Florida Secretary of State Sunbiz Business Search, LLC Lookup, Annual Report, Apostille, Notary & Election Help
Use this practical Florida Secretary of State guide to search business entities on Sunbiz, look up LLC and corporation records, file annual reports, find Division of Corporations contacts, request certificates, understand apostille and notarial certification steps, and access Florida voter resources.
🔒 Official Florida Secretary of State & Sunbiz Resources
Florida Secretary of State Help: Use Sunbiz for Business Records, Not Driver or Vehicle Services
Most people searching for the Florida Secretary of State need Sunbiz, the Division of Corporations, business entity search, annual report filing, apostille certification, notary information, or Florida election resources.
Florida’s business search system is commonly called Sunbiz. It is the official place to search Florida corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, trademarks, registered agents, FEI numbers, document numbers and related business records.
If you need a driver license, vehicle registration, license plate, title transfer or DMV-style service, do not start with Sunbiz. Those services are generally handled by FLHSMV and county tax collector offices, not the Florida Division of Corporations.
Best for business users
Search Florida LLCs, corporations, limited partnerships, trademarks, registered agents, document numbers and filing records.
Best deadline to know
Florida annual reports are due each year between January 1 and May 1 for many registered business entities.
Not a DMV office
Sunbiz is not for driver license renewal, vehicle registration renewal, license plates or title transfers.
Florida Business Entity Search, LLC Lookup and Corporation Records on Sunbiz
The biggest user intent around “Florida Secretary of State” is business search. Users want to confirm whether a company exists, check its status, find its registered agent, or review filing history.
Sunbiz offers multiple search routes. You can search by entity name, officer or registered agent, registered agent, trademark, trademark owner, FEI number, document number, ZIP code or street address. The best choice depends on what information you already have.
1
Open official Sunbiz search
Start from search.sunbiz.org, not an ad result.
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Go directly to the official Sunbiz search page. This protects you from private lookalike pages and helps you use the official Florida Division of Corporations record system.
Official search: Florida Sunbiz Search Records
2
Choose the correct search type
Name search is not the only option.
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If you know the legal business name, use entity name search first. If you only know the person behind the company, try officer or registered agent search. If you have the document number, use document number search because it is usually more precise.
If a trademark is involved, use trademark search or trademark owner search instead of regular entity-name search.
3
Search exact name first, then partial name
Florida records may use legal names, abbreviations or old names.
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Start with the full legal name. If nothing appears, remove punctuation and suffixes like LLC, L.L.C., Inc., Corporation, Corp., Co., PA or PLLC. Then search the strongest unique words only.
For older businesses, also try prior names, alternate spellings or abbreviated names if available from invoices, contracts, checks or public records.
4
Open the record and verify more than the name
A matching name is not enough.
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Check status, document number, filing date, principal address, mailing address, registered agent, officer or manager names, annual report history and last filing date. Similar names are common, so confirm multiple fields before relying on the record.
Florida Sunbiz Search Options and What Each One Is Good For
Sunbiz gives more than one search path. Knowing which one to use can save time and prevent missed records.
| Search Option | Best Use | Practical Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Entity name | Search LLCs, corporations, partnerships and business names. | Try exact name first, then remove punctuation and suffixes. |
| Officer / Registered Agent | Find businesses connected to a person or registered agent. | Try last name first if the full name is not working. |
| Registered agent | Find entities using a specific registered agent. | Useful for compliance and legal notice research. |
| FEI number | Find records where you know the federal employer identification number. | Good for accounting, vendor and tax-document matching. |
| Document number | Find one exact Florida filing record. | Most precise if you already have the document number. |
| Trademark | Search Florida trademark records. | Use trademark search instead of regular business name search. |
Use direct Sunbiz search
Use the official Sunbiz records page when searching entities, agents, trademarks, FEI numbers, document numbers, ZIP codes or addresses.
Do not confuse name availability with legal clearance
A Sunbiz search helps you review existing records, but business name use can also involve trademarks, domain names, county fictitious names, professional licensing and legal review.
Florida Annual Report Filing, Due Date, Late Fee Risk and Reinstatement Help
Florida annual report filing is one of the most important Sunbiz tasks. Annual reports keep entity information current and help preserve active status.
Florida’s official annual report filing page states that annual reports for corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships and limited liability limited partnerships are due each year between January 1 and May 1. The page encourages business owners to file early to avoid a late fee.
Filing window
Florida annual reports are due between January 1 and May 1 each year for many business entities.
File early
Do not wait until the last week. Payment problems, system delays or wrong information can create stress near the deadline.
Check before paying
Use the official Sunbiz annual report page and avoid private mailers that look official but charge extra service fees.
1
Open the official annual report page
Use services.sunbiz.org or official Sunbiz navigation.
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Go to the official annual report filing page. Check the entity information carefully before submitting because annual report filings update public records.
Official filing page: File Florida Annual Report
2
Use the document number
This helps avoid filing on the wrong entity.
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Before filing, search the entity on Sunbiz and confirm the document number. Do not rely only on the business name if there are similar records.
3
Review officers, managers and addresses
Annual reports update public information.
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Confirm principal address, mailing address, registered agent, officer, director, manager or authorized person information before payment. Wrong public information can create compliance, bank or legal notice problems later.
4
Save payment and confirmation proof
Keep proof until the filing appears on Sunbiz.
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After submitting, save the confirmation page, payment receipt and any email confirmation. Then check the Sunbiz record later to confirm the annual report appears correctly.
Florida LLC Formation, Corporation Filings, Amendments and Registered Agent Changes
Florida business filings include forming LLCs, filing corporations, updating registered agent information, filing amendments, dissolutions, reinstatements and foreign qualifications.
| Filing Need | Common Route | Before You File |
|---|---|---|
| Start Florida LLC | Articles of Organization through Sunbiz. | Confirm name, registered agent, principal address and organizer details. |
| Start Florida corporation | Articles of Incorporation through Division of Corporations. | Confirm entity type, officers/directors, shares and registered agent. |
| Change registered agent | Amendment or registered agent change process. | Confirm agent consent and correct Florida address. |
| Reinstate entity | Annual report / reinstatement route where applicable. | Check entity status and missed report years. |
| Foreign qualification | Foreign corporation or foreign LLC qualification. | Confirm home-state certificate and Florida registered agent needs. |
Use official Sunbiz filing pages
Do not start from private incorporation ads unless you intentionally want a paid third-party service.
Registered agent details matter
The registered agent receives official notices and legal service. Do not list someone without consent or use wrong address details.
Florida Certificates of Status, Certified Copies and Business Document Requests
Banks, lenders, licensing boards, vendors, courts and out-of-state agencies may ask for Florida business certificates or certified copies. Always ask the requesting party exactly which document they need before ordering.
Certificate of Status
Often used to show the entity’s status in Florida records.
Certified copy
Used when a third party needs an official certified copy of a filed document.
Plain copy
Useful for internal review when certification is not required.
Official Division of Corporations contact: Telephone Numbers, Addresses and Email
Florida Sunbiz Tips That Save Time, Fees and Filing Problems
These practical checks help users avoid wrong records, missed annual reports, duplicate payments, private filing traps and rejected document requests.
Search by document number when possible
Florida names can be similar. Document number search is usually more precise than business name search.
Use partial names
If the full name fails, remove LLC, Inc., punctuation and extra words. Search the unique part of the name.
File annual report early
Do not wait until May 1. System traffic, wrong payment details or address corrections can delay filing.
Check registered agent details
Wrong agent or address details can create legal notice problems and missed official communications.
Verify private mailers
Some private annual report or compliance mailers look official. Check Sunbiz before paying extra fees.
Do not confuse Sunbiz with DMV
Sunbiz is not for driver license or vehicle registration. Use FLHSMV or county tax collector routes for those tasks.
Florida Apostille, Notarial Certification and Document Authentication
Florida apostille and notarial certification requests are handled by the Division of Corporations. These services are used when Florida public records or notarized documents need official certification for use outside Florida or outside the United States.
Competent authority
Florida states the Secretary of State is the only competent authority authorized to issue notarial and apostille certifications in Florida.
Office location
2415 N. Monroe Street, Suite 810, Tallahassee, FL 32303.
Mailing route
The request form lists Division of Corporations, ATTN: Apostille Section, P.O. Box 6800, Tallahassee, FL 32314-6800.
1
Confirm whether you need apostille or notarial certification
The destination country and document type matter.
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Do not assume every document needs the same certificate. Apostille and authentication rules depend on the destination country and the type of document.
Official page: Apostilles & Notarial Certifications
2
Check document readiness
Notarized, court, school and vital records may have different rules.
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Check whether the document must be notarized, certified by a clerk, issued by a Florida agency, or accompanied by a specific request form before sending it.
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Use the correct mailing or courier address
Mail and courier addresses can be different.
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For apostille requests, carefully follow the request form. Mailing and courier addresses may differ, so copy the address exactly from the official form or page.
Request form: Apostille and Notarial Request Form
Florida Notary Public, Notary Information and Document Certification Help
Florida notary users often need notary education, notary filing help, certification questions, or guidance about whether a notarized document can be apostilled.
| Need | Best Route | Practical Note |
|---|---|---|
| Become a Florida notary | Use Florida Department of State notary resources. | Check eligibility, bonding and application rules before paying a provider. |
| Notary filing help | Division of Corporations / notary filing contact. | Use official contact pages for the latest phone and email details. |
| Apostille for notarized document | Apostille and notarial certification page. | Notarial wording and notary commission details must be correct. |
| Notary complaint or question | Florida DOS notary resources. | Check official instructions before submitting personal or document details. |
Official notary resources
Use Florida Department of State notary pages for public notary information and official guidance.
Notary plus apostille
If a notarized document will be used internationally, check apostille requirements before notarizing because wrong wording can delay certification.
Florida Elections, Voter Registration, Vote-by-Mail and County Supervisor Help
Florida Division of Elections provides statewide voter information, election dates, registration resources, vote-by-mail information, voter lookup tools, statistics and official election guidance.
Register or update voter record
Use Florida’s official online voter registration system to register or update voter information where eligible.
Voter information tools
Use Florida Division of Elections resources for voter registration, vote-by-mail, precinct lookup and election dates.
Voter help hotline
Florida Division of Elections lists voter/election assistance hotline 1-866-308-6739.
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Use official statewide voter tools first
Start with Florida Division of Elections or RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov.
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Use the official online voter registration website or Florida Division of Elections voter resources to check registration and voter information.
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Contact your County Supervisor of Elections for local issues
Polling places and vote-by-mail details are often county-level.
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For questions about early voting, voter ID cards, vote-by-mail or local voter registration details, Florida Division of Elections directs users to contact their County Supervisor of Elections.
Election contacts: Florida Elections Contacts
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Check deadlines before Election Day
Do not wait until the last day.
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Check registration, vote-by-mail request, early voting and Election Day details well before deadlines. County-level information can change, so verify close to the election date.
Florida Secretary of State Is Not the Same as FLHSMV, County Tax Collector or Department of Revenue
Many users search “Florida Secretary of State” when they actually need driver license, vehicle registration, property tax, sales tax, business tax or unemployment services.
| If You Need | Usually Use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Driver license renewal | FLHSMV / county service center | Driver license services are not Sunbiz business filings. |
| Vehicle registration or title | FLHSMV / county tax collector | Vehicle services are not handled by the Division of Corporations. |
| Business entity record | Sunbiz / Division of Corporations | Sunbiz is Florida’s official business entity index. |
| Sales tax or employer tax | Florida Department of Revenue | Tax registration and tax filing are separate from entity filing. |
| Voter registration | Florida Division of Elections / County Supervisor | Election records and local voter questions follow election-office routes. |
Florida Secretary of State Phone Number, Sunbiz Address and Correct Department Contacts
Florida Department of State and Sunbiz have different contact paths depending on whether you need corporations, LLCs, annual reports, certificates, apostilles, notary filing or election help.
| Need | Best Official Resource | Contact / Link |
|---|---|---|
| Main Division of Corporations / Sunbiz | Florida Division of Corporations | 850-245-6000 |
| Florida corporation new filings | Corporations section | 850-245-6052 |
| Annual reports and reinstatements | Annual Report Section | 850-245-6059 |
| Copies, certified copies and certificates | Certificates / copies contact | Sunbiz contact page |
| Apostille and notarial certification | Division of Corporations Apostille Section | Apostille help |
| Voter / election assistance | Florida Division of Elections | 1-866-308-6739 |
| County voting questions | County Supervisor of Elections | Election contacts |
Division of Corporations physical address
The Centre of Tallahassee, 2415 N. Monroe Street, Suite 810, Tallahassee, FL 32303.
Hours listed by Florida Department of State: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. EST.
Division of Corporations mailing address
P.O. Box 6327, Tallahassee, FL 32314.
For apostille requests, the apostille request form may list a different P.O. Box, so check the exact form before mailing.
Common Florida Secretary of State and Sunbiz Mistakes That Cause Delays
Most Florida Sunbiz problems happen because users search the wrong record type, miss the annual report deadline, confuse Sunbiz with DMV services, or pay a private mailer without checking official pages first.
Mistake 1: Using Sunbiz for driver license services
Driver license renewal, replacement and vehicle services are generally handled by FLHSMV and county service offices, not the Florida Division of Corporations.
Mistake 2: Missing the annual report window
Annual reports are due January 1 through May 1. Waiting until the deadline increases the chance of late fees or filing stress.
Mistake 3: Paying private compliance mailers too quickly
Private notices can look official. Verify annual report, certificate and reinstatement requirements through Sunbiz first.
Mistake 4: Searching only the full business name
If the exact name does not appear, remove punctuation, suffixes and extra words. Try document number search when available.
Mistake 5: Ordering the wrong certificate
Ask whether the requester needs a certificate of status, certified copy, plain copy or apostille before paying.
Mistake 6: Mailing apostille documents without checking rules
Document type, certification, notarization and destination country can affect apostille requirements.
Florida Secretary of State FAQs
These answers cover the most common Florida Secretary of State searches for Sunbiz, business search, LLC lookup, annual reports, certificates, apostilles, notary, elections and contact help.
What does the Florida Secretary of State do?▾
The Florida Secretary of State is part of the Florida Department of State. Important public resources include Sunbiz / Division of Corporations, apostille and notarial certifications, notary resources, elections, historical resources, libraries and cultural affairs.
Where do I search a Florida LLC or corporation?▾
Use official Sunbiz search at search.sunbiz.org. You can search by entity name, registered agent, officer, FEI number, document number, ZIP code, street address or trademark.
When is the Florida annual report due?▾
Florida annual reports for many business entities are due each year between January 1 and May 1. File early to avoid last-minute problems and late fee risk.
What is the Florida Sunbiz phone number?▾
The Florida Division of Corporations / Sunbiz main phone number listed by the Department of State is 850-245-6000. Service-specific phone numbers are listed for corporations, LLCs, annual reports and other tasks.
Where do I file a Florida annual report?▾
Use the official Sunbiz annual report filing page at services.sunbiz.org. Confirm the document number and entity details before submitting payment.
Where do I get a Florida apostille?▾
Florida apostilles and notarial certifications are handled by the Florida Department of State Division of Corporations. The official page lists the office at 2415 N. Monroe Street, Suite 810, Tallahassee, FL 32303.
Does Florida Secretary of State renew driver licenses?▾
No. Florida driver license services are generally handled by FLHSMV and county service centers, not the Florida Division of Corporations or Sunbiz.
Does Florida Secretary of State handle vehicle registration?▾
No. Florida vehicle registration and title services are generally handled through FLHSMV and county tax collector offices, not Sunbiz.
Where do I register to vote in Florida?▾
Use Florida’s official online voter registration system or Florida Division of Elections voter resources. For local voter questions, contact your County Supervisor of Elections.
Is Secretary-of-States.org an official Florida government website?▾
No. This website is an independent informational guide. Always confirm official transactions, filings, fees, deadlines and requirements on Florida Department of State, Sunbiz, Division of Elections and other official Florida government websites.
Best Way to Use Florida Secretary of State and Sunbiz Services Without Wasting Time
The Florida Secretary of State is the right starting point for Sunbiz business records, Division of Corporations filings, annual reports, certificates, apostilles, notary resources and election information.
Start with Sunbiz if your goal is business entity search, LLC lookup, corporation records, document number lookup, officer search, registered agent search, annual report filing or business certificate help.
Use the official apostille and notarial certification page if your Florida document will be used outside the United States or needs official authentication. Use Florida Division of Elections or your County Supervisor of Elections for voter registration, vote-by-mail and polling-place questions.
The most practical shortcut is to choose the right agency first, use official links only, search by document number when possible, file annual reports early, and save every confirmation number, receipt and filing document after your transaction.