- Florida fictitious name fees
- The newspaper ad comes first
- Who needs to register a Florida fictitious name
- Who is exempt
- How to register, step by step
- Words your fictitious name can't include
- How long it lasts and how renewal works
- What registration does and doesn't do
- What happens if you don't register
- Closing a fictitious name
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
A DBA in Florida is called a fictitious name, and you must register it with the Division of Corporations before you trade under any name other than your own legal name. Registration costs $50 as of October 2026, needs a newspaper ad first, and lasts until December 31 of the fifth calendar year.
Florida runs DBAs under the Fictitious Name Act, section 865.09 of the Florida Statutes. Everything here comes from that section, read in October 2026, including the fees it sets.
Florida fictitious name fees
| Filing | Fee set by section 865.09 (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Register a fictitious name | $50 |
| Cancel, or cancel and reregister | $50 |
| Renew a registration | $50 |
| Certified copy of a registration | $30 |
| Certificate of status | $10 |
All of these are non-refundable processing fees, so check the name is free before you file.
The newspaper ad comes first
This is the step people miss. Before you register, section 865.09 says at least one registrant must certify that the intention to register the name has been advertised at least once in a newspaper in the county where the principal place of business is or will be. You're not filing the ad itself, but you're signing to say it ran. If you file first and advertise later, the certification on your form isn't true.
Who needs to register a Florida fictitious name
- A sole owner trading under a name that isn't their legal name, such as Sunshine Pool Care instead of the owner's own name.
- A general partnership trading under a name other than the partners' names.
- An LLC or corporation trading under a name that differs from its registered name. The entity must be registered and in active status with the Division of Corporations, and it must give its Florida document number and, if it has one, its federal employer identification number.
Who is exempt
Section 865.09 exempts three groups, as long as they trade under the name they're licensed or registered under:
- A business formed by an attorney actively licensed in Florida.
- A person actively licensed by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation or the Department of Health, practising that licensed profession.
- A corporation, LLC, partnership or other entity that's registered and active with the division.
The moment any of them trades under a different name, the exemption ends and they need to register. If you're forming a company first, my guide to forming a Florida LLC explains the entity side.
How to register, step by step
- Search the name in the division's records, so you know whether anyone else has registered it.
- Place the newspaper ad in the county of your principal place of business.
- Complete the registration with the name, the business's mailing address, and the name and address of each registrant.
- Certify that the ad has run, pay the $50 fee and any other taxes or penalties owed to the state, and file it with the Division of Corporations.
- Keep a copy of the registration with your business records and diary the expiry date.
Words your fictitious name can't include
Section 865.09 bans entity words in a fictitious name unless the business is that type of entity. You can't use Corporation, Inc. or Corp. unless you're incorporated, LLC or L.L.C. unless you're an LLC, LP or L.P. unless you're a limited partnership, LLP unless you're a limited liability partnership, PA or chartered unless you're a professional corporation, and PLLC or PL unless you're a professional limited liability company. An LLC registering a fictitious name doesn't have to add LLC to it, though.
How long it lasts and how renewal works
A registration is valid until December 31 of the fifth calendar year, counting the year you registered as the first. You renew in the expiry year, any time from January 1 to December 31, and each renewal lasts another five years. The division must send an expiry notice by September 1 of that year, by email if it has your address. If you miss the December 31 deadline, the registration expires and the division can remove it from its records. Not getting the reminder isn't grounds for an appeal.
What registration does and doesn't do
Registration is for public notice only. The statute is clear that it doesn't give you any right to own or use the name, doesn't override trademark or company name rights someone else already has, and doesn't reserve the name against future use. If the name matters to your brand, a fictitious name filing isn't protection.
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What happens if you don't register
- You can't bring a lawsuit in a Florida court on behalf of the business until you comply, and nor can anyone who buys or takes over the claim.
- Your contracts, deeds and liens stay valid, and you can still defend yourself if sued.
- A court can award the other side reasonable attorney fees and costs caused by your failure to register.
- Failing to comply is a noncriminal violation under Florida law.
Closing a fictitious name
If you stop trading under the name, file a cancellation with the division within 30 days. If you're selling the business and the buyer will use the name, the buyer can reregister it at the same time as you cancel. For DBA rules in other states, my guide to DBA registration has the wider picture.
My verdict
A Florida fictitious name is cheap and quick, but do it in the right order: newspaper ad, then registration. Diary the December 31 expiry and the 30-day cancellation rule, and don't mistake the filing for brand protection. If the name is the heart of your business, look at trademark protection as a separate step.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a DBA in Florida?
Registering a fictitious name with the Division of Corporations costs $50 as of October 2026, under section 865.09 of the Florida Statutes. Renewal is also $50.
Do I need to advertise a DBA in Florida?
Yes. Before registering, you must advertise the intention to register the name at least once in a newspaper in the county of your principal place of business.
How long does a Florida fictitious name last?
Until December 31 of the fifth calendar year, counting the year you registered as the first. Each renewal adds another five years.
Does an LLC need a fictitious name in Florida?
Only if it trades under a name different from its registered name. An active LLC using its own registered name is exempt.
Does a Florida fictitious name protect my business name?
No. The statute says registration is for public notice only and doesn't give you rights to the name or reserve it against future use.
