Florida Corporation Names: Rules, Requirements, and How to Register
Learn the rules for naming a Florida corporation — required designators, name availability checks, fictitious name registration, and how to reserve your name with the Florida Division of Corporations.
Bizee Editorial Staff
Editorial Team
Florida corporation naming rules at a glance
Filing fee: $35 to amend a corporation name (Articles of Amendment); $0 + state fee to form a new corporation
Processing time: [PROCESSING_TIME] — check the Florida Division of Corporations for current times
State agency: Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations (Sunbiz) — dos.fl.gov/sunbiz
Annual report due: Between January 1 and May 1 each year
State tax rate: Florida corporate income tax rate: 5.5% (as of current filing year)
Florida corporation naming rules
Florida corporation names must include a required corporate designator, be distinguishable from all existing entity names on file with the Florida Division of Corporations, and can't imply a purpose the corporation isn't authorized to carry out. These rules are set out in Florida Statutes section 607.0401 and apply to every for-profit corporation formed in the state.
Required corporate designators
Every Florida for-profit corporation name must include one of the following words or abbreviations to signal that it's a corporation. Florida law accepts both punctuated and unpunctuated forms, so "Inc." and "Inc" are both valid.
Corporation or Corp. (or Corp)
Incorporated or Inc. (or Inc)
Company or Co. (or Co)
Meeting the designator requirement doesn't guarantee name approval. The Florida Division of Corporations makes the final call during the filing review, so a name search before you file is worth doing.
Name distinguishability: what counts and what doesn't
Your corporation name must be distinguishable from every other entity name already on file with the Florida Division of Corporations. Florida's rules on what counts as "distinguishable" are stricter than many people expect — several common variations don't create a new, distinct name under state law.
The following differences do not make a name distinguishable in Florida:
Swapping one corporate suffix for another — "Corp." vs. "Inc." vs. "Co." are treated as the same
Adding or removing articles like "a," "an," or "the"
Replacing "and" with "&" or vice versa
Changing singular, plural, or possessive forms (adding or removing an "s" or apostrophe)
Adding, removing, or changing punctuation, hyphens, commas, slashes, or periods — so "MIB," "M.I.B.," and "M-I-B" are treated as the same name
This catches a lot of founders off guard. If a business named "Coastal Builders Inc" is already on file, "Coastal Builders Corp" won't pass the distinguishability check — the suffix swap doesn't count.
How to check name availability in Florida
Before filing your Articles of Incorporation, search the Florida Division of Corporations' name database at dos.fl.gov/sunbiz to confirm your proposed name isn't already taken. The Division of Corporations recommends this preliminary search because proposed names are checked against its records during filing — and a conflict means rejection.
When you search, apply the distinguishability rules above. Don't assume a suffix swap or punctuation change makes your name available — run the search with the core words of your name and review what comes back.
How to reserve a corporation name in Florida
If you've found an available name but aren't ready to file your Articles of Incorporation yet, the Florida Division of Corporations allows you to reserve the name. A reservation holds the name on the state's records while you finish preparing your formation documents.
Name reservations are filed with the Florida Division of Corporations. Check dos.fl.gov/sunbiz for the current reservation fee and the reservation period length, as these can change.
Fictitious name registration in Florida
If your corporation does business under any name other than its exact legal name as it appears in its Articles of Incorporation, Florida law requires you to register that name as a fictitious name with the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations. Other states call this a DBA ("doing business as") or assumed name — Florida uses the term "fictitious name."
Florida has a step that surprises many business owners: before you file the fictitious name registration, you must advertise the name at least once in a newspaper located in the county where your corporation's principal place of business is. You keep proof of that publication yourself — you don't file it with the Division of Corporations. A P.O. box can't serve as your principal place of business address for this registration.
How to change a Florida corporation name
To change your corporation's legal name, you need to file Articles of Amendment to your Articles of Incorporation with the Florida Division of Corporations. The filing fee is $35. The amendment must include your current corporate name, your Florida document number, and the exact new name as it will appear on the public record.
For-profit corporations use the Articles of Amendment – Profit Corporation form. These amendments are submitted by mail or in person — the standard online e-filing system doesn't accept amendment filings. If your name change also affects your federal tax records, the IRS has a separate process for updating your business name.
Trademarks and service marks
A name that passes Florida's availability check can still infringe on a federally registered trademark. State name availability and federal trademark clearance are separate checks — the Division of Corporations doesn't screen for trademark conflicts when it approves your name.
Before you file, search the USPTO's trademark database at uspto.gov to check whether your proposed name conflicts with an existing trademark or service mark. If you're unsure how to read the results, a legal professional can help you figure out whether there's a real conflict.
FAQ
Yes. Florida law requires every for-profit corporation name to include "Corporation," "Incorporated," or "Company" — or an accepted abbreviation: "Corp.," "Inc.," or "Co." Both punctuated and unpunctuated forms are valid, so "Corp" and "Corp." are both acceptable under Florida Statutes section 607.0401.
Search the Florida Division of Corporations' name database at dos.fl.gov/sunbiz before you file. The Division of Corporations checks your proposed name against its records during filing, so a conflict means your filing gets rejected. When you search, remember that suffix swaps, punctuation changes, and article additions don't make a name distinguishable — search the core words of your name.
Yes, you can reserve a name with the Florida Division of Corporations if you're not ready to file your Articles of Incorporation yet. A reservation holds the name on the state's records while you finish your formation documents. File the reservation through dos.fl.gov/sunbiz and check the current fee and reservation period, as those details can change.
Yes. If your corporation operates under any name other than its exact legal name, you need to register that name as a fictitious name with the Florida Division of Corporations. Before filing, you must advertise the fictitious name at least once in a newspaper in the county where your principal place of business is located. You keep proof of that publication — you don't file it with the state.
No. Florida doesn't treat corporate suffix differences as making a name distinguishable. Swapping "Inc." for "Corp." or "Co." on an otherwise identical name won't pass the Division of Corporations' availability check. The same applies to punctuation changes, adding or removing articles like "the," and singular-versus-plural variations — none of those create a distinct name under Florida law.
File Articles of Amendment to your Articles of Incorporation with the Florida Division of Corporations. The filing fee is $35. Use the Articles of Amendment – Profit Corporation form, and submit it by mail or in person — the standard online e-filing system doesn't accept amendments. Include your current name, your Florida document number, and the exact new name.
No. The Florida Division of Corporations checks only whether your name is distinguishable from other entities on its state records — it doesn't screen for federal trademark conflicts. A name that clears the state availability check can still infringe on a registered trademark. Search the USPTO database at uspto.gov separately, and talk to a legal professional if you're unsure whether a conflict exists.
