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How to Name Your Corporation in Florida

Learn how to conduct a Florida corporation search and register your business name.

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Naming Your Business

    If you’re searching for the right business name for your Florida C Corporation, we can help. We’ve got all the information you need on how to conduct a Florida Department of State business search, plus business naming rules, fictitious names, and trademarks.

    General Rules for Corporation Names

    These rules generally apply to all corporations, wherever they're formed.

    Specific Rules for Florida Business Names

    In addition to the general rules listed above, you'll need to follow some Florida corporation laws that apply to naming your business.


    For example, per the state's Corporation Code § 607.0401:

    A corporate name:

    • 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.
    • May not contain language stating or implying that the corporation is organized for a purpose other than that permitted in this chapter and its articles of incorporation.
    • 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.
    • 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. A name that is different from the name of another entity or filing due to any of the following is not considered distinguishable:
      • A suffix
      • A definite or indefinite article
      • The word “and” and the symbol “&”
      • The singular, plural, or possessive form of a word
      • A punctuation mark or a symbol
    Coming Up With the Ideal Business Name

    Finding the perfect business name can be difficult. We have a complete guide to choosing the right business name, but essentially, you'll want to choose a name that will:

    • Appeal to your customers
    • Be memorable enough to stand out
    • Best represent your product or services
    • Not be used by another business

    Need help coming up with business name ideas? Try our free name generator.

    Florida Corporation Name Search

    Once you have an idea of the name you want, perform a Florida business lookup to make sure another company isn't already using that name.


    You can use the FL Department of State's business search engine to perform a name search.


    You can also use our simple and convenient Business Name Search tool, which will search the state's business registry for you.

    Use Bizee’s Free Tool to Find Out Whether Your Preferred Name is Available for Your Corporation in Florida.

    Check Your Corporation Name
    Business Name Search Tool
    Trademarks and Service Marks

    You must be careful that your Florida Corporation name doesn't infringe on the trademark or service mark of another business. The easiest way to ensure you're not infringing is to perform a trademark search through Bizee. If the trademark isn't already in use, you can even register it yourself.

    Make Sure Your Business is Starting Off on the Right Foot When It Comes to Intellectual Property.

    Bizee’s Trademark Service
    Trademark
    Register a DBA in Florida

    You may do business under a name different from your corporation's legal name. While many states refer to this as an assumed name, trade name or "doing business as" (DBA), it's a fictitious name in Florida. You may decide to use a fictitious name for a variety of reasons.


    For example, your primary business may be called Sunshine Hospitality, Inc., and you have a chain called Sunshine Events and Catering. You could register a fictitious name just for that brand. You'd do that with by registering your fictitious name with the Department of State, Division of Corporations, or you can have Bizee do it on your behalf with our DBA service.


    In order to keep your business names unique, you can also use the Florida business entity search. You can perform a Florida fictitious name search to find out whether any other companies are already using the fictitious name you want. We can also help you with this via our DBA name service.


    Note: A trade name is not the same as a trademark. Learn more about trademark vs. DBA.

    Register and Manage a DBA or Fictitious Name Through Our Easy-To-Use Service.

    Get a DBA Name
    Assumed business name document
    Register Your Business Name With the Florida Secretary of State

    You’ve performed a Florida Department of State Corporation search, checked availability, followed the naming rules, and determined whether you need a fictitious name. Now you can register your corporation name in one of two ways.

    • If you don’t want to form your corporation right away, you can reserve the business name. You'll do this by submitting an application to the Department of State with the required information set out by Florida's Business Corporation Act § 607.04021. The name will be reserved for 120 days. If you're starting your business right away, you don't need to reserve a name.
    • If you’re ready to start your corporation, you can indicate your chosen business name when you file your Articles of Incorporation with the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations. Or you can have Bizee do this for you.

    Bizee Can Handle All Your Florida Corporation Formation Paperwork for you — and We’ll Do It for Free!

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    FAQs About Naming Your Corporation in Florida

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