Florida entity search: How to find your business information

You can find Florida business entity information, including entity name, type, number, and formation date, through the Florida Department of State Division of Corporations business search portal. This free online database provides immediate access to key details you need for compliance and business transactions.

Below, we'll walk you through exactly how to search the Florida database, where to find each piece of information, and what format each data point takes in Florida's system.

Summary table: Finding your Florida entity information

How to search for Florida business entities

Navigate to Florida’s business entity search to look up any registered business by name, document number, or registered agent name.

The search returns results immediately with all entity details visible on one comprehensive page. While Florida's system supports partial matches (searching "Sunshine" will return "Sunshine Builders LLC"), using your complete legal name as registered ensures you get precise results.

Florida's search is more flexible than many states, allowing searches by multiple criteria, including entity name, officer name, and registered agent. The system is not case-sensitive, so "SUNSHINE BUILDERS" produces the same results as "sunshine builders."

Click your entity name in the results to view complete details, including your document number, formation date, registered agent information, principal office address, and often downloadable formation documents. 

Florida provides one of the most comprehensive public databases of any state, showing detailed information that might require fees or special requests elsewhere.

What you'll see in search results

• Legal entity name (exact spelling and punctuation)
• Entity type (LLC, Corporation, Limited Partnership, Professional LLC, etc.)
• Document Number (Florida's unique identifier format)
• Filing Date (formation date)
• Status (Active, Inactive, Dissolved, etc.)
• Registered agent name and address
• Principal office and mailing addresses
• Officer/manager names and addresses

How to find your entity number in Florida

Your Florida entity number, officially called your "Document Number," follows the format L23000012345 (for LLCs) or similar patterns, and was assigned by the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations, when your entity was formed.

Where to locate your Florida Document Number

1. Florida business search (fastest method)

• Located: Prominently displayed in search results and at the top of entity detail pages
• Labeled as: "Document Number"
• Format: Letter prefix followed by numbers (L23000012345 for LLCs, P23000012345 for corporations)

2. Certificate of Formation/Organization/Incorporation

• Usually at the top of the document
• Usually labeled as "Document Number"
• Stamped with the official filing date

3. Annual reports and state correspondence

• Appears on all official Division of Corporations documents
• Used as your account identifier for annual report filings
• Required for any amendments or changes to your entity

Florida Document Number format

• Format: Letter prefix + 11 digits
• Example: L23000012345 (LLC), P23000012345 (Corporation)
• Pattern note: Florida business entity document numbers are alphanumeric and start with a letter prefix indicating entity type.

How to find your entity type in Florida

Florida recognizes numerous business entity types, listed exactly as shown in your business search results and formation documents.

Where to find your Florida entity type

1. Florida business search (most accessible)

• Displayed: Prominently in search results and on detailed entity pages
• Listed as: "Florida Limited Liability Company," "Florida Profit Corporation," "Florida Limited Partnership," etc.
• Uses Florida's specific terminology and designations

2. Certificate of Formation/Organization/Incorporation

• At the top of your formation document
• States the full legal entity type (e.g., "Florida Limited Liability Company")
• Cannot be changed without filing the appropriate amendment documents

3. Annual reports

• Listed in entity information section
• Must remain consistent with formation documents
• Any changes require formal amendment filings

How to find your formation date in Florida

Your formation date (when the Florida Department of State Division of Corporations officially filed and approved your business entity) appears in Florida business search results and on your Certificate of Formation.

Where your Florida formation date appears

1. Florida business search (easiest access)

• Listed as: "Filing Date" or "Date Filed"
• Location: Displayed prominently in both search results and detailed entity information
• Always shows the date the state processed and approved your filing

2. Certificate of Formation/Organization/Incorporation

• Top of the document with official state stamp
• May say "Filed on [date]" or show a filing stamp with date
• Includes the Division of Corporations' official seal

3. Annual report confirmations

• References original filing date
• Used to calculate annual report due dates
• Available in downloadable format through the Sunbiz portal

Formation date vs. effective date

In Florida, the formation and effective dates are typically the same. Florida generally processes filings with immediate effectiveness unless a future effective date is specifically requested and approved. 

The "Filing Date" shown in Sunbiz represents when your entity was legally formed and began its existence.

Next steps: Onboarding your entity to Discern

With your Florida entity information ready, onboarding to Discern takes minutes. We automate Florida's annual reports and deadline tracking while providing registered agent services and compliance management across all 51 jurisdictions.

Book a demo to get started.^.