You can get a Florida certificate of good standing online at Sunbiz.org in a few minutes. The short form costs $8.75 and the long form costs $52.50, and if you choose the PDF you can download it right after you pay. The catch is that the state will only issue one if your business is actually in good standing, which mostly means your annual reports are filed and your fees are paid.
What does the certificate prove?
It’s an official document from the Florida Division of Corporations, also called a certificate of status or certificate of existence. It confirms that your business:
- Is registered in Florida
- Has filed all required annual reports
- Is current on its state fees
- Is authorized to do business in the state
- Hasn’t been administratively dissolved or revoked
It shows your status on the day it’s issued, nothing more. If you fall behind on an annual report next month, last month’s certificate doesn’t change, but a new one won’t be available.
When will someone ask for one?
Usually when money or a big commitment is involved:
- Banks ask before opening business accounts or extending credit.
- Lenders ask during loan due diligence to confirm you can legally sign the agreement.
- Other states ask when you register your Florida business there as a foreign entity. Nearly every state requires one from your home state.
- Government agencies and large companies often ask before signing a contract.
- Investors and buyers ask during due diligence, because nobody wants to inherit compliance problems.
- Licensing boards ask for some professional licenses and permits.
How do you get a Florida certificate of good standing?
- Go to sunbiz.org, the Florida Department of State’s Division of Corporations site.
- Use “Search Records” to find your business by entity name, document number or Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN).
- Open your entity’s detail page and confirm the status and filing history look right.
- Find the certificates section and choose the short form or long form.
- Pay by credit card or electronic check.
- Download the PDF right away, or order a certified paper copy by mail.
Most people take the PDF. Most banks, lenders and other organizations accept it, and you have it in hand immediately.
What does it cost?
| Version | Cost | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Short form (“Certificate of Status”) | $8.75 | Business name, document number, formation date, state of formation, active or inactive status, and confirmation that annual reports are current |
| Long form (“Certificate of Good Standing”) | $52.50 | Everything in the short form, plus complete filing history, officers and directors (or managers and members for LLCs), registered agent details and every amendment filed |
Both can be ordered as certified copies with the state’s official seal and signature. Uncertified digital versions cost the same.
Should you get the short form or the long form?
Start with the short form. At $8.75 it covers most routine needs: bank accounts, business loans, license and permit applications and general proof that you’re active.
Get the long form when the other party asks for it, or when the deal calls for full verification: registering in another state, selling the business, investor due diligence, complex transactions and legal proceedings.
Before you order, ask the requesting party which one they want. It takes one email and saves you buying both.
How long does it take?
| How you order | Turnaround |
|---|---|
| Online PDF | Immediate, right after payment |
| Certified paper copy by mail | 3-5 business days |
Expedited processing usually isn’t available for certificates. If you’re on a deadline, get the PDF.
How long is the certificate good for?
Florida doesn’t put an expiration date on it, but it only speaks to your status on the day it was issued. Most banks and agencies want one issued within the past 30-90 days.
So don’t order ahead. Get it when someone asks, check how recent theirs needs to be, and order a new one next time. At $8.75 for an instant PDF, keeping an old one on file doesn’t save you anything.
What if your business isn’t in good standing?
Then Sunbiz won’t issue the certificate until you fix the problem. The usual causes, and how to fix each:
Missed annual reports. Corporations and LLCs have to file an annual report by May 1 every year. Go to Sunbiz, find your entity, choose the annual report option, and pay every missing report plus late fees. Allow 24-48 hours for the status to update, then order the certificate.
Unpaid fees or penalties. Pay them through Sunbiz. Good standing usually comes back within 1-2 business days once the payment clears.
Administrative dissolution. If the state dissolved your business for not filing, you’ll file the missing annual reports, pay all fees and penalties, apply for reinstatement and possibly file articles of revival. This takes longer, and it’s worth getting help if you’re on a deadline.
Voluntary dissolution. If you dissolved the business yourself, it isn’t active anymore, and you can’t get a certificate of good standing for it.
How do you stay in good standing?
The main thing is filing your annual report on time. We’d set a reminder for April at the latest, ahead of the May 1 deadline, or file in January when filing opens.
Beyond that, keep a registered agent with a physical Florida address who’s available during business hours, tell the state promptly when you change agents, and update your officers, directors, managers or principal address when they change. Don’t ignore mail from the Division of Corporations. And look up your own status on Sunbiz every few months. It’s free and takes a minute.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a certificate of good standing cost in Florida?
$8.75 for the short form certificate of status and $52.50 for the long form certificate of good standing. You can download either as a PDF right away.
Can I get one if I haven’t filed my annual report?
No. File the overdue reports and pay any fees first, then order the certificate.
Do I need one to open a business bank account?
Most banks ask for one. The $8.75 short form usually works.
What does “administratively dissolved” mean?
The state terminated your business for not filing annual reports or paying required fees. You have to be reinstated before you can get a certificate of good standing.
Can a foreign corporation registered in Florida get one?
Yes. If your out-of-state business is registered to do business in Florida, you can get a Florida certificate showing that registration’s status.
Is a certificate of status the same as a certificate of good standing?
People use the terms interchangeably, and both prove the same basic thing. In Florida, though, the short form “certificate of status” and long form “certificate of good standing” are separate products with different prices and different levels of detail.
Check your status before you’re asked
Look up your business on Sunbiz today. If it shows active and your latest annual report is on file, you can get a certificate in minutes whenever a bank or buyer asks. If it doesn’t, you’ve found the problem while you still have time to fix it.