Sunbiz search: Florida business lookup
How to use Sunbiz, the Florida Division of Corporations site, to look up an LLC or company, plus fictitious names, DBPR licenses and our directory.
Sunbiz.org is the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations website. Its free Sunbiz business search finds corporations and LLCs by name, officer or registered agent, FEI/EIN or document number. A record shows status, registered agent, officers, annual reports and filed documents. Fictitious names have their own Sunbiz search, and contractor licenses are checked with the DBPR.
Updated October 2026Search our directory first
USA Business Search lists Florida businesses from Foursquare open place data and owner submissions, with phone numbers, websites and addresses. Begin at the Florida hub or a city:
Florida's seasonal population means many service businesses open, close or move each year. If a listing looks stale, compare it with the Sunbiz record, and owners can claim the listing to update it. We do not verify or endorse listed businesses.
How to run a Sunbiz company search
Start at the Sunbiz search page. Pick the search type that matches what you know:
- Entity name: the standard Sunbiz LLC lookup. Type the first words of the name; results are alphabetical.
- Officer or registered agent: search a person's name, last name first, to see every company they're listed on.
- FEI/EIN number: useful when you have an invoice or W-9 but not the exact name.
- Document number: the ID Florida assigns each filing, such as an L-number for LLCs.
- ZIP code or address: find entities at a principal or mailing address.
Click a result to open the detail page. Per the Sunbiz records guide, it shows the document number, FEI/EIN, filing date, status (Active or Inactive), principal and mailing addresses, the registered agent's name and address, officers or authorized persons, and the dates of the last three annual reports. Document images filed since 1996 can be viewed and downloaded free.
Florida lists officers and managers on every annual report, so Sunbiz is one of the better state databases for seeing who runs a company. An "Inactive" status with the note "Admin Dissolution for Annual Report" means the company missed its report.
A certificate of status costs $5 for an LLC or $8.75 for a corporation, as of October 2026, per the Sunbiz fee schedule.
Fictitious names are a state filing in Florida
Unlike many states, Florida does not use county DBA filings. A fictitious name is registered with the Division of Corporations and appears in its own Sunbiz search. Registration costs $50 and lasts five years, ending December 31 of the fifth year, per the fictitious name registration page. The record shows the owner's name and address, whether a person or an entity, so one search usually tells you who is behind a DBA.
Check a contractor or professional license
Florida licenses contractors statewide through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). Use the DBPR license search by name, license number, city or license type.
- Construction Industry Licensing Board: general, building, residential, roofing, plumbing, mechanical, pool and air conditioning contractors. A "certified" license (starting with C) is valid statewide. A "registered" license (starting with R) is valid only in the local area where the contractor holds a local certificate.
- Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board: electrical, alarm system and specialty electrical contractors.
- County and city licensing: many counties license trades the state doesn't, such as handymen, painters or fence installers, and issue local business tax receipts.
After a hurricane, unlicensed contractors move into hard-hit areas quickly. Florida law treats unlicensed contracting during a declared emergency more harshly, but the best protection is to check DBPR before you sign. Our plumbers in Florida page is a starting point for a shortlist.
Can't find the business on Sunbiz?
A sole proprietor using their own legal name has nothing to file on Sunbiz, and general partnerships are not required to register. Try the fictitious name search, then an officer search with the owner's name. Most Florida counties and cities also issue a local business tax receipt, and many publish searchable records, which can confirm a storefront address. If the company is a Delaware or other out-of-state LLC, look for a foreign registration on Sunbiz; a business that works in Florida without one is a warning sign.
Starting a business in Florida
Form an LLC
Articles of Organization cost $125: a $100 filing fee plus $25 for the registered agent designation. See the Sunbiz fee schedule; figures are as of October 2026.
Annual report
Every LLC and corporation files an annual report between January 1 and May 1. It costs $138.75 for an LLC and $150 for a corporation. Filing after May 1 adds a $400 late fee, and unfiled entities are dissolved in September. Confirm on the annual report page.
Sunbiz search FAQs
What is Sunbiz?
Sunbiz.org is the official website of the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations. It is where Florida businesses register and where anyone can search business records for free.
Is the Sunbiz business search free?
Yes. Searching, viewing records and downloading filed document images are free. Certificates and certified copies have fees.
How do I find the owner of a Florida LLC on Sunbiz?
Open the LLC's detail page and read the authorized persons or managers listed from the latest annual report. You can also run an officer search to see other companies the same person is linked to.
Can I search Sunbiz by EIN?
Yes. Sunbiz offers an FEI/EIN search, which matches the federal number reported on the entity's filings.
How do I check a Florida contractor's license?
Search the DBPR license portal at MyFloridaLicense.com by name or license number, and confirm any county license where the work will happen.
Own a Florida business?
Add your business to USA Business Search free, or claim your existing listing to correct your phone, website and hours.
