Before forming a limited liability company in Florida, all business entities must follow the Secretary of State’s LLC naming guidelines, which include conducting a business name search.
The goal of this guide is to show you how to check the availability of your desired business name in Florida. Along with following Florida’s Secretary of State’s guidelines, it is important to ensure that your chosen entity name is only used by your company.
1. Discover the Guidelines for Naming Your LLC
Before completing your Florida business name search, we recommend double-checking that your company name adheres to the guidelines.
Choosing an LLC name is the first and most essential step in the process of forming your LLC. Choose a name that meets the requirements of naming a company in Florida.
In brief, the following are the naming guidelines:
- You must use the abbreviations (LLC or L.L.C.) or "limited liability company" in the name of your entity.
- As you choose a name for your company, it is critical to avoid increasing confusion between your LLC and governmental agencies such as the Treasury.
- If you choose to include restricted words like Bank or Attorney in your business name, you may be required to complete additional paperwork or retain the services of a licensed professional such as a lawyer.
2. Conduct a Florida LLC Name Search
Using specific tools, such as the Florida Business Entity Search before filing a name reservation will facilitate your Florida LLC search.
To check if your potential entity name is available in Florida, enter the name and exclude identifiers such as “LLC,” and leave the remaining boxes blank. That being said, similar names will be shortlisted, and you can easily identify the availability of your chosen business name.
Moreover, when registering an LLC name online, the website prompts you to perform a thorough search first to avoid rejection. After you have registered your business name, Florida requires you to advertise it in a newspaper.
What To Do If Your Preferred Name Is Unavailable
After conducting a Florida Secretary of State business search and glancing through the Business Entity Records, your preferred name was discovered to be in use. So, what are the steps that follow?
If your LLC is registered in Florida, your sole option is to come up with a new legal name. You must remember that your company name should not look to be comparable to the one you chose earlier. Then, as soon as you’ve selected a legal business name that corresponds to the Secretary of State’s naming laws, reserve it.
This stage may become increasingly challenging for foreign firms.
Although your LLC may be recognized by its original name in other states, due to Florida’s naming restrictions, you may need to come up with a new one.
3. Choose a Web Domain Name
Holding a domain name that matches your chosen business name is a small but important step to take before registering an LLC. You must ensure that potential clients may easily find your company through a simple search.
You may also go through the list of domain names available on popular domain registrars like GoDaddy and find a URL that complements your selected LLC name.
Find a Domain Now
4. Reserve Your LLC Name in Florida
All questions and requests related to naming an LLC are handled by the Florida Department of State. Business names can be reserved for a period of 120 days.
In addition, the Department of State does not provide a form for reserving an LLC name. Rather, applicants must submit a letter to the state outlining their preferred name and contact information.
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Additional Considerations
Apart from your state’s naming regulations, there are numerous crucial aspects to consider while naming your company. Furthermore, searching in different networks and sources is usually advantageous; hence, our staff suggests that you perform comprehensive research through Social Media and Trademarks, and you can be confident that you will be able to secure your preferred company name.
Search for a Trademark
Finding a trademark will assist you in developing many components of your firm, such as the name, logo, and even a slogan. It will also allow you to avoid potentially expensive lawsuits. As a consequence, knowing that another company has trademarked the name you’ve chosen does not prevent you from utilizing it.
However, identifying the firm that owns your chosen corporate name, as well as their industry and location, is crucial to avoiding mistakenly infringing on the property rights of the business owner.
The following are the steps for conducting a trademark search:
- Conduct a Florida trademark search to find out if your desired business name or logo is available for you to take.
- Look through the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s electronic records and check if the name you have chosen is taken by other local companies.
Search through Social Media Platforms
Before establishing your LLC, it is crucial to carry out a Florida LLC lookup. The name you come up with should be legal and unique amongst the other businesses in the state.
Once you have completed the Florida Entity Search and finalized your company name, you may need to choose a web domain name that matches it in order to enable your potential clients to find your business online.
Simply by completing the Florida LLC name reservation form, you may set yourself apart from the competitors. Securing your desired Florida LLC name can help you move forward in the creation of your business.
Conclusion
Before establishing your LLC, it is crucial to carry out a Florida LLC lookup. The name you come up with should be legal and unique amongst the other businesses in the state.
Once you have completed the Florida Entity Search and finalized your company name, you may need to choose a web domain name that matches it in order to enable your potential clients to find your business online.
Simply by completing the Florida LLC name reservation form, you may set yourself apart from the competitors. Securing your desired Florida LLC name can help you move forward in the creation of your business.
Below are the crucial steps that should be considered if you wish to form an LLC in Florida:
- Choose your LLC name. Make sure to do a Florida LLC name check and that it meets the state’s naming requirements before filing your documentation.
- Choose a registered agent. All LLCs are required have an agent in charge of managing the service of process. It might be a person or an entity prepared to accept legal paperwork on behalf of your company.
- File a certificate of formation. In Florida, to successfully start an LLC, you must submit your articles of organization with the Division of Corporations.
- Submit an operating agreement. This document outlines how your LLC will operate, including how to address financial agreement issues and any potential lawsuits.
- Obtain an EIN. Additional tax and regulatory standards, such as getting an EIN, business permits, and LLC documents, will be necessary prior to creating your Florida LLC.
It is important to have a business name that adheres to the Florida Secretary of State’s naming rules. Therefore, the name of your LLC must be comprised of the following:
- Limited Liability Company;
- LLC; or
- L.L.C.
It is ideal not to use terminology that indicates the organization was founded for a purpose not stated in its articles of organization.
It is essential to acquire authority to modify the name; if your LLC is comprised of more than one member, check your operating agreement to see if you have the right to alter your articles of organization.
Moreover, if you have concluded that you have the power to do so, you can amend your records with the State of Florida’s Division of Corporation. Next, you can file the Articles of Amendment to Articles of Organization along with a $25 filing fee.
Prior to completing your application, you should conduct comprehensive research to find out the Florida LLC name availability. This step can be done using the website of the Florida Division of Corporations.
You may search the Florida Division of Corporations website using the following terms:
- The name of the entity
- The officer name
- The name of the registered agent
- The name of the companion
- The EIN/FEI
- The document identification number
This Florida business search is entirely free of charge.
- In Florida, the cost of forming an LLC online is $125. When the LLC’s Articles of Organization are submitted, this fee is paid to the Florida Division of Corporations.
- LLCs in Florida are required to file an annual report with the Secretary of State, which costs $138.75.
- Filing a DBA name will cost you $50.
- Order certified copies of your Florida business records from the Secretary of State for $30.
- You may receive a Florida certificate of good standing by contacting the Secretary of State and paying the $5 cost.
This step isn’t required by the state law, but it is recommended if your LLC name doesn’t reflect your brand, product, or service. It is handled by Florida’s Division of Corporations.
A Florida LLC must register a DBA if it wishes to operate under a name other than the name under which it was initially incorporated. This specifically applies to companies that are a corporation, a partnership, or a sole proprietorship.
What's Next?
Now that you have your entity name, it's time to take the next steps to establish your Florida LLC. Check out our full guide on how to form an LLC in Florida, where we can guide you every step of the way.
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