DBA Filing in Florida: Who Issues It, Cost & Steps
If you're trying to file a DBA (fictitious business name) in Florida, the state is not who you file with. This is issued locally, and the rules change at the city line. Here's how to find the right counter, and what the process generally looks like once you do.
What is actually true in Florida
A Florida DBA (called a "fictitious name") must be registered with the Department of State's Division of Corporations before you operate under any name other than your legal name or entity name. You file directly with the state, not a county or local agency.
- You must register your DBA before conducting business in Florida, and failure to do so is a crime.
“The Fictitious Name Act (s.865.09, F.S.) requires any person (which, by definition, includes an individual, as well as a business entity) to register their "fictitious name" or "dba" name with the Florida Department of State prior to conducting business in Florida.”
https://dos.myflorida.com/sunbiz/start-business/efile/fl-fictitious-name-registration/ - You must advertise your intended DBA name in a local newspaper, though you only certify this on your application-no proof is required.
“The name you register must be advertised at least once in a newspaper that is located within the county where your principal place of business is located ( Chapter 50 , Florida Statutes). However, proof of advertisement is not required. You, the applicant, certify the name has been advertised when you sign the application.”
https://dos.myflorida.com/sunbiz/start-business/efile/fl-fictitious-name-registration/ - Registering a DBA does not give you exclusive rights to the name, and someone else can register and use the same name.
“Registering a fictitious name does not: Grant you ownership or rights to the name; or Prohibit someone else from using or registering the same fictitious name.”
https://dos.myflorida.com/sunbiz/start-business/efile/fl-fictitious-name-registration/ - If your DBA registration expires, you cannot renew it-you must file a brand new registration instead.
“An expired fictitious name cannot be renewed or reinstated. You must file for a new fictitious name .”
https://dos.myflorida.com/sunbiz/manage-business/efile/fictitious-name-renewal/ - Banks and most financial institutions require proof of your DBA registration before opening a business account.
“Most banks and financial institutions also require proof of registration when opening an account.”
https://dos.myflorida.com/sunbiz/start-business/efile/fl-fictitious-name-registration/ - You do not need to register a DBA if you are already incorporated or formed an LLC, limited partnership, or other registered business entity.
“A Fictitious Name Registration is not required for an individual's legal name, or for the name of a corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership.”
https://dos.myflorida.com/sunbiz/start-business/efile/fl-fictitious-name-registration/ - You can file your DBA online with a credit card or by mailing a form with a check.
“File online with a credit card. OR Complete the fillable PDF form using your computer. Print and sign it. Mail it to the Division of Corporations with the required payment.”
https://dos.myflorida.com/sunbiz/forms/fictitious-name/
Sources (each one opened and read on 2026-09-15)
- FL Fictitious Name Registration: https://dos.myflorida.com/sunbiz/start-business/efile/fl-fictitious-name-registration/
- Fictitious Name Renewal: https://dos.myflorida.com/sunbiz/manage-business/efile/fictitious-name-renewal/
- Fictitious Name Forms: https://dos.myflorida.com/sunbiz/forms/fictitious-name/
Who issues a DBA Filing in Florida
This is a local permit. It is issued by your city or county, not by the state of Florida. The state office listed underneath handles a related filing — it does not issue this permit.
- Florida — the state business-filing office (Secretary of State in most states) (registers business entities)
https://dos.myflorida.com
https://dos.myflorida.com/sunbiz
Where a DBA is filed varies more than almost any other filing on this site — county clerk in many states, the state business-filing office in others.
Finding your local office
Start with the city your address sits in — the relevant department is usually called Planning, Building, Community Development, or Business Licensing. If your address is unincorporated, the county performs that role instead. Calling the main switchboard and asking who handles this is usually faster than searching.
Starting point for anything else in Florida: the state business portal, https://dos.myflorida.com/sunbiz. It is a starting point, not the issuer of this permit.
The general US process
This sequence is the shape the process takes across the US. It is not a list of Florida requirements, and no step here should be read as one — the issuing office named above sets the actual requirements.
- Step 1: Find out where a DBA is filed where you are. County clerk in many states, the state business-filing office in others, and both in a few.
- Step 2: Search that register for the name you want.
- Step 3: File the statement — often called a fictitious business name or assumed name filing — and pay the fee.
- Step 4: Publish the filing in a newspaper if that jurisdiction requires publication. Several do; most do not.
- Step 5: File the proof of publication where publication was required.
- Step 6: Use the name consistently on marketing, invoices and the bank account.
What varies: county versus state filing, whether publication is required, the fee, and whether the filing expires.
Documents usually asked for
A typical list, not a Florida checklist.
- Government-issued ID
- Legal business name (if an entity, not sole prop)
- Business address
Related permits in Florida
DBA Filing in states bordering Florida
Rules stop at the state line — same permit, each state bordering Florida:
See DBA Filing in all 50 states & DC →
Frequently asked questions
Who issues a DBA filing in Florida?
Your city or county — not the state.
How much does a DBA filing cost in Florida?
We don't publish a Florida figure we haven't verified. The typical US range is $10–$150. The office named above has the real number for your address.
How long does it take to get a DBA filing in Florida?
Typical US processing is 1–30 days, and expedited handling is often available for a fee. The issuing office publishes its own turnaround, and that is the number to trust.
What is Florida-specific on this page: the issuing office, 7 Florida facts, each quoted off the government page beside it. Everything else — the numbered process, the document list, the cost and timeline — is the general US pattern, not a Florida rule, and is labelled that way above. Requirements, fees and deadlines are set by the issuing office; confirm with it before you file or pay.