Fictitious Business Name
The state of California requires all for-profit businesses that use a fictitious business name to file a fictitious business name statement with the clerk of the county where the business is located. Such statement shall be filed no more than 40 days from the time the business starts transactions. Specific information is required in the statement, and the statement must be published in a general circulation newspaper within 30 days of filing the fictitious business name statement. The statement must be published once a week for four consecutive weeks, or as otherwise allowed in Government Code Section 6064. An affidavit showing publication of statement must be filed with the county clerk within 30 days after the fourth publication of the statement. A fictitious name statement typically expires five years from the date it was filed. Other requirements on filing a fictitious name statement can be found in Business & Professions Code Sections 17900-17930.
The Dental Practice Act also requires dentists who practice under any name other than the name under which he or she is licensed to have a fictitious name permit from the Dental Board. Any association or partnership or corporation or group of three or more dentists may practice under a fictitious name if, and only if, the entity holds an outstanding, unexpired, unsuspended, and unrevoked permit issued by the Dental Board. A dental corporation does not need a fictitious name permit if it is practicing under its corporate name. Requirements for the permit can be found on the Dental Board web site. Reference: Business & Professions Code Sections 1701(g) and 1701.5.
Posted November 2007