Fictitious business name

Fictitious business name = DBA

A fictitious business name, often abbreviated FBN, is a name a business uses that is different from its owner's legal name or its registered entity name. It's the same concept as a DBA (“doing business as”), an assumed name, or a trade name — states simply use different labels. California, for example, requires a “Fictitious Business Name Statement,” usually filed with the county clerk.

When you need one

• You're a sole proprietor or partnership operating under a name other than the owners' legal names.
• You're an LLC or corporation running a brand that isn't your exact registered name.
• You need the business name on a bank account, invoices, or a payment processor.

How to file a fictitious business name

Where you file depends on your state and business type — often the county clerk, sometimes the Secretary of State. In some states you must also publish the name in a local newspaper after filing. Find your state's exact office, fee, and rules in the 50-state registry, file it yourself with the official link, or file through LegalZoom.

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