Florida Document Number: How to Find Your Business's Sunbiz Number

Your Florida document number is the unique identifier the Florida Department of State's Division of Corporations assigns to your business when it first registers. You can find it in the "Filing Information" section of your entity's record on Sunbiz, the Division's public search site. The quickest route is to search by your business name and open your record.

Newer numbers are 12 characters long: a letter followed by 11 digits. Some older entities have a shorter, all-numeric number of six digits. You need the number to file your company's annual report, and you can also use any entity's document number to pull up its record on Sunbiz.

How to Find Your Florida Document Number on Sunbiz

The Division of Corporations runs the Sunbiz search tools from the Florida Department of State's Search Records page. The search runs on the Division's public website. If you have questions about access, contact the Division of Corporations.

1. Go to the Florida Department of State's Division of Corporations website and open the Search Records page.
2. Under the heading for Corporations, Limited Liability Companies, Limited Partnerships, and Trademarks, choose a search option. You can search by entity name, officer or registered agent, federal employer identification number (FEI/EIN), zip code, or street address.
3. Click your business's name in the results. This opens a page showing your information as it currently appears in the Division's records.
4. Look under "Filing Information." The document number is the first item listed.
5. Write the number down or print the page. It is also smart to save a digital copy, such as a screenshot or a saved copy of the web page, so you can find it quickly later.

If you search by name, the results list may include similar names and entities that are no longer active. Check the status column and the address before you open a record, so you copy the number for the right company.

What a Florida Document Number Looks Like for a Corporation or LLC

The number's first letter often lines up with the type of entity. On Sunbiz, Florida limited liability companies appear with numbers starting with L, such as L15000107643, and corporations with numbers starting with P, such as P08000037668. In the records we checked, the two digits after the letter matched the year of filing (L15000107643 was filed in 2015). This can help you tell roughly when an entity was registered.

If you need a Florida document number for a corporation, you will often see a P or an N prefix. N appears on not-for-profit corporation records such as N10000001840. Treat the prefix as a clue, not a rule. Always copy the number exactly as it appears on the record.

Other Places Your Document Number May Appear

You do not always need to search. Records you received from the Division also carry the number. The confirmation letter sent when your entity was formed includes its assigned document number, and the Division's annual report notice (sent by email or postcard) lists it too. Your registered agent, accountant, or bank may also have it on file from your earlier paperwork.

What to Do If Sunbiz Says "Record Not Found"

When you search by document number and get a "Record Not Found" message, the number does not exist in the Division's records. Before assuming the worst, check these points:

• Zeros, not the letter O: The Division states that every zero in a document number must be typed as the number "0," not the letter "o."
• Typos or a missing digit: Re-enter the number carefully, or search by business name instead.
• A different search field: Try the FEI/EIN, registered agent, or street address options if you do not remember the exact name.
• A fictitious name instead of an entity: Fictitious names (DBAs) are registered separately and carry a registration number, which has its own search on the same site.

If the business never filed with the Division, it will not have a document number at all. A sole proprietor using only a personal name, for example, has no Sunbiz entity record.

Document Number vs. EIN: Do Not Mix Them Up

Owners often confuse the two numbers. The document number is the state's identifier, issued by the Florida Division of Corporations. The EIN is a federal tax number issued by the IRS. Sunbiz lets you search by either one, and the EIN appears on the record as "FEI/EIN."

How to Get a Florida Document Number for a New Business

You do not apply for a document number on its own. The Division assigns it when you register a new entity, such as by filing articles of organization for an LLC or articles of incorporation for a corporation. Once the Division processes the filing, your entity appears on Sunbiz with its number.

According to the Division's published fee schedules for LLCs and corporations, the required filing costs are:

A certified copy of your filing is optional and costs extra. If you are still choosing a structure, our article on business entity types for Florida partnerships explains how the options compare.

Where You Will Use Your Document Number

Keep the number somewhere easy to reach, because the same few tasks come up every year:

• Annual reports: Florida LLCs and corporations file one each year, and the number identifies your record. The Division lists the filing fee at $138.75 for an LLC and $150 for a profit corporation, with a $400 late fee added after May 1.
• Certificates of status: A certificate of status confirms your entity is in good standing. The Division lists the fee at $5.00 for an LLC and $8.75 for a corporation.
• Banks, lenders, and licensing agencies: These often ask for the number to verify your entity.
• Address and agent updates: The number identifies your record when you update it. Our guide on how to change the address of your Florida business walks through that process.
• Reinstatement: If your entity was administratively dissolved, you will need the number to restore it. See how to file a reinstatement for your Florida business.

Can You Handle This Yourself?

Looking up a document number is simple, and most owners can do it in a few minutes without help. A lawyer becomes useful when the number leads you to a bigger issue: an entity showing as inactive, filings that are years behind, missing records you need for a sale or loan, or a corporate binder that is out of date.

If your records need to be reorganized, FL Patel Law PLLC provides legal and corporate secretarial support to businesses of all sizes. If you would like personalized help, you can schedule a consultation at flpatellaw.com/contact or call (727) 279-5037.

This article is for general information only and is not legal advice; reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.