Your company name is important. It’s your first impression, and it’s how people will remember you. You don’t want to be the business with a forgettable name. So, when you’ve got that perfect name in mind, that clever alliteration or meaningful acronym, you might think about reserving it before someone else does.

Naming your company is one of the first official steps when starting an LLC in Florida. In certain situations, it may be beneficial to reserve a business name while you’re preparing to bring your business idea to life.

However, Florida is the only state that does not allow entrepreneurs to reserve business names. The only option is to register your business name when you form your Florida LLC.

Are You Required to Reserve a Business Name?

The state of Florida does not require you to reserve a business name before forming your LLC. In fact, this is the only state that doesn’t even allow entrepreneurs to reserve business names ahead of their formations. If you have a great business name in mind, you should simply proceed with filing your Articles of Organization, which will register your name automatically.

If you need some assistance, take a look at our comprehensive guide to forming a Florida LLC.

Save Time by Using a Professional LLC Service

As a business owner, you have a lot to think about. Pile on the responsibility of handling state correspondence, LLC tax information, and more while keeping your LLC compliant, and you’ve got yourself a pretty full plate.

Sometimes the best move is to let someone else take care of the paperwork for you. This way, you can sleep easy knowing you’ll never miss a deadline or compliance requirement with the state. While LegalZoom is by far the most well-known LLC formation service and has decent overall value, ZenBusiness is an entrepreneur favorite. Other than that, IncFile and Northwest are two other popular options with appeals of their own.

$0 + state fee and takes 5-10 minutes

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Florida is a bit laxer about restricted words than some other states. In general, you’re not allowed to use terms that imply affiliation with any governmental agencies, and you also can’t use language implying that your business is formed for any reason other than your LLC’s stated purpose.

  • No. In fact, Alabama is the only state that requires entrepreneurs to reserve a business name before forming an LLC, and Florida doesn’t even allow you to reserve your name. In the other 48 states, this is an optional and largely unnecessary step.

  • The state of Florida is home to more than 2.5 million small businesses. Entrepreneurs of all backgrounds and business types find that Florida is a great place to own and operate a small business.

  • If you need guidance on a wide variety of business issues in Florida, there are some resources ready to help you navigate them. The Florida Small Business Development Center is a treasure trove of info for new and existing businesses. The Department of State’s Division of Library and Information Services also has a helpful small business resource guide. Finally, the state’s official business information portal has info on everything from formulating a business plan to business licensing issues.

  • The overall costs of operating a Florida LLC can vary considerably based on the specifics of your business. However, we created a helpful guide to help you identify and plan for every expense your LLC will face in this state.

  • The answer to this question lies in your personal preferences, but we can give some general pointers. An attorney will cost the most by a mile, but also provides expertise you won’t find with the other options. The DIY route is free of charge but can require quite a bit of legwork and provides no peace of mind that the process is being completed correctly.

    Using an LLC service means your business will be formed by professionals who know what they’re doing, while also costing significantly less than a lawyer. This “best of both worlds” attribute is what makes LLC services our preferred option.

Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.

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Written by Team ZenBusiness

How to Reserve an LLC Name in all 50 States

We break down the LLC Name Reservation process for all 50 states. View all of our guides below.

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