Registering a DBA in Florida costs $50 in state filing fees, plus a separate newspaper publication expense that typically runs $35 to $150 depending on the county newspaper you use. That covers you for five years, after which renewal is another $50.
The $50 State Filing Fee
The Florida Division of Corporations charges a flat, nonrefundable $50 to register a fictitious name.1Justia Law. Florida Code Title XLVI – Chapter 865 – Section 865.09 One fee covers the entire registration. There is no separate application or processing charge, and the price is the same whether you file online through Sunbiz or mail in a paper form.2Florida Department of State. Fees – Division of Corporations
Online filers pay by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express) through a third-party vendor, so the charge shows up on your statement as “NIC DOS DIVISION OF CORP.” Paper filers send a check or money order payable to the Florida Department of State.3Florida Department of State. Florida Fictitious Name Registration
Newspaper Publication: $35 to $150
Before you submit your registration, Florida law requires you to advertise your intent to use the fictitious name at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where your principal place of business is located.3Florida Department of State. Florida Fictitious Name Registration You pay the newspaper directly; this is not a state fee.
Pricing depends on the publication. Some smaller legal-notice papers charge as little as $35 for a single insertion.4La Gaceta Newspaper. For Non-Attorneys Larger papers in metro counties like Miami-Dade or Broward typically cost more. Budget roughly $35 to $150 for this step.
You do not submit proof of publication to the state. You certify on the application itself that you completed the advertising requirement.3Florida Department of State. Florida Fictitious Name Registration Keep the newspaper’s invoice and affidavit for your own records.
Other Fees You May Run Into
A few add-on fees are worth knowing about before you file:
- Certified copy of your registration: $30.
- Certificate of status: $10.
- Canceling the name, or canceling and re-registering under a different one: $50.1Justia Law. Florida Code Title XLVI – Chapter 865 – Section 865.09
One free step can save you the $50 filing fee: search the Division of Corporations database on Sunbiz first to confirm the name you want is not already registered. A duplicate name will be rejected, and the $50 is nonrefundable.1Justia Law. Florida Code Title XLVI – Chapter 865 – Section 865.09
Renewal Cost and Timing
A Florida fictitious name registration expires on December 31 of the fifth calendar year after you file. The year you register counts as year one, so a name registered in 2026 expires on December 31, 2030.1Justia Law. Florida Code Title XLVI – Chapter 865 – Section 865.09
Renewal is $50, the same as the initial filing. You can renew any time between January 1 and December 31 of the expiration year, and the Division of Corporations will send a reminder no later than September 1 of that year if you provided an email address.5Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes Chapter 865 Renewal does not require you to re-run the newspaper notice, so the $50 is your only expected cost.
Miss the December 31 deadline and the registration expires. Not receiving the reminder is not grounds for appeal. To use the name again, you file a brand-new registration: another $50 fee and a fresh newspaper publication.1Justia Law. Florida Code Title XLVI – Chapter 865 – Section 865.09
What It Costs to Skip Registration
Operating under an unregistered fictitious name is a noncriminal violation under Florida law, carrying a fine of up to $500.1Justia Law. Florida Code Title XLVI – Chapter 865 – Section 865.096Florida Senate. Florida Statutes Chapter 775 Section 083
The bigger financial exposure is practical. An unregistered business cannot file or maintain a lawsuit in any Florida court until it comes into compliance. You could not sue a customer who owes you money, enforce a contract, or pursue any legal claim tied to the business. A court can also award attorney fees and costs to the other side if your failure to register causes them extra expense.1Justia Law. Florida Code Title XLVI – Chapter 865 – Section 865.09 Compared to that risk, the $50 fee is cheap insurance.
What the Fee Does Not Buy You
Two things the $50 does not include, both of which catch new business owners off guard.
A DBA does not create a separate legal entity, so it provides no personal liability protection. If you are a sole proprietor operating under a fictitious name, your personal assets remain fully exposed to business debts and lawsuits. The DBA is a registered alias for your existing legal identity. Personal liability protection requires forming an LLC or corporation as a separate step, with its own filing fees.
A DBA also does not give you exclusive rights to the name. Another business in a different county, or even in the same one, can potentially use the same name. A fictitious name registration is a public notice filing, not an intellectual property claim. Brand exclusivity comes from a federal trademark through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, which is a separate process with its own costs.