What does 'Inactive' status mean on Sunbiz?

Inactive means the entity is no longer in good standing, often because it was administratively dissolved for failing to file its annual report, or because it was voluntarily dissolved. An active entity shows a status of 'Active.'

Can I check a Florida business name's availability with the search?

Yes. Searching existing names shows whether your desired name is distinguishable from names already registered. A clear search is not a guarantee; the Division makes the final determination when you file your Articles.

Florida Business Entity Search: Sunbiz Lookup Guide (2026)

Q: Is the Florida business entity search free?

Yes. The Sunbiz search operated by the Florida Division of Corporations is completely free. You can search by entity name, officer or registered agent name, document number, FEI/EIN, or ZIP code, and view filings at no charge.

Q: How do I find a Florida LLC's registered agent?

Search the entity by name on Sunbiz and open its detail record, which lists the current registered agent, the registered office address, the principal address, officers or managers, and the filing history.

Q: Can I get certified copies from Sunbiz?

Yes. While searching and viewing filings is free, ordering a certified copy or a certificate of status carries a fee. You can request these through the Division of Corporations.

Fact-checked by the LegalGlass editorial team against primary sources · Published Aug 6, 2026 · Last updated Aug 6, 2026

You look up a Florida business for free on Sunbiz, the public database of the Florida Division of Corporations. Search by entity name, officer or registered agent name, document number, or FEI/EIN to confirm a company's exact legal name, its Active or Inactive status, its registered agent, and its annual report history. There is no fee to search or view filings; only certified copies carry a charge.

Quick Answer

Database: Sunbiz - Florida Division of Corporations, Department of State
Cost: Free to search and view filings
Search by: Entity name, officer/agent name, document number, FEI/EIN, ZIP
Shows: Legal name, status, registered agent, officers, annual reports
Status codes: Active (good standing) or Inactive (dissolved)
Certified copies: Available from the Division for a fee

What Sunbiz Is

Sunbiz is the public website of the Florida Division of Corporations, the office within the Department of State that registers business entities. It holds the official record of every Florida LLC, corporation, limited partnership, and other filing entity, along with their annual reports and amendments. Unlike some states that charge per search, Florida makes the entire database free to search and view. That makes Sunbiz the first stop for verifying a company before you sign a contract, extend credit, or serve legal papers. For the national overview of these tools, see our business entity search hub, and compare the process in a fee-based state on our Texas business entity search page.

Ways to Search on Sunbiz

Sunbiz offers several search paths, which is useful when you do not know a company's exact legal name. You can search by:

Search type	Use it when
Entity name	You know the business name and want its record and status
Officer / registered agent name	You know a person and want the entities they are tied to
Document number	You have the Division's filing number for a direct lookup
FEI / EIN number	You have the federal tax ID and want the matching entity
ZIP code	You want entities registered at a location

The officer/registered-agent search is especially valuable for due diligence, because it reveals every Florida entity linked to a given individual. That cross-reference can surface shell entities, related companies under common ownership, or a pattern of dissolved businesses tied to the same person - signals a name-only search would miss. When you know only a document number, that path is the fastest, since it points straight to a single record without wading through similarly named entities. If you are unsure of the exact legal name, start with a partial entity-name search and narrow from the list of matches, watching for suffixes like "LLC," "Inc.," or "Corp." that distinguish otherwise similar names.

What the Record Shows

Opening an entity's detail page on Sunbiz gives you a full snapshot: the exact legal name and any prior names; the entity type and filing date; the current status (Active or Inactive); the principal and mailing addresses; the registered agent and registered office; the officers, directors, or authorized managers; the FEI/EIN if reported; and the complete filing history, including each Articles of Organization and every annual report. Most images of the filed documents are viewable and downloadable at no cost, which is why banks and attorneys rely on Sunbiz for verification.

How to Run a Search, Step by Step

Open the Sunbiz search page. Go to the Division of Corporations search on dos.fl.gov and choose "Search by Entity Name" (or another search type).
Enter your term. Type the business or person name; partial names return a list of matches.
Open the record. Click the entity to view its status, registered agent, and filing history.
Download filings. View or download the Articles and annual reports free, or order a certified copy if you need an official version.

Reading Florida Entity Status

The status field tells you whether a company is in good standing. Active means the entity is current on its filings. Inactive covers several situations: an LLC that was administratively dissolved for missing its annual report (due each year by May 1), an entity that voluntarily dissolved, or one whose registration lapsed. An administratively dissolved Florida LLC can generally apply for reinstatement by filing the missing reports and paying the reinstatement fee. If a counterparty's record shows Inactive, ask questions before relying on the entity's contracts or liability shield, since dissolution can affect both.

Common Uses and Name Checks

A Sunbiz search supports the same everyday needs as any state entity lookup. Founders use it to confirm a proposed name is distinguishable before filing Articles of Organization. Attorneys find a current registered agent to serve process. Lenders and vendors verify good standing before a deal. Buyers confirm status and ownership during an acquisition. Remember that a clear name search is not a guarantee of availability - the Division makes the final call at filing - and a name available in Florida can still infringe a federal trademark. If you are ready to form, see how to form an LLC in Florida; if you are closing a company, see how to dissolve an LLC.

What Sunbiz Does and Does Not Cover

It is important to understand the limits of what a Sunbiz search tells you. The Division of Corporations record is the authority on an entity's legal existence and public filings - its name, status, registered agent, officers, and report history. It is not a credit report, a lawsuit search, or a tax-compliance record. An entity can show "Active" on Sunbiz while owing back taxes to the Florida Department of Revenue or being a defendant in litigation, none of which appears in the corporate record. Sunbiz also does not verify a federal EIN; the FEI/EIN field simply reflects what the entity reported, and the IRS maintains the actual federal record. For that reason, a thorough due-diligence review treats the Sunbiz search as one layer - confirming the entity is real, correctly named, and in good standing - and then adds tax, litigation, licensing, and, where relevant, EIN verification checks on top of it. Knowing the boundary keeps you from over-relying on an "Active" status that only speaks to state corporate filings.

Florida vs Texas: Free vs Fee-Based Searches

Not every state offers the same access, and Florida is on the generous end. Florida's Sunbiz lets anyone search and view filings free, including images of the underlying documents. By contrast, the Texas Secretary of State's SOSDirect charges $1 per search, and Texas splits its free tax-status lookup off to a separate Comptroller tool. That difference matters when you are doing high-volume due diligence: in Florida you can research dozens of entities and their officers at no cost, while the same work in Texas accrues per-search fees. Both states, however, share the core logic - a searchable state database is the official record of entity existence, and a name must be distinguishable to be registered. If you operate in multiple states, expect to learn each Secretary of State or Division of Corporations portal separately, because search fields, fees, and status labels vary. Our business entity search hub links out to each state's guide so you can compare them side by side.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Florida business entity search free?

Yes. The Sunbiz search from the Division of Corporations is free. You can search by entity name, officer or agent name, document number, FEI/EIN, or ZIP code and view filings at no charge.

What is Sunbiz?

Sunbiz is the public website of the Florida Division of Corporations, part of the Department of State. It hosts the official record of Florida business filings and lets anyone search them free.

How do I find a Florida LLC's registered agent?

Search the entity by name and open its detail record, which lists the current registered agent, registered office, officers or managers, and filing history.

What does "Inactive" status mean?

It means the entity is no longer in good standing, often because it was administratively dissolved for a missed annual report, or voluntarily dissolved. An active entity shows "Active."

Can I check name availability with the search?

Yes. Searching existing names shows whether your desired name is distinguishable. A clear search is not a guarantee; the Division makes the final determination when you file.

Can I get certified copies from Sunbiz?

Yes. Searching and viewing filings is free, but a certified copy or certificate of status carries a fee, ordered through the Division of Corporations.

Sources

Florida Division of Corporations - Search Records (Sunbiz) (free search by name, officer, document number, FEI/EIN).
Florida Division of Corporations - Sunbiz home (Division of Corporations).
Florida Division of Corporations - Annual Report (May 1 due date; administrative dissolution).
Florida Division of Corporations - Reinstatement (reinstating a dissolved entity).
Florida Division of Corporations - Start a Florida LLC (E-File) (Articles of Organization).
Florida Division of Corporations - Certified Copies and Certificate of Status (fees for certified records).
Florida Legislature - Florida Statutes Chapter 605, Revised LLC Act.
Florida Legislature - Section 605.0114, name distinguishability.
Florida Legislature - Section 605.0713, administrative dissolution.
Florida Department of State - Division of Corporations Fees.
IRS - Limited Liability Company (LLC).
Cornell Legal Information Institute - Limited Liability Company (LLC).
Cornell Legal Information Institute - Registered agent.

LegalGlass provides general information for educational purposes and is not a law firm or a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney or tax professional. Search features, fees, and status codes change; verify current requirements with the Florida Division of Corporations before acting.