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The first step is to select a name for your LLC. Florida law places some restrictions on what you can choose, but these shouldn’t significantly limit your options. Your business name:
- Can’t imply a connection to a government agency, such as the State Department, CIA, FBI, etc.
- Shouldn’t contain language stating or implying that it’s organized for an unauthorized purpose (e.g., Harry’s House of Hitmen)
- Must include “LLC,” “L.L.C.” or the words “Limited Liability Company” (professional limited liability companies must include “PLLC” or “chartered”)
- Requires documentation of an appropriate certification or license to include certain words such as “bank,” “attorney,” “lawyer” or “credit union”
Most importantly, your name must be unique. In other words, it must be distinguishable from existing businesses registered in Florida. You can conduct a Florida business name search using the state registry to see if the name you’ve chosen is already in use.
What happens if you’ve performed an LLC lookup and the name you’ve chosen is already taken? There are ways you can swap out words in your name for synonyms or change the order of the words in your name to differentiate it from other names on record without changing the spirit of your name. For example, the name “Purple Fields LLC” can become “Lavender Fields LLC” or “Fields of Purple LLC.”
Things to Consider When Naming Your Florida LLC
In the past, businesses fought for names starting with “A” so they could be listed first in the Yellow Pages (the business section of the printed telephone directory). While this no longer matters, modern businesses should consider other ways that their LLC name could impact their marketing and sales.
You may want to consider choosing a name that is easy to remember — and spell! You may lose business if potential customers that type your name into a search engine are misdirected because they don’t get it quite right.
In addition to a Florida LLC name search on the state’s registry, you’ll want to perform a domain name search to see if a website domain name similar to your proposed LLC name is available. If it is, reserve it immediately. If you’re set on a particular name for your LLC and a related domain isn’t available, you may want to explore creative options. (For example, “fixmyroofnow.com” or “RoofRepairTampaFlorida.com.”)
Inside Scoop: Knowing how to avoid company names that are trademarked by other businesses is important. For example, even if your name is Walt Disney, you can’t register your business under that name — especially not in Florida!
Registering a Fictitious Business Name
You can also register a fictitious company name that you regularly use to conduct business as a “doing business as” (DBA) name. For example, you may want to set up a Florida LLC for a variety of home contractor services and register separate DBAs for roof repair, tree trimming and house painting businesses.
It costs $50 to register a Florida DBA (sometimes called a “trade name”) with the Florida Department of State, and it’s valid for five years. You can do it online or by mail.
Inside Scoop: Want to know how to use a DBA to avoid infringing on someone else’s trademarks or brand name? For example, if you’re able to set up “McDonald’s Home Improvements, LLC,” you might also register “Up Top Roof Repair” as your DBA to avoid a cease-and-desist letter from the notoriously protective burger chain.
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