Florida DBA Filing: Fictitious Name Registration & Cost (2026)
In Florida a DBA is called a fictitious name. You register it with the Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz) for a $50 fee under section 865.09 of the Florida Statutes. Before registering you must advertise the name at least once in a newspaper in the county of your principal place of business, and the registration expires December 31 of the fifth year.
Quick Answer
- Florida term
- Fictitious name (the state name for a DBA / “doing business as”)
- Agency
- Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations (Sunbiz)
- Governing law
- s. 865.09, Florida Statutes (Fictitious Name Act)
- Fee
- $50 registration (2026); renewal $50
- Advertising
- Required - publish once in a county newspaper
- Duration
- Expires December 31 of the fifth year; renewable
What a DBA Is in Florida (Fictitious Name)
A DBA - “doing business as” - is any name a person or business uses that is not its own legal name. Florida does not use the phrase “DBA” in its statutes; it calls the same thing a fictitious name. A sole proprietor named Maria Lopez who runs “Sunrise Bakery” is using a fictitious name, and so is an LLC legally named “Lopez Ventures LLC” that operates a storefront branded “Sunrise Bakery.” Registering the fictitious name is what makes that use lawful under Florida law.
A fictitious name is not a separate legal entity, does not create liability protection, and does not by itself give you exclusive rights to the name. It is simply a public record that links a trade name to the real person or company behind it. If you want a separate legal entity with liability protection, you form an LLC instead; if you want exclusive rights to a brand, you pursue a trademark. For the national overview, see what is a DBA.
Agency and Law: Division of Corporations, s. 865.09
Fictitious names are governed by section 865.09 of the Florida Statutes, the Fictitious Name Act, and are administered by the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations (Sunbiz). The statute requires any person who conducts business in Florida under a name other than their legal name to register that fictitious name with the Division before the business begins operating under it. Registration is done online through the Sunbiz e-filing portal or by mailing the Application for Registration of Fictitious Name.
The application asks for the fictitious name, the mailing address of the business, the county of the principal place of business, and the owner information - the individual owners or the registered entity that will own the name, including a document number and federal employer identification number where applicable. Operating under an unregistered fictitious name is a violation of the statute and can be treated as a second-degree misdemeanor, so registration is not optional if you use a trade name.
Newspaper Advertising Requirement
Florida is one of the states that still requires publication. Section 865.09(3) provides that before the fictitious name is registered, the owner must advertise its intention to register at least once in a newspaper that is defined as a legal-notice newspaper in the county where the principal place of business is located. Unlike New York’s LLC publication rule, Florida requires only a single insertion in one newspaper, and you do not file the proof of publication with the state - but you must be able to show it if challenged.
When you file, you certify on the application that the advertising requirement has been met. Many county legal newspapers offer a fictitious-name notice package for a modest fee. This is a separate cost from the $50 state fee and varies by newspaper and county. Compare this with the far heavier publication burden a new LLC faces at New York Articles of Organization.
How to Register a Florida Fictitious Name
The process is short and can usually be completed online in one sitting:
- Search the name. Use the Florida business entity search and the fictitious name index on Sunbiz to confirm the name is not already in use and does not conflict with an existing registration.
- Advertise. Place the required legal notice at least once in a newspaper in the county of your principal place of business, and keep proof.
- File the application. Submit the Application for Registration of Fictitious Name on Sunbiz, list the owners, certify that you advertised, and pay the $50 fee.
- Add optional certificates. Request a certified copy ($30) or a Certificate of Status ($10) if a bank or vendor needs one.
- Update your records. Use the registered name on your bank account, invoices, and licenses. Get an EIN if you have not already.
Once the Division records the registration, the name appears in the public fictitious name database and is effective immediately.
Florida DBA Fees (2026)
The state charges a flat fee to register or renew a fictitious name. Newspaper advertising is a separate third-party cost. All amounts below are set by the Division of Corporations and are effective for 2026.
| Item | Fee (2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fictitious name registration | $50 | Per name |
| Renewal (every 5 years) | $50 | During renewal window |
| Certified copy | $30 | Optional |
| Certificate of Status | $10 | Optional |
| Newspaper advertisement | Varies | Paid to the newspaper, not the state |
| Federal EIN (IRS) | $0 (free) | As needed |
Because the newspaper charge depends on the county and publication, confirm it directly with a legal newspaper in your county. For how a DBA fits your total startup budget, see Florida LLC cost.
Renewal, Cancellation, and Changes
A Florida fictitious name registration is valid for five years and expires on December 31 of the fifth calendar year after it is filed. To keep it, you renew it for another five years, and the renewal fee is $50. Florida mails or emails a renewal notice and opens a renewal window in the expiration year; if you miss it, the registration lapses and you must file a fresh registration. You can also cancel a registration you no longer use, or file a change to correct owner information or the business address.
Keep the registration current if you continue to trade under the name, because an expired fictitious name puts you back in violation of section 865.09. If you close the business entirely, cancel the fictitious name and, if you also formed an entity, complete the dissolution steps for the LLC or corporation.
DBA vs LLC vs Trademark
These three tools are often confused, but they do different jobs. A fictitious name only makes it lawful to operate under a trade name; it is a $50 registration with no liability protection and no exclusive rights. An LLC is a separate legal entity that shields your personal assets and is created by filing Articles of Organization for $125. A trademark - registered with the state or, more powerfully, with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office - gives exclusive rights to use a brand for particular goods or services.
Many businesses use more than one: an LLC that operates several brands registers a fictitious name for each brand and a federal trademark for the ones it wants to protect. To decide what you need, compare structures at S-corp vs LLC and read how to register a trademark.
A practical example makes the distinction concrete. Suppose you register the fictitious name “Sunrise Bakery” in Orange County. That $50 filing lets you legally open a bank account, sign a lease, and advertise under that name. It does not stop a bakery in Tampa from registering the same fictitious name in Hillsborough County, because Florida does not treat a fictitious name as exclusive, and the Division will accept identical fictitious names statewide. If you want to stop competitors from using the name, you need a trademark; if you want the business itself to be a liability-shielded entity, you form an LLC and can then register the fictitious name under that LLC. Sole proprietors who never form an entity can still register a fictitious name and should get an EIN to avoid putting a personal Social Security number on business paperwork.
A fictitious name also does not change how the business is taxed. A sole proprietor operating under a Florida fictitious name still reports business income on their personal return, and an LLC operating under a fictitious name is taxed exactly as the LLC would be under its legal name. The registration is about the name, not the tax status. For how business income flows through, see Florida LLC tax filing and the national business tax overview.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a DBA called in Florida?
A fictitious name. It is registered with the Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz) under section 865.09, the Fictitious Name Act. See what is a DBA.
How much does a Florida DBA cost?
$50 to register and $50 to renew every five years. A certified copy is $30 and a Certificate of Status is $10. Newspaper advertising is a separate cost paid to the newspaper.
Do I have to advertise a fictitious name in Florida?
Yes. Section 865.09 requires advertising the name at least once in a newspaper in the county of your principal place of business before you register. You keep proof but do not file the ad with the state.
How long does a Florida fictitious name last?
It expires December 31 of the fifth calendar year after registration. You renew it for another five years for $50 during the renewal window.
Does a DBA protect my business name in Florida?
No. A fictitious name gives no exclusive rights. For brand protection you need a state or federal trademark, which is a separate filing.
Do I need a DBA if I formed an LLC in Florida?
Only if the LLC trades under a name different from its exact registered legal name. Operating solely under the registered name needs no separate fictitious name.
Related
- What is a DBA? (cluster hub)
- How to form an LLC in Florida
- Florida Articles of Organization
- Florida registered agent
- Florida business entity search
- How much does a Florida LLC cost?
- How to register a trademark
- How to get an EIN
- Business licenses
- How to dissolve an LLC in Florida
- Legal glossary
Sources
- Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz) - Fictitious Name Registration ($50; advertising requirement).
- Florida Division of Corporations - Fictitious name forms and instructions.
- Florida Division of Corporations - Fictitious name renewal (expires Dec 31 of fifth year; $50).
- Florida Division of Corporations - Fees ($30 certified copy; $10 Certificate of Status).
- Florida Division of Corporations - Search records (fictitious name index).
- Florida Statutes - s. 865.09, Registration of fictitious names.
- Florida Statutes - s. 865.09 (advertising; penalties).
- Florida Statutes - s. 605.0201, Articles of Organization (LLC alternative).
- Justia - Florida Statutes s. 865.09 (Fictitious Name Act).
- IRS - Business name / doing business as.
- IRS - Get an Employer Identification Number (free EIN).
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office - Trademark basics (a DBA is not a trademark).
- Cornell Legal Information Institute - Trademark.
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. Laws, fees, and deadlines change; verify current requirements with the Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz) before acting.