How to File a DBA in Florida From Another State
Learn how to file a DBA in Florida even if you live in a different state. This guide covers the 5 steps, the newspaper publication requirement, fees, and how to register on Sunbiz.
Bizee Editorial Staff
Editorial Team
Introduction
You can file a DBA in Florida even if you live in another state. Florida calls a DBA a fictitious name, and the registration process runs entirely through the state's online Sunbiz portal. The one step that catches out-of-state filers off guard is a newspaper publication requirement — you need to advertise your fictitious name in a Florida county newspaper before you file.
What a DBA (fictitious name) is in Florida
A DBA — short for Doing Business As — is a registered trade name that lets a person or business operate under a name other than their legal name. Florida uses the term fictitious name instead of DBA, but they mean the same thing. Under Florida's Fictitious Name Act, any person or business entity must register a fictitious name with the Florida Department of State before conducting business in Florida under that name.
The registration requirement applies regardless of where you live. If your principal place of business is in Florida and you're operating under a name that isn't your legal or entity name, you need a Florida fictitious name registration. Your home state address doesn't change that.
Why out-of-state business owners file a Florida DBA
Business owners who live outside Florida but run operations there — a rental property, a storefront, a service territory — often need a Florida DBA to operate under a brand name rather than their personal name or legal entity name. It's also common for LLC owners who want to test a new product line or brand in Florida without forming a separate entity.
One thing worth knowing: registering a fictitious name in Florida does not, by itself, authorize a foreign LLC or corporation to transact business in Florida. If your out-of-state entity is actively conducting business in Florida, you'll likely need to file for a Certificate of Authority — a separate foreign qualification process — in addition to the DBA registration. Talk to a legal professional if you're not sure whether your activity in Florida triggers that requirement.
How to file a DBA in Florida from another state
Filing a Florida DBA from out of state follows the same process as filing from within Florida — the entire registration runs through the Sunbiz portal and can be completed online. The newspaper publication step is the one that requires advance planning, because it has to happen before you file.
Step 1: Check name availability on Sunbiz
Before you do anything else, search the Florida fictitious name database on Sunbiz to confirm your intended name isn't already registered. You can search by fictitious name or by owner name at search.sunbiz.org. Partial name searches are accepted. If your name is already taken or too similar to an existing registration, you'll need to choose a different one before moving forward.
Step 2: Register as a foreign entity if your LLC is transacting business in Florida
If your out-of-state LLC is actively conducting business in Florida — not just registering a name — you'll need a Certificate of Authority from the Florida Department of State before or alongside your DBA filing. This foreign qualification process requires filing an Application for Authorization to Transact Business in Florida and including a certificate of existence from your home state, dated within 90 days of filing. The filing fee is $100. You can file online, by mail, or in person.
Step 3: Publish your fictitious name in a Florida newspaper
Florida law requires you to advertise your fictitious name at least once in a newspaper located in the county where your principal place of business in Florida is located — and this has to happen before you file the registration. The requirement is tied to your Florida business location, not where you live, so out-of-state filers still need to find a qualifying newspaper in the right Florida county.
You don't submit proof of publication with your filing. Instead, you certify on the application that you've completed the advertisement. Most county newspapers that handle legal notices can walk you through the process — contact the paper in the county where your Florida business is located and ask about fictitious name publication.
Step 4: File your fictitious name registration with the Florida Department of State
File the Application for Registration of Fictitious Name online through the Sunbiz e-file portal or by mail to: Fictitious Name Registration, P.O. Box 6327, Tallahassee, FL 32314-1300. The filing fee is $50. You can also buy a certified copy of your registration for an additional $30.
The application asks for your exact fictitious name, a business mailing address (which does not have to be a Florida address), the Florida county where your principal place of business is located, and the names and addresses of all owners. If your business is already registered with the Florida Division of Corporations, you'll also need your Florida document number.
Step 5: Get your confirmation
If you file online, you'll get a confirmation email within 24 hours. If you file by mail, your confirmation arrives by mail. Keep this confirmation — it's your proof that the fictitious name is registered and active in Florida. Florida fictitious name registrations are also publicly searchable on Sunbiz once processed.
Frequently asked questions about filing a DBA in Florida
Yes. Your LLC can hold a DBA registration in a state other than where it was formed. Florida's fictitious name registration is open to out-of-state entities. If your LLC is also actively conducting business in Florida — not just holding a name — you'll likely need to file for a Certificate of Authority as a foreign entity in addition to the DBA registration.
Yes. Florida does not require business owners to be Florida residents. You can register a fictitious name, form an LLC, or qualify a foreign entity in Florida while living anywhere. Your mailing address on the Florida fictitious name registration doesn't have to be a Florida address — it just needs to be accurate.
File the Application for Registration of Fictitious Name through the Sunbiz e-file portal at efile.sunbiz.org or by mail to the Florida Division of Corporations. Before filing, you need to advertise your fictitious name at least once in a newspaper in the Florida county where your principal place of business is located. The filing fee is $50, and online filers get a confirmation email within 24 hours.
Florida law requires you to advertise your fictitious name at least once in a newspaper located in the county where your principal place of business in Florida is located — and this must happen before you file the registration. You don't submit proof of publication with your application. Instead, you certify on the form that you've completed the advertisement. The requirement applies to out-of-state filers the same as Florida residents.
The state filing fee for a Florida fictitious name registration is $50. You can also buy a certified copy of your registration for an additional $30. If your out-of-state LLC also needs to file for a Certificate of Authority to transact business in Florida, that filing carries a separate $100 fee.
Online filers generally receive a confirmation email within 24 hours of submitting the application through Sunbiz. Mail filings take longer — processing times vary, so plan for at least several business days. Keep in mind that the newspaper publication step has to happen before you file, so factor in the time to place and run the legal notice in a Florida county newspaper.
LLC owners register a DBA when they want to run a product line, brand, or business activity under a name that's different from their LLC's legal name — without forming a separate entity. It's a practical move for testing a new brand in a specific market, running multiple businesses under one LLC, or simply operating under a name that's more recognizable to customers than the legal entity name.
