Fresno County at a glance
Fresno County: $35 to file, then four weeks of newspaper publication. In the Central Valley's largest county, you can file in person by appointment or by mail, as long as the signatures are original.
- BPC §§ 17910–17920
- County fee: $35 base, $7 each additional
- File within 40 days of first using the name; publish within 45 days of filing
- Our price: $149 + county fee + publication at cost
Last reviewed: October 30, 2026
Where to file in Fresno County
Fresno County Clerk / Registrar of Voters, County Clerk Services
2221 Kern Street, Fresno, CA 93721
Confirm hours on the county site before visiting.
Fresno County cost table
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Base filing | $35 |
| Each additional business name and/or registrant | $7 |
| Newspaper publication | Billed at cost as its own line (varies by newspaper) |
| Corp USA service | $149 |
Our all-in price line: $149 + county fee + publication at cost.
Local tip for Fresno County
Mailed statements must carry original (wet) signatures. The county says mailed filings are processed in about 3–5 business days after receipt.
In-person visits are booked through the county's online appointment scheduler.
Six-step checklist
- Search existing names on the county index.
- Complete the county statement form. Bring government ID; the county form includes an identity affidavit.
- File with the Fresno County Clerk / Registrar of Voters, County Clerk Services and pay the fee, within 40 days after you first do business under the name (BPC § 17910).
- Publish the statement once a week for four successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county, starting within 45 days after filing (BPC § 17917(a); Gov. Code § 6064).
- File the affidavit of publication with the county clerk within 45 days after publication is complete (BPC § 17917(d)).
- Calendar your renewal: the statement expires 5 years after filing (BPC § 17920), or sooner if the facts change.
Common trap: Filing in the county where you live instead of the county of your principal place of business.
Common trap: Skipping publication: banks may ask for the filed-and-published statement.
Common trap: Mailing a copy or e-signed form. Fresno requires original wet signatures on mailed filings.
Some county handouts still say 30 days for publication. The statute says 45 days, and sooner is safer. A refile of an expired statement made within 40 days of expiry, with no changes, does not need to be republished (BPC § 17917(c)). If the county has no newspaper of general circulation, an adjoining county's paper is used; with no California place of business, publication is in Sacramento County.
DBA vs LLC
A fictitious business name does not create a legal entity or give you liability protection.
| DBA (FBN) | LLC | |
|---|---|---|
| Creates a legal entity | No | Yes |
| Liability protection | No | Yes |
| Where filed | Fresno County (county) | California Secretary of State |
| State filing fee | County fee ($35 base) + publication | $70 (LLC-1) |
| Renewal | Every 5 years | Statement of Information every 2 years |
FAQ
Official sources
- Fresno County: Schedule of FBN fees
- Fresno County: Fictitious Business Names
- BPC § 17910
- BPC § 17917
- BPC § 17920
Last reviewed: October 30, 2026
Corp USA is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Private information and filing service; not a government agency.