San Francisco County at a glance
San Francisco County: $69 to file and index, then four weeks of newspaper publication. San Francisco is one government for both city and county, and it asks for a city registration before it will accept your trade name.
- BPC §§ 17910–17920
- County fee: $69 base, $17 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 San Francisco County
Office of the County Clerk, City and County of San Francisco
City Hall, Room 168, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102 (FBN processing Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–4 p.m.)
Confirm hours on the county site before visiting.
San Francisco County cost table
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Base filing | $69 |
| Each additional name or registrant | $17 |
| 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 San Francisco County
San Francisco requires a Business Registration Certificate (or a Temporary Verification of Registration) from the Treasurer & Tax Collector before you file the FBN, plus government photo ID.
The $69 fee to file and index took effect July 1, 2026. At $17, the charge for each additional name or registrant is the highest of the eight counties in this group.
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 Office of the County Clerk, City and County of San Francisco 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: Showing up at the County Clerk without your Business Registration Certificate. Register with the Treasurer & Tax Collector first.
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 | San Francisco County (county) | California Secretary of State |
| State filing fee | County fee ($69 base) + publication | $70 (LLC-1) |
| Renewal | Every 5 years | Statement of Information every 2 years |
FAQ
Official sources
- sf.gov: Fees for County Clerk services
- sf.gov: File your Fictitious Business Name Statement
- 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.