Florida Business Name Search

Running a Sunbiz name search

Florida’s alphabetical search behaves differently from most states’ keyword tools, so technique matters:

1. Search by name, minus the suffix. On the Sunbiz search page, enter “Gulf Breeze Kitchens” rather than “Gulf Breeze Kitchens LLC” — results appear as an alphabetical index starting at your query.
2. Read the neighborhood, not just the exact row. Because Florida’s comparison strips punctuation, articles, and word-form variations, scan the entries alphabetically adjacent to yours for names that collapse into the same words.
3. Note the status column. Inactive and dissolved entities appear in results but may not block you the way an active filing does; when in doubt, the Division of Corporations’ examiners decide at filing.

Florida LLC naming rules

The controlling statute is Fla. Stat. § 605.0112:

• Required ending: “limited liability company,” “L.L.C.,” or “LLC.” Florida’s list is shorter than most states’ — “LC” alone does not qualify.
• The strict similarity screen: under § 605.0112(2), these differences do not make a name distinguishable:
  • a suffix (“LLC” vs “Inc.”)
  • the articles “a,” “an,” “the”
  • punctuation and special characters
  • singular, plural, or possessive forms of the same word
  • ”&” versus “and”
• Purpose and government limits: the name cannot imply a purpose outside what Chapter 605 permits, and cannot suggest a connection with any state or federal agency.

Notably, Florida publishes no list of restricted words for LLCs — there is no banking-or-insurance approval regime like Georgia’s or Ohio’s. The guardrails are the similarity screen and the misleading-purpose rule.

Florida’s letter-only name reservation

Here Florida is a genuine outlier. Section 605.01125 allows a 120-day reservation for $25, but the request must arrive as a signed letter to the Department of State — the Sunbiz FAQ confirms there is no online path. The reservation is non-renewable: when the 120 days run out, the hold ends.

In practice, most Florida founders skip reserving entirely and simply file. Articles of organization cost $125 (which includes the registered agent designation), and filing both claims the name and creates the company in one step. The annual report that keeps a Florida LLC active is $138.75, due by May 1.

When Sunbiz shows a conflict

• Change a substantive word. Florida’s screen means “Coastal Traders LLC” and “The Coastal Trader’s, L.L.C.” are the same name. Add or replace a real word — geography, specialty, invented terms.
• Verify the blocker is active. A dissolved entity’s name may already be free; Sunbiz shows each record’s status and history.
• Split legal name from brand. Registering a Florida fictitious name (also through the Division of Corporations) lets the LLC do business under the taken-adjacent brand you wanted, within trademark limits.

When a name does clear, moving quickly matters more in Florida than elsewhere — with no online reservation, filing your Florida LLC is effectively how you claim the name.

Official Florida sources

• Sunbiz name search — the authoritative index
• Fla. Stat. § 605.0112 — naming statute
• Fla. Stat. § 605.01125 — reserved names
• Division of Corporations — fees and FAQs

Found an open Florida name? Claim it.

Forming an LLC under your name is the only way to lock it in. Northwest handles the Florida filing, registered-agent service, and paperwork.

Start your Florida LLC with Northwest →

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Questions

Frequently asked questions

How do I search business names in Florida?

Use the Sunbiz name search run by the Florida Division of Corporations. Type the name without its suffix and read the alphabetical list around your proposed name — Florida's comparison rules ignore suffixes and punctuation, so neighbors in that list are your real competition.

How does Florida decide if two names are too similar?

Section 605.0112(2) disregards entity suffixes, the articles "a," "an," and "the," punctuation, singular/plural/possessive variations, and the "&" symbol. If removing those elements leaves two names the same, they are not distinguishable.

Can I reserve a business name in Florida online?

No — Florida is unusual here. A name reservation under § 605.01125 requires a signed letter to the Department of State with the $25 fee. It holds the name for 120 days and cannot be renewed.

Does clearing a Sunbiz search guarantee my Florida name?

No. Sunbiz results are a snapshot; the Division of Corporations approves a name only when it files your articles of organization. Someone can register your name between your search and your filing, which is why searching and filing close together matters.