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How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Florida

Florida calls it the Certificate of Status and charges $5. Here is how to order it and what must be current first.

At a glance

Document name
Certificate of Status
State fee
$5
Online ordering
Yes
Typical turnaround
Instant PDF via email after payment processes online
Issuing office
Florida SOS ↗

How to order it

  1. Clear any past-due filings first. The Florida SOS will not issue a certificate while you have unpaid tax or an unfiled report. The state-specific requirements are in the points below.
  2. Order it online. Search your LLC in the Florida portal, request the certificate, and download it. Link in the table above.
  3. Pay the $5 fee. Pay by card at checkout. A small card surcharge usually applies.
  4. Use it inside the recipient's window. The certificate has no state expiration, but banks and other states usually want one dated within the last 30 to 90 days. Order it close to when you need it.
Full ordering details for Florida

Florida issues a "Certificate of Status" through the Department of State Division of Corporations (Sunbiz). The fee is $5 for LLCs and $8.75 for corporations and limited partnerships. Order online at dos.fl.gov/sunbiz - the certificate is emailed as a PDF immediately after payment. You can also order a Certificate of Status when filing your annual report (LLC annual report is $138.75) by checking the applicable box. The annual report must be filed between January 1 and May 1 each year - failure to file results in a $400 late penalty and administrative dissolution after the third Friday in September.

Processing and expedited tiers: Instant PDF via email after payment processes online

Important to know about Florida

  • Florida charges different fees by entity type - $5 for LLCs, $8.75 for corporations and limited partnerships. Many third-party guides only cite the $8.75 figure.
  • The annual report ($138.75 for LLCs) must be current before a Certificate of Status will be issued. Florida is one of the most expensive states for the annual report itself.
  • Florida adds a $400 late fee if the annual report is filed after May 1 - one of the steepest late penalties in the country. If unpaid by the third Friday in September, the LLC is administratively dissolved.
  • Payment is processed by NIC Services (Tyler Payment Services) - the credit card statement will read "NIC DOS DIVISION OF CORP" rather than Florida Department of State. Save the receipt as it contains tracking info.
  • If your business is in "Inactive" status with Sunbiz, you cannot order a Certificate of Status until you reinstate (which requires filing all missed annual reports plus the $100 reinstatement fee per missed year).

Ordering this to register in another state?

A certificate of good standing is what a new state asks for when you register your Florida LLC to do business there. Start with the guide for where you are expanding.

Florida foreign LLC guide · Foreign qualification by state

Related guides

This page provides general information based on publicly available Florida Secretary of State requirements. It is not legal advice. Names, fees, and procedures can change. Verify with the Florida SOS before ordering.