76 of 77 fee datums on this page are verified against the agency's own published schedule or statute (2026-09-04); the rest are marked pending review in the Status column - portal-surcharge components no official page states, values the official source contradicts (held for a correction package), or sources that could not be reached.
Values were first corroborated across independent internal records; verified cells now also carry the agency's own published schedule or statute as their authority, which is what promotion to verified requires.
Cost position
Ranked 42 of 54 on first-year state
filing cost, at $293.75 against a national median
of $185.00.
Recurring annual cost $138.75.
See the full ranking.
Where Florida sits among its neighbours in the first-year cost ranking (USD)Show all 54 jurisdictionsThe full ranking with Florida highlighted (USD)
Registered-agent statutes, quoted verbatim
The one section on this page that clears the publication gate in full. 10 citations, verified, quoted from the official code with every elision marked.
Fla. Stat. § 607.0501
◎Verified
Florida Business Corporation Act · applies to
corporations
Registered office and registered agent.(1) Each corporation shall designate and continuously maintain in this state: (a) A registered office, which may be the same as its place of business in this state; and (b) A registered agent, which must be: 1. An individual who resides in this state whose business address is identical to the address of the registered office; 2. Another domestic entity that is an authorized entity and whose business address is identical to the address of the registered office; or 3. A foreign entity authorized to transact business in this state which is an authorized entity and whose business address is identical to the address of the registered office.
Florida Revised Limited Liability Company Act · applies to
LLCs
Registered agent.(1) Each limited liability company and each foreign limited liability company that has a certificate of authority under s. 605.0902 shall designate and continuously maintain in this state: (a) A registered office, which may be the same as its place of business in this state; and (b) A registered agent, who must be: 1. An individual who resides in this state and whose business address is identical to the address of the registered office; 2. Another domestic entity that is an authorized entity and whose business address is identical to the address of the registered office; or 3. A foreign entity authorized to transact business in this state that is an authorized entity and whose business address is identical to the address of the registered office.
Florida Business Corporation Act · applies to
corp
Articles of incorporation; content.(1) The articles of incorporation must set forth: (a) A corporate name for the corporation that satisfies the requirements of s. 607.0401; (b) The street address of the initial principal office and, if different, the mailing address of the corporation; (c) The number of shares the corporation is authorized to issue; (d) The street address of the corporation's initial registered office and the name of its initial registered agent at that office together with a written acceptance as required in s. 607.0501(3); and (e) The name and address of each incorporator.
Florida Revised Limited Liability Company Act · applies to
LLCs
Formation of limited liability company; articles of organization.(1) One or more persons may act as authorized representatives to form a limited liability company by signing and delivering articles of organization to the department for filing. (2) The articles of organization must state the following: (a) The name of the limited liability company, which must comply with s. 605.0112. (b) The street and mailing addresses of the company's principal office. (c) The name, street address in this state, and written acceptance of the company's initial registered agent.
Florida Business Corporation Act · applies to
corp
Annual report for department.(1) Each domestic corporation and each foreign corporation authorized to transact business in this state shall deliver to the department for filing an annual report that states the following: (a) The name of the corporation or, if a foreign corporation, the name under which the foreign corporation is authorized to transact business in this state; [...] (4) The first annual report must be delivered to the department between January 1 and May 1 of the year following the calendar year in which a domestic corporation's articles of incorporation became effective or a foreign corporation obtained its certificate of authority to transact business in this state.
Florida Revised Limited Liability Company Act · applies to
LLCs
Annual report for department.(1) A limited liability company or a registered foreign limited liability company shall deliver to the department for filing an annual report that states the following: (a) The name of the limited liability company or, if a foreign limited liability company, the name under which the foreign limited liability company is registered to transact business in this state. [...] (3) The first annual report must be delivered to the department between January 1 and May 1 of the year following the calendar year in which the limited liability company's articles of organization became effective or the foreign limited liability company obtained a certificate of authority to transact business in this state.
Florida Business Corporation Act · applies to
corp
Administrative dissolution.(1) The department may dissolve a corporation administratively if the corporation does not: (a) Deliver its annual report to the department by 5 p.m. Eastern Time on the third Friday in September of each year; (b) Pay a fee or penalty due to the department under this chapter; (c) Appoint and maintain a registered agent and registered office as required by s. 607.0501; [...] (2) Administrative dissolution of a corporation for failure to file an annual report must occur on the fourth Friday in September of each year.
Florida Revised Limited Liability Company Act · applies to
LLCs
Administrative dissolution.(1) The department may dissolve a limited liability company administratively if the company does not: (a) Deliver its annual report to the department by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the third Friday in September of each year; (b) Pay a fee or penalty due to the department under this chapter; (c) Appoint and maintain a registered agent as required under s. 605.0113; or [...] (2) Administrative dissolution of a limited liability company for failure to file an annual report must occur on the fourth Friday in September of each year.
Florida Business Corporation Act · applies to
corp
Corporate name.(1) A corporate name: (a) Must contain the word "corporation," "company," or "incorporated" or the abbreviation "Corp.," or "Inc.," or "Co.," or the designation "Corp," or "Inc," or "Co," as will clearly indicate that it is a corporation instead of a natural person, partnership, or other eligible entity. [...] (d) Must be distinguishable from the names of all other entities or filings that are on file with the department, except fictitious name registrations pursuant to s. 865.09, general partnership registrations pursuant to s. 620.8105, and limited liability partnership statements pursuant to s. 620.9001 which are organized, registered, or reserved under the laws of this state.
Florida Revised Limited Liability Company Act · applies to
LLCs
Name.(1) The name of a limited liability company: (a) Must contain the words "limited liability company" or the abbreviation "L.L.C." or "LLC" as will clearly indicate that it is a limited liability company instead of a natural person, partnership, corporation, or other business entity. (b) Must be distinguishable in the records of the department from the names of all other entities or filings that are on file with the department, except fictitious name registrations pursuant to s. 865.09, general partnership registrations pursuant to s. 620.8105, and limited liability partnership statements pursuant to s. 620.9001 which are organized, registered, or reserved under the laws of this state [...]
No Court Access. A corporation (or LLC under sec. 605.0113(5)) may not prosecute or maintain an action in a Florida court until it complies with the registered agent requirement and, to the extent ordered by a court, pays a penalty of $5 per day of noncompliance capped at $500; a court may stay the proceeding.
Civil Penalty. An entity that owns Florida real property or a mortgage on it, or transacts business in Florida, and fails to maintain a registered office and agent is liable to the state for $500 per year (forgiven on compliance), can be ordered by a court to appoint one, faces up to $1,000 per day for violating such an order, and may not defend actions brought by the Department of Legal Affairs or other state agencies until it complies.
Reinstatement Fee. Reinstatement after administrative dissolution requires submitting all fees and penalties then owed; the filing fee for a corporation's application for reinstatement is $600 (LLC: $100), and the application must be signed by both the registered agent and an officer/director.
Dollar amounts named in the registered-agent statutes
What
Amount
Status
Court-ordered penalty before a noncompliant corporation may prosecute or maintain an action: $5 per day of noncompliance, capped at $500 (same for LLCs and foreign corporations)
$5/day up to $500
○Pending review
Annual liability to the state for failing to maintain a registered office and agent (entities owning FL real property/mortgages or transacting business); forgiven in full upon compliance
$500 per year or part thereof
○Pending review
Civil penalty for failing to comply with a court order directing appointment of a registered agent and designation of a registered office
up to $1,000 per day
○Pending review
Corporation application for reinstatement following administrative dissolution
$600
○Pending review
LLC application for reinstatement after administrative/judicial dissolution or revocation of authority
$100
○Pending review
Corporation statement of change of registered agent/office, and designation of and acceptance by registered agent (each)
$35
○Pending review
LLC certificate designating or changing a registered agent
$25
○Pending review
Registered agent's statement of resignation from an active (not dissolved) corporation / LLC
Foreign corporation civil penalty for transacting business without a certificate of authority (per year or part thereof), plus back fees
$500 to $1,000 per year
○Pending review
17 statutory citations and their supporting verbatim quotations sit behind this section in the record and are withheld from public display until the review pass lands, because a citation presented as authority is a verification claimed. Statutory references appearing inside the summaries above are part of the recorded text rather than an authority claim, and they are not rendered as citations, linked, or emitted in this page's structured data. How the gate works.
Governance rules
7 governance rules are recorded for Florida - the organizational and annual meetings, action by written consent, and whether bylaws or an operating agreement are mandatory. Each verified rule links to the statutory text it was verified against, quoted verbatim below.
no member or manager meetings mandated; § 605.04073(6) merely permits telephonic/remote meetings when held, and member action may be taken entirely without a meeting
Organizational meeting required · applies to
corporations ·
yes
If initial directors are named in the articles of incorporation, the initial directors shall hold an organizational meeting ... to complete the organization of the corporation by appointing officers, adopting bylaws
Annual meeting required · applies to
corporations ·
yes
Unless directors are elected by written consent in lieu of an annual meeting pursuant to s. 607.0704, a corporation shall hold a meeting of shareholders annually, for the election of directors
Action by written consent allowed · applies to
corporations ·
yes
Unless otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation ... action required or permitted ... may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice, and without a vote if the action is taken by the holders
The incorporators or board of directors of a corporation shall adopt initial bylaws for the corporation unless that power is reserved to the shareholders by the articles of incorporation.
Operating agreement required · applies to
LLCs ·
no
'Operating agreement' means an agreement, whether referred to as an operating agreement or not, which may be oral, implied, in a record, or in any combination thereof, of the members
Meetings of members and meetings of managers may be held by a conference telephone call or other communications equipment if all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other.
Action by written consent allowed · applies to
LLCs ·
yes
An action requiring the vote or consent of members under this chapter may be taken without a meeting if the action is approved in a record by members with at least the minimum number of votes
$50.00 registration (optional: $30 certified copy, $10 certificate of status; $50 cancellation and/or re-registration, e.g. for ownership changes)
Term
5 years - expires December 31 of the 5th year regardless of filing date
Renewal
$50.00 renewal for another 5-year term, online or by mail; an expired registration CANNOT be reinstated - a lapsed name requires a brand-new registration (and new advertisement certification)
Publication
Required. Advertise the intention to register the fictitious name at least ONCE in a newspaper (as defined in ch. 50, F.S.) in the county of the registrant's principal place of business, before registering. No proof of publication is filed with the state - the registrant certifies on the application (under the signature) that the advertisement ran. No multi-week run, no affidavit filing.
Online filing
Available
The regime
Florida's Fictitious Name Act bars any person from engaging in business under a fictitious name until the name is registered with the Division of Corporations of the Department of State, and the registration must include a certification that the intent to register was advertised at least once in a newspaper in the county of the registrant's principal place of business.
Where it is filed
Fictitious name registrations are filed statewide with the Division of Corporations of the Florida Department of State; there is no county-level filing.
Publication
The registration must include a certification by at least one registrant that the intention to register the fictitious name has been advertised at least once in a newspaper in the county where the principal place of business is or will be located.
Term and renewal
A Florida fictitious name registration runs from the date of registration or reregistration and expires on December 31 of the fifth calendar year, counting the year of registration as the first calendar year. Each renewal is valid for a further 5 years.
Name restrictions
A registered fictitious name may not contain entity designators such as Corporation/Inc., LP/LLLP, LLP, LLC, PA/chartered, or PLLC unless the registrant is actually organized as, or authorized to transact business as, that entity type.
Assumed names for registered entities
A foreign corporation whose legal name is unavailable or noncompliant in Florida must adopt a complying alternate name to transact business; a foreign corporation that obtains its certificate of authority under an alternate name is excused from Fictitious Name Act registration for that alternate name.
Penalties
A noncomplying business, and any successor or assignee, cannot maintain any action, suit, or proceeding in Florida courts with respect to the business until the section is complied with. Noncompliance does not invalidate contracts or bar the business from defending suits, but a party aggrieved by a noncomplying business may be awarded reasonable attorney fees and court costs. Failure to comply is a noncriminal violation punishable as provided in Fla. Stat. § 775.083.
Certified copy of a fictitious name registration document
$30
Fla. Stat. § 865.09(12)(d)
◎Verified
Certificate of status
$10
Fla. Stat. § 865.09(12)(e)
◎Verified
Common questions
Where do I register a fictitious name (DBA) in Florida?
With the Division of Corporations of the Florida Department of State. Fla. Stat. § 865.09(3)(a) provides that a person may not engage in business under a fictitious name unless the person first registers the name with the division; Florida does not use county-clerk DBA filings.
Does Florida require newspaper publication for a fictitious name?
Yes. The registration must include certification by at least one registrant that the intention to register the fictitious name has been advertised at least once in a newspaper, as defined in chapter 50, in the county where the principal place of business is or will be located (Fla. Stat. § 865.09(3)(a)5.).
How long does a Florida fictitious name registration last?
It expires on December 31 of the fifth calendar year, counting the year of registration as the first. Renewal occurs on or after January 1 and on or before December 31 of the expiration year, and each renewal lasts 5 years. The statutory renewal fee is $50 (Fla. Stat. § 865.09(5), (6), (12)(c)).
Does registering a fictitious name give me exclusive rights to it in Florida?
No. Fla. Stat. § 865.09(8) states that registration is for public notice only, creates no presumption of rights to own or use the name, does not affect name rights previously acquired by others, and does not reserve the name against future use.
Recurring entity-level tax
No franchise or privilege tax in this jurisdiction
Stored as a delta against the federal baseline:
5 days this state closes that the
federal government does not, and 3 federal
holidays its filing office works through.
Florida 2026 closure delta
Date
Day
Filing office
2026-01-02
New Year's extra day (one-time)
Filing office closed
2026-02-16
Washington's Birthday (Presidents Day)
OPEN - federal holiday not observed
2026-02-16
Washington's Birthday (one-time 2026)
Filing office closed
2026-06-19
Juneteenth
OPEN - federal holiday not observed
2026-07-02
America 250 extra day (July 2)
Filing office closed
2026-07-06
America 250 extra day (July 6)
Filing office closed
2026-10-12
Columbus Day
OPEN - federal holiday not observed
2026-11-27
Friday after Thanksgiving
Filing office closed
Provenance - Florida 2026 closures◎Verified
Citation withheld: this record did not clear the publication gate.
2 restricted entity-name word entries
are recorded for Florida - 1 prohibited outright,
the rest requiring an agency's consent or licensure before the word may appear in a name.
bank, banc, banco, banque, banker, banking, trust company, savings and loan association, savings bank, credit union
Office of Financial Regulation (only financial institutions authorized to do business in Florida, their holding companies and subsidiaries, financial-institution trade organizations, and international development banks under ch. 663 pt. II may use these words; OFR enforces via cease-and-desist and injunction; violation is a third-degree felony)
Fla. Stat. 655.922(2)(a): restriction on transacting or soliciting business under any name or title containing 'bank,' 'banc,' 'banco,' 'banque,' 'banker,' 'banking,' 'trust company,' 'savings and loan association,' 'savings bank,' or 'credit union' by persons other than authorized financial institutions and the enumerated exempt entities
◎Verified
Prohibited
language stating or implying connection with a state or federal government agency or a US-chartered entity
Fla. Stat. 607.0401(1)(c): a corporate name 'may not contain language stating or implying that the corporation is connected with a state or federal government agency or a corporation or other entity chartered under the laws of the United States'; identical rule for LLCs at Fla. Stat. 605.0112(1)(d)
● accepted · ○ not accepted · ? unknown or conditional (hover for the recorded condition). Channel data covers 54 jurisdictions (2026-08-15 wave). Source links render on verified rows only.
Contact the filing office
Verified against the agency's own contact page
2026-08-13 - office hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM EST.
Source links render on verified rows only.
Reaching the filing office
◎Verified
Phone
850-245-6052 (New Filings) / 850-245-6050 (Amendments & RA changes) / 850-245-6059 (Annual Reports & Reinstatements) - pick by task; there is no single corporations line
Where to search Florida's UCC (Article 9) financing statements, on what terms, and what the office charges to file one. Verified against the filing office's own pages 2026-09-11. UCC division contacts are listed with the other filing-office contacts above.
UCC records - Florida◎Verified
Filing office
Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations - Florida Secured Transaction Registry (operated under contract by Florida UCC, LLC / Image API, LLC)
Filing-office statute
Fla. Stat. 679.5011(1)(b): "The Florida Secured Transaction Registry, in accordance with ss. 679.3011-679.3071, in all other cases"; transmitting utilities: "The Office of the Secretary of State, or the filing office authorized by s. 679.527"; 679.527 requires the registry be "open to the public and accessible through the Internet"
No search fee appears anywhere on the official fee page (https://floridaucc.com/fees lists only filing fees: UCC1 $35.00/$40.00, UCC3 $12.00/$17.00, UCC3 termination $0.00 on/after 10/01/1992, UCC5 $12.00, additional debtors/secured parties/pages $3.00). Fla. Stat. 679.527 requires the registry to be "open to the public and accessible through the Internet, to permit the review of all existing fili
$35 to file a UCC1 on an approved Florida or national form, or $40 on any other form, covering 1 debtor, 1 secured party and the first page; $3 for each additional debtor or secured party and $3 for each additional page or attached document; the same fee applies online and on paper
Filing channels
online or paper; Online filing at floridaucc.com (Florida Secured Transaction Registry, operated by Image API, LLC / Florida UCC, LLC for the Department of State); paper by mail to Image API, LLC, UCC Filings, P.O. Bo
UCC-3 amendments, as the office states the fees
UCC3 amendment or assignment $12 on an approved form or $17 on any other form, covering 1 debtor or 1 secured party change; termination of any UCC filed on or after 10/01/1992 is $0 (a UCC filed before that date is $12 to terminate); UCC5 information statement $12; $3 for each additional debtor, sec
Whether Florida requires a general state-level business license, and on what terms. A "None" is a verified finding cited to the agency's own pages, not a gap. Which of the state's filings ask for an industry code is in the next section.
State business license - Florida◎Verified
General state license
None - the state issues no general business license; licensing is occupation-specific and local
county and city licenses - The governing body of an incorporated municipality may levy, by appropriate resolution or ordinance, a business tax for the privilege of engaging in or managing any business, profession, or occupation within its jurisdiction.
Which of Florida's business filings ask the filer for an industry classification, and in what form. "No industry information" is a positive finding cited to the form. Where the state uses its own category list and the list was captured, it is expandable below. The NAICS and SIC reference lists are on their own page.
Industry code on Florida filings, 7 of 7 rows verified
Filing
Entity scope
Asks for
Required
Where on the form
Source
Formation
domestic profit corporation
no industry information
not asked
Sunbiz e-file Articles of Incorporation: name, principal address, mailing address, registered agent name/address/signature, purpose (optional except professiona
Items 1-13: name/alternate name, state of incorporation, FEI number, date of incorporation, duration, date first transacted business in Florida, principal offic
Sunbiz Annual Report: document number, entity name, FEIN, principal place of business address, mailing address, registered agent name/address/signature, princip
Florida has 67 county-equivalents: 67 countyies. Names and codes are the U.S. Census Bureau's (2020 national county codes); county seats and official sites are not yet published here.
All 67 county-equivalents
Florida county-equivalents
Name
Type
FIPS
Note
Alachua County
county
12001
Baker County
county
12003
Bay County
county
12005
Bradford County
county
12007
Brevard County
county
12009
Broward County
county
12011
Calhoun County
county
12013
Charlotte County
county
12015
Citrus County
county
12017
Clay County
county
12019
Collier County
county
12021
Columbia County
county
12023
DeSoto County
county
12027
Dixie County
county
12029
Duval County
county
12031
consolidated city-county
Escambia County
county
12033
Flagler County
county
12035
Franklin County
county
12037
Gadsden County
county
12039
Gilchrist County
county
12041
Glades County
county
12043
Gulf County
county
12045
Hamilton County
county
12047
Hardee County
county
12049
Hendry County
county
12051
Hernando County
county
12053
Highlands County
county
12055
Hillsborough County
county
12057
Holmes County
county
12059
Indian River County
county
12061
Jackson County
county
12063
Jefferson County
county
12065
Lafayette County
county
12067
Lake County
county
12069
Lee County
county
12071
Leon County
county
12073
Levy County
county
12075
Liberty County
county
12077
Madison County
county
12079
Manatee County
county
12081
Marion County
county
12083
Martin County
county
12085
Miami-Dade County
county
12086
Monroe County
county
12087
Nassau County
county
12089
Okaloosa County
county
12091
Okeechobee County
county
12093
Orange County
county
12095
Osceola County
county
12097
Palm Beach County
county
12099
Pasco County
county
12101
Pinellas County
county
12103
Polk County
county
12105
Putnam County
county
12107
St. Johns County
county
12109
St. Lucie County
county
12111
Santa Rosa County
county
12113
Sarasota County
county
12115
Seminole County
county
12117
Sumter County
county
12119
Suwannee County
county
12121
Taylor County
county
12123
Union County
county
12125
Volusia County
county
12127
Wakulla County
county
12129
Walton County
county
12131
Washington County
county
12133
Other records held
Other records held for Florida
Record
Value
Status
State trademark registration
$88 per class, 5 year term, $88 renewal
○Pending review
Change of registered agent
$25
○Pending review
Who must be named in public filings
LLC: articles of organization need no member/manager roster, but the ANNUAL REPORT must publicly state the name, title, and address of AT LEAST ONE person with authority to manage (Fla. Stat. 605.0212(1),(7)) - so total member anonymity survives only until the first May 1. Corp: annual report must state names and busin
○Pending review
These come from a research pass its own author graded CANDIDATES. They are shown because they are useful and withheld from every ranking on this site because they are not ratified.