How To Register a Fictitious Business Name in Florida—Explained

Businesses that wish to operate in Florida under a name other than the owner’s or entity’s legal name must register the fictitious name, also known as Doing Business As (DBA). This process is particularly important for sole proprietors who wish to keep their names off public records and business owners managing multiple brands under a single legal entity.

In addition to registering this fictitious name, businesses must also obtain local business licenses, which vary depending on the municipality where they operate. Navigating these regulatory requirements can be difficult, which is why partnering with a professional service provider like Harbor Compliance can be beneficial.

This article discusses how to register a fictitious business name in Florida and how Harbor Compliance can help your entity manage DBA requirements and secure the permits needed to operate in the U.S.

Florida Fictitious Name Registrations

What Is a Fictitious Business Name?

A fictitious name, or Doing Business As (DBA) name, is an alias an entity uses instead of its registered name. Business owners frequently choose to use fictitious names to keep their names off public records or to present a unique identity that better describes their services.

The Fictitious Name Act mandates that any business operating under a fictitious name register it with the state. Failing to do so is considered a noncriminal offense and is punishable by a fine or civil penalty not exceeding $500.

Registering a Fictitious Business Name in Florida

To register your fictitious name with the Florida Division of Corporations, follow these steps:

1. Select your fictitious name
2. Publish a legal notice
3. File your application

Select Your Fictitious Name

When selecting a fictitious name, you must keep the following considerations in mind:

• A fictitious name cannot contain entity suffixes that suggest a particular business structure, such as “Incorporated,” “LP,” or “LLC,” unless at least one registrant is a business entity of the same type duly incorporated, organized, formed, otherwise authorized to transact business in this state.
• Unless you are a licensed financial institution, your fictitious name must not contain words like “bank,” “banker,” “trust company,” “credit union,” “banco,” and other similar terms.

Publish a Legal Notice

Florida law mandates that businesses announce their intent to use a fictitious name by publishing a notice at least once in a newspaper. This notice must appear in a publication in the same county as your principal place of business.

Entities do not need to submit proof of publication with their DBA application. However, they must certify that the notice has been published when they submit their application.

File an Application To Use the Fictitious Name

After publishing the notice, entities can apply for the use of the fictitious name online or by mail. Once the Florida Department of State approves your DBA application, you will receive a confirmation.

Partnering With Harbor Compliance for Your Business’s Fictitious Name and Licensing Requirements

In Florida, fictitious names are valid for five years, and businesses must renew them to keep operating under that name.

In addition to the fictitious name registrations, businesses must meet other regulatory requirements and secure the necessary business licenses. While Florida does not have a statewide business license, many cities and counties require entities to obtain a local business license.

Handling these regulatory obligations can be challenging. That’s why opting for a professional service provider like Harbor Compliance is a smart move. We offer various services to help entities meet their regulatory obligations and remain in good standing. Our Doing Business As (DBA) Service will streamline the registration and renewal of your fictitious name.

Furthermore, we offer a Managed Annual License Service to assist your entity in securing the necessary business license. All you have to do is provide us with the required information, and we will handle the rest.

Harbor Compliance’s License Manager Software

In addition to our business licensing and DBA support, we also offer a proprietary Software Suite. One of the modules in the suite is the License Manager, which has the following functionalities:

• Automated reminders for license renewal dates
• A centralized document storage for individual and organization licenses
• A nationwide search engine called Compliance Core™ that helps businesses identify licensing requirements across different industries

How To Order Harbor Compliance’s Business Licensing Solutions

If you are interested in partnering with us to secure general business licenses, you can order our service using these steps:

1. Visit the Business Licensing Service page.
2. Select Order Online.
3. Fill out the form with the required business and contact information.
4. Submit the form.

If you’d also like to use our License Manager module, you can request a demo session of the software by following these steps:

1. Visit Harbor Compliance’s License Manager page.
2. Click on Schedule a Demo.
3. Provide your contact details and submit your demo request.

Our team will contact you and illustrate how this feature can meet your diverse licensing needs.

Additional Services by Harbor Compliance

Beyond our DBA and business licensing solutions, Harbor Compliance provides ongoing filing support to help entities fulfill their regulatory requirements. Below is an overview of the additional services we offer:

Registering Your Entity’s Fictitious Name and Securing Business Licenses With Harbor Compliance

In Florida, entities that wish to operate under a fictitious name must register and renew it every five years. Additionally, entities must secure the necessary licenses to operate within the state. Harbor Compliance can assist your entity in managing DBA requirements and securing the permits you need.

To get started, you can schedule a demo session to familiarize yourself with our License Manager tool and order the Managed Annual License Service.

Additionally, you can use our FREE Harbor Compliance Score™ to check your regulatory standing. If you need more resources on business licensing across other states nationwide, visit our Information Center.