Florida Fictitious Name (DBA) Registration
A fictitious name, or DBA, allows you to do business under a name other than your legal, registered business name. You can think of a DBA as a pseudonym or nickname—one you can use to rebrand or expand your business without having to form a whole new entity.
To register a Florida DBA, you’ll need to choose an available name, publish a legal notice of your intent to use a fictitious name in the local newspaper, and file an Application to Register a Fictitious Name with the Florida Secretary of State.
Want to save some hassle and let the experts handle it? Our registered agent and company formation clients can add DBA filing services anytime—we can even take care of the publication requirement so you don’t have to!
Doing-Business-As in Florida:
DBAs, Fictitious Names, and Trade Names
Let’s clear the air: a DBA (doing-business-as), a fictitious name, and a trade name are all different ways to refer to registered alternate names for a company. Florida uses the terms “fictitious name” and “trade name” interchangeably, and other states call them DBAs, but they all mean the same thing.
Also, registering a DBA does not create a separate business entity. This is really important for sole proprietorships and general partnerships out there who may be hoping their DBA can help establish some legal protection. Just because you have to register your fictitious name with the state doesn’t mean you’ve created a legal business entity separate from yourself! If you’re looking for limited liability or increased privacy, you’re better off forming an LLC than going straight for a DBA.
So, why might you want a DBA for your business? There are a few common reasons:
Expand your business
One way to use a DBA is to start a new branch or business line without forming a new business.
Let’s say you open an LLC to sell furniture and home goods. Business is going great for Maestro Home Furnishings LLC, but maybe a new opportunity comes your way to specialize in custom chairs. Instead of registering a second LLC, you could just register a DBA for Maestro Custom Alligator Chairs and operate under that name at a secondary location. Getting into something extremely niche like doll furniture? Register another DBA to run your online store under “Mini Maestro,” where you sell teeny tiny toy furniture.
Rebrand your business
It happens to the best of us—we start out with one goal in mind and end up pursuing a completely different tack. You may have started out selling handcrafted furniture, but now you’re making custom wood drumsticks and drum hoops, and Maestro Home Furnishings LLC just doesn’t set the right tone.
You could dissolve that LLC and start a new one. Or you can file a DBA and operate as Maestro Percussion instead.
Consolidate your branding under your website’s domain name
Sometimes, a business starts operating and advertising under its domain name. This usually happens because that name is easier to remember than the business name, or maybe because the business’s name wasn’t available as a domain and the business went with a different domain.
For example, “MaestroCustomAlligatorChairs.com” is a long domain, so you might get “GatorChairs.com” instead and start doing business under the DBA “Gator Chairs.”
Look more professional as a sole proprietor
If you’re a sole proprietor, your legal business name is your name. But not everyone wants to do business under their own name. That’s where having a DBA comes in. You can use a fictitious name to operate under a name that is more professional and better describes the kind of work you do. For instance, instead of offering drum lessons under Carl Lopez, you can use a DBA like Drum Maestro.
» Get access to DBA filing service and our Florida Business Identity Package when you sign up for Registered Agent Service or Company Formation Service with us. With Florida Business Identity, you can start marketing your business online in minutes with a custom domain, pre-built website with SSL security, and up to 10 email addresses at your domain. Plus, you’ll get a dedicated business phone line with a Florida area code to keep your personal and professional communications separate.
Get Liability Protection & Maintain Your Privacy with a Florida LLC
Florida Registered Agent offers an LLC Formation Package that’s a cut above the rest.
- LLC Formation
- Business Address
- Renewal Service Enrollment
- Same-Day Document Scans
- Registered Agent for One Year
- Attorney-Drafted Operating Agreement
- 90-day Free Trial of Website & Phone Service
- Lifetime Customer Service
$274 Total (Includes State Fees)
How to Register a Fictitious Name (DBA) in Florida
The Florida Fictitious Name Act states that to legally use a DBA in Florida, you must register that name with the state. Failing to comply with the registration requirement could result in a fine of $500 or more. If found to be in violation of the act, your business is also prohibited from maintaining a lawsuit against any person or business in Florida until your DBA filing has been submitted and approved (FL Stat Section 865.09(9)).
1. Choose an available name
Your fictitious name must be unique among fictitious names in Florida. If the name you want is already in use, you’ll have to choose a different DBA. To check the availability of your desired name, you can use the SunBiz Florida Fictitious Name Search.
Other rules to follow:
- Your fictitious name cannot include a business entity identifier like “Inc,” “LLC,” or “LP.”
- You cannot use the words “bank,” “banker,” “trust company,” “savings and loan association,” “savings bank,” “credit union,” or words with the same meaning (for example, “banco”) unless your business is a financial institution that has been authorized to use one of these terms.
» Registering your DBA in Florida prevents other businesses from using that name within the state. If you want to protect your name across state lines, you’ll need to trademark it. The trademarking process can be complicated, but we can take care of it for you with help from our in-house legal team. Just add “Trademark Service” at checkout or in your client account.
2. Publish a notice of your intent to use a fictitious name
Once you’ve decided on your DBA but before you file your application, you need to publish a legal notice stating your intent to use a fictitious name in a newspaper located in the same county as your principal place of business. You can publish in an online or printed newspaper that meets the following requirements:
- At least 25% of the paper is written in English.
- Issues are published at least once a week.
- The paper is available as a periodical in the county where it’s published.
- The paper was established at least a year ago.
Most publications have a template for fictitious name publications, but if not, make sure that your notice includes the following:
- Your desired fictitious name
- The legal name and address of your business
- Your intention to register your fictitious name with the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations and the county where you business is located
You don’t need to get proof of publication for your fictitious name application; you simply need to certify that your notice has been published on the application. Publication costs vary by paper and county. For example, it costs $35 to advertise in Tallahassee’s The Daily Sun and $95 to advertise in Miami Today.
3. File an Application to Register a Fictitious Name
The last step of getting your Florida DBA registered is submitting an Application to Register a Fictitious Name to the secretary of state. On your application, you must list the following information:
- Your Fictitious Name
- Your business’s mailing address
- The county where business is located
- The names and addresses of owner(s) of fictitious name
- The Florida Document Number received when the business was registered with the state (if applicable)
- Your Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN), if applicable
- The signature(s) of the owners
- An email address and phone number
The application fee is $50, and you can file by mail or online.
By mail:
Fictitious Name Registration
PO Box 6327
Tallahassee, FL 32314-1300
Why Have a Registered Agent File Your Florida DBA?
Filing your fictitious name application with Florida Registered Agent LLC can save you paperwork and stress.
- Local Expertise: Our professional filers know Florida business documents inside and out. We’ll make sure your DBA is filed right the first time.
- Privacy: If you use our business address on your company formation filing to protect your privacy, you can also use this address on your DBA filing.
- Convenience: We can take of everything for you, quickly and professionally. If you use our business address as your principal business address or are located in Pinellas County, we’ll publish your notice of intent to use a fictitious name so you don’t have to.
Our Price Breakdown
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| 365 Days of Florida Registered Agent Service | $49 |
| Fictitious Name Filing | $125 |
| State Fee | $50 |
| Publication Fee (Pinellas County) | $178 |
| Total | $402 |
Get DBA Filing Service with Registered Agent Service!
Doing Business with Your Fictitious Name
Here are a few things to remember as you do business with your Florida DBA:
Renew Your DBA
Florida fictitious name filings must be renewed every five years by December 31st of the fifth year after your initial filing. You can renew by mail with an Application for Renewal of Fictitious Name or online through SunBiz. Renewal costs $50.
Get a Business Bank Account
Although you don’t need to get a separate business bank account for your DBA, it can help keep your finances organized so that, come tax time, you don’t confuse income that you make under your legal business name and your DBA, income made under different DBAs, or personal and business income as a sole proprietor.
Establish Your Business Identity
To market effectively and maintain a professional image, you’ll want to get a domain and website for your DBA and a separate phone number for this business. That way, you’ll be able to reach and communicate with customers without confusing them (or yourself) because you share a web presence or number with another business name, or by using your personal contact information for your business.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does getting a Florida fictitious name cost?
The Florida fictitious name filing costs $50, but you’ll also need to pay a publication fee to publish your notice of intent to use DBA. You publication fee can range from $35 to over $100, depending on the newspaper and county.
How long does it take to get a DBA in Florida?
It depends on whether your file online or by mail and how long you have to wait for your notice of intent to be published. Your fictitious name application will be processed in 2-3 business days, while mailed-in applications take 3-5 business days from the date your application is received.
Can I use my Florida DBA in a different state?
If you want to use your DBA in a different state, you’ll have to register your business and your DBA in that state and pay the associated fees.
Do I need an EIN for my DBA?
Your DBA is not a separate business entity, so you don’t need an EIN for it.
How long is my Florida DBA valid?
DBA registration lasts five years in Florida. You must renew your registration by December 31st of the fifth year following your initial registration and every five years after that. The renewal fee is $50.
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