Sunbiz (What Is It, Online Filing, Forms, Fees And Why It’s Important) (2024)

What is Sunbiz?

What can I find on sunbiz.org about Florida businesses?

Where do I find information on how to form or manage a corporation or LLC?

We will look at what is Sunbiz, what type of business filing can you do, what information is available on Sunbiz, how do you look up or search for a Florida business entity, what forms are available on the Sunbiz website, what can you file online, and more!

Be sure to read this entire post as we have loads of great content for you!

Are you ready?

Let’s get started!

What is Sunbiz

Sunbiz

Sunbiz or Sunbiz Florida (some even call it Florida Biz) is the name of a website managed by the Florida Department of State providing the public information with respect to the formation, registration, lookup, search and management of corporations, LLCs and Florida business filing.

By accessing Sunbiz.org (not sunbiz.com), you can handle the following:

Sunbiz is a great central hub to obtain all the information you need to either register a business in Florida, manage one or dissolve one.

Business filing

One of the important functions of Sunbiz is to formalize, register or recognize a Florida business entity.

If you are looking to incorporate a company, register an LLC or get a DBA (fictitious name) in Florida, you’ll need to file the necessary documents and perform your filing using Sunbiz.

For example:

Business information

A second important function or objective of Sunbiz is to transmit useful and relevant business information to the public.

If you are interested in doing business in Florida, it will be quite useful to read the information made available to you on Sunbiz division of corporations.

You can find information on the following topics:

• Business tax compliance
• Business registration
• Reference to small business resource guides
• Reference to Florida Chamber of Commerce
• Florida tax registration
• How to select a location for your business
• International trade information
• Reference to the Department of Environmental Protection
• Reference to business assistance programs
• Industry reports and trends

The Sunbiz Florida corporation website provides you with useful information about the types of business entities you can register to help you decide what is the right business for you.

Business lookup

A third important function of Sunbiz is to allow the public lookup and search of corporations, LLCs and businesses registered in Florida.

Using the Sunbiz business search tool, you can access useful information about businesses such as:

• Business name
• Name of the registered agent of a business
• Any possible trademark names
• EIN number or company’s tax ID number
• Company address

The Florida division of corporations is actually one of the most active corporate filing agencies in the United States.

Sunbiz search

A great tool offered on Sunbiz.org is the Sunbiz business search tool allowing you to search for businesses registered in Florida.

By making corporate and business filing information public, the state of Florida’s goal is to ensure businesses and individuals are protected when doing business with one another.

If you are not sure whether you are dealing with a legitimate business or not, you can quickly and easily look it up on Sunbiz.

Corporation search

You can search for an incorporated business such as:

The corporation records search can provide you with useful information about a registered business entity such as:

1. Entity name search
2. Entity officer name search
3. Entity registered agent name search
4. Entity EIN search
5. Entity zip code search
6. Entity street address search

For more on how to use the corporation records search, you can consult the corporation records search guide made available by the state of Florida.

Trademarks

In addition to doing a corporation search, you can lookup trademarks, trademark names and trademark owners registered in Florida.

You can do a trademark name search or a trademark owner name search to look up trademark related information.

Fictitious name search

On Sunbiz, you can perform DBA searches to find registered fictitious names (“doing business as” names).

You can perform the following searches:

1. Fictitious name search
2. Fictitious owner name search
3. Fictitious owner charter number
4. Fictitious owner EIN
5. Fictitious registration number

LLC search

The state of Florida allows you to look up and search for general partnerships (GP) and limited liability partnerships (LLC).

The following searches can be performed:

1. Partnership name search
2. Partnership agent search
3. Partner name search
4. Partnership EIN search

Liens and other

Subiz allows you to search for judgment liens, Federal lien registrations and cable franchises as well:

1. Judgment lien debtor name search
2. Judgment lien document search
3. Federal lien registration debtor name search
4. Federal lien registration document number search
5. Cable franchise name search
6. Cable franchise number search

Sunbiz registration

Filing for a business entity or registering a business in Florida can be done electronically using the Sunbiz e-filing tool.

You can:

1. Form a Florida LLC
2. Form a Florida corporation
3. Form a Florida non-profit corporation
4. Form a Florida limited partnership
5. Register a fictitious name in Florida

Sunbiz annual report

Every business entity registered in Florida must file an annual report to remain in good standing and avoid the administrative dissolution of their business entity.

The annual report filing allows you to maintain the “active status” of your business entity in Florida.

The objective of the annual report is to confirm basic information about your corporation so the public can view and access the most current information about your business entity.

You can file your annual report using the Sunbiz annual report filing tool.

Sunbiz business information update

If you have to report a change in your business information or you want to update your fictitious name registration information, you can submit such changes through Sunbiz.

Information that may need to be reported using the Florida business information update process can relate to:

1. Email address change
2. FEIN update
3. Change in business entity’s principal address
4. Change in business entity’s mailing address
5. Address change for any company officers, directors, managers or designated principals
6. Fictitious name owner address change

Sunbiz forms

What’s quite useful is that Sunbiz gives you online access to all the relevant forms you need to register, manage, update or dissolve your business.

To make your life easier, we are giving you a list of the Sunbiz.org forms that you can access on their website.

Sunbiz Florida corporation forms

You can access the following Florida corporation forms:

• Profit Articles of Incorporation
• Profit Articles of Amendment
• Profit Articles of Dissolution (Shares Issued)
• Profit Articles of Dissolution (Prior to the Issuance of Shares or Commencement of Business)
• Revocation of Dissolution of Profit Corporation
• Revocation of Dissolution of Non-Profit Corporation
• Article of Correction
• Restated Articles of Incorporation
• Resignation of Officers/Directors
• Resignation of a Registered Agent
• Change of a Registered Agent/Registered Office
• Statement of Withdrawal
• Profit Abandon Conversion
• Profit Abandon Share Exchange
• Profit Abandon Merger
• Profit Abandon Domestication
• Florida Profit Corporation into Florida LLC
• Florida Profit Corporation into “Other Business Entity”
• “Other Business Entity” into Florida Profit Corporation
• Profit Corporation Merger with other Corporation or Eligible Entity
• Non-Profit Corporation Merger with other Corporation

Sunbiz foreign corporation forms

You can access the following foreign corporation forms:

• Profit Qualification
• Non-Profit Qualification
• Amended Application for a Foreign Not for Profit Corporation
• Amended Application for a Foreign Profit Corporation
• Articles of Correction
• Resignation of Officers/Directors
• Resignation of Registered Agent
• Change of Registered Agent/Registered Office
• Withdrawal
• Resolution to Adopt an Alternate Name
• Resolution to Change the Alternate Name
• Resolution to Withdraw the Alternate Name
• Affidavit to Change Officers/Directors
• Florida Profit Corporation into “Other Business Entity”
• “Other Business Entity” into Florida Profit Corporation
• Profit Corporation Merger with other Corporation
• Non-Profit Corporation Merger with other Corporation

Sunbiz LLC forms

Here are the Florida LLC forms you can access on Sunbiz:

• Articles of Organization
• Amendment
• Statement of Registered Agent/Registered Office Change
• Resignation of a Registered Agent
• Resignation or Dissociation of Member or Manager
• Articles of Dissolution
• Notice of Dissolution
• Revocation of Dissolution
• Articles of Domestication
• Interest Exchange
• Abandon Merger
• Abandon Conversion
• Abandon Interest Exchange
• Abandon Domestication
• Florida LLC into Florida Profit Corporation
• Florida LLC into “Other Business Entity”
• “Other Business Entity” into Florida LLC
• Certificate of Merger for Florida LLC
• Statement of Withdrawal
• Statement of Denial
• Statement of Termination
• Statement of Authority
• Amend or Cancel Statement of Authority
• Statement of Correction

Subiz foreign LLC forms

Here are the foreign LLC forms you can access on Sunbiz:

• Qualification of Foreign LLC
• Amendment
• Resignation of Registered Agent
• Resignation or Dissociation of Member or Manager
• Statement of Registered Agent/Registered Office Change
• Certificate of Withdrawal of Authority to Transact Business
• Statement of Correction
• Written Consent to Adopt Alternate Name
• Resolution to Renounce Alternate Name
• Domestication
• Florida LLC into “Other Business Entity”
• “Other Business Entity” into Florida LLC
• Certificate of Merger for Florida LLC

Sunbiz general partnership forms

Here are the Florida general partnership forms you can access on Sunbiz:

• Registration
• Statement of Authority
• Amend Registration
• Amend Statement
• Cancel Registration
• Cancellation of Partnership Statement
• Statement of Dissociation
• Statement of Dissolution
• Statement of Denial
• Statement of Qualification for Florida or Foreign LLP
• Amend Statement
• LLP Annual Report Form Creation
• LLP Reinstatement Form Creation
• Cancellation of Partnership Statement
• Florida Partnership into “Other Organization”
• “Other Organization” into Florida Partnership
• Certificate of Merger for Florida Partnership
• Partnerships in Florida

Sunbiz limited partnership forms

Here are the Florida limited partnership forms you can access on Sunbiz:

• Certificate of Limited Partnership
• Amendment
• Certificate of Dissolution with Notice of Dissolution
• Notice of Dissolution
• Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office Address
• Resignation of Registered Agent
• Statement of Termination for Florida LP or LLLP
• Certificate of Revocation of Dissolution for Florida LP or LLLP
• Statement of Dissociation for General Partner of LP or LLLP
• Statement of Correction for Florida or Foreign LP or LLLP
• Florida LP or LLLP into “Other Organization”
• “Other Organization” into Florida LP or LLLP
• Certificate of Merger for Florida LP or LLLP

Sunbiz foreign limited partnership forms

Here are the foreign partnership forms you can access on Sunbiz:

• Application by Foreign Limited Partnership
• Amendment
• Cancellation
• Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office Address
• Resignation of Registered Agent
• Affidavit by Foreign LP or LLLP to Adopt an Alternate Name
• Statement of Correction for Florida or Foreign LP or LLLP
• Florida LP or LLLP into “Other Organization”
• “Other Organization” into Florida LP or LLLP
• Certificate of Merger for Florida LP or LLLP

Sunbiz fictitious name forms

Here are the Florida fictitious name forms you can access on Sunbiz:

• Fictitious Name Registration
• Fictitious Name Renewal
• Fictitious Name Cancellation

Sunbiz judgment lien forms

Here are the Florida judgment lien forms you can access on Sunbiz:

• Judgment Lien Certificate
• Second Judgment Lien Certificate
• Judgment Lien Correction Statement
• Judgment Lien Amendment Statement

Sunbiz trademark and service mark forms

Here are the Florida trademark and service mark forms you can access on Sunbiz:

• Registration
• Renewal
• Assignment
• Cancellation
• Owner’s Name Change

Sunbiz cable franchise forms

Here are the Florida cable franchise forms you can access on Sunbiz:

• Application for Certificate of Franchise Authority Affidavit
• Application to Amend Certificate of Franchise Authority
• Application for Renewal of Certificate of Franchise Authority

Sunbiz miscellaneous forms

Here are other Florida business entity forms you can access on Sunbiz:

• Profit Corporation – Foreign Name Registration
• Profit Corporation – Foreign Name Renewal
• Non-Profit Corporation – Foreign Name Registration
• Non-Profit Corporation – Foreign Name Renewal
• Alien Business, Financial Institution or Telehealth Provider
• Alien Business Registered Agent Change
• Alien Business Registered Agent Resignation
• Alien Business Application of Withdrawal
• Declaration of Trust
• Domestication Foreign to Florida
• Domestication Florida to other Jurisdiction
• Non-Profit Domestication
• Florida Profit Benefit Corporation
• Florida Profit Social Purpose Corporation
• Articles of Amendment for Florida Benefit or Social Purpose Corporation

Sunbiz business dissolution

A corporation, non-profit corporation, LLC or foreign entity registered in Florida looking to withdraw its registration or dissolve the business entity can do so using Sunbiz.

Here are the links for you to file your articles of dissolution or foreign entity withdrawal:

1. Articles of dissolution for Florida corporation
2. Articles of dissolution for Florida non-profit corporation
3. Articles of dissolution for Florida LLC
4. Foreign entity withdrawal

Sunbiz fictitious name

If you have registered a fictitious name in Florida for your business, you must file a fictitious name renewal.

In Florida, your fictitious name registration and renewals are valid for 5 years and expire on the 31st of December of the final year.

It’s important you keep track of your fictitious name registration so you can file the renewal in due course.

You can file the Sunbiz fictitious registration renewal tool.

Sunbiz certification

The Florida Department of State provides businesses registered in Florida with certifications called “Certificate of Status”.

A “Certificate of Status” is the same thing as a “Certificate of Good Standing” or a “Letter of Good Standing”.

Using Sunbiz, you can:

1. Order a Florida Certificate of Status
2. Perform an online validation of a Certificate of Status

Sunbiz EIN

You can search for a company or business entity in Florida by doing a Sunbiz EIN search.

Using Sunbiz, you can manage or change your existing business information such as updating your Sunbiz EIN.

Sunbiz makes a lot of useful information available to you about your business tax compliance and EIN related information if you are looking to start a business or if you are managing a current business.

You can access:

1. IRS business tax compliance information
2. Florida tax registration information
3. Small business and self-employed tax center
4. Form SS-4 – Application for Employer Identification Number

Sunbiz contact

You can reach Sunbiz or the Department of State regarding the Division of Corporations at the following:

1. Sunbiz Florida phone numbers
2. Department of State locations and mailing addresses
3. Sunbiz email

Sunbiz FAQ

What is Sunbiz in Florida?

Sunbiz is an online directory, index or registry of business entities registered in the state of Florida.

Sunbiz is managed by the Florida Department of State, the Division of Corporations.

The Florida Sunbiz has a few essential functions:

How long does it take for Sunbiz to process documents?

Sunbiz regularly updates its website to indicate their processing delays for various types of documents filed.

You can consult the Sunbiz document processing dates for more information.

What are the fees to pay to register a business or LLC in Florida?

If you are looking to register a business in Florida, get a Certificate of Status, file an annual report or do any other transaction, you can consult the fees posted on Sunbiz to this effect.

Sunbiz Florida publishes the following fees on its website:

• Filing fees
• Registered agent designation fees
• Certificate of Status fees
• Annual report fees
• Name reservation fees
• Dissolution or withdrawal fees
• Merger fees
• Reinstatement fees
• Amendment of record fees

You can consult the Sunbiz fees for:

• Corporation fees
• Limited liability fees
• General partnership fees
• Limited partnership fees
• Fictitious name fees
• Judgment lien fees
• Trademark and service mark fees

How do you form a corporation in Florida?

You can form a corporation by filing your Florida articles of incorporation online using Sunbiz or sending it to the Florida Department of State by mail at:

How do you form an LLC in Florida?

You can form an LLC by filing your Florida articles of organization online using Sunbiz or sending it to the Florida Department of State by mail at:

Can you file your documents online with the Department of State of Florida?

Yes, there are many documents that you can file online with the Florida Department of State by going to sunbiz.org.

For example, you can electronically file the documents to form a limited liability company, corporation, limited partnership and others.

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