How to Look Up an LLC in Florida (2026)
To look up an LLC in Florida, search the state's business entity database. The Department of State's Division of Corporations runs it through the Sunbiz portal. The search is free. You don't need an account.
You can search by entity name, registered agent, FEI/EIN or document number. Pick whichever one matches what you already know.
This guide covers each search method. It also tells you who to contact if the online tool doesn't answer your question.
Quick Summary
- Sunbiz is the Division of Corporations' free search tool and the official record. Check it directly instead of relying on a third-party lookup site.
- A name search that comes up empty doesn't rule out a company. Try the registered agent field before you assume it isn't registered.
- A Florida LLC search often won't show an owner's name. State law doesn't require member or manager names on the formation filing.
| Search Method | What to Enter | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Entity name | The business name, full or partial | General lookups and name checks |
| Registered agent | The agent or officer's name | Finding entities tied to one agent |
| FEI/EIN or document number | The entity's federal tax ID, or its Sunbiz filing number | An exact match when you already have one on hand |
How to Search Florida's Sunbiz Business Entity Database
Start every method below at the Division of Corporations' Sunbiz search tool, since each option is a different field on that same page.
1. Search by Entity Name
Enter the company name into the Entity Name field. Drop the LLC suffix if your first search comes up empty, and try just the first word or two. Sunbiz matches by the start of the name, so a name with your text buried in the middle won't come up.
2. Search by Registered Agent
Enter a name in the Officer/Registered Agent or Registered Agent Name field. That surfaces the entities tied to that person or firm. Before you appoint your own agent, compare the best registered agent services in Florida. Don't just pick the first name you recognize from someone else's filing.
3. Search by FEI/EIN or Document Number
If you already have the company's federal employer identification number, or its Sunbiz document number, use those instead. The FEI/EIN and Detail by Document Number fields skip the name-matching step and pull the record directly.
Sunbiz can also search by street address or ZIP code. That helps when you're narrowing results down to one location.
What a Florida LLC Search Won't Show You
Florida law sets out what an LLC's Articles of Organization must state. The list is short: the company's name, its principal office address and its registered agent's name and address [1]. Manager and member names are only an optional addition. They aren't required.
So a Sunbiz search often turns up the company and its registered agent. It usually won't show the names of the people who own it. That changes only if the LLC chose to list managers or members when it filed.
A full ownership list is never filed with the state. Neither is the operating agreement. For anything beyond what Sunbiz shows, contact the company directly. Or work with a business attorney who can request records the public search doesn't cover.
Search Florida's Fictitious Name (DBA) Registry
A business that operates under a name other than its legal LLC name has a fictitious name, or DBA. That name lives in a separate Sunbiz tool from the entity search above.
The fictitious name registry has its own search options. You can search by the fictitious name, the owner's name, the owner's charter number or the owner's FEI/EIN. A registration-number search works too. A business you can't find in the main entity search may still turn up here.
Contact the Division of Corporations
The Division of Corporations' Internet Support Section takes calls and emails about the search tool directly. Reach out for anything the online search can't answer.
- Phone: 850-245-6939
- Email: corphelp@dos.fl.gov
- Hours: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern, Monday through Friday
Pick email over the phone if you want the answer in writing. Call instead when you'd rather talk someone through the search itself. That's the better move if you're not sure which field will surface the record you need.
Why You Might Need to Look Up a Florida LLC
Readers turn to this search for a handful of common situations:
- Checking that a vendor, partner or customer is a real, currently registered Florida company before you sign a contract with them.
- Checking whether a name is still available before starting an LLC in Florida under it.
- Tracking down every business tied to one registered agent, using that search field directly.
A quick search settles most of these questions on its own, so confirm a company's status yourself instead of trusting someone else's word for it. Our national guide to how to look up an LLC covers every other state's registry, for a business outside Florida.
FAQs
What Is the Sunbiz Search Tool Used For?
People use the Sunbiz search tool to confirm a company is currently registered, check who its registered agent is and pull basic filing details before signing a contract. It only covers entities filed with Florida's Division of Corporations.
How Often Is the Sunbiz Database Updated?
Sunbiz's database is updated daily. Images of electronic filings appear within 3 business days after the state processes them. Images of non-electronic filings appear within 5 business days of examination.
Can I Search Sunbiz with Only Part of a Company Name?
Yes, a partial company name works on Sunbiz, as long as you type the start of the name. The tool matches names beginning with what you enter, so text buried in the middle of a name won't match.
What Should I Do if a Florida LLC Search Comes Up Empty?
If a Florida LLC search comes up empty, try it again with just the first word of the name. Or try the registered agent field instead, using whoever represents the company. Check the fictitious name registry too, since the business may operate under a different name.
References:
- http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0600-0699/0605/Sections/0605.0201.html
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