Business Records Search: Locate Companies, Owners, Agents

Business Records Search empowers anyone who needs to locate a company, its owners, or its registered agent without navigating confusing portals. By entering a legal name, DBA, address, or filing number you can instantly pull business records, business registration records, and corporate records from the public database. The system returns the legal business name, formation date, entity type, and current status so you know if the company is active or dissolved. It also shows the principal business address, registered agent information, and officer names, satisfying searches like how to find a business owner or how to find a registered agent. Whether you are verifying a supplier, checking a franchise, or completing a background check, the lookup provides business entity records, company information, and business public records in seconds. The search engine respects user intent by offering filters for business status, entity type, and state of formation, making it easy to answer how to check if a business is active or how to view business filing documents.

Business Records Search further supports multiple lookup paths such as business records by name, business records by owner, and business lookup by address, giving you flexibility when exact details are missing. If you only know the registered agent or the filing number, the business entity lookup can retrieve the complete filing history, including amendments, annual reports, and merger records. The platform handles assumed name queries, DBA searches, and trade name checks, so you can verify an assumed name registration or discover who holds a trade name. For investigators, the ability to search business records by registration number or by entity type—corporation, LLC, partnership, nonprofit—answers questions like how to find a business filing number or how to find a business’s formation date. All results are drawn from the official Florida Department of State database, ensuring accuracy and up‑to‑date business status history. By presenting the data in a clean, readable format, the service makes it simple to answer how to verify business registration information or how to check if a business is active without contacting an office.

How to Search Business Records

The Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations, runs Sunbiz, an online search portal that lists active and inactive Florida business entities. Each record carries the legal name, filing number, formation date, status, principal address, registered agent, and officer or manager names. Brevard County Information can also help users identify relevant business records when searching for entities associated with the county. Users can search by name, registered agent, officer, or document number and filter by entity type, status, and jurisdiction. The portal uses the same database the Division relies on for filing decisions, so returned data matches the most recent filings on file.

Official Florida Department of State Search Website

Official search website: https://search.sunbiz.org/Inquiry/CorporationSearch/ByName

Search Instructions

1. Open the Sunbiz search portal using the URL above.
2. Pick a search category from the Inquiry menu: By Name, By Registered Agent, By Officer, or By Document Number.
3. Enter the value in the search field. For name searches, type at least three letters of the entity name.
4. Apply filters for entity type (Corporation, LLC, Limited Partnership), status (Active, Inactive, Administratively Dissolved, Revoked), or to broaden the search across officer and registered agent names.
5. Click Search to view matching results.
6. Select the correct entity from the results list to open its detail page.
7. Review the document number, filing history, status, principal address, and registered agent.

Business Record Details You Can View

A Sunbiz record returns several core data points for every Florida entity. Knowing what each field represents helps users read a record correctly during a lookup.

Legal Business Name

The legal name shown on the official filing is the registered entity name Florida has on record. Florida requires this name to be distinguishable from every other entity in the state. The legal name differs from any assumed or trade name the entity uses.

Assumed or Trade Name

An assumed name is any name an entity uses that is not its legal registered name. Some assumed name filings appear in Sunbiz searches. Other assumed name records live at the county clerk’s office, based on the entity form and county rules.

Entity Type

Sunbiz labels each record with the legal form on file, such as Corporation, Limited Liability Company, Limited Partnership, Limited Liability Partnership, Nonprofit, or Foreign Entity. The entity type field drives which Florida statutes apply.

Filing Number

The filing number is the unique identifier Florida assigns at formation. Searching by filing number gives exact results and bypasses confusion from similar business names. Use this field whenever you already have the number in hand.

Formation Date

The formation date shows the official day the entity became active in Florida. Each entity type has its own formation filing: Articles of Incorporation for corporations, Articles of Organization for LLCs, and registration certificates for partnerships.

Business Status

The status field reflects the entity’s current standing: Active, Inactive, Administratively Dissolved, Voluntarily Dissolved, Revoked, Withdrawn, or Merged. Sunbiz updates the status field within days of any official action.

Principal Address

The principal address is the main business location on file. Florida does not require this address to be inside the state. The principal address may be a commercial office, home office, or management address.

Registered Agent Details

The registered agent accepts legal and government mail on behalf of the entity. Sunbiz lists the agent’s name, registered office street address in Florida, and any signature or capacity details tied to that role.

Business Entity Types Registered in Florida

Florida recognizes several legal forms for business entities. Each form has its own filing requirements, governance rules, and tax treatment. Sunbiz categorizes every record by the form on file.

Corporations

A Florida corporation files Articles of Incorporation under Chapter 607 of Florida Statutes. Corporations issue stock, appoint directors, and name officers such as president, secretary, and treasurer. For-profit and nonprofit corporations both appear in Sunbiz with different status labels.

Limited Liability Companies

Florida LLCs file Articles of Organization under Chapter 605 and operate through members and managers. Members hold ownership, while managers (when named) handle daily operations. Sunbiz lists members and managers with their addresses when filed.

Partnerships

Florida recognizes general partnerships, limited partnerships, and limited liability partnerships. Each partnership type files a registration with the Division of Corporations that lists the partners and the registered agent.

Sole Proprietorships

Sole proprietorships are not registered with the Florida Division of Corporations. Owners operating under their own legal name do not file with the state and Sunbiz returns no results for them. Sole proprietors who operate under any other name register an assumed name through the county clerk.

Nonprofit Organizations

Florida nonprofits organize as nonprofit corporations under Chapter 617. Sunbiz lists nonprofits separately from for-profit corporations and shows the corporate status. Federal tax-exempt status with the IRS is a separate filing and does not appear on Sunbiz.

Professional Entities

Florida allows certain licensed professionals to form professional corporations or professional limited liability companies. These entities carry designations in Sunbiz such as Professional Corporation or PLLC and must comply with the rules of the relevant licensing board.

Foreign Business Entities

Entities formed outside Florida that do business in the state register as foreign entities. Sunbiz identifies foreign entities by jurisdiction and shows the home state or country of formation. Foreign entities follow Florida’s separate registration and annual reporting rules.

Business Ownership and Management Roles

Sunbiz records list the people who own or manage each registered entity. The roles shown depend on the entity type. Reading these roles correctly matters when verifying ownership or checking who controls a Florida business.

Business Owners

For corporations, owners are the shareholders. Sunbiz does not always list shareholders on the public record because Florida does not require corporations to file shareholder lists with the Division of Corporations. Ownership changes for non-public entities typically appear through stock transfer records held internally.

Members and Managers

For LLCs, members are the owners and managers are the parties who run the LLC. An LLC may be member-managed or manager-managed. Sunbiz lists both members and managers with their addresses when filed.

Corporate Officers

Florida corporations name officers such as president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and director. Sunbiz records show officer titles and addresses when reported in the annual report or other filings.

Directors

Directors oversee a corporation’s direction and governance. The director field on Sunbiz appears for corporations, including nonprofit corporations. Director names and addresses come from the most recent annual report filing.

Partners

Partnerships list general and limited partners in the registration filing. Limited partnerships and limited liability partnerships show partner roles and addresses on the Sunbiz record.

Registered Agents

Every Florida corporation, LLC, and partnership must maintain a registered agent with a Florida street address. The agent accepts service of process, legal notices, and state correspondence. Sunbiz lists the agent’s name and registered office address.

Ownership and Management Changes

Florida businesses update ownership and management details through amended filings and annual reports. Each change generates a filing record on the entity’s document list. Reviewing the document history shows the timeline of owner, officer, director, partner, registered agent, and address changes.

Business Registration Records in Florida

Every Florida entity has a registration record that documents how and when the entity formed, its current status, and where it operates. Sunbiz holds these registration records for active, inactive, and dissolved entities.

Formation Records

The formation record is the original filing that brought the entity into existence. Florida corporations form through Articles of Incorporation. LLCs form through Articles of Organization. Partnerships form through certificates or registration statements.

Registration Date

The registration date marks the day Florida accepted the formation filing. This date appears on the entity summary page and serves as the legal formation date for the entity.

Entity Status

The entity status field tracks whether the entity stays in good standing or has been dissolved, revoked, forfeited, or reinstated. Sunbiz updates the status field within days of any official action that affects the entity.

State of Formation

Domestic Florida entities show FL as the state of formation. Foreign entities list the home state or country where the entity first registered. The state of formation tells you whether the entity is domestic or foreign in Florida records.

Foreign Entity Registration

Foreign entities must register with the Florida Division of Corporations before transacting business in the state. The foreign registration record shows the home jurisdiction, the Florida registration date, and the certificate of authority details. Each foreign registration carries its own document number.

Registration Updates

Updates to an entity’s registration arrive through amended filings, restated articles, or corrected documents. Each update generates a new filing on the entity’s document list and refreshes the public record accordingly.

Assumed Name and DBA Records

Florida businesses operating under any name other than their legal name file assumed name registrations. Sunbiz holds assumed name records that fall under the Division of Corporations’ jurisdiction, while county clerks hold assumed name records for unincorporated entities.

Assumed Business Names

An assumed name is any name a business uses that is not its legal registered name. Florida requires fictitious name registration in most cases where a business does not operate under the owner’s personal legal name.

DBA Records

Doing Business As (DBA) refers to the same concept as an assumed name. Sunbiz tracks assumed names that fall under the Division of Corporations, while county clerks hold DBA filings tied to unincorporated businesses.

Trade Names

Trade names function like assumed names and may refer to marks used in commerce. Sunbiz shows trade names when filed as part of the entity registration or as a separate assumed name filing.

Assumed Name Registration

Florida assumed name filings require the legal entity name, the assumed name, the county of registration, and the principal address. Each assumed name registration carries its own document number and expiration date.

Assumed Name Owners

The owner of an assumed name is the legal entity that registered the name. Sunbiz lists the registrant’s name and address, which may differ from the legal entity name on file with the Division of Corporations.

Assumed Name Status

The status field for assumed names shows whether the registration is Active, Expired, Cancelled, or Pending. Owners must renew assumed name registrations before they expire to keep the name active.

Business Filing Records

Filing records capture every document submitted to the Florida Division of Corporations for an entity. Each filing carries its own document number, filing date, and description. Reviewing the filing history shows how an entity changed over its lifetime.

Formation Documents

Formation documents are the original articles or registration statements that established the entity. Common formation filings on Sunbiz include Articles of Incorporation, Articles of Organization, and Certificates of Limited Partnership.

Amendments

Amendments document changes to the original formation document. Common amendments cover name changes, purpose changes, share structure changes, registered agent changes, and address changes. Each amendment appears as a separate filing on the document list.

Annual Reports

Florida corporations, LLCs, and partnerships must file annual reports to stay in good standing. The annual report updates officer, director, member, manager, partner, registered agent, and registered office details. Sunbiz retains annual reports filed after a specific date on the public record.

Statements of Information

Florida does not require a separate Statement of Information filing. The annual report serves the equivalent role, and Sunbiz treats the annual report as the primary periodic disclosure document.

Mergers and Conversions

Entities changing form through merger or conversion file Articles of Merger, Articles of Conversion, or both. Mergers and conversions appear in the document list with effective dates and the surviving or resulting entity’s name.

Dissolution Records

Dissolution filings end a Florida entity’s active status. Voluntary dissolution is filed by the entity itself. Administrative dissolution is initiated by the state for missed filings or non-compliance. Sunbiz shows both types with effective dates and reasons.

Reinstatement Records

Entities that have been administratively dissolved or revoked may apply for reinstatement. Reinstatement filings restore active status and appear in the document list with the new effective date. Entities must pay outstanding fees and file any missing reports before reinstatement is granted.

Business Status and History

Status and history data tell you what an entity is doing now and what it has done since formation. Tracking status changes helps users verify whether a business is still active or has ended operations.

Active Businesses

Active businesses show a status of Active on Sunbiz. Active means the entity is in good standing and authorized to do business in Florida under its current name.

Inactive Businesses

Inactive status appears when an entity is not currently authorized to transact business in Florida but has not been formally dissolved. Some inactive entities may be in the process of reinstatement or voluntary dissolution.

Dissolved Businesses

Dissolved status indicates the entity has ended. Sunbiz labels dissolutions as Voluntary, Administrative, or Involuntary depending on the cause. Once dissolved, an entity cannot conduct business until reinstated.

Revoked or Forfeited Entities

Revocation or forfeiture happens when an entity fails to meet state requirements, such as missing annual reports or failing to maintain a registered agent. Revoked and forfeited entities must resolve outstanding issues before returning to active status.

Reinstated Businesses

Reinstated entities show a current status of Active with a previous status history that includes Revoked, Administratively Dissolved, or Forfeited. The document list shows the exact date of reinstatement and any back filings.

Business Status History

The status history is the timeline of every status change the entity has gone through. Review each filing date and status label in chronological order to see how the entity evolved. Status history supports searches that need to verify previous status or past inactive periods.

Business Address and Contact Details

Sunbiz lists multiple addresses for each entity. Knowing the difference between each address type helps you choose the correct address for service of process, correspondence, or public lookup.

Principal Office Address

The principal office address is the main business address on file with the Division of Corporations. Florida does not require this address to be inside the state. The principal office address may be a commercial office, home office, or management office.

Mailing Address

The mailing address is where the entity or its registered agent receives official mail. This address may differ from the principal office address. Sunbiz shows the mailing address when one is filed separately from the principal office.

Registered Office Address

The registered office address is the street address of the registered agent. Florida requires this address to be a physical street address in Florida. The registered office cannot be a P.O. box. Sunbiz lists this address under the registered agent section.

Business Location

Business location refers to where the entity actually operates. This may differ from the registered or principal address. Sunbiz does not always list a separate business location field. The principal office address typically serves as the entity’s public location.

Contact Details

Public contact details are limited on Sunbiz. The portal does not list phone numbers or email addresses for most entities. Direct contact details typically come from the entity’s own website, filings with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, or other state agencies.

Address Changes

Address changes appear as amended filings on the document list. Each address change generates a new filing date and updates the principal office, mailing address, or registered office on the public record. Review the document history to confirm the current and previous addresses.

Public Access to Business Records

Florida business records fall under the state’s public records law. The Division of Corporations makes most filed documents available for review through the Sunbiz search portal. Some documents and details are restricted.

Publicly Available Business Details

Most entity-level details are public, such as the legal name, entity type, document number, formation date, status, principal address, registered agent, and officer names listed on annual reports. Public users can search Sunbiz without an account.

Online Business Records

The Sunbiz portal shows online records at no cost. Users can search by name, registered agent, officer, or document number and view the entity summary page plus the list of filed documents. Each filed document carries a filing date and description.

Public Filing Documents

Filed documents that the Division of Corporations accepts for record are public unless restricted by law. Many older filings are available as scanned images. Recent filings are accessible through Sunbiz image viewing features.

Records Available by Request

Certified copies and status certificates require a formal request and payment of statutory fees. Users may order these records through the Division of Corporations’ certified document request system or by contacting the office directly.

Restricted Business Details

Some details are restricted under Florida law or based on the entity type. Examples include Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, employer identification numbers used for certain tax purposes, and details contained in sealed filings. Sunbiz redacts these details where required.

Certified Business Records

Certified records carry the official seal of the Florida Department of State and serve as legal proof of the entity’s existence or status. These records require payment of certified copy fees and are commonly requested for banking, licensing, and legal proceedings.

Business Record Search Problems and Solutions

Sunbiz searches sometimes fail to return the expected results. Most issues trace back to a small set of common causes. Knowing these causes saves time and helps users troubleshoot their lookups.

Business Not Found

If the entity name returns no results, the business may operate under a different legal name, an assumed name registered with the county, or as an unregistered sole proprietorship. Try searching by registered agent, document number, or officer name as an alternative.

Similar Business Names

Searches often return multiple matches with similar names. Florida requires distinguishable legal names, but the difference may be small. Review each result carefully for the right document number, jurisdiction, and formation date.

Incorrect Business Details

Data on Sunbiz comes from filed documents. If the record shows outdated addresses or officers, the filing may not have been updated. Request the most recent annual report or amended filing to confirm current details.

Outdated Business Records

Sunbiz updates within days of new filings, but processing delays can occur during peak periods. Users who need certified current data should request a Certificate of Status directly from the Division of Corporations.

Recently Formed Businesses

Newly formed entities may not appear in Sunbiz immediately. Most filings post within one to two business days, but processing time varies. Wait a short period or check the document list on the search result page for new filings.

Recently Dissolved Businesses

Dissolved entities remain searchable on Sunbiz but show a non-active status. Use the entity’s document number to confirm the dissolution filing date and any related reinstatement filings.

Missing Filing Records

Older filings may not appear in the online image viewer. The Sunbiz online system indexes documents from a certain date forward. Contact the Division of Corporations for records that fall outside the online range.

Business Records vs. Related Lookups

Sunbiz serves one specific function. Several related searches draw from different sources. Knowing which source covers which record type helps you decide where to search first.

Business Records vs. Business Search

Business records refers to the filed documents and entity data on Sunbiz. Business search refers to the act of looking up that data using the Sunbiz portal. Both terms describe the same underlying data from different angles.

Business Records vs. Assumed Name Records

Business records cover entity-level data such as formation and status. Assumed name records cover specific name registrations that may or may not tie to a registered entity. Sunbiz holds some assumed name records. Other assumed name records live at the county clerk’s office depending on the entity form.

Business Records vs. UCC Records

UCC records cover liens and secured transactions on personal property. The Florida UCC filings database lives separately from Sunbiz. UCC searches serve lending, financing, and collateral verification. Business record searches support entity, ownership, and compliance questions.

Business Records vs. Property Records

Property records cover real estate ownership and liens at the county level. They do not track business entities. Searches for business property require checking the county property appraiser alongside Sunbiz.

Business Records vs. Public Records

Public records cover all government-held data, including business records, court records, property records, and professional licensing data. Business records are a subset of public records specific to entity filings.

Business Records vs. Background Checks

Background checks cover individuals and their history. Business records focus on entities. A business record search will not return personal history, criminal records, or credit data. Use background checks for personal history and Sunbiz for entity history.

Florida Department of State Contact Details

The Division of Corporations maintains physical offices in Tallahassee and runs the Sunbiz online portal. Users may call, email, or visit during office hours for filing questions, certified record requests, and search assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions

People often need to locate official Florida business information quickly. Below are common questions about using Sunbiz to find records, verify status, and obtain filed documents.

How can I search business records on Sunbiz portal, Florida?

To look up a Florida business on Sunbiz, start at the portal link. Enter the exact legal name, registration number, or assumed name in the search box. Choose “Search By Name” to see a list of matching entities. Click the name to open the record page. The page shows status, formation date, principal address, registered agent, and officer names. Use the filter icons to narrow results by entity type or status. When you need a copy of a filing, click the PDF icon next to the document title. The site updates daily, so recent changes appear quickly.

How to search business records by address using Sunbiz?

Begin at Sunbiz’s main search page and select the “By Address” tab. Type the street number, street name, city, and ZIP code into the fields. Press Enter or click Search. The system returns every Florida entity that lists that address as its principal office or mailing location. Review each result; the summary line includes the entity’s name, status, and filing number. To view deeper details, click the entity name and scroll to the address section. This method works for homes, office parks, and virtual offices.

How can I verify if a Florida business is active on Sunbiz?

Open the Sunbiz search page and type the business’s legal name or filing number. After the results appear, look at the “Status” column. An entry marked “Active” means the entity is currently authorized to conduct business in Florida. If the status reads “Inactive,” “Cancelled,” or “Dissolved,” the company no longer has good standing. For extra certainty, click the entity name and review the most recent annual report or statement of information; these filings note the exact date the status changed.

Where can I find a Florida business’s filed documents online?

After locating the entity on Sunbiz, select the record’s “Documents” tab. A list appears with each filing type—annual report, amendment, merger, or conversion. Click the document title to open a PDF view. You can download the file by right‑clicking and choosing Save As. If the filing is older than the online archive, the portal provides a link to request a certified copy through mail. The PDF includes the filing number, date, and signatures, making it easy to verify the information without contacting the company directly.

Why does Sunbiz still say a business record cannot be found?

Sunbiz displays “record not found” when the entered query does not match any active or historic filing in the database. Common reasons include a misspelled name, missing hyphens, or using an outdated DBA instead of the legal name. Some entities exist under a foreign jurisdiction and therefore are not listed in Florida’s system. Double‑check the spelling, try the filing number, or search under the assumed name field. If the business was recently dissolved, the record may have been removed from the public view.