Florida business entity search and name check

What the Florida search covers

Florida and out-of-state profit and nonprofit corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships (including LLLPs), declarations of trust and other filings. Inactive records stay searchable. Fictitious names (DBAs), general partnerships and LLPs, trademarks and federal tax liens each have their own search on Sunbiz.

When you search Florida here, keep in mind:

• We search our copy of the Division of Corporations’ free data files: the quarterly full file plus each day’s new filings. Filings from the last business day or two may not be included yet.
• Status changes and name changes that aren’t in the daily filing files are picked up at the next quarterly file, so a status can lag behind Sunbiz.
• Covers corporations, LLCs and limited partnerships. Fictitious names (DBAs) are a separate Florida register and are not included.

Each record has a Document Number (for example L23000012345). Choose “Look up an existing business”, then “Registry number”, to search by it.

How to read Florida results

Florida uses its own status labels. We always show the official wording; here is what the common ones mean according to the state:

A status describes the registry filing only. It isn’t evidence of a license, tax compliance or reputation, and a record with the same name as a company you know may be a different business. More on statuses.

Florida business name rules

An LLC name must include one of: limited liability company, L.L.C., LLC. A corporation uses one of: corporation, company, incorporated, Corp., Inc., Co., Corp, Inc.

Your name must be distinguishable on the Department of State's records from every other business or filing formed, registered or reserved under Florida law. Fictitious names, general partnership registrations and LLP statements don't count. (Fla. Stat. 605.0112(1)(b) (LLC); 607.0401(1)(d) (corporations)) Source: leg.state.fl.us

When comparing names, Florida disregards: the entity ending (LLC, Inc. and so on); "a", "an" or "the"; "and" versus "&"; singular, plural or possessive forms; punctuation marks and symbols. Our name check applies these same rules.

Words that need approval or are restricted

Using a similar name with consent

Allowed for LLCs: an LLC can use a name that isn't otherwise distinguishable if the other business's written consent is filed with the registration and the two names aren't identical (Fla. Stat. 605.0112(1)(b)).

Reserving a name in Florida

Florida lets you reserve a name before you form the business for $25, held for 120 days. Florida law provides for one 120-day reservation and doesn't mention renewal. The reservation can be transferred by filing a notice.

Send a letter signed by the applicant giving the name to reserve and the applicant's name and address. The fee is $25 for an LLC, $35 for a corporation and $52.50 for a limited partnership (Fla. Stat. 605.01125, 607.04021, 620.11085).

Florida name reservation

Searching on this site doesn’t reserve anything. Only Division of Corporations can.

Forming an LLC in Florida

Document

Articles of Organization

State filing fee

$125
$100 filing fee plus the required $25 registered agent designation. A certified copy ($30) and a certificate of status ($5) are optional.

File online

Division of Corporations filing

Registered agent

The registered agent can be a person or a business with an active Florida filing or registration. A business can't be its own registered agent. The registered office is the agent's address.

Out-of-state LLC registering here

$125 (Application by Foreign Limited Liability Company for Authorization to Transact Business in Florida)

Fees change. Confirm them on the official Florida fee schedule before you file.

Keeping a Florida LLC in good standing

Annual Report: $138.75. File between January 1 and May 1 each year. Filing after May 1 adds the $400 late fee. Late fee: $400. Source: dos.fl.gov

Other annual reports: profit corporations $150 ($550 after May 1), nonprofits $61.25 (no late fee) and limited partnerships $500 ($900 after May 1). A business that hasn't filed by the third Friday in September is administratively dissolved or revoked. Reinstating an LLC costs $100 plus the annual report fee for each missed year; reinstating a profit corporation costs $600 plus the missed reports.

Proof of status: Certificate of Status ($5). Source: dos.fl.gov

Assumed names (DBAs)

Anyone doing business under a name other than their legal name must register it as a fictitious name: $50 to register and $50 to renew. Fictitious names have their own search on Sunbiz and don't block a business name. Source: dos.fl.gov

Good to know about Florida

• Florida's whole corporate, LLC, LP and fictitious-name registry is free to download: a full set every quarter plus daily updates, using a public login the state publishes. Source: dos.fl.gov
• Missing the May 1 annual report deadline costs a flat $400 for LLCs, profit corporations and LPs, so a $138.75 LLC report becomes $538.75. Source: dos.fl.gov
• After an administrative dissolution, the name is held for one year (120 days after a voluntary dissolution) before anyone else can take it. Source: dos.fl.gov
• Forming a Florida limited partnership costs $965 in filing fees plus $35 for the registered agent, far more than an LLC. Source: dos.fl.gov
• A certificate of status costs $5 for an LLC but $8.75 for a corporation. Source: dos.fl.gov

Sources and accuracy

We checked this page against official Florida sources on October 30, 2026. Our monitor rechecks the official search, filing portal and fee pages daily and flags changes for review.

See something wrong? Tell us. We can fix how we present information, but only Division of Corporations can change an official record.