Florida Secretary of State – FL SOS Business Search

If you’re thinking about starting a business in Florida or need details about an existing one, then you should head to the Florida Department of State website. 

In this guide, we’ll take you through the simple steps of looking up Florida business records and getting your own business registered in the state. 

Plus, we’ll cover some common questions folks have when starting a business in Florida.

Florida Department of State Division of Corporations (SunBiz)
Address: Department of State, Division of Corporations, Corporate Filings, P.O. Box 6327, Tallahassee, FL 32314
Telephone: 1(850) 245-6052
Website: dos.myflorida.com
E-Mail: dos.myflorida.com/contact-us

The Florida Secretary of State website can be found at https://dos.fl.gov. 

The business section of the website can be found at https://dos.fl.gov/sunbiz/ or via sunbiz.org.

Via Sunbiz, you can search for a business, change your existing business information, or register a new business in the state of Florida, as well as accessing other business filing services.

How to Find Business Entity Records for Businesses in Florida

To search for a business in Florida, you need to go to Sunbiz search.

From there, you can search for a business by its name, address, FEI/EIN number, trademarks, or by the name of a registered agent of the business. 

The easiest way to search for a business is by the name of the business. To do this, you simply enter all or part of the business name in the Entity Search Box.

Even entering a partial name will be enough to locate matching businesses. 

For example, if you are searching for a cafe, then entering the word cafe will bring up a list of results like this:

Selecting one of the results – for example, The Cafe LLC – will display a lot of information about that business. The entity detail page includes information such as the business’s FEI/EIN number, status, address, agent names and addresses, and filed documents.

Using this approach to search for a business can be helpful if you want more details about a specific business. It’s also valuable if you’re considering registering a business in Florida and want to check whether a business with the same name already exists or if you’re researching potential competitors.

For anyone starting a business, the next step after exploring similar businesses is to register your own business entity. We’ll provide instructions on how to do this in the next section.

How to Register a Business Entity in Florida

The quickest and easiest way to register a business in Florida is to use the E-Filing function of the Department of State website.

E-Filing allows you to register a limited liability company (LLC), a profit corporation, a non-profit corporation, a limited partnership, or a fictitious name.

Assuming you want to register an LLC, you should first read the instructions for filing Articles of Organization.

Next, start an LLC E-Filing. You’ll need all of your business details as well as a method of payment.

To start an LLC E-Filing, you need to acknowledge the terms and conditions then hit the ‘Start New Filing’ button.

This will take you to the E-Filing form, where you can enter your business details and pay the $125 filing fee and any other necessary fees.

FAQs

What are the subtypes of business entity in Florida?

In Florida, there are limited liability companies (LLCs), corporations, partnerships, and sole proprietorships.

What is the difference between a corporation and an LLC in Florida?

Corporations and LLCs in Florida are both distinct legal entities from their owners. The key difference lies in the fact that LLCs provide more flexibility in terms of management and tax arrangements.

Does LLC have to be in the name of a business entity in Florida?

Yes, all LLCs operating in Florida are required to incorporate the abbreviation ‘LLC’ or the words ‘Limited Liability Company’ as part of their business name.

What are the benefits of an LLC in Florida?

The primary benefit of an LLC in Florida is its ability to legally separate the business from the owner, limiting the owner’s legal and financial liability. Additionally, registering an LLC is more cost-effective and straightforward compared to registering a corporation, and LLCs provide greater flexibility in management and tax options.

How much does it cost to register a business in Florida?

Tho register a business in Florida, you will need to pay a $125 filing fee. There are other optional fees too, such as Certificate of Status ($5) and Certified Copy fees ($30).

What is the annual fee for an LLC in Florida?

An annual fee of $138.75 must be paid by all LLCs registered in the state of Florida.

How long does it take to get an LLC in Florida?

If you apply for your LLC online then your application should be processed in 5 working days. Applying for a Florida LLC is slower, taking around 12 working days plus mailing time.