Verify Your Business Name With a Florida Business Name Search

You’ve decided to start a business in the Sunshine State and join hundreds of thousands of companies who have entered the fray already.[1] While the experience is exciting, it can also be rife with setbacks. One of which is naming your organization correctly.

But what do we mean by correctly? In this case, creativity takes a backseat to legal matters. You need to make sure you have a unique business name to avoid trademark infringement and other problems that can damage your reputation.[2]

Enter our business name search tool, which lets you determine whether or not you can use your desired entity name without legal consequences. Here’s how the top-rated search tool allows you to determine your business name availability:

1. Fill out the form to provide basic information about your organization, including your desired business name, location, email address, and your name

2. Give us one business hour to process your application and dig through the Florida Secretary of State Sunbiz records of existing enterprises.

Looking up a firm doesn’t get any easier than with Swyft Filings. Once you get your results, you’ll know for sure if you can safely use your desired entity name. If so, we’ll tell you all you need to know to reserve your name and help get your enterprise underway. If not, don’t throw in the towel — try one more name or as many names as you want because the tool is 100% free.

Key Takeaways

• The best way to determine if your desired business name is available is to run it through an entity search tool.

• Business name search platforms are convenient for small business entrepreneurs because they’re intuitive, reduce the risk of lawsuits, and help you proceed to other stages of your business launch faster.

• Entity name verifications should be followed by name reservation, selecting a domain name, and considering a fictitious business name.

Florida’s Business Name Conventions

Knowing you can look up any organization and check your desired business name anytime is great. But this doesn’t mean you should start naming your company without any preparation. You must understand Florida rules that dictate your creative name choice and what to do once you verify your name availability.

Whether you’re starting a Florida LLC or Florida corporation, take your time to ensure your business entity name is in line with the following Florida Secretary of State conventions:

Unique

The main thing to remember is that your name must be unique. It can’t be used by any other organization registered in the Sunshine State. A Florida business name search solves this problem when launching an enterprise. Otherwise, the naming process becomes a shot in the dark.

No Similarities

Your name must not be overtly similar to the names of other Florida organizations. For example, the Florida Secretary of State considers “Two Brothers” and “2 Brothers” the same name. Attempting to disguise the similarities with numerals, conjunctions, or articles is a no-go.

No Association With Government Organizations 

A business name must not contain the same or similar wording as government organizations, such as the Florida Department of State. There can be no words or phrases that imply an association with these organizations either.

Business Structure-Related Wording

Others must be able to tell your entity type from your business name. If you’re an LLC, include “limited liability company,” “limited company,” or the abbreviations of those terms in your LLC name. Corporations are required to use “corporation,” “incorporated,” or an abbreviation.[3]

Benefits of a Florida Entity Search

A Florida business entity search should be a staple when choosing a business name for your LLC. By completing an advanced search, you can access information that can yield tremendous benefits for your organization:

1. Neutralize the Threat of Lawsuits

As a business owner, the last thing you want is to risk your good standing with the Florida Secretary of State due to a lawsuit. Litigation can ensue if you copy someone else’s name. So, a quick check of your business name or entity number before registering will keep your business license and reputation intact.

2. Start the Formation Process Faster

The sooner you check your business name is available, the faster you can move on to the remainder of the start-up process. Thankfully, speed is one of the most well-known features of our entity search software.

3. Avoid Manual Work

It would take forever to check every Florida business name manually. With our free search tool, there’s no need to waste your precious time on a manual search.

Next Steps

Much of your success as a Florida corporation or LLC owner depends on your ability to act fast. Once your Florida entity search has signed off on your business name, you want to proceed to the next stage as soon as possible.

Complete Your Name Reservation

Many states have a specific name reservation process you can complete once you check your name availability. After conducting business name search for your LLC or corporation, you can file the necessary paperwork, and your company name will be safe.

However, you can’t reserve a business name in Florida. The only thing that comes close is officially registering your business by submitting your LLC articles of organization or articles or incorporation for corporations with the Florida Department of State. You can either do so online on the Sunbiz website or by mail at the following address with a $125 state filing fee:

New Filing Section

Florida Division of Corporations

P.O. Box 6327

Tallahassee, FL 32314

Choose a Domain Name

Selecting a domain name should come after your name availability check. A good domain name will help your online presence become much more prominent. Your target audience will also be able to discover you quickly, and you’ll enhance your credibility.

As with your Florida entity search, you should keep a few criteria in mind when picking your domain name:

• Stick to 63 characters or less

• Include a keyword in the domain name, if possible

• Keep the name memorable and related (or the same) to your business name

Consider a DBA

You’ve performed a Florida Secretary of State business search, but your desired corporate name is unavailable. The good news is you can apply for a fictitious business name. 

Also known as a DBA (doing business as), this is a name different from the one under which your business entity operates. Your bank may require it for opening a business bank account. It can also come in handy when separating personal property from company property.

Take these steps to file a DBA for your Florida LLC or any other business entity:

1. Advertise your intent to file a DBA in a local newspaper[4]

2. Fill out the Sunbiz Application for Registration of Fictitious Name

3. Use the following mailing address to submit the application:

Fictitious Name Registration

Division of Corporations

P.O. Box 6327

Tallahassee, FL 32314

File Your LLC Online

At Swyft Filings, we not only offer a highly intuitive entity lookup platform, but we also have several other business services to help skyrocket your small business growth. Whether you need annual report guidance, tax assistance, name changes, or limited liability company (LLC) filings, we are at your beck and call.

If your Florida entity search gave you the green light for your Florida LLC business name, we’re here to help you file your LLC with the Florida Secretary of State within minutes. Reach out to us today, and we’ll do all the paperwork on your behalf to help your organization take off.

FAQs

How do you search for a Florida business entity name?

There are a few ways to search for a business entity name in Florida. You can search the Florida Secretary of State business database at sunbiz.org or use Swyft Filings’ free business name search. The user-friendly interface and lack of fees are just some of the features that make it a great choice.

How do I find a business entity in Florida?

You can find a business entity in Florida with an entity lookup platform. Most tools require you to enter the name and location of the organization. Shortly, you receive basic details about the organization, including its registered agent and employer identification number.

Can you look up an LLC in Florida?

Yes. LLCs are some of the most popular business structures in Florida, and you can look up a specific entity using the Florida Secretary of State database. Besides LLCs, it also lets you find corporations, limited partnerships, sole proprietorships, non-profit organizations, and other entity types.

How can I check to see if a business name is available in Florida?

The fastest way to check if a business name is available in Florida is through an entity search or business name search software. 

What do I need to register a business in Florida?

You must file articles of organization or incorporation with the Florida Department of State to officially register your business. Additional steps include registering your company with the Department of Revenue and IRS. 

How much does a Florida business entity search include?

How much information you can retrieve from a Florida business entity search depends on the platform. Some platforms only provide the organization's name, while others show the street address, place of registration, and registered agent details.

Bibliography

1. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. “The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Recognizes Small Businesses in Celebration of National Small Business Week in Florida.” Accessed May 25, 2023.

2. The Florida Senate. “Registration and Protection of Trademarks.” Accessed May 25, 2023.

3. Online Sunshine. “The 2022 Florida Statutes.” Accessed May 25, 2023.

4. Division of Corporations. “FL Fictitious Name Registration.” Accessed May 25, 2023.