How to Annals a Business Proper name in Florida

When you get-go a new concern in Florida, one of the starting time things you demand to practice is register your business's proper name. It is important to complete this process properly to avoid future problems. Below is an overview of this process to help you empathise and complete all of the necessary steps.

1. Come With Your Florida Business Name

Before yous tin can register your business proper noun in Florida, you must decide what the proper name of the business concern will be. When trying to develop your company'south name, think about the brand message yous want to communicate to clients. Your business organisation name will assist to grade the initial impression potential customers volition accept of your business.

What Makes a Good Business Name?

Every business concern is different. Withal, in general, your business proper noun should be:

  • Easy to search for
  • Easy to recall
  • Unique and in line with your brand identity

Brainstorming Tips

As you think virtually different business names, follow these tips.

  • As you look for ideas, focus on choosing a name that communicates a clear message.
  • Think about the visual elements associated with your concern.
  • Consider an acronym, especially if you lot tin't come up with a simple name.
  • Play with word associations related to your business.
  • Experiment with different synonyms.
  • Recall well-nigh alliterations or rhymes that go with your business organisation.

2. Decide the Legal Structure of your Florida Concern

Before y'all choose your business name, y'all should too select your concern structure. Each structure available will come up with its own requirements, challenges and advantages. Considering all of these characteristics will help yous find the most appropriate construction for your needs.

Why is your business structure important?

You may wonder why you need to cull your business structure before you finalize the proper noun. First, your business organization structure will affect the names available for your company. In addition, the registration process will differ based on the structure y'all choose.

Business Structure Choices

Four main construction options are available to Florida businesses:

  • Sole proprietorship
    A sole proprietorship is one of the most basic structures available. If you are an private who begins engaging in business activities, you volition automatically be designated as a sole proprietor unless y'all pursue a different structure.
    • Learn More: What is a Sole Proprietorship
  • Partnership
    A partnership structure is ideal for a company with ii or more owners. When you structure your business organization as a partnership, you volition file an data return instead of paying taxes equally a company. Losses and profits volition exist passed on to owners.
    • Learn More than: What is a Partnership
  • LLC
    LLC stands for "Express Liability Company" is a more flexible business organization structure that can include several people as owners. This structure combines limited liability protection with laissez passer-through taxation.
    • Larn More: What is an LLC
  • Corporation
    A corporation is a structure that separates the owners from the company. In this case, owners volition be called "shareholders" and volition not be personally liable for debts or concern lawsuits. Shareholders receive their profits through stocks and dividends.
    • Learn More: What is a Corporation

3. Cheque Business Name Availability

In some cases, the name you want to employ for your business organization may already be taken. Before registering the company, await for any other concern in Florida operating under the same proper noun. To acquit a thorough business concern name availability search, y'all desire to complete iii types of searches:

  • Trademark Search
  • Florida Business Name Search
  • Website Domain Search

Trademark Search

The kickoff step in verifying if a Florida business organization name is available is to conduct a federal trademark search. Since trademarks are registered at the federal level, they supersede state-level registrations. Thus, you'll want to ensure that your preferred concern name is non trademarked. If it is trademarked, you'll demand to come up up with a new business proper noun.

To conduct a federal trademark search, you want to visit the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) website and use the TESS Search.

Florida Business organization Name Search

Once you've verified that your name is not trademarked, its time to verify its availability to use in Florida. To search the registered concern names in Florida, use the Florida Department of Country Search.

In your search you'll desire to non only verify that your exact business organisation name is bachelor but besides that at that place are no other businesses using significantly similar business names.

Website Domain Search

One time you have verified that your business concern proper name is non trademarked and available for use in Florida y'all'll likewise want to do a search to ensure that the .com version of your business name is available. While not every business volition need or plan to build a website, nosotros however recommend trying to register the .com version of your business proper name.

By registering the .com version of your business organisation name you ensure that no 1 else can begin to employ that website name. Since you can annals a website domain proper noun for less than $10 with namecheap, its an affordable way to protect your business proper noun from beingness used by someone else.

four. File Your Florida Business Name Registration

Every bit soon as yous take chosen a business concern name, vetted it and verified it is the right name for you, information technology is time to register information technology. The process you lot need to use to annals your new business concern proper name will depend on your called business construction. By this step, you should already accept the legal structure of your business determined. The procedure to register your business proper name in Florida will vary slightly depending upon the legal structure yous choose.

How to Register an LLC Name in Florida

To register the proper name of your Florida LLC, you must file Articles of Organization with the Florida Partition of Corporations. When you register an LLC, you will need to file certain requirements. For an LLC your business proper name will need to include a designator that clearly identifies the business as an LLC such equally:

  • "LLC"
  • "50.50.C."
  • "Express Liability Company"
  • "Ltd.

How to Register a Corporation Proper noun in Florida

To form a Florida Corporation you lot volition need to file Articles of Incorporation with the Florida Division of Corporations. The process of establishing a corporation is known as "incorporation." Similar to registering an LLC, a Corporation in Florida must include a designator that clearly denotes that the business organization is structured equally a Corporation, such as:

  • "Corporation"
  • "Incorporated"
  • "Inc."
  • "Corp."

How to Register a Florida Sole Proprietorship Business Name

Sole proprietorships lack whatever legal distinction betwixt the individual and the business. Every bit a result, a Florida sole proprietor must conduct business concern under their personal name or at least include their personal proper name. If y'all program to operate your sole proprietorship under a more brandable business concern name, y'all'll need to file a Florida Fictitious Proper noun.

How to Register a Florida Partnership Business organisation Name

Like to sole proprietors, general partnerships in Florida must operate under a concern name that includes the final names of the business' partners, such every bit "Williams, Smith and Partners". If you plan to operate nether a different business organisation proper noun, yous'll be required to file for a Fictitious Proper name in Florida.

5. File a Florida Fictitious Name

If your business is going to exist operating under a name that is non the same equally the business'due south legal name, you must file for a Florida Fictitious Name. Using a Fictitious Name tin help brand your business, products, workforce divisions and services more finer.

vi. File a Trademark

To ensure your concern name is protected, it is best to file a trademark. Fortunately, the process of filing a trademark is fairly easy and straightforward. Most people are able to complete this process without help.

You lot can find the application you demand on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office'southward website.