Which FBN/DBA Filing Company in California? LegalZoom vs DBAStore vs SwiftFilings

Getting a California DBA (called an FBN) can be a hassle, so you may want to pay someone else to do it for you. In this video I compared a few filing services and give you my recommendation.
My recommendation for California DBA/FBN: dbastore.com/
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Legal Disclosure: I am licensed to practice in the state of California and before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Information contained in this video is not legal advice - please seek advice of counsel. This video and description may contain attorney advertising.
Disclosure: My videos may contain reviews, recommendations, testimonials, or endorsements of other businesses, individuals, events, materials (such as books), products, services, or websites. At this time I do not receive any monetary compensation or affiliate revenue for such content. I occasionally receive free access to a service, product, or program in order to provide a review; if so, I will clearly disclose this in the video.
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[@chrissalas2729]

I published my DBA/FBN in Riverside county through the newspaper in Idylwild for $65. It was simple. I emailed my paperwork to them. They published it for four consecutive weeks and then they gave me proof of publication.

[@freebk161]

Such a good video Mam !!! For Californians. first you show us where not to go and then you lead to the right place. I am a first time FBN owner. Will follow your advice !! -Thanks !!!

[@ElizabethPW]

welcome!

[@esmorgenn]

This was very informative. Thanks!

[@ElizabethPW]

You're welcome!

[@bleepbloopbop]

Thank you so much! I was so confused about how to file a dba and all the services from LegalZoom just looked so sketchy and tried to charge us so much.

[@ElizabethPW]

welcome!

[@toddd.8496]

Crazy that these things still need to be published in a newspaper. Holy Cow! Do those things even exist anymore?

[@ElizabethPW]

I know, right?! There are special "legal" newspapers that no one reads, just for this. smh

[@Mike0193Azul]

Thanks so much for this and teaching us how to do a close read on the legitimacy of businesses! 💚 If anyone has recommendations on which services to use for dba for sole proprietor in NYC please let me know :)

[@marcfruchtman9473]

Thanks for the video.

[@ElizabethPW]

You are welcome!

[@markanel]

Your content is priceless! If I have a virtual mailbox for my online business address, and I register an FBN in California, should I file my home address as the business address for LA county?.. or the virtual address?

[@ElizabethPW]

For the FBN it needs to be a physical address

[@keronwilliams5392]

@@ElizabethPWcan use a registered agent address instead of my home address? Thank you

[@Joseph27867]

Thanks for the amazing vids btw! If I file a DBA for my business do I need to change any legal forums with the name, like bank account, state, federal/ein, and anything else? I already have a business albeit it hasn’t really started yet, but I wanna switch rhe name but also not really, just want to go by another name, are their places I have to refile or add that I made DBA etc. thanks!

[@ElizabethPW]

So if you have a DBA then the legal name of the business (your name, if a sole prop) is on the EIN and bank account etc., which is the same. But you may want to update the bank and any merchant accounts with the new DBA so there's no confusion

[@JulieMitchell-mh8rn]

When filing my DBA I would only file with the county I'm using with my virtual business? The issue I get confused on is my county I do business from my home does not match the county of my virtual business address. I use the virtual address to keep my personal information private.

[@ElizabethPW]

The rules state that you are supposed to use a physical address, but some counties don't check

[@juliemitchell4739]

@@ElizabethPW Im retrying to file with DBA store. This time I just used my virtual address only and it's county. I think it should go through this time. But for my home occupation permit/license I believe I'll have to use my physical location of business.

[@cecisantos5827]

This is so much great info! If I have an LLC and I use the name on a business but I want to use a DBA for different business. can I use the same bank account with the LLC name?

[@ElizabethPW]

You can use the same LLC bank account but it would be up to the bank if they allow a DBA name to be added (as a second name) on the LLC account -- this matters mostly if people write you checks and such

[@checkinflorida]

Thank you so much for your information. Can I issue 1099NEC to myself as the owner of my sole proprietorship. Thank you so much.

[@ElizabethPW]

You don't do a 1099 for your own sole prop biz

[@ave3r197]

I mailed my DBA application recently to the DBA store but realized afterwards that I forgot to sign on the first page of the form. Will they send it back to me?

[@ElizabethPW]

Yep they will probably email you

[@warclassics]

If I have two last names but only use one of them for my Etsy business that includes my first name, do I still need to file for a FBN in California?

[@ElizabethPW]

It has to have your last name, otherwise you need an FBN

[@NayyNayy979]

I'm still alil confused..if we file through the DBAstore website do we not have to worry about filing through the LA county website? Or is it two different types of filing that is needed

[@ElizabethPW]

Because of how LA county does it, DBAstore has you go to that site to fill out the form, but DBAstore will file it for you. LA county kind of makes it very complicated. You could instead go down to the county and do the filing, and then just hire dbastore to do the publishing.

[@NayyNayy979]

@@ElizabethPW Thank you!!

[@mrpink5290]

Hey Elizabeth, I noticed that on DBA Store, it asks to “enter principal place of business in California (PO Box or PMB address NOT acceptable)” would a pmb be the same as a virtual business address? Thought I would ask because I would not want to submit and get denied because of this

[@ElizabethPW]

Right PMB includes virtual business addresses

[@mrpink5290]

@@ElizabethPW Thank you for the response. So when filling out that section, would you need to put your home address then? My main worry is having my home address public if it is listed on the FBN

[@keronwilliams5392]

@@mrpink5290this is what trying to figure out also 😂 I would love to know if I can use my registered agent address lol

[@Pacifictheory]

Moral of the story, use legal zoom. 😂 My question is, if I apply for a DBA or a FBN and do not want to use my personal address. Do I get a registered agent before?

[@ElizabethPW]

I'd recommend dbastore.com/ in California at least. No, registered agents don't have anything to do with DBAs or FBNs.

[@keronwilliams5392]

@@ElizabethPWso what virtual address service would you recommend we use instead of our home address