How do I search for UCC liens on a Florida business?

You can search for UCC liens filed against a Florida business or individual through the Florida Secretary of State's FSTR (FloridaUCC.com) portal, or use SunbizStatus to run a combined entity status and UCC lien check in one place.

What is FloridaUCC.com and who uses it?

FloridaUCC.com (officially FSTR Online Filing) is the Florida Secretary of State's UCC lien search portal. It is used by lenders, banks, attorneys, CPAs, title companies, factoring companies, and M&A professionals to check whether a borrower or business has existing liens before extending credit or completing a transaction.

Can lenders check UCC liens on Florida businesses before funding?

Yes. Lenders and banks routinely search the Florida FSTR (UCC) database before extending credit to verify that collateral is not already pledged to another creditor. SunbizStatus provides a direct link to run this check alongside the entity's Sunbiz status.

How to Check Business Name Availability in Florida Before You File

Why Business Name Availability Matters More Than You Think

Choosing a business name feels like the fun part of starting a company — but in Florida, it's also one of the most legally consequential steps you'll take. File a name that's already taken, too similar to an existing entity, or one that violates Florida's naming statutes, and you're looking at rejected filings, wasted fees, and potentially a rebranding headache down the road.

The good news? Checking business name availability in Florida is a straightforward process — if you know exactly where to look and what to look for. This guide walks you through everything CPAs, accountants, and new business owners need to know before filing with the Florida Division of Corporations.

Start With the Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz.org)

The official — and most important — place to check whether a business name is available in Florida is the Florida Division of Corporations website, commonly known as Sunbiz.org. This is the state's official business registry, and it's where all corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, and other registered entities are recorded.

Here's how to run a basic name search:

Go to Sunbiz.org
Click on "Search Records" in the top navigation
Select "Entity Name" from the search options
Type in the business name you're considering
Review the results for any active, inactive, or similarly named entities

One thing to pay attention to: the search isn't just about exact matches. Florida law under Section 607.0401, Florida Statutes (for corporations) and Section 605.0112 (for LLCs) prohibits names that are "distinguishable upon the records" from existing entities. That means a name that's only slightly different from an existing business may still be rejected.

For example, if "Sunshine Consulting LLC" is already registered, "Sunshine Consultants LLC" or "Sunshine Consulting Inc." could potentially be flagged as indistinguishable — depending on how the Division reviews it.

Understanding Florida's Business Name Rules

Beyond just checking availability, your chosen name has to comply with Florida's specific naming requirements. Here's what you need to know:

For LLCs:

The name must contain the words "Limited Liability Company," "LLC," or "L.L.C."
The name cannot imply the business is a government agency
It cannot include words like "bank," "trust," or "insurance" without proper licensing

For Corporations:

The name must include "Corporation," "Corp.," "Incorporated," or "Inc."
Similar restrictions apply around regulated industry terminology

For Fictitious Names (DBAs):

If you plan to operate under a name different from your legal entity name, you'll need to register a fictitious name with the Division of Corporations
Florida fictitious name registrations cost $50 and must be renewed every five years
Under Section 865.09, Florida Statutes, operating under an unregistered fictitious name can result in penalties and loss of the right to bring a lawsuit in Florida courts

Keep in mind that the Division of Corporations doesn't check for trademark conflicts — that's a separate step you'll want to handle on your own through the USPTO Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS).

How to Reserve a Business Name in Florida

Found a name that's available? Don't wait — someone else could file it before you do. Florida allows you to reserve a business name before you officially form your entity.

Here are the details:

Reservation period: 120 days
Fee: $35 for corporations; $25 for LLCs
How to file: Submit a Name Reservation application through Sunbiz.org or by mail to the Florida Division of Corporations
Renewals: You can renew the reservation for additional 120-day periods

This is especially useful if you're in the process of preparing your Articles of Incorporation or Articles of Organization and aren't ready to file the full formation documents yet. It locks in the name while you get everything else in order.

Don't Forget Federal and Trademark Considerations

Searching Sunbiz.org only tells you whether a name is available at the state level in Florida. It does not:

Check federal trademark registrations — a business in another state may have already trademarked the name
Prevent common law trademark conflicts — even without a registration, a business may have established rights to a name through use
Search domain name availability — your business name and your website address should align if possible

For CPAs advising clients on entity formation, this is a critical point to raise early in the engagement. A client who builds a brand around a name that's already trademarked nationally could face costly litigation — even if the Florida name search came back clean.

Here's a quick checklist before finalizing any business name:

✅ Search Sunbiz.org for Florida entity and fictitious name conflicts
✅ Check the USPTO trademark database for federal conflicts
✅ Search for the name on Google and major social media platforms
✅ Check domain availability
✅ Confirm the name meets Florida statutory naming requirements

What Happens If You File a Conflicting Name?

If you submit formation documents with a name that's already taken or doesn't meet Florida's requirements, the Division of Corporations will reject your filing and return it with a notice of deficiency. You'll need to correct the name and refile — but you won't automatically get a refund of your filing fees.

For LLCs, the standard filing fee is $125. For profit corporations, it's $70 for the Articles of Incorporation (plus a $35 registered agent fee). These aren't enormous amounts, but the real cost is the time delay — especially if you have client contracts, bank accounts, or licenses waiting on the entity formation.

This is why doing the name search before you file is so important. A few minutes of research upfront can save days or weeks of back-and-forth with the state.

Stay on Top of Your Florida Business Status Year-Round

Checking name availability is just the first step in a longer compliance journey. Once your business is formed, Florida requires annual reports filed between January 1 and May 1 each year — with a $138.75 fee for LLCs and $150 for profit corporations. Miss the May 1 deadline and you're hit with a $400 late fee, and continued non-compliance can lead to administrative dissolution.

Your business name and entity status can also change over time — mergers, name amendments, and dissolutions affect the registry constantly.

Ready to check your Florida business name or monitor your entity's standing? Use SunbizStatus to quickly search Florida business name availability and keep an eye on your entity's active status throughout the year. Whether you're starting fresh or managing multiple client entities, SunbizStatus makes it easy to stay informed and compliant — so nothing slips through the cracks.