How to verify a Florida business for KYB

Florida gives a KYB analyst more for free than almost any other state. A Sunbiz record shows the entity's status, filing date, federal employer identification number where one was reported, principal and mailing addresses with the date each last changed, the registered agent, the people authorized to act for the entity, and a free PDF image of every filing. The work in Florida is reading that record critically, because every field on it was supplied by the filer. This guide covers the steps, what the record proves, and what to request. It is one of seven state guides built on our study of all 50 state registries and DC.

Step 1: Search Sunbiz

The official search is the Division of Corporations' site at search.sunbiz.org. Search by entity name, officer or registered agent name, document number, FEI/EIN, zip code or street address. There is no fee and no login. The street address search is worth using on its own: it shows how many other entities list the same address. Scripted requests got a Cloudflare challenge when we tested on 2026-09-30, while a normal browser loaded the search and records without trouble.

The name results list shows the document number and status for each match, which is enough to spot near-duplicates. Look for an older inactive entity with the same name, or a similar name filed recently. Open the record that matches the applicant's exact legal name.

Step 2: Read the record top to bottom

A Florida LLC record we opened on 2026-09-30 showed these sections, in this order:

• Filing information: document number, FEI/EIN number, date filed, state, status, last event and its filing date.
• Principal address and mailing address, each with a "Changed" date.
• Registered agent name and address, with separate dates for the last name change and address change.
• Authorized person(s) detail: each person's title and address. On a corporation, this is the officer and director list.
• Annual reports: the last three report years with filing dates.
• Document images: every filing, from the original articles through each annual report, each marked "View image in PDF format."

Links at the top lead to Events and Name History, which show amendments, mergers and prior names.

Read the dates as carefully as the names. A principal address changed last month, a new registered agent, or a new slate of authorized persons shortly before the application are the details most worth asking about.

Step 3: Open the filings

Because the images are free, pull at least the original articles and the two most recent annual reports into the case file. Compare them:

• Did the authorized persons change between reports? When?
• Does the signature block on the latest annual report match a person the applicant has presented?
• Is the EIN on the record the same as the one on the applicant's IRS letter?

Florida is one of the few states where a record can show the entity's FEI/EIN. When it is present, it is a quick cross-check against the EIN confirmation letter. A mismatch is a hard stop until explained.

Step 4: Get a certificate of status, if your policy needs one

The Division's fee schedule lists a certificate of status at $8.75 for a corporation and $5.00 for an LLC. It is ordered online through Sunbiz. For many files the record itself, saved with its capture date, is stronger evidence than a certificate the applicant sends, because you pulled it yourself. Our guide to what a certificate of good standing proves covers the limits of either.

What the Florida registry proves, and what it does not

Red flags specific to Florida files

Self-reported data taken as verified. Florida's registry reflects what the filer submits. Treat the authorized persons and addresses as the applicant's own statement, filed under the state's rules, not as independent verification.

Recent changes before the application. A new principal address, registered agent or set of authorized persons filed days or weeks before onboarding may be routine. It is also what an entity takeover looks like. Check whether the change was filed by a person the applicant presented, and ask why it was made.

Formation date versus claimed history. The date filed is authoritative. If the applicant claims years of trading and the entity is months old, look in Name History and Events for a predecessor, then ask.

Principal address equals the registered agent's address. The record then tells you nothing about where the business operates. See registered-agent address.

Name collisions. Florida's name search returns similar names. A new entity with a name close to an established company's is worth checking against that company's record and website before you accept a claim that they are related.

Authorized persons who are not owners. A manager on the record may be a hired manager or a formation service. Match each authorized person to a role in the applicant's ownership and control person declarations.

What to request from a Florida applicant

• An ownership chart with percentages down to natural persons, signed, and identity documents for owners above your threshold. The registry names people with authority, not owners.
• The operating agreement pages that establish members and percentages. See operating agreement.
• An IRS EIN letter whose legal name, and number where shown, match Sunbiz.
• Proof of the operating address if the principal address is a registered agent's or a virtual office.
• An explanation, with documents, for any change in authorized persons, agent or address filed within your look-back window.

Costs at a glance

Fees and data terms are from the Division of Corporations' fee and data download pages, checked on 2026-09-30.

How Sweat AI handles Florida files

Sweat AI is an AI-native BPO for banks and fintechs, starting with back-office workflows like KYB, onboarding and fraud reviews. On a Florida applicant, our analysts read the full filing history, compare the authorized persons across annual reports, cross-check the EIN and addresses, and flag recent changes for a decision. Every finding in the evidence packet links to the filing it came from, and one consolidated list names what is still needed. Your team makes the decision. See our KYB review service or the step-by-step verification guide.