Every person doing business for profit under a fictitious business name must file a fictitious business name statement within 40 days of commencement of business. [B&P 17910]. The fictitious business name statement is valid for five years from the date of filing unless it is abandoned or there is a change in the facts (except a change in a registrant's residence address does not cause the statement to expire if that is the only change). [B&P 17920]

1. Individual: When the registrant's surname (last / family name) is not part of the business name and no other words suggest the existence of additional owners.
2. Partnerships or other associations of persons: When the surnames of each general partner are not part of the business name and no other words suggest the existence of additional owners.
3. Corporations: When using a name other than the name registered with the Secretary of State corporate filing division.
4. Limited Liability Company: When using a name other than the name registered as a limited liability company with the Secretary of State.
5. Words that suggest the existence of additional owners: Company, & Company, & Associates, & Sons, & Group, etc.

The fictitious business name statement shall be filed with the Clerk of the County in which the registrant has his principal place of business in this state, or if he has no place of business in the state, with the Clerk of Sacramento County. [B&P 17915]

Within 45 days from the date of filing, the registrant shall start publishing the statement in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the principal place of business is located, once a week for four successive weeks. Within 30 days of the completion of the publication an affidavit shall be filed with the Sutter County Clerk. A renewal statement need not be republished if there is no change from the previous application.

The Fictitious Name Statement expires five years from the date of filing, 40 days after any change in fact (except change of address of individual, general partner or trustee), or upon abandonment of name.

A person, upon ceasing to transact business in this state under a fictitious name, may file a statement of abandonment with the county clerk and publish the same statement in the local newspaper. The newspaper will file an affidavit with the county clerk that the statement of abandonment has been published.

A partner, who is leaving a business, may file a statement of withdrawal with the county clerk. Publication is not required if dissolution of the partnership has been published pursuant to the Corporation Code. If published, an affidavit shall be filed with the clerk.

The fee for filing a Fictitious Business Name Statement can be found here. There is a charge to publish the notice with the local newspaper of general circulation, which is the Appeal Democrat for Sutter County. Please contact them for their fee.