Sacramento County at a glance
Sacramento County: $50.06 to file, then four weeks of newspaper publication. In the capital region, fictitious business names go through the Department of Finance, not the Clerk-Recorder, which surprises many first-time filers.
- BPC §§ 17910–17920
- County fee: $50.06 base, $8.52 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 Sacramento County
Sacramento County Department of Finance, Business Licensing Unit
700 H Street, Room 1710, Sacramento, CA 95814 · (916) 874-6644
Confirm hours on the county site before visiting.
Sacramento County cost table
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Base filing | $50.06 |
| Each additional business name or owner | $8.52 |
| Statement of Abandonment | $50.06 |
| Withdrawal of Partnership | $50.06 |
| County general business license, unincorporated areas (separate, new) | $262.60 |
| 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 Sacramento County
Sacramento is one of the few counties where FBNs are filed with the Department of Finance, Business Licensing Unit. The Clerk-Recorder at 3636 American River Dr. is a different office, and many people go there by mistake.
The $50.06 base fee is $47.00 plus a $3.06 IT fee. A Statement of Abandonment and a Withdrawal of Partnership are each $50.06.
Businesses in unincorporated areas may also need a county general business license ($262.60 total for a new license on the same schedule). Cities such as Sacramento have their own Business Operations Tax certificate. Both are separate from the FBN.
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 Sacramento County Department of Finance, Business Licensing Unit 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: Going to the Clerk-Recorder on American River Dr. The FBN counter is the Department of Finance at 700 H Street.
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 | Sacramento County (county) | California Secretary of State |
| State filing fee | County fee ($50.06 base) + publication | $70 (LLC-1) |
| Renewal | Every 5 years | Statement of Information every 2 years |
FAQ
Official sources
- Sacramento County Department of Finance: Business Licensing fee schedule (effective 07/01/2026)
- Sacramento County Department of Finance: FBN FAQ
- 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.