Business name search · Florida

How to check and reserve a business name in Florida

Florida's record is Sunbiz, the Division of Corporations' database, and its distinguishability rule is unusually concrete: the statute lists exactly five differences that don't count. Here's how to search the record for free, read the status codes correctly, and reserve a name for 120 days, a filing Florida still does by letter.

The rule Florida applies

For LLCs, Florida Statutes §605.0112 requires the name to contain "limited liability company," "L.L.C.," or "LLC," and to be distinguishable in the records of the department from all other entities and filings on file, with narrow exceptions for fictitious name registrations, general partnership registrations, and LLP statements.² The name also may not imply an unauthorized purpose or a connection with a government agency.² Parallel rules apply to corporations and limited partnerships.

The statute and the Division's FAQ both list the differences that do not make a name distinguishable:^1,2

• Entity suffixes. Changing “Inc.” to “LLC” does not distinguish the name.
• Articles. Adding “a” or “the” does not create a distinct name.
• Conjunction styling. “And” and “&” are treated alike.
• Word endings. Singular, plural, and possessive variants do not distinguish the name.
• Punctuation and symbols. These changes alone do not distinguish a name.

One escape hatch exists: an LLC may register a name that isn't distinguishable from another entity's (as long as it isn't identical) if the other entity's written consent is filed with the registration.²

How to check availability

1. Free: the Sunbiz name search

Search the Division's records at search.sunbiz.org, the Division's own answer to "how do I know if a name is available."¹ The Division's search tip: leave the suffix out when you search, since suffixes don't distinguish anyway.¹ Database records are updated daily.¹ The same search hub covers officers, registered agents, trademarks, fictitious names, and partnerships.

2. Read the status column, not just the hit list

A matching record doesn't always block you. Per the Division's FAQ:¹

• ACTIVE / ACT, the name is not available.
• INACTIVE/UA, not available yet. Administratively dissolved or revoked entities' names are held for one year after the dissolution or revocation date; voluntarily dissolved entities' names are held for 120 days.
• INACTIVE / INACT, the holding period has run, and the name is available for use by another party.

Reserving a name before you file

• Florida reserves names the old-fashioned way: submit a letter to the Secretary of State, signed by the applicant, specifying the name to be reserved and the applicant's name and address.¹
• If the name is available, it's reserved for the applicant's exclusive use for 120 days. (Fla. Stat. §605.01125 for LLCs, §607.04021 for corporations, §620.11085 for limited partnerships.)¹
• The Division's posted reservation fees, as of our access date: $25 for an LLC name, $35 for a corporation name, $52.50 for a limited partnership name.¹ Confirm the current amounts on the Division's FAQ before mailing anything.

Operating under a different name (DBA)

Florida’s DBA is the fictitious name registration, filed statewide with the Division of Corporations under §865.09. A business generally must register if it uses a name other than its legal name, unless an exemption applies. The state lists exemptions, including certain licensed professionals, on its official registration page.

Before filing, applicants must advertise the name at least once in a qualifying newspaper in the county of the principal place of business and certify that publication occurred. Read the official requirements before paying for publication. Fictitious-name registration does not reserve an entity name or grant exclusive rights to it.