Florida's company register is kept by the Division of Corporations within the Florida Department of State. Almost everyone calls it Sunbiz, after the name of its website and search. The Division files articles for LLCs and corporations, registers fictitious names, takes annual reports and issues Certificates of Status. Filings go through Sunbiz E-file.
Two things set Florida apart. Every new LLC or corporation pays a separate registered agent designation fee on top of its articles fee. And the annual report has a hard May 1 cut off, after which most companies owe a $400 late fee.
Sunbiz search: finding a Florida company
The Sunbiz search covers more ways in than most states offer. You can search by entity name, document number, officer or registered agent, FEI/EIN number, zip code or street address. There is also a trademark search by name and owner.
| Official business search | dos.fl.gov/sunbiz/search (dos.fl.gov, checked ) |
|---|---|
| You can search by | business name, entity or file number (document number), officer or owner name, registered agent, FEI/EIN number, zip code, street address, trademark name and owner (dos.fl.gov, checked ) |
| Name availability check | No online check (dos.fl.gov, checked ) |
- Names are indexed alphabetically; the closest matches come first. Use Previous List and Next List to see names before and after.
- Punctuation is optional.
- Officer/registered agent search: enter Last Name, First Name, Middle Initial. Partial names such as Doe, J are accepted.
- FEI search can list several entities under one FEI number.
- Results show the document number and status.
From dos.fl.gov, checked .
For a person search, type the last name first, then the first name and middle initial. Short forms such as "Doe, J" work. Since names are listed in alphabetical order, use Previous List and Next List to scan names close to the one you typed.
Sunbiz status terms
A Florida record is either active or inactive, and the inactive codes tell you why. Administratively Dissolved, or Revoked for a foreign company, almost always means a missed annual report. A record marked INACT/UA has a name that stays blocked for a period after dissolution.
| Status shown | What it means |
|---|---|
| Active | The business entity is active. |
| Inactive | The business entity is inactive. |
| Inactive/UA | Inactive, but the name is held for a statutory period and is unavailable (for example 120 days after a voluntary dissolution). |
| Inactive/MG | Inactive because of a merger. |
| Inactive/CV | Inactive because of a conversion. |
| Administratively Dissolved | Did not file the annual report. A reinstatement returns it to active. |
| Administratively Revoked | Did not file the annual report (used for foreign entities / registrations). Reinstatement returns it to active. |
| Voluntarily Dissolved | The owners dissolved it; shown as INACT/UA while the name is held. |
| Withdrawn/Cancelled | The entity ended its business or registration by filing a dissolution, cancellation or withdrawal. |
Status wording from dos.fl.gov, checked .
Florida Division of Corporations fees
A new Florida LLC pays $125 in total: $100 for the articles and $25 to designate a registered agent. A foreign LLC registering in Florida pays the same $125. A for profit corporation starts at $70, and a not for profit corporation also pays $70, in each case $35 for the articles plus $35 for the agent designation.
| Form an LLC | $125 (dos.fl.gov, checked ) |
|---|---|
| Form a corporation | $70 (dos.fl.gov, checked ) |
| Form a nonprofit | $70 (form.sunbiz.org, checked ) |
| Register an out-of-state LLC | $125 (dos.fl.gov, checked ) |
| Reserve a name | LLC: $25; corporation: $35 (dos.fl.gov, checked ) |
| Annual or biennial report | LLC: $138.75; corporation: $150 (dos.fl.gov, checked ) |
| Good standing certificate | $8.75 (dos.fl.gov, checked ) |
Rather not file it yourself? Ask our private filing service about forming or reporting in Florida. State fees are separate.
The Florida annual report window
Every active company files an annual report between January 1 and May 1, even if nothing changed. The LLC fee is $138.75 and the for profit corporation fee is $150. Card payments online post within a day in most periods, though peak weeks near the deadline can take longer.
The fee, the due date, late penalties and the filing steps are in our Florida annual report guide.
Miss May 1 and a for profit corporation, LLC, LP or LLLP owes a $400 late fee. Nonprofits are exempt from that fee. Leave it long enough and the Division dissolves the company, which then needs a reinstatement. See our annual report deadlines by state for the wider picture.
Florida business name rules
An LLC name needs limited liability company, L.L.C. or LLC. A corporation name needs corporation, company or a short form like Corp., Inc. or Co. Florida is strict about what counts as different: changing the suffix, swapping "and" for "&", or adding an s does not make a name new.
| LLC name must include | limited liability company, L.L.C., LLC (leg.state.fl.us, checked ) |
|---|---|
| Corporation name must include | corporation, company, incorporated, Corp., Inc., Co. (also Corp, Inc, Co) (leg.state.fl.us, checked ) |
| Words that are limited | Names may not imply a purpose not allowed by the chapter or imply a link to a state or federal agency (leg.state.fl.us, checked ) |
| How different a name must be | Must be distinguishable from other names on file; a different suffix, article, 'and' vs '&', singular/plural/possessive, or punctuation does not make a name distinguishable (leg.state.fl.us, checked ) |
| Reservation fee | LLC: $25; corporation: $35 (dos.fl.gov, checked ) |
| Reservation lasts | 120 days (leg.state.fl.us, checked ) |
A name reservation costs $25 for an LLC and $35 for a corporation. The name also may not suggest a link to a state or federal agency.
Registered agent in Florida
Must designate and continuously maintain a registered agent and registered office in Florida. The agent address must be a Florida street address; a P.O. box or out-of-state address is not accepted. (leg.state.fl.us, checked )
You pay the agent designation fee when you form, and you can change the agent later through Sunbiz. Our guide to changing a registered agent sets out the steps.
Certificate of Status from Sunbiz
Florida's proof of good standing is the Certificate of Status. It costs $8.75 for a corporation or limited partnership and $5.00 for an LLC. File any overdue annual report first, because an inactive record cannot show active status.
What it costs, where to order it and what blocks it are in our Florida good standing guide.
Florida fictitious names (DBA)
Unlike many states, Florida registers fictitious names at state level, with the Division of Corporations. Registering one costs $50, and a certified copy of the registration costs $30.
Florida Division of Corporations registers fictitious names (DBAs) at state level. Fee $50 to register, renewal every 5 years; certified copy $30. (dos.fl.gov, checked )
Contact Sunbiz
| Office | Division of Corporations (Sunbiz) (dos.fl.gov, checked ) |
|---|---|
| Division | Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations (dos.fl.gov, checked ) |
| Officeholder | Cord Byrd (dos.fl.gov, checked ) |
| Phone | 850-245-6000 (dos.fl.gov, checked ) |
| Hours | 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern (dos.fl.gov, checked ) |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 6327, Tallahassee, FL 32314 (dos.fl.gov, checked ) |
| Street address | The Centre of Tallahassee, 2415 N. Monroe Street, Suite 810, Tallahassee, FL 32303 (dos.fl.gov, checked ) |
| Contact page | dos.fl.gov/sunbiz/contact (dos.fl.gov, checked ) |
The Division is in The Centre of Tallahassee on N. Monroe Street, and mail goes to P.O. Box 6327. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern, and having the document number ready makes any call shorter.
Sources
- dos.fl.gov/sunbiz/: office name, division, officeholder. Checked .
- dos.fl.gov/sunbiz/contact/address-phone-numbers/: mailing address, street address, phone, contact page, hours. Checked .
- dos.fl.gov/sunbiz/search/guides/corporation-records/: business search, search fields, name check, search tips. Checked .
- www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0600-0699/0605/Sections/0605.0112.html: LLC name endings. Checked .
- www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0600-0699/0607/Sections/0607.0401.html: corporation name endings, restricted words, name rule. Checked .
- dos.fl.gov/sunbiz/forms/fees/: name reservation fee, corporation filing fee, certificate fee. Checked .
- www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0600-0699/0607/Sections/0607.04021.html: name reservation term. Checked .
- dos.fl.gov/sunbiz/forms/fees/llc-fees/: LLC filing fee, foreign LLC fee. Checked .
- form.sunbiz.org/pdf/cr2e006.pdf: nonprofit filing fee. Checked .
- dos.fl.gov/sunbiz/manage-business/efile/annual-report/: report fee. Checked .
- www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0600-0699/0605/Sections/0605.0113.html: registered agent rule. Checked .
- dos.fl.gov/sunbiz/search/guides/corporation-records/explanation-of-status-terms/: status terms. Checked .
- dos.fl.gov/sunbiz/start-business/efile/fl-fictitious-name-registration/instructions/: assumed names (DBA). Checked .