The registration of a company name in Florida depends on the type of business entity you operate. No matter what business structure you select, the name of the company has to get registered with the Florida Department of State. In addition, Florida businesses have the option of registering the company name with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Sole Proprietors and Partnerships
A Florida sole proprietorship or partnership must file a fictitious name registration with the Florida Department of State (see Resources). A Florida fictitious business name can get filed online using the Florida Department of State website. You have to provide information such as the owner's name and address, as well as a description of the company's business activities. When the owner of a Florida sole proprietorship or partnership decides to use her personal legal name for business purposes, the name does not have to get registered with the Florida Department of State. As of 2011, it costs $50 to file a fictitious business name with the agency. A fictitious business name has to get advertised at least one time in a newspaper that operates in the same county as the Florida business.
Corporations, LLCs and LLPs
Corporations, limited-liability partnerships, limited partnerships and limited-liability companies register their company name automatically when formation documents get filed with the Department of State. Name availability needs to get confirmed prior to completing the formation documents to ensure that no other business in Florida has a similar company name. Confirm name availability for your Florida entity by using the Department of State website. The cost to file formation documents in Florida varies based on the company's business structure. Once the Department of State accepts the formation documents, no other business in the state can use a similar company name.
Trade Name
Sole proprietors and partnerships that want to prohibit other companies in the state from using the same business name must register a trade name with the Florida Department of State. When a sole proprietorship or partnership registers a fictitious name, it does not prevent other businesses in the state from using a similar name. A trade name can get registered online using the Department of State website, by mail or in person at the Department of State's office. As of 2011, it costs $87.50 to register a trade name.
USPTO
The owner of any business in the state of Florida can register the company's name with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. This means that no other business in any state, including the District of Columbia, can use a similar company name. Florida businesses can register the company's name online using the USPTO website, by mail or in person at the USPTO office. As of 2011, it may cost anywhere from $275 to $325 to register the name of a Florida business with the USPTO.
