Taxes, Licenses, Permits & Insurance

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Fictitous Business Name

In California, business entities such as sole proprietorships, partnerships, and LLCs (limited liability companies) are allowed to operate under a fictitious name, also known as a "doing business as" (DBA) name or a fictitious business name (FBN). 

A DBA or FBN allows these business entities to operate under a name that is different from their registered name. The name chosen for the business can be creative and does not typically include the individual owner's surname. For example...

•  “Joyce Smith Catering” is not a Fictitious Business Name  

• “Smith’s Sweet Deli Catering” is a Fictitious Business Name.

In Marin County, the fee is $42.00 for filing a fictitious business name statement for one owner and business name, plus $7.00 for each additional owner or business name.

You can search for an existing name here...

New requests may be filed online by filling out the Fictitious Business Name Application. You may also obtain a form for filing a fictitious business name at the County Clerk's Office. To receive a form by mail, please send your request with a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Marin County Clerk, ATTN: FBN, PO Box C, San Rafael, CA 94913. In order to complete your application, you must go to the County Clerk’s Office, even if you began your application online or through the mail.  Read more here...

CalGold Permit Assistance

To start a business, you may need to obtain a business license from the city where you plan to operate your business. Not all cities require a business license, so you will need to check with the city or county to find out their requirements. 

You can use an online tool called CalGOLD to find the contact information for each city and to see the basic permitting requirements that apply to all businesses. To use CalGOLD, select the location and business type to find out the permitting and registration requirements from local, state, and federal jurisdictions. If your industry is not listed, you can use the "General Business Information" option for the business type. Read more here...