, whether or not referred to as an operating agreement and whether oral, in a record, implied, or in any combination thereof, of all the members of a limited liability company
A meeting of the members may be called by any manager or by any member or members representing more than 10 percent of the interests in current profits of members
Action by written consent allowed · applies to
LLCs ·
yes
Any action that may be taken at any meeting of the members may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing ... is signed and delivered ... by members having not less than the minimum number of votes
None at state level - CA Secretary of State does not register DBAs. FBN statements are filed with the county clerk (in some counties the clerk-recorder; in Sacramento County the Dept of Finance Business License Unit) of the county of the registrant's principal place of business (B&P 17915). Entities with NO California place of business file with Sacramento County.
State fee
Statutory default: $10 for the first name and first owner, $2 for each additional name or owner (B&P § 17929). Counties may increase these amounts under Gov. Code § 54985, so the fee actually charged is set by each county.
Term
5 years from filing (B&P 17920(a)); expires early 40 days after any change in the facts stated (other than a residence-address change of an individual/GP/trustee)
Renewal
Refile with the county before expiration at the then-current county fee (same as initial fee in every footprint county). If refiled within 40 days of expiration with no change in facts, NO republication is required (B&P 17917(b)-(c)); any change in facts makes it a new filing requiring publication.
Publication
Required. B&P § 17917: within 45 days after filing, publish the statement in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where filed (adjoining county if none; Sacramento County if no California place of business), once a week for 4 successive weeks (GC 6064); file the affidavit of publication with the county clerk within 45 days after publication is complete. Many county forms still quote the old 30-day deadlines; the statute now says 45 days. Abandonment statements must also be published.
FBN statements are filed with the county clerk of the county of the registrant's principal place of business in California; registrants with no place of business in the state file with the Clerk of Sacramento County. There is no statewide Secretary of State FBN registry.
Publication
Within 45 days after filing, the registrant must publish the statement in a newspaper of general circulation in the county of filing (once a week for four successive weeks per the county clerk form language referencing Gov. Code § 6064), then file an affidavit of publication with the county clerk within 45 days after publication is complete. A timely refiling of an expired statement with no changed information need not be republished.
Term and renewal
Five years from the date of filing with the county clerk, unless it expires earlier: 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement, or upon filing a statement of abandonment.
Name restrictions
A fictitious business name may not include corporate indicators ('Corporation,' 'Corp.,' 'Incorporated,' 'Inc.') unless the registrant is a corporation, or LLC indicators ('Limited Liability Company,' 'LLC,' 'LC') unless the registrant is an LLC; the county clerk must reject violating statements.
A person transacting business under an unregistered fictitious name (or its assignee) may not maintain any court action on a contract made or transaction had in the fictitious name until the statement is executed, filed, and published. Knowingly executing, filing, or publishing a false statement under the chapter is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000.
Fees: the dollar amounts printed in §§ 17929 and 17926 are expressly 'subject to Section 54985 of the Government Code' (county fee-adjustment authority), so amounts actually charged by county clerks may differ from the printed figures
County filing offices and fees
58 county records held for California
County
Fee
Detail
Status
Alameda County
40 first business name + 1 owner; 7 each additional owner or business name
$40.00 for one business name and one owner; $7.00 each additional owner or fictitious business name on the same statement; abandonments and partnership withdraw
◎Verified
Alpine County
30 filing/indexing incl. 3 certified copies; 5 each additional name on same statement at same location
$30.00 filing and indexing (three certified copies provided); $5.00 each additional name filed on same statement at same location; abandonment $10.00; withdrawa
◎Verified
Amador County
33 first name + 1 registrant; 5 each additional name (same statement/location)
○Pending review
Butte County
58 first name + 1 owner; 5 each additional business name or owner (eff 1/1/2026)
$58.00 statement (one business name and one owner name); $5.00 each additional business name or owner name; abandonment $47.00; withdrawal $47.00; certified cop
◎Verified
Calaveras County
30 incl. 1 business name + 1 registrant; 5 each additional business name or registrant name
$30.00 includes one business name and one registrant name; $5.00 each additional business name or registrant name
◎Verified
Colusa County
70 initial (one owner); 8 each additional owner or fictitious business name
$70 for one owner; $8 each additional owner or fictitious business name on same statement; abandonments and partnership withdrawals $55; certified copies $8
◎Verified
Contra Costa County
55 first owner + 1 business name; 5 each additional owner or business name (eff 1/1/2025)
$55.00 one owner and one business name (fee as of 1/1/2025); $5.00 each additional owner or business name; abandonment $45.00; withdrawal $45.00; certified FBN
$40.00 one business name and one owner, includes one certified copy (also $40.00 filing as a married couple); $7.00 additional business names or owners; abandon
◎Verified
Fresno County
35 one business name + 1 owner; 7 each additional business name or name
$35.00 one business name, one owner; $7.00 each additional business name; $7.00 each additional name (owner)
50 base filing; 10 each additional business name; 10 each additional registrant
$50 base filing fee; $10 second & additional business name (each); $10 second & additional registrant (each); abandonment & withdrawals $40 flat; 2.
◎Verified
Imperial County
35 incl. one registrant; 5 each additional FBN or registrant
$35.00 FBN (includes one registrant); $5.00 additional FBN or registrant; abandonment $35.00; withdrawal $35.00; FBN search $8.00; certified copy $7.00
◎Verified
Inyo County
26 one fictitious business name + one registrant; 4 each additional registrant or additional business name
$26.00 one fictitious business name and one registrant (married couple = one registrant); $4.00 each additional registrant and each additional business name
◎Verified
Kern County
43 (1 DBA + 1 owner; initial, renewal or refile); 6 each additional DBA or owner (same statement/location)
$43.00 initial, renewal or refile; $6.00 each additional DBA name on same statement/location; $6.00 each additional owner on same statement/location; abandonmen
◎Verified
Kings County
30 first business name + one owner; 8 each additional business name or owner
$30 first business name and one owner; $8 each additional business name or owner
◎Verified
Lake County
40 first; 5 each additional business name on same statement; 5 each additional owner after the first two
$40.00 one business name with no more than two owners; $5.00 each additional business name on same statement; $5.00 each additional owner after the first two; a
◎Verified
Lassen County
20 filing fee; 3 each additional FBN name or registrant (same statement/location)
$20.00 filing a Fictitious Business Name Statement; $3.00 each additional business name or partner; abandonment $15.00; withdrawal $15.00; certified copy $3.25
◎Verified
Los Angeles County
26 first name + 1 registrant (initial or renewal); 5 each additional name or registrant; online filing adds 10.75 per transaction
$26 first-time filing (one business name, one registrant); $26 renewal; $5 each additional business name and/or registrant; online identity and credit-card proc
◎Verified
Madera County
25 filing (incl. 1 certified + 2 plain copies); 7 each additional business name or owner name
$25.00 filing (includes one certified copy and two plain copies); $7.00 each additional business name or owner name; abandonment $15.00; withdrawal $15.00
◎Verified
Marin County
42 one business name incl. 1 registrant; 7 each additional registrant or business name
$42.00 for one business name including one registrant/owner name; $7.00 each additional registrant/owner or business name; abandonment $28.00; withdrawal of gen
◎Verified
Mariposa County
30 statement incl. 1 certified copy; 5 each additional fictitious name (same statement/location); 5 each additional registrant or partner name (schedule states 'All Fees Effective January 1, 2014')
$30 statement (includes one certified copy); $5 each additional fictitious name on same statement at same location; $5 each additional registrant or partner nam
◎Verified
Mendocino County
46 one owner + one business; 5 each additional business name; 5 each additional owner name
$46.00 one owner and one business; $5.00 each additional name of business; $5.00 each additional name of owner; abandonment $32.00; withdrawal of partner $32.00
◎Verified
Merced County
35 first business name + registrant; 7 each additional business name or registrant
$35.00 first business name and registrant; $7.00 each additional business name or registrant; $2.50 surcharge for card payments
◎Verified
Modoc County
20 first business name + person; 5 each additional business name (same location); 5 each additional owner beyond one
$20.00 first business name and person on statement; $5.00 each additional business name on statement at same location; $5.00 each additional owner in excess of
◎Verified
Mono County
25 first business name + first owner on statement (incl. married couple); 6 each additional business name (same statement/location); 6 each additional owner
$25 one registrant name or a married couple (one business name); $6 each additional business name; $6 each additional registrant name; abandonment $25; certifie
◎Verified
Monterey County
50 statement incl. 1 certified copy (Resol. 23-210); 7 each additional name (business or partner) on same statement
$50.00 statement (effective 5 years) with one certified copy (Resol. 23-210); $7.00 each additional name on same statement (business name or partner's name
◎Verified
Napa County
58 single FBN + 1 registrant; 8 each additional DBA and/or registrant
$58 single FBN with one registrant; $8 each additional business name and/or registrant; abandonment $58; withdrawal $58; $2.50 card processing fee; certified co
◎Verified
Nevada County
30 filing or renewing first fictitious business name; 5 each additional FBN on same statement (same location); 2 each additional partner (B&P 17929(a)-(b) cited on schedule)
$30.00 filing or renewing first fictitious business name; $5.00 each additional FBN on same statement at same location; $2.00 each additional partner; abandonme
◎Verified
Orange County
23 one name + 1 registrant; 7 each additional business name; 7 each additional registrant after the first two
$23.00 one business name and one registrant; $7.00 each additional business name; $7.00 each additional registrant after the first two; abandonment $23.00; with
◎Verified
Placer County
30 first business name + 1 owner (incl. 1 certified copy); 5.50 each additional name and/or owner
$30 first business name including one owner (includes one certified copy); $5.50 each additional business name and/or owner on same statement at same location;
◎Verified
Plumas County
20 filing (incl. 1 certified copy); 5 each additional fictitious name; 5 each additional partner name
$20 filing (one free certified copy); $5 each additional fictitious name and partner name; additional certified copies $2.75
◎Verified
Riverside County
66 FBN + first registrant (incl. 1 certified copy); 5 each additional business name (same address) or registrant
○Pending review
Sacramento County
50.06 total (47 + 6.5% IT fee) for 1 name + 1 owner; 8.52 (8 + IT fee) each additional name or owner (eff 7/1/2026)
Statement (1 business name, 1 owner) $47.00 base + $3.06 (6.5% IT fee) = $50.06 total; each additional business name $8.00 + $0.52 = $8.52; each additional owne
◎Verified
San Benito County
40 fictitious business name (incl. 1 owner); 7 each additional fictitious business or partner name (fee schedule effective July 1, 2024; Resolution 2024-80; B&P 17929a,d cited)
○Pending review
San Bernardino County
90 FBN filing; 2 each additional FBN or registrant name; card payments +3.5% surcharge
$90 FBN filing; $2 additional FBN or registrant name; abandonment $90; withdrawal $90; card payments 3.5% surcharge; mail fees from 07/01/2026 $3.50 USPS standa
◎Verified
San Diego County
54 first business name + registrant; 5 each additional business name or registrant
$54 first business name and registrant; $5 each additional business name or registrant; $2.50 card surcharge; copies $2 first page + $0.05 each additional, cert
◎Verified
San Francisco County
69
$69 filing and indexing FBN statement; $17 additional name or registrant (same location, per additional name); filing affidavit of publication $11; withdrawing
◎Verified
San Joaquin County
41
$41 first business name and owner on statement; $6 each additional owner or partner; $6 each additional business name located at the same address
◎Verified
San Luis Obispo County
73 FBN statement (also abandonment/withdrawal); 10 each additional party over two and/or each additional business name (eff 7/1/2026; was 64/9)
$73.00 FBN statement / abandonment / withdrawal (was $64.00); $10.00 each additional party over two and/or each additional business name (was $9.00); fees effec
◎Verified
San Mateo County
34 first FBN + owner (incl. certified copy + expiration notice); 5 each additional FBN, same owner/location
$34.00 first FBN and owner (file & index statement, certified copy, notice of pending expiration); $5.00 each additional FBN on same statement for same owne
◎Verified
Santa Barbara County
47 one business name + 1 registrant; 5 each additional business name; 5 each additional registrant
$47 filing (1 business name and 1 registrant); $5 additional business name (each); $5 additional registrant (each); abandonment/withdrawal $30 per filing; regul
◎Verified
Santa Clara County
40 (one business name, one or two owners, incl. 1 certified copy); 7 each additional business name and/or owner (same address/statement)
$40.00 FBN statement (includes one business name, one or two owners, and one certified copy); $7.00 each additional business name and/or owner (same address, sa
◎Verified
Santa Cruz County
50 first business name + owner name; 8 each additional business name or owner name
$50 first business name and owner name; $8 each additional business name or owner name
◎Verified
Shasta County
49 new or renewal; 2 each additional registrant/owner or business name
35 filing/renewal; 5 each additional name; abandonment 10; withdrawal 10
$35 filing/renewal; $5 additional name; $10 abandonment; $10 withdrawal; $5 dissolution affidavit; $5 certified copy; $15 business name index (Schedule of Fees
◎Verified
Siskiyou County
37 incl. 1 business + 1 registrant; 2 each additional business and/or registrant
$37.00 (includes 1 business and 1 registrant); $2.00 per each additional business and/or registrant
◎Verified
Solano County
60 FBN statement; 8 each additional name (eff 7/1/2026)
$60.00 Fictitious Business Name Statement; $8.00 FBNS each additional name; $60.00 abandonment/withdrawal; $13.00 certified copy; debit card processing $3.95, c
◎Verified
Sonoma County
55 first business name + first owner; 9 each additional business or owner name
$55.00 first business name and first owner name; $9.00 each additional business or owner name; abandonment $31.00; withdrawal from partnership $31.00
◎Verified
Stanislaus County
34 (one business name, up to two owners); 7 each additional owner or business name (2026 fee schedule)
$34.00 first business name on statement (one business name, up to two owners); $7.00 each additional business name on same statement at same location; $7.00 eac
◎Verified
Sutter County
32 (one business name + one owner, incl. 1 certified copy); 5 each additional name on same statement (eff 1/1/2026)
$32.00 statement (effective 5 years) with one certified copy for one business name and one owner name; $5.00 each additional name on same statement (business an
◎Verified
Tehama County
31 filing; 5 each additional business name after the first; 5 each additional registrant after the first (per archived 2021 official page)
$31.00 filing Fictitious Business Name Statement; $5.00 each additional business name after the first; $5.00 each additional registrant name after the first; ab
◎Verified
Trinity County
10 FBN statement first filing or renewal; 2 each additional page; 3.50 additional certified copy
$10.00 FBN statement first filing or renewal; $2.00 each additional page; $3.50 additional certified copy; $5.00 statement of abandonment or withdrawal (fees up
◎Verified
Tulare County
45 first business name or partner name; 7 each additional business name or partner
○Pending review
Tuolumne County
39.25
$39.25 FBN statement (one certified copy) BPC 17929(a); $10.00 each additional registrant; $10.00 each additional business name; abandonment $43.00; withdrawal
◎Verified
Ventura County
76 one business name + 1 registrant; 10 each additional business name or registrant (2026 fee schedule)
$76.00 one business name and one registrant; $10.00 extra for each additional business name and each additional registrant
◎Verified
Yolo County
55 first business name + one person (new and renewal); 5 each additional business name and/or person
$55.00 first business name and one person, new and renewal (same form); $5.00 each additional business name and/or person; withdrawal of a partner $53.00; aband
◎Verified
Yuba County
30 first business name + registrant; 5 each additional business name or registrant
$30 first business name and registrant; $5 each additional business name or registrant
◎Verified
Common questions
Where do I file a DBA (fictitious business name) in California?
With the county clerk, not the Secretary of State. The statement is filed in the county where the registrant's principal place of business in California is located; a registrant with no place of business in the state files with the Clerk of Sacramento County (Bus. & Prof. Code § 17915). Filing is due within 40 days of commencing business under the name (§ 17910(a)).
Does California require newspaper publication of a fictitious business name statement?
Yes. Within 45 days after filing, the statement must be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where it was filed, and an affidavit of publication must be filed with the county clerk within 45 days after publication is complete (Bus. & Prof. Code § 17917). The county clerk's form language describes publication once a week for four successive weeks (§ 17924(a)(1)).
How long does a California FBN statement last?
Generally five years from the date of filing. It expires earlier 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement, or when a statement of abandonment is filed. A new statement must be filed before expiration (Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 17920, 17910).
Does a California corporation or LLC need an FBN statement for a DBA?
Yes, when it regularly transacts business for profit under any name other than the exact name in its articles on file with the Secretary of State, it files an FBN statement with the county clerk like other registrants (Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 17900(b)(3)-(5), 17910). Nonprofit corporations and associations are exempt (§ 17911).
Recurring entity-level tax
California Franchise Tax (corporation franchise tax; LLC/LP/LLP annual tax), including the $800 minimum franchise tax
◎Verified
What it is called
California Franchise Tax (corporation franchise tax; LLC/LP/LLP annual tax), including the $800 minimum franchise tax
Cal. Rev. & Tax. Code 23151 (corporations), 23153 (minimum franchise tax), 23802 (S corps), 17941 (LLC annual tax), 17935 (LP), 17948 (LLP) · source↗ (opens the official source)
income-based with a flat $800 minimum for corporations; flat $800 for LLCs, LPs, and LLPs (LLCs additionally owe a receipts-graduated fee under R&TC 17942)
R&TC 23151(f)(2) (8.84% of net income, floor at 23153 minimum); 23153(d) ($800); 17941/17935/17948 (flat $800); 17942 (LLC fee brackets) · source↗ (opens the official source)
Minimum
$800
R&TC 23153(d): standard annual minimum franchise tax $800 (exception: $25 for certain long-inactive gold/quicksilver mining corporations); incorporated by reference for LLCs via 17941(a) · source↗ (opens the official source)
Due date
LLC $800 annual tax: 15th day of the 4th month of the taxable year (April 15 calendar year; first-year payment via FTB Form 3522). LLC fee: estimate due 15th day of the 6th month, trued up with the return. Corporate franchise tax: paid via estimated tax (Form 100-ES), minimum tax due with the first-quarter estimate (15th day of the 4th month)
R&TC 17941(c): 'The tax assessed under this section shall be due and payable on or before the 15th day of the fourth month of the taxable year'; R&TC 17942 (fee estimate, 15th day of 6th month) · source↗ (opens the official source)
Stored as a delta against the federal baseline:
2 days this state closes that the
federal government does not, and 3 federal
holidays its filing office works through.
California 2026 closure delta
Date
Day
Filing office
2026-03-31
Farmworkers Day (formerly Cesar Chavez Day)
Filing office closed
2026-07-03
Independence Day (Friday, July 3, 2026 federal observance)
OPEN - federal holiday not observed
2026-06-19
Juneteenth
OPEN - federal holiday not observed
2026-10-12
Columbus Day
OPEN - federal holiday not observed
2026-11-27
Day after Thanksgiving
Filing office closed
Provenance - California 2026 closures◎Verified
Citation withheld: this record did not clear the publication gate.
6 restricted entity-name word entries
are recorded for California - 1 prohibited outright,
the rest requiring an agency's consent or licensure before the word may appear in a name.
Commissioner of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) - certificate of approval attached to articles
Cal. Corp. Code § 201(a): "The Secretary of State shall not file articles setting forth a name in which 'bank,' 'trust,' 'trustee,' or related words appear, unless the certificate of approval of the Commissioner of Financial Protection and Innovation is attached thereto." Same rule for nonprofits at § 5122(a). See also Fin. Code § 1041 (cited in SOS guidelines).
◎Verified
Consent required
credit union (and related words)
Commissioner of Financial Protection and Innovation - certificate of approval attached to articles
California Insurance Commissioner - certificate approving the corporate name attached to articles
Cal. Corp. Code § 201.5: "The Secretary of State shall not file articles in which the business is to be an insurer unless the certificate of the Insurance Commissioner approving the corporate name is attached thereto."
◎Verified
Consent required
Olympic / Olympiad / Citius Altius Fortius / Paralympic / Paralympiad / Pan-American / America Espirito Sport Fraternite
United States Olympic (& Paralympic) Committee
CA SOS Guidelines (Rev. 04/2022): use "or a combination or simulation of those words in a proposed entity name may require the authorization or permission of the United States Olympic Committee. (United States Code, Title 36, section 220506.)"
◎Verified
Prohibited
bank / trust / trustee / incorporated / inc. / corporation / corp. / insurer / insurance company
Cal. Corp. Code § 17701.08(e) (LLCs): "The name shall not include the words 'bank,' 'trust,' 'trustee,' 'incorporated,' 'inc.,' 'corporation,' or 'corp.' and shall not include the words 'insurer' or 'insurance company' or any other words suggesting that it is in the business of issuing policies of insurance and assuming insurance risks." Identical rule for LPs at § 15901.08(g).
◎Verified
Restricted
cooperative (or any abbreviation)
Cal. Corp. Code § 12311(b), per CA SOS Guidelines (Rev. 04/2022): "Use of the word cooperative, or any abbreviation of that word, may be a part of a corporate name only if the corporation is incorporated within the definition of California Corporations Code section 12311(b)" (foreign corporations must document cooperative organization in their home jurisdiction)
● accepted · ○ not accepted · ? unknown or conditional (hover for the recorded condition). Channel data covers 54 jurisdictions (2026-08-15 wave). Source links render on verified rows only.
Contact the filing office
Verified against the agency's own contact page
2026-08-13 - office hours: Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (excluding state holidays).
Source links render on verified rows only.
Reaching the filing office
◎Verified
Phone
(916) 657-5448
Mailing address
Secretary of State, Business Entities Filings, P.O. Box 944260, Sacramento, CA 94244-2600 (Statements of Information instead to P.O. Box 944230, Sacramento, CA 94244-2300)
Courier / walk-in
Secretary of State, Business Entities, 1500 11th Street, 3rd Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814
The Business Entities line and the two-PO-Box split the SOS itself mandates (general BE filings vs Statements of Information), with the 1500 11th Street counter as the only courier-deliverable/drop-off point. No public BE email exists - written inquiries go through the SOS web contact forms.
Where to search California's UCC (Article 9) financing statements, on what terms, and what the office charges to file one. Verified against the filing office's own pages 2026-09-11. UCC division contacts are listed with the other filing-office contacts above.
UCC records - California◎Verified
Filing office
California Secretary of State - Uniform Commercial Code (UCC)
Filing-office statute
Cal. Com. Code 9501 (https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=COM§ionNum=9501): "The office of the Secretary of State in all other cases"
$5 filed online; $10 on paper for 1 to 2 pages, $20 for 3 or more pages; a $6 special handling fee is added when a document is submitted at the public counter, whether it is accepted or returned for correction
Filing channels
online or paper; Online: the SOS UCC page links 'UCC Connect' (https://uccconnect.sos.ca.gov), which now returns a 301 to bizfile Online (https://bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov); the fee schedule prices an 'Online' column.
Filing expedite
No expedite or preclearance tiers are published for UCC filings; the only priority handling is the $6 special handling fee for documents submitted in person at the public counter, which receive priority over mail requests; the office says online submission is the faster route
UCC-3 amendments, as the office states the fees
Financing Statement Amendment (UCC 3, UCC 3 AD, UCC 3 AP) - which covers amendments, continuations, terminations and assignments - $5 online; $10 on paper for 1 to 2 pages, $20 for 3 or more pages; Information Statement (UCC 5) the same; terminations are not free
Effective for
5 years from filing - Cal. Com. Code 9515(a)
Bulk data
published bulk-data program - $100 Master Unload - Data; $800 Master Unload - Images; $900 Master Unload - Data & Images
Whether California requires a general state-level business license, and on what terms. A "None" is a verified finding cited to the agency's own pages, not a gap. Which of the state's filings ask for an industry code is in the next section.
State business license - California◎Verified
General state license
None - the state issues no general business license; licensing is occupation-specific and local
Where a new business registers
No general licensing agency. Tax registration: California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) - seller's permit / online registration; Employment Development Department (EDD) for employer payroll tax agency page↗ (opens the official source)
Revenue-department registration
required - California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA); Employment Development Department (EDD) register↗ (opens the official source)
county and city licenses - The board of supervisors may in the exercise of its police powers, and for the purpose of regulation, as herein provided, and not otherwise, license any kind of business not prohibited by law
Which of California's business filings ask the filer for an industry classification, and in what form. "No industry information" is a positive finding cited to the form. Where the state uses its own category list and the list was captured, it is expandable below. The NAICS and SIC reference lists are on their own page.
Industry code on California filings, 9 of 9 rows verified
California has 58 county-equivalents: 58 countyies. Names and codes are the U.S. Census Bureau's (2020 national county codes); county seats and official sites are not yet published here.
All 58 county-equivalents
California county-equivalents
Name
Type
FIPS
Note
Alameda County
county
06001
Alpine County
county
06003
Amador County
county
06005
Butte County
county
06007
Calaveras County
county
06009
Colusa County
county
06011
Contra Costa County
county
06013
Del Norte County
county
06015
El Dorado County
county
06017
Fresno County
county
06019
Glenn County
county
06021
Humboldt County
county
06023
Imperial County
county
06025
Inyo County
county
06027
Kern County
county
06029
Kings County
county
06031
Lake County
county
06033
Lassen County
county
06035
Los Angeles County
county
06037
Madera County
county
06039
Marin County
county
06041
Mariposa County
county
06043
Mendocino County
county
06045
Merced County
county
06047
Modoc County
county
06049
Mono County
county
06051
Monterey County
county
06053
Napa County
county
06055
Nevada County
county
06057
Orange County
county
06059
Placer County
county
06061
Plumas County
county
06063
Riverside County
county
06065
Sacramento County
county
06067
San Benito County
county
06069
San Bernardino County
county
06071
San Diego County
county
06073
San Francisco County
county
06075
consolidated city-county
San Joaquin County
county
06077
San Luis Obispo County
county
06079
San Mateo County
county
06081
Santa Barbara County
county
06083
Santa Clara County
county
06085
Santa Cruz County
county
06087
Shasta County
county
06089
Sierra County
county
06091
Siskiyou County
county
06093
Solano County
county
06095
Sonoma County
county
06097
Stanislaus County
county
06099
Sutter County
county
06101
Tehama County
county
06103
Trinity County
county
06105
Tulare County
county
06107
Tuolumne County
county
06109
Ventura County
county
06111
Yolo County
county
06113
Yuba County
county
06115
Other records held
Other records held for California
Record
Value
Status
Change of registered agent
$0
○Pending review
Who must be named in public filings
Corp: annual Statement of Information (SI-550) discloses officers and directors on the public record (Corp. Code 1502(a); wave provenance) plus agent; publicly traded corps also file a Corporate Disclosure Statement (1502.1). LLC: biennial Statement of Information (LLC-12) must state the name and complete business or r
○Pending review
These come from a research pass its own author graded CANDIDATES. They are shown because they are useful and withheld from every ranking on this site because they are not ratified.