A fictitious business name shall be filed within 40 days of first transacting business. Once registered, it is effective for 5 years.Fill out an application, either at our office or online (under quick links above). Register Your New Business Online. The City of San Bernardino Business Registration Division now accepts new applications via web registration. All city names must be spelled out on the Fictitious Business Name Statement. How do I go about filing an FBN statement? Choose a Business Name If your business name includes your legal last name, then your work is done. A name can be reserved for a period of 60 days. For faster service, name reservations can be submitted online through our enhanced online services.