Fictitious Business Name Statement (FBN)

Any person or entity who regularly transacts business, under a fictitious name, in Mono County is required to file a Fictitious Business Name (FBN) Statement with the County Clerk within 40 days of first transacting business. This requirement is for consumer protection and is mandated under Business and Professions Code Sections 17900-17930 and 14411 – 14418, and Government Code Sections 6020 - 6027, 6040, and 6064. Filing ensures the public has access to the true name and mailing address of the owners of a business (B & P Code Section § 17920).

A Fictitious Business Name Statement is a public record.

California law requires FBNs to be filed at the County level; there is no Statewide or national registry. (If the registrant has no place of business within the State, the filing shall be with the Clerk of Mono County.)

Who must file a Fictitious Business Name?

You must file if:

You are doing business for profit under a name that does not include your legal surname.
The business name does not clearly indicate the nature of the business or every owner involved.
A previous filing has changed (e.g., new ownership, change from sole proprietor to LLC, address changes, etc.). You must refile within 40 days of the change.

You do not need to file if:

The business name includes the full legal surname of the owner and does not imply additional owners.
The business is a nonprofit organization.
Examples:
- Sam Hunt Gardening → No FBN required
- Hunt Gardening → No FBN required
- Hunt and Company Gardening → FBN required (implies more owners)

Corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, and LLPs must file if the business name is anything other than the exact name registered with the Secretary of State.

Overview

Fees

One registrant name or a married couple: $25.00 (ONE Business name)
Additional Business names: $6.00 each
Additional registrant names: $6.00 each
Abandonment of FBN: $25.00
Certified copy of FBN: $2.00

Accepted Payment Methods:

Cash - (in person only and must be exact)
Check
Money Order
Credit Cards - (in person)

Please make payments payable to Mono County Clerk.

We do not accept FBN Statement filings via email.

The County Clerk's Office does not issue Business Licenses. Contact the Mono County Treasurer-Tax Collector for more information.

Resale licenses / seller’s permits are issued by the State Board of Equalization.

Tax ID numbers are issued by the Franchise Tax Board.

Requirements

Application must be signed by the appropriate owner or officer*
- Corporate officer for corporations
- Manager/officer for LLCs
- General partner for partnerships
- Trustee for trusts
Must list the street address of the principal place of business and county
Corporations, LLCs, LPs, and LLPs must provide a Certificate of Status (within the last 6 months) & Articles of Incorporation/Organization issued by the Secretary of State. Screenshots are not accepted.
All owners and their mailing addresses must be listed.

Effective Jan 1, 2015: An Affidavit of Identity must accompany every FBN filing (new, renewal, or refiling).

Tips Before Filing

Research your business name to see if it’s available or to locate past filings. Email clerkrecorder@mono.ca.gov with possible name options; we can do a basic search and email results.
Do not abbreviate names of people, businesses, or places.
If a mistake is made after filing, the statement must be refiled, republished, and all fees must be repaid.

Publishing Requirements

After filing with the County Clerk:

You must publish the FBN Statement in a newspaper of general circulation in Mono County.
- once a week for 4 consecutive weeks.
Publication must begin within 45 days of filing.
- If publication does not occur within this timeframe, the FBN expires and must be re-filed with new fees.

The newspaper will provide an Affidavit of Publication, which must be filed with the County Clerk within 45 days of the final publication date.

Once these requirements are met, your FBN is valid for 5 years.

Renewal

Registrants are responsible for renewing their Fictitious Business Name (FBN) Statement within 40 days after the expiration date.
All applications for FBN renewal statements must be submitted with the required fees.

When Publication Is Not Required

A Renewal FBN does not require publication if both of the following are true:

The renewal is filed no more than 40 days after the expiration date; and
The business name and registrants are exactly the same as the original filing.

When Publication Is Required

If the renewal does not meet either criterion above, it is treated as a new filing, and publication is required.

Examples of changes that trigger publication:

Hunt and Company Gardening → Hunt and Company Gardening, LLC
Hunt and Company Gardening → Hunt and Co Gardening
Hunt and Company Gardening → Hunt and Sons Gardening
Hunt and Company Gardening → Hunt and Company Gardening and Landscaping
physical or mailing address changes
changes in registrant name or the number of registrants

Withdrawal/Abandonment

If you stop using a business name and the FBN was filed within the last 5 years, you must file a Statement of Abandonment.
Abandonments must be filed and published in the same manner as the original FBN.