Which entities may register a trade name with the Department of State?

• A. Sole Proprietor
• B. Government entity
• C. None
• D. Individual broker, partnership, or corporation

Answer: (D)

A trade name needs to be registered any time a person or business operates under a name different from its legal name. In Florida, the Department of State handles fictitious (trade) name filings, and anyone doing business under such a name can register it. This includes individual business owners, partnerships, and corporations, such as an individual broker who uses a separate business name, as well as partnerships and corporations. Government entities usually operate under their official government names and aren’t typically registering a trade name in this context, so the registrants described here are best captured by the option that includes an individual broker, partnerships, or corporations. This registration makes clear who is behind the business and helps protect the public.