http://law.justia.com/california/codes/2009/corp/17050-17062...
If you're not going to use an attorney, which you should, then at least write/email the SoS office to verify specifics like this. Don't forget you'll also need a city or county business license, will need to file a fictitious name statement and have it published in a newspaper of record, and so on. How much of your time will these tasks consume, and is that time worth more than the cost of having it done by a licensed professional?
IANAL btw but there are several California lawyers here on HN.