How To Register Business Name In Florida

Pace 1: Choose a Business Construction

Recommended: We typically recommend forming an LLC for well-nigh entrepreneurs because this structure comes with personal asset protection, has no double taxation, and is pretty easy to maintain.

If you would like to utilise a service, read our guide on the all-time LLC germination services.

Sole Proprietorships and General Partnerships

Past default, sole proprietorships operate equally the aforementioned name equally the owner while general partnerships must include the surnames of all the partners.

Pace 2: Check Name Availability

When registering a business name, it's important to make sure information technology's unique and no one else in your state formed a company with it or has control of information technology online as a domain name.

Domain Name Search

We strongly recommend that you besides check to see if your concern name is available every bit a spider web domain (URL). Even if y'all don't plan to create a business concern website today, you may want to buy the web address to forestall others from acquiring that domain name. If the web domain is bachelor then it'south likely the proper noun will also be bachelor in a business search.

Find a Domain At present

Florida Business Name Search

Adjacent, search the Florida Division of Corporation'south business organisation proper noun search tool. This is an of import pace in the procedure because your filing will be denied if yous endeavor to file for a proper name already in use.

Search requirements tin vary depending on your business concern needs. For example, a unique and available proper noun is required to:

File for formal business concern structures like LLCs and corporations.
File a DBA name for any business structure.

A land-level proper name search isn't required for informal business structures like sole proprietorships or general partnerships in Florida. But, if you determine to register a fictitious name or DBA proper name, you'll need to search the database to encounter if your desired name is unique and available.

Footstep 3: Form Your Business With the State of Florida

Once y'all have selected your business organisation structure and name, you will need to file your formation documents with the state, which will register your business organisation with the state of Florida.

To register your Florida LLC, you'll need to file the Articles of Arrangement with the Florida Sectionalisation of Corporations. You can utilize online, by mail, or in person. Read our Form an LLC in Florida guide for details.

Or use a professional service like ZenBusiness or LegalZoom to form your LLC for y'all.

To register your Florida corporation, you'll need to file the Manufactures of Incorporation with the Florida Department of Country. Read our Form a Florida Corporation guide to learn more than.

Additional Considerations

Protect Your Business Name With a Trademark (Optional)

Once you lot confirm the availability of your business concern proper noun and secure it, y'all can choose to apply for a trademark for your business. This typically costs around $225 to $400 plus any chaser fees as well as a renewal fee every 10 years.

While this cost can be loftier for a offset-upwards or fledgling business concern, it will requite your company make nationwide protection backed by federal constabulary. That means if others try to exercise business organization with the aforementioned — or a like — name equally yours, you'll take legal precedent on your side. For most small-scale businesses, this really isn't necessary unless they are thinking of going national.

How to Modify the Proper noun of a Florida Business

Changing the proper name of a business organisation in Florida can exist done in two ways: by filing for a fictitious name or by submitting an amendment to the legal proper noun of an existing concern.

The first method, filing for a fictitious name (also known equally a DBA name), is the easiest style to operate your concern using a unlike proper noun without needing to change its legal name.

A DBA name is the only way for sole proprietorships and general partnerships to take a different business organisation proper name. It's also the easiest method for LLCs and corporations to follow because it allows them to avoid filing an amendment or complicating their business operations while enabling them to operate with brand names that don't include the necessary LLC or Inc. suffix required in a legal name.

If you desire to change the legal name of your LLC or corporation, however, filing an subpoena to the legal name of an existing business is your best choice. Here are links to forms for both options:

Articles of Amendment for LLCs
Articles of Amendment for corporations

You lot may submit both by mail. The LLC form requires a $25 filing fee while the corporation form has a $35 filing fee.

Frequently Asked Questions

How practise I get a business concern tax ID in Florida?

In order to register your business for taxes in Florida, you lot must fill out this form and submit it online or by mail. Before doing so, y'all'll demand to obtain your Employer Identification Number (EIN).

How much does information technology price to start a business in Florida?

The toll of forming a business in Florida depends on your business structure. For instance, forming a corporation in Florida costs $87.50 while forming an LLC costs $160.

You lot tin can find the fees applicable to your concern structure on the Florida Division of Corporations website.

Does Florida crave a concern license?

Not every business in Florida requires a license from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). Licensing requirements will vary depending on your business organization type. You can assess your business organization's licensing needs on the DBPR website.