The Florida Secretary of State business search is Sunbiz, run by the Department of State’s Division of Corporations. To check a name, open the Search by Entity Name tool, type the name, and look for anything that isn’t distinguishable from yours under Florida’s rules.
Two Florida specifics change your plan. First, Florida doesn’t offer a general name reservation, so the only way to lock in an LLC or corporate name is to file your formation documents. Second, a DBA (fictitious name) must be advertised in a local newspaper before you register it with the Division for $50.
Updated October 2026.
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Best LLC Formation Services in Florida (2026)
Comparing services for forming your LLC once your name is clear in Florida? Start with this ranked shortlist; details for each pick follow the table.
| Rank | Provider | Best for | Price | What’s included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | Forming an LLC with the agent, EIN and annual report included | $199/year + state fee at cost | LLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing |
| 2 | FL Registered Agent.org | Florida registered agent service only | $99/year | $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
| 3 | Florida Registered Agent.io | Florida registered agent service only | $99/year | in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
1. Mainstay Filing
Mainstay Filing is our top pick in Florida. It costs $199/year + state fee at cost and covers lLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing. The price stays the same every year, with no add-on menu.
2. FL Registered Agent.org
FL Registered Agent.org is a Florida registered agent service at $99/year. It provides $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
3. Florida Registered Agent.io
Florida Registered Agent.io is a Florida registered agent service at $99/year. It provides in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
Florida name search: key facts
| Item | Florida (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Office | Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations (Sunbiz) |
| Search tool | Sunbiz record searches, including Search by Entity Name (free) |
| Name reservation | Not offered; file formation documents to secure a name |
| LLC Articles of Organization | $100 plus $25 registered agent designation ($125 total) |
| LLC amendment (name change) | $25 |
| LLC annual report | $138.75 (including supplemental fee), due January 1 to May 1 |
| Fictitious name (DBA) | $50, valid about five years; newspaper ad required first |
Fees are set in Florida Statutes §§ 605.0213 and 865.09. For a full startup budget, see Mainstay Filing’s Florida LLC cost guide.
How to search business names on Sunbiz
Sunbiz is free, public and doesn’t require an account. A thorough availability check takes about ten minutes.
Step 1: Start with Search by Entity Name
Open Search by Entity Name and type the beginning of your proposed name. Results list names in alphabetical order starting from what you typed, so you’ll see your name’s closest neighbors on the record.
Step 2: Strip out the parts Florida ignores
Florida disregards suffixes such as LLC or Inc., articles like “the,” “and” versus “&,” singular, plural and possessive forms, and punctuation. So search the core words: for “The Coral Key Kayaks, LLC,” search “Coral Key Kayak.”
Step 3: Review each close match
Click into similar records to see the entity type, filing date and status. An active entity with a name that isn’t distinguishable from yours means the Division will reject your filing.
Step 4: Search fictitious names too
Sunbiz has a separate fictitious name search on the search page. Fictitious names don’t block an LLC or corporate name, but a business already trading under that name is a red flag for customer confusion and trademark disputes.
Florida business name rules
Florida’s LLC name statute, § 605.0112, sets the main requirements. Corporations follow parallel rules.
- Designator: an LLC name must include “limited liability company,” “L.L.C.” or “LLC.”
- Distinguishable on the records: the name must be distinguishable from other names on file with the Department of State. Fictitious name registrations, general partnership registrations and LLP statements don’t count against you.
- Not a difference: a suffix; “a,” “an” or “the”; “and” versus “&”; singular, plural or possessive forms; and punctuation or symbols.
- Consent exception: a name that isn’t identical can be used with the other entity’s written consent, filed with your registration.
- No misleading names: the name can’t imply a purpose your LLC isn’t authorized for, or a connection with a state or federal agency.
The statute also notes that filing a name is for public notice only and doesn’t by itself create ownership rights beyond common law. That’s one more reason to check trademarks.
Need inspiration? Namechk’s business name generator suggests names you can then run through Sunbiz.
Can you reserve a business name in Florida?
Not in the way most states allow. Florida’s LLC statute contains no name reservation procedure, and the Division of Corporations doesn’t sell general name reservations. That means:
- A Sunbiz search result is a snapshot. Someone else can file the same name before you do.
- The practical way to secure a name is to file Articles of Organization ($125 with the registered agent designation) or Articles of Incorporation as soon as you’ve decided.
- A fictitious name registration doesn’t reserve a name either. It is a public notice of who is behind a trade name, not a claim to exclusive use.
If you need to protect a brand before forming, a state or federal trademark application is the closer substitute.
Check trademarks, domains and social media
Search the USPTO trademark database for identical and similar marks before committing. Florida also registers state trademarks, which appear in Sunbiz’s trademark search.
Then confirm the online side. Namechk checks domain names and usernames on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X and more in a single search. If the .com you want is taken, the domain name generator offers alternatives.
We created a tool that makes it easy.
How to register a fictitious name (DBA) in Florida
Florida requires registration before you use a fictitious name. Under § 865.09, a person may not engage in business under a fictitious name unless the name is first registered with the Division of Corporations.
- Search the name in Sunbiz’s fictitious name and entity searches.
- Advertise it. Publish your intent to register the name at least once in a newspaper in the county where your principal place of business is located. You certify this on the application.
- Register online through Sunbiz’s fictitious name page. The fee is $50.
- Renew on time. Registration is valid through December 31 of the fifth calendar year (the registration year counts as year one). Renewal also costs $50.
LLCs and corporations that trade under a brand other than their legal name follow the same process. Keep the newspaper’s proof of publication with your business records in case anyone asks you to show the ad ran.
After your Sunbiz search: forming the business
Because Florida has no reservation option, it pays to move quickly once the name checks out. Our Florida LLC guide covers each step:
- File Articles of Organization on Sunbiz ($100 plus $25 for the registered agent designation). Forms are on the LLC forms page.
- Designate a registered agent with a Florida street address who accepts the appointment. Mainstay Filing includes a registered agent with its formation package; our Florida registered agent guide covers the requirements.
- Get an EIN and register with the Florida Department of Revenue if you’ll collect sales tax or have employees.
- File the annual report ($138.75 for an LLC) between January 1 and May 1 each year to stay active; a $400 late fee applies after May 1. Our Florida start-a-business guide lists local licenses to check.
FAQs
What is Sunbiz?
Sunbiz is the Florida Department of State Division of Corporations’ website for business filings and records. It’s where you search Florida corporations, LLCs, fictitious names and trademarks, and where you file Articles of Organization, annual reports and fictitious name registrations. The searches are free and don’t require an account.
Can I reserve a business name in Florida?
No. Florida doesn’t offer a general name reservation for LLCs or corporations, and its LLC statute has no reservation procedure. To secure a name, file your Articles of Organization or Incorporation as soon as your Sunbiz search looks clear. A fictitious name registration doesn’t reserve a name either.
What makes a Florida business name distinguishable?
Under Florida Statutes section 605.0112, differences in a suffix like LLC, an article like the, and versus &, singular or plural forms, possessives, and punctuation or symbols don’t make a name distinguishable. Fictitious names and general partnership registrations don’t count against your entity name. A non-identical name can be used with the other entity’s written consent.
How much does a Florida DBA cost?
Registering a fictitious name (DBA) with the Florida Division of Corporations costs $50, and renewal also costs $50, under Florida Statutes section 865.09. Before registering, you must advertise the name at least once in a newspaper in the county of your principal place of business. Registration lasts through December 31 of the fifth calendar year.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Florida?
The Florida filing fee for Articles of Organization is $100, plus $25 to designate a registered agent, for $125 total under Florida Statutes section 605.0213. An LLC must also file an annual report each year; it costs $138.75 when filed between January 1 and May 1. Certified copies and certificates of status cost extra.
Does a Sunbiz search show if a name is trademarked?
Only for Florida state trademarks, which Sunbiz lists in a separate trademark search. Federal trademarks are registered with the USPTO, so search its database as well. Florida’s statute says filing a business name is for public notice only and doesn’t by itself create ownership rights, so a trademark check protects you from later disputes.
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