Florida Sunbiz: How to Use the Division of Corporations Website

Sunbiz.org is your gateway to Florida’s Division of Corporations. Whether you’re starting an LLC, filing annual reports, or researching another business, you’ll use this website regularly as a Florida business owner.

This guide walks you through everything you can do on Sunbiz, with step-by-step instructions for the most common tasks.

What Is Sunbiz?

Sunbiz (officially dos.myflorida.com/sunbiz) is the online portal for the Florida Division of Corporations, a division of the Florida Department of State. It’s where Florida businesses:

• Form LLCs and corporations
• Search for business names
• File annual reports
• Look up registered businesses
• Update business information
• Order certified documents

Think of Sunbiz as Florida’s official business registry — all public business records are maintained and accessible through this site.

Key Features of Sunbiz

1. Business Entity Search

Look up any Florida business to find:

• Legal name and status (Active, Inactive, Dissolved)
• Date of formation
• Principal address and mailing address
• Registered agent name and address
• Officers/Members/Directors
• Annual report history
• Document images (Articles of Organization, annual reports)

2. Name Availability Search

Check if your desired business name is available before filing.

3. Online Filing (E-Filing)

Form new businesses and file updates electronically:

• Form LLC or Corporation
• File annual reports
• Change registered agent
• File amendments
• Dissolve a business

4. Document Orders

Order certified copies, certificates of status, and other official documents.

5. UCC Filing

File and search Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) financing statements.

How to Search for a Business on Sunbiz

Step-by-Step Business Search

1. Go to Sunbiz.org
2. Click “Search Records” in the top navigation
3. Choose your search type:

• Entity Name: Search by business name
• Officer/Registered Agent: Search by person’s name
• Document Number: Search by filing number
• FEI/EIN Number: Search by federal tax ID

1. Enter your search criteria and click “Search”
2. Click on a business name to view full details

Understanding Search Results

When you view a business record, you’ll see:

Viewing Filed Documents

At the bottom of each business record, you’ll find links to view:

• Articles of Organization/Incorporation
• Annual reports
• Amendments
• Other filings

These are scanned images of the actual filed documents.

How to Check Business Name Availability

Before forming your LLC, verify your name is available:

Step 1: Access Name Search

1. Go to Sunbiz.org
2. Click “Search Records” → “Search by Entity Name”

Step 2: Search Your Name

Enter the business name you want (without “LLC” or “Inc.”). The system searches for similar names, not exact matches.

Step 3: Evaluate Results

• No results: Your name is likely available
• Similar names exist: Review carefully to ensure your name is “distinguishable” from existing names

What Makes a Name “Distinguishable”?

Florida requires your name to be distinguishable, not completely unique. Minor differences count:

• Available: “Tampa Bay Construction LLC” vs. existing “Tampa Construction LLC”
• Not Available: “ABC Company LLC” vs. existing “ABC Company Inc.”

Tip: When in doubt, make your name more unique to avoid rejection.

Name Requirements

Your LLC name must:

• Include “LLC,” “L.L.C.,” or “Limited Liability Company”
• Not include restricted words (Bank, Insurance, University) without approval
• Not be deceptively similar to a government agency

How to Form an LLC on Sunbiz

Step 1: Start the Filing

1. Go to Sunbiz.org
2. Click “Start a Business” or “E-Filing”
3. Select “Florida Limited Liability Company”
4. Click “File Online”

Step 2: Enter LLC Information

You’ll need to provide:

LLC Name

• Full legal name including “LLC”
• Optional: fictitious name (DBA)

Principal Place of Business

• Street address (Florida address not required)

Mailing Address

• Can be same as principal address
• Can be a P.O. box

Registered Agent

• Name of individual or business entity
• Must be a Florida address (no P.O. boxes)
• Must be available during business hours

Authorized Person(s)/Member(s)

• Names, addresses, and titles
• At least one person required

Step 3: Pay the Filing Fee

The filing fee is $125 for standard processing. Pay by credit card.

Optional: Add expedited processing for an additional fee if you need faster approval.

Step 4: Submit and Confirm

Review your information, submit the filing, and save your confirmation. You’ll receive an email when your LLC is approved (usually within 2-3 business days).

How to File Your Annual Report on Sunbiz

Florida LLCs must file an annual report every year by May 1. Here’s how:

Step 1: Find Your Business

1. Go to Sunbiz.org
2. Search for your LLC using the entity search
3. Click on your business name

Step 2: Start the Annual Report

Click “File Annual Report” from your business record page. Or:

1. Click “E-Filing” in the top navigation
2. Select “Annual Report”
3. Enter your document number or search for your business

Step 3: Verify Information

The form will be pre-populated with your current information. Review and update:

• Principal address
• Mailing address
• Registered agent and address
• Officers/Members

Step 4: Pay the Fee

Annual report fee: $138.75

Late fee (after May 1): $400 additional

Step 5: Submit

Submit the report and save your confirmation. Your filing is processed immediately.

How to Change Your Registered Agent on Sunbiz

Step 1: Access the Form

1. Find your LLC on Sunbiz
2. Click “File Annual Report/Change Registered Agent”
3. Or file through E-Filing → Registered Agent Change

Step 2: Enter New Agent Information

Update:

• Registered Agent Name
• Registered Agent Address (Florida street address only)

Step 3: Pay and Submit

Fee: $25 for registered agent change only (Free if done as part of annual report)

How to Order Certificates and Documents

Certificate of Status

A Certificate of Status (also called a Certificate of Good Standing) proves your LLC is active and compliant.

1. Go to Sunbiz.org → “Order Documents”
2. Search for your business
3. Select “Certificate of Status”
4. Pay the fee ($8.75 for electronic, $17.50 for mailed paper copy)

Certified Copies

To get certified copies of your Articles of Organization or other filings:

1. Go to “Order Documents”
2. Select “Certified Copy”
3. Choose the document you need
4. Pay the fee ($52.50 for certification + per page fee)

Sunbiz Filing Fees Summary

Tips for Using Sunbiz

Save Your Document Number

Your LLC’s document number (like L21000123456) is your unique identifier. Save it — you’ll need it for annual reports and other filings.

Create a Sunbiz Account

While not required, creating an account makes tracking your filings easier. You can view filing history and receive email confirmations.

File Online, Not by Mail

Online filings are processed in 2-3 days. Mail filings take 5-7 days or longer. The fees are the same, so file online for faster results.

Set Calendar Reminders

Mark your calendar for April 15 each year to file your annual report. This gives you two weeks of buffer before the May 1 deadline and $400 late fee.

Use the Correct Browser

Sunbiz works best with Chrome or Firefox. Older versions of Internet Explorer may have issues with the e-filing portal.

Screenshot Your Confirmations

After completing any filing, screenshot or save the confirmation page. You’ll receive an email too, but having a backup is wise.

Common Sunbiz Problems and Solutions

“Name Not Available” Error

• Make sure your name is sufficiently different from existing names
• Try adding a geographic identifier (Tampa Bay, Florida, etc.)
• Check for corporations with similar names, not just LLCs

Can’t Find My Business in Search

• Try searching by document number instead of name
• Check spelling exactly as registered
• Remove “LLC” or “Inc.” from your search

Payment Won’t Process

• Try a different credit card
• Clear browser cache and cookies
• Try a different browser

Annual Report Won’t Load

• This happens around the May 1 deadline due to high traffic
• Try early morning or late evening
• File before April to avoid the rush

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sunbiz a government website?

Yes. Sunbiz.org is operated by the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations. It’s the official and only place to file Florida business documents.

Do I have to use Sunbiz to form an LLC?

You can file by mail, but Sunbiz is faster and more convenient. Third-party formation services also file through Sunbiz on your behalf.

Is information on Sunbiz public?

Yes. Business names, addresses, registered agent information, and officer names are public record. Anyone can search and view this information.

How long are records kept on Sunbiz?

Records are maintained permanently, even for dissolved businesses. Historical filings remain searchable and viewable.

The Bottom Line

Sunbiz is your one-stop shop for Florida business filings. Once you’re familiar with the interface, forming an LLC, filing annual reports, and maintaining your business records becomes straightforward.

Bookmark Sunbiz.org — you’ll be visiting regularly as a Florida business owner.

Want help navigating Sunbiz? IncCraft handles all your Florida filings, so you can focus on running your business instead of navigating government websites.