In Short: How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Florida
Florida calls its good standing document a Certificate of Status. The Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations (Sunbiz) issues it. Order it online at Sunbiz with your 6- or 12-digit document number and an email address, or request it by mail from the Certification Section. The fee is $5.00 for an LLC and $8.75 for a profit corporation. Online orders arrive by email as a PDF once payment processes.
- Official name: Certificate of Status
- Issued by: Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations (Sunbiz)
- Fee: $5.00 for an LLC, $8.75 for a profit corporation
- How to order: Online through Sunbiz or by mail to the Certification Section
- Turnaround: Online orders are emailed as a PDF once payment processes; no mail processing time is published
- Free status check: Sunbiz corporation search by name
- What keeps you in good standing: Filing the Florida Annual Report between January 1 and May 1 every year
A Florida bank, lender or out-of-state filing office asks for a certificate of good standing, but the Florida Division of Corporations does not sell a document with that title. What it sells is a Certificate of Status. This page shows how to order one on Sunbiz, what it costs for an LLC and for a corporation, and how to keep your Florida entity active so the certificate comes back clean. For other states, see our guide on how to get a certificate of good standing.
What a Florida Certificate of Good Standing Is
The Florida Certificate of Status is an official statement from the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations, that your LLC or corporation exists on the state’s records and holds active status. In Florida, active status depends on one thing above all: filing the annual report each year. An entity that skips it is administratively dissolved, or revoked if it is a foreign entity registered in Florida, and Sunbiz then shows it as inactive.
Florida businesses get asked for the Certificate of Status in these situations:
- Banks request it to open a business account or to update signers on an existing one.
- Other states require it when a Florida LLC registers to do business there as a foreign entity.
- Lenders and SBA loan processors request it before closing a loan or a line of credit.
- Payment processors request it during merchant account underwriting.
- Buyers and investors request it during due diligence on a sale or capital raise.
- Licensing agencies request it before issuing or renewing a professional or contractor license.
The certificate proves status on the date it is issued. A party that asks for a recent certificate expects a fresh one, so order it close to the date you need it.
How to Order a Certificate of Status in Florida
The fastest route is the Sunbiz online certificate order, which delivers a PDF to your inbox.
- Find your document number. Every Florida entity has a 6- or 12-digit document number. Look it up for free in the Sunbiz corporation search if you do not have it on hand.
- Confirm the entity shows as active. A certificate for an inactive entity will not show active status, so file any missing annual report first.
- Open the Sunbiz Certificate of Status order page and enter the document number.
- Enter the email address where the certificate should go.
- Pay with a credit or debit card, or with a Prepaid Sunbiz E-File Account. An LLC pays $5.00 and a profit corporation pays $8.75.
- Download the PDF from your email once payment processes and send it to the bank, state or lender that asked for it.
Ordering by mail
Florida also accepts Certificate of Status requests by mail through the Division’s Certification Section. The mail fees match the online fees: $5.00 for an LLC and $8.75 for a profit corporation. Follow the instructions on the Division’s Certificate of Status by mail page, and include the entity name, document number and payment. The Division does not publish a processing time for mail requests, so use the online order whenever a deadline is close.
Florida Certificate of Good Standing Fees and Processing Time
| Method | Fee | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Online (Sunbiz), LLC | $5.00 | Emailed as a PDF once payment processes |
| Online (Sunbiz), profit corporation | $8.75 | Emailed as a PDF once payment processes |
| Mail, LLC | $5.00 | Not published by the state |
| Mail, profit corporation | $8.75 | Not published by the state |
The same fees appear on the Division’s Sunbiz fee schedule.
How to Check Florida Good Standing Status for Free
You do not need to buy a certificate to see whether your entity is active. Search your business name in the free Sunbiz corporation search, open the record and read the status field. Active means the entity is current. Inactive means it was administratively dissolved, revoked or voluntarily dissolved. The record also lists the document number, registered agent, principal address and the annual reports on file, so it is the first place to look before you order. For a full walkthrough of the search screens, see our Florida business entity search guide.
A free search result is not a substitute for the certificate. Banks and other states want the signed Certificate of Status, not a screenshot of Sunbiz.
How a Florida LLC Stays in Good Standing
Florida keeps the rule simple: file the annual report on time every year and keep a registered agent on record. Compare Florida’s rules with other states in our overview of annual report filing requirements by state.
Florida Annual Report
- Who files: Every Florida LLC and corporation, plus foreign entities registered in Florida.
- When: Between January 1 and May 1 each year.
- LLC fee: $138.75. After May 1 a $400 late fee applies, for $538.75 total.
- Profit corporation fee: $150.00, or $550.00 if received after May 1.
- Where: Online through Sunbiz.
The late fee is the real cost of missing May 1. A Florida LLC that files on May 2 pays almost four times the normal fee. An entity that never files is administratively dissolved, and a dissolved entity cannot get a Certificate of Status until it reinstates.
Registered agent
Every Florida LLC and corporation must keep a registered agent with a physical Florida street address on record with the Division of Corporations. The agent receives lawsuits and state notices, including annual report reminders. If your agent resigns or stops forwarding mail, you lose the notices that keep you out of trouble. Founders who live outside Florida, or outside the United States, use a commercial registered agent to cover this requirement.
What to Do If Your Florida Business Is Not in Good Standing
A Florida entity that shows as inactive on Sunbiz for missing annual reports can return to active status by filing a reinstatement application with the Division of Corporations. Here is the process:
- Look up the entity on Sunbiz and note the years with no annual report on file.
- File the reinstatement application with the Division of Corporations.
- Pay the reinstatement fee plus each missing year’s annual report fee. An LLC pays $100 plus each year’s annual report fee. A profit corporation pays $600 plus each year’s annual report fee.
- Confirm the record shows active on Sunbiz, then order a new Certificate of Status.
Our guide on how to reinstate an administratively dissolved LLC covers the steps in more detail across states.
Using a Florida Certificate in Another State
When a Florida LLC expands into another state, that state’s filing office asks for proof that the LLC is active at home before it grants the right to do business there. The Florida Certificate of Status is that proof. The other state then issues its own certificate of authority or registration. The two documents do different jobs, explained in certificate of good standing vs certificate of authority. Check how recent the other state wants the Florida certificate to be before you order it.
$0 formation fee plus the state filing fee. Registered agent free for the first year.
Florida Certificate of Good Standing FAQs
What is a certificate of good standing called in Florida?
Florida calls it a Certificate of Status. The Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations issues it through Sunbiz. Banks and other states accept it as proof of good standing.
How much does a Florida Certificate of Status cost?
A Certificate of Status costs $5.00 for an LLC and $8.75 for a profit corporation. The fees are the same online and by mail.
How fast can I get a Florida Certificate of Status?
Online orders on Sunbiz are emailed as a PDF once payment processes. The Division does not publish a processing time for mail requests. Use the online order when you face a deadline.
What do I need to order a Florida Certificate of Status online?
You need the entity’s 6- or 12-digit document number and an email address. You pay by credit card, debit card or a Prepaid Sunbiz E-File Account. Find the document number for free in the Sunbiz corporation search.
Why is my Florida LLC not in good standing?
The most common reason is a missed annual report, which is due between January 1 and May 1 each year. Florida administratively dissolves entities that do not file. An LLC can reinstate by paying $100 plus each missing year’s annual report fee.
Fees verified against official Florida sources in October 2026. State fees change; confirm the current amount on the Florida Division of Corporations site before you order.
