Florida LLC Name Search: Sunbiz Rules & Reservations

To check whether a Florida LLC name is available, search the Division of Corporations' records on Sunbiz, then compare your name against the rules in Florida Statutes section 605.0112. Your name must be distinguishable from almost every entity and filing on record, not just other LLCs, and it must contain "LLC", "L.L.C." or "limited liability company". A Sunbiz search is a preliminary check: the Division decides when it reviews your articles of organization.

Step 1: Search Sunbiz

Sunbiz is the Florida Department of State's Division of Corporations website. According to the Division's search guide, its entity name search lists records alphabetically, with the closest matches first, and accepts partial names. Our Florida Sunbiz search guide links the official search and explains how to read the result list and detail pages.

Because Florida compares your name against entity names of every type, run the search in a way that surfaces close matches:

• Search without "LLC" or any other ending, so corporations, partnerships and other entity types show up alongside LLCs.
• Search the most distinctive word on its own, then the full name.
• Page through neighboring names on the list; a match can sit just above or below where you expect it.
• Note inactive records as well as active ones. A dissolved LLC's name can stay unavailable for a time (see below).

What Florida compares your name against

Under section 605.0112, an LLC name must be distinguishable in the Department of State's records from the names of all other entities or filings on file, with three exceptions: fictitious name registrations, general partnership registrations and limited liability partnership statements. In practice that means:

• A Florida corporation, limited partnership or nonprofit with the same name blocks your LLC name, even though it is a different entity type.
• A registered fictitious name (Florida's DBA) does not block it under this section. It may still matter for trademark purposes, so do not ignore it.

What does not make a name distinguishable

The statute lists five differences that are not enough on their own. A name that differs from an existing one only by:

1. a suffix, such as "LLC" instead of "Inc.";
2. a definite or indefinite article ("the", "a", "an");
3. "and" versus "&";
4. the singular, plural or possessive form of a word; or
5. a punctuation mark or symbol

is not distinguishable. For example (our illustration, not a state ruling), if "Coastal Tile Inc." is on file, "The Coastal Tiles, LLC" and "Coastal Tile's L.L.C." would likely be treated as the same name, because the differences are only an article, a plural or possessive, punctuation and a suffix. Adding a meaningful word, such as "Coastal Tile Restoration LLC", is the kind of change that can make a name distinguishable, but only the Division's review settles it.

Using a similar name with consent

Florida allows one exception. An LLC may register a name that is not otherwise distinguishable if the other entity gives written consent, the consent is filed with the Department when the name is registered, and the two names are not identical.

Other naming rules in Florida

• Designator. The name must contain "limited liability company", "L.L.C." or "LLC", so it is clearly an LLC and not a person, partnership or corporation.
• No implied government connection. The name may not state or imply a connection with a state or federal agency or with an entity chartered under federal law.
• Purpose. The name may not state or imply that the LLC is organized for a purpose its articles and Florida's LLC law do not allow.

Names of dissolved Florida LLCs

An inactive record on Sunbiz does not always mean the name is free:

• Under section 605.0717, a dissolved LLC's name is not available to another business until 120 days after the dissolution takes effect, or after a statement of termination is filed, if earlier.
• Under section 605.0715, after an administrative dissolution the name stays unavailable for one year, unless the dissolved LLC files a record allowing another business to use it right away. If another business lawfully takes the name in the meantime, the old LLC must change its name before it can be reinstated.

If the only conflicting record is a recently dissolved company, check the dissolution date on its detail page before you file.

Reserving a Florida LLC name

Section 605.01125 lets anyone reserve an available LLC name by filing an application with the applicant's name and address and the name to be reserved. The reservation gives exclusive use for 120 days and cannot be renewed. It can be transferred to another person by filing a signed notice, and the Department may revoke a reservation that was not made in good faith.

A reservation is optional. If you are ready to form the LLC, filing the articles of organization puts the name through the same review, and the name is yours once the articles are accepted. Florida's statute sets the fee for filing original articles of organization at $100; see our Florida page for the state's current fees.

A Sunbiz name is not a trademark

Section 605.0112 says an LLC name is filed for public notice only and that filing alone creates no presumption of ownership beyond what common law already provides. In other words, Florida accepting your name does not stop someone with earlier trademark rights from objecting to your use of it. Before you invest in a brand:

• Search the USPTO trademark database for the same or similar names in your industry.
• Check Florida's fictitious name registrations and the web for businesses already using the name.
• Consider a trademark attorney if the brand matters to you.

Next steps

Once your name looks distinguishable and you have checked trademarks, you can file Florida articles of organization yourself on Sunbiz or use a formation service to prepare and file them. Keep one or two backup names ready in case the Division rejects your first choice. For the general process in other states, see how to check LLC name availability.