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Overview of the Division
The Division of Corporations is the State's central location for the filing of business entities, trade and service marks, judgment liens, and fictitious name and lien registrations. In essence, the Division provides a statewide registry and information resource for almost all business activity in Florida.
Although these filing functions are found in every state, the Division maintains the reputation of being the most innovative in the nation. Over the past decade, the Division has:
- Pioneered the integration of its data bases with in-house automated filing systems, an electronic filing service, and a public access network www.sunbiz.org.
- Increased public accessibility to Division records by 75% by creating the first on-line public access network in the country, and through the integration of a new telephone system.
- Initiated the first electronic certification and electronic filing services in the country through our public access network.
- Initiated information sharing with the Department of Revenue to identify foreign business entities doing business in Florida but not registered with the Division.
- Reduced average document processing time by 65% through organizing operations based on function rather than program structure.
- Enhanced staff expertise by providing in-house paralegal education.
Staff of the Division provide a service and supply information to approximately four million people per month. In addition, the Division's public access network supplies information to the public at the rate of 6,800,000 per day.
The Division of Corporations maintains almost eight million business records and files over a million commercial documents annually to protect the public. These filing activities require the involvement of government to ensure the accuracy, consistency, and public availability of information for the protection of consumers. Sunbiz receives almost nine (9) million hits per week.
Public information about corporations and other business entities filing activity protects consumers and businesses and ensures that commerce is conducted by properly registered business entities. The Division of Corporation’s public information database serves as a deterrent to unscrupulous business practices and is used by law enforcement, business entities, and citizens as a resource to locate businesses operating in Florida.