Florida Form OFR-S-15 is the Uniform Application for Securities Industry Registration or Transfer used by the Florida Office of Financial Regulation to register dealers, investment advisers, issuers, branch offices, and associated persons under Chapter 517, Florida Statutes. Anyone who wants to sell securities, give investment advice for a fee, or supervise people who do — and who is not exempt — must file this form before doing business in the state.
The current revision date printed on the form should appear in the lower right corner of page 1, and filers should always download the latest version directly from the OFR forms page. According to OFR’s annual report, Florida processes more than 300,000 securities registrations a year, and a meaningful share are held up by missing fingerprints, wrong fees, or stale disclosure answers — small mistakes that delay business by weeks.
Here is what this guide covers:
- 📄 What OFR-S-15 is, who must file it, and how it ties into Form U4, Form BD, and Form ADV
- 📋 A complete pre-filing checklist of every document, ID number, and fee you need before you start
- 🧭 A line-by-line walkthrough of each box, page, and signature block on the form
- 🧪 Three full worked scenarios showing what a real filer enters from top to bottom
- ⚠️ The mistakes, mythbusters, and field-level traps that cause most Florida rejections
What OFR-S-15 Is and Who Must File It
OFR-S-15 is Florida’s master registration form for the securities industry. It is filed with the Florida Office of Financial Regulation, Division of Securities, and it sits on top of the federal CRD/IARD systems run by FINRA and the SEC. The form is required by Section 517.12, Florida Statutes, and the procedural rules are spelled out in Rule 69W-301 of the Florida Administrative Code.
The five categories of filers are dealers, investment advisers, issuers/affiliated persons, branch offices, and associated persons. Each category checks a different box on page 1, pays a different fee under Rule 69W-301.002, F.A.C., and attaches different supporting documents. The form is also used to transfer a registration from one firm to another, which is why “or Transfer” appears in the title.
Florida is a notice-filing state for federal covered advisers, meaning SEC-registered advisers do not “register” with Florida but still file OFR-S-15 information through IARD. State-registered advisers — those with under \$100 million in assets under management — do fully register with OFR using this form. Dealers and their associated persons file through the FINRA CRD system, which feeds Florida automatically, but the OFR-S-15 fee and Florida-specific attachments still must arrive separately.
The form solves a practical problem: it lets one document carry every piece of information OFR needs to run a background check, confirm financial responsibility, and decide whether to grant the registration. Getting it wrong means the clock keeps ticking on the 45-day default approval window in §517.12(6), F.S. without your registration being granted, because OFR will issue a deficiency letter that pauses the file.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Gather everything below before you open the form. Florida’s REGI online portal times out, and paper filers who mail an incomplete packet will receive a deficiency letter under Rule 69W-301.002(7), F.A.C. that can add 30–60 days to processing.
- CRD or IARD number. Every dealer, IA, and associated person needs one. Without it, OFR cannot match your Florida filing to your federal record, and the form will be rejected at intake.
- Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) or Social Security Number. Firms enter the FEIN; individuals enter the SSN. A wrong digit triggers an SSA/IRS mismatch hold.
- Legal name and any DBAs. Names must match the Florida Division of Corporations record exactly, including punctuation.
- Fingerprint cards (FD-258) for every control person and associated person. Required by §517.12(7), F.S. Missing prints are the single most common deficiency.
- Audited or reviewed financial statements for dealers and IAs that take custody, dated within 90 days of filing per Rule 69W-600.0161, F.A.C..
- Surety bond (if required), in the amounts set by Rule 69W-600.0017, F.A.C. for IAs with custody or discretionary authority.
- Form BD, Form ADV Parts 1, 2A, 2B, and 3 (CRS), or Form U4 as the federal counterpart, depending on filer category.
- Filing fee in the correct amount — \$200 for dealers, \$200 for IAs, \$40 per associated person, \$100 per branch — payable to the Florida Office of Financial Regulation.
- Disciplinary history documents. Any “Yes” answer on the disclosure questions requires certified copies of the underlying order, complaint, or judgment.
- Florida-resident agent for service of process information for out-of-state filers, including the agent’s signed acceptance.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
The official OFR-S-15 lives on the Office of Financial Regulation forms page as a fillable PDF. Always pull a fresh copy for each filing, because OFR updates the revision date when fee tables, disclosure questions, or attachment lists change, and the agency will reject prior versions under Rule 69W-301.002, F.A.C..
Most filers will not mail OFR-S-15 directly. Dealers and their associated persons file the federal Form BD or U4 through the FINRA CRD system, and CRD transmits the data to Florida. Investment advisers — both SEC-registered notice filers and Florida-only state-registered advisers — file Form ADV through IARD, which similarly transmits to OFR. The Florida-specific portion of the OFR-S-15 (the fee, the cover page, and Florida attachments) is then submitted through the REGI portal or by mail.
Issuer/dealer registrations and certain branch filings still require a paper OFR-S-15 mailed to the OFR Tallahassee office. Anyone unsure which channel applies should call the OFR Bureau of Registration at the number listed on the contact page before filing, because mailing a form that should have gone through CRD wastes the fee and the time.
The form is free to download. Filers can also request a printed copy by writing to the OFR Bureau of Registration, but the agency strongly prefers the PDF version because it carries embedded edit checks that catch obvious math and date errors before submission.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out OFR-S-15 Line by Line
The form is organized into a cover page, an applicant information page, a disciplinary disclosure page, an attachment list, and a signature block. Use the exact field labels printed on the official PDF — do not paraphrase. Sample entries below are italicized so you can tell them apart from instructions.
Box 1: Type of Application
This first box asks what kind of registration you are seeking. You check one of the following: Dealer, Investment Adviser, Issuer/Dealer, Branch Office, or Associated Person. The category drives the fee, the attachments, and the statutory authority that applies.
To answer, read the definitions in §517.021, F.S. and pick the single best match. If you are an investment adviser representative working for an IA firm, you check Associated Person — not Investment Adviser, which is reserved for the firm itself. For example, Marisol Ortega, an IAR for Sunshine Wealth Advisors, checks Associated Person.
A nuance: dual registrants who are both a broker-dealer agent and an IAR file two separate OFR-S-15s, one in each capacity, with two separate \$40 fees. Filers often think one form covers both, but Florida treats the capacities as distinct under Rule 69W-600.002, F.A.C..
The most common mistake here is checking Investment Adviser instead of Associated Person on an individual filing. The consequence is a \$160 fee underpayment (paying \$200 instead of \$40) plus a deficiency letter, because the form will not match the CRD record. A frequent misconception is that “Issuer/Dealer” covers any company selling its own stock — it does not, and most issuers rely on exemptions in §517.061, F.S. instead of registering.
Box 2: Full Legal Name of Applicant
This box asks for your full legal name as a person or as an entity. Individuals enter Last, First, Middle exactly as it appears on the Social Security card. Firms enter the legal name on the Sunbiz record, including “LLC,” “Inc.,” or “L.P.”
For example, Ortega, Marisol Elena writes her name with the comma. Sunshine Wealth Advisors, LLC writes Sunshine Wealth Advisors, LLC, with the comma before LLC because that is how Sunbiz lists it.
A nuance: filers who legally changed their name need to enter the current legal name in Box 2 and disclose the prior name in the “Other Names Used” attachment. If you skip this, OFR’s background check will return on the prior name and trigger a manual review.
The most common mistake is using a nickname or DBA in Box 2. The consequence is a name-mismatch hold that pauses the registration until corrected, costing 2–4 weeks. The misconception is that punctuation does not matter — it does, because OFR’s system matches strings exactly against Sunbiz and SSA records.
Box 3: CRD or IARD Number
This field asks for the Central Registration Depository (CRD) number for dealers and associated persons, or the IARD number for investment advisers. The number is assigned by FINRA the first time you register anywhere in the U.S.
To answer, copy the 6- or 7-digit number from your BrokerCheck or IAPD profile. Marisol enters her CRD as 5874321. If you have never been registered anywhere before, you must first file Form U4 through CRD to obtain a number, then return to OFR-S-15.
A nuance: associated persons moving between firms keep the same CRD number forever. Filers sometimes leave Box 3 blank thinking a fresh number is issued for each firm; it is not. The consequence of leaving Box 3 blank is a near-automatic rejection, because OFR cannot link the Florida filing to a federal record. The misconception is that the CRD number is “private” — it is published on BrokerCheck.
Box 4: Federal Tax ID or Social Security Number
This box asks for the FEIN (firms) or SSN (individuals). It is used for IRS matching and for criminal background checks.
Enter the number with no spaces and no dashes if the form has plain digit boxes, or with dashes if the boxes are formatted XXX-XX-XXXX. Sunshine Wealth Advisors, LLC enters 59-3456789. Marisol enters her SSN 123-45-6789.
A nuance: sole proprietors who have an FEIN may use either the FEIN or the SSN, but Florida prefers the FEIN for firms and the SSN for individuals. The most common mistake is transposing two digits, which produces an SSA/IRS mismatch hold that stops the registration cold. The misconception is that an ITIN works in place of an SSN — it does not, and non-SSN filers must request a waiver under Rule 69W-301.002(2), F.A.C..
Box 5: Principal Business Address
This box asks for the physical street address of the applicant’s main office. P.O. Boxes are not allowed for the principal business address, although a P.O. Box may be used as a separate mailing address.
Enter the street, suite, city, state, and ZIP. Sunshine Wealth Advisors enters 200 South Biscayne Blvd, Suite 2900, Miami, FL 33131. Marisol enters her firm’s address, not her home address, because Box 5 asks for the firm’s principal place of business when she is filing as an associated person.
A nuance: home-based IAs must list the home address, and they should know that this address becomes public on IAPD. The most common mistake is entering a P.O. Box, which OFR rejects on intake. The misconception is that you can shield a home address by listing the firm’s address — you cannot, because OFR cross-checks against IRS records.
Box 6: Florida Office Address (if different)
This box asks for any Florida-located office that differs from Box 5. Out-of-state firms with a Florida branch list the Florida branch here. Florida-only firms repeat the Box 5 address.
Enter the full street, suite, city, ZIP. Sunshine Wealth Advisors enters 200 South Biscayne Blvd, Suite 2900, Miami, FL 33131 in both Box 5 and Box 6. An out-of-state dealer like Lone Star Securities, Inc. might enter 1 Brickell Ave, Suite 1500, Miami, FL 33131 here while keeping a Houston address in Box 5.
A nuance: each separate Florida office requires its own branch registration and a separate \$100 fee under Rule 69W-301.002, F.A.C.. Filers sometimes list multiple Florida offices in Box 6 thinking one fee covers them — it does not. The consequence is a deficiency letter and a hold until the additional fees are paid. The misconception is that a temporary Florida office (less than 30 days) is exempt; under Rule 69W-200.001, F.A.C., it is not if business is conducted there.
Box 7: Contact Person and Phone
This box asks for a human being OFR can call about the application. The contact must be reachable during Florida business hours.
Enter name, title, direct phone, and email. Sunshine Wealth Advisors enters David Lin, Chief Compliance Officer, (305) 555-0142, dlin@sunshinewealth.com. The phone must be a direct line, not a main switchboard, because OFR analysts will not navigate phone trees.
A nuance: the contact person does not have to be a control person, but they must have authority to answer compliance questions. The most common mistake is listing an outside lawyer who does not pick up the phone, which adds days to every back-and-forth. The misconception is that email alone is enough — Florida analysts often call first.
Box 8: Form of Organization
This box asks the entity type: Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, LLC, Corporation, LLP, or Other. Individuals filing as associated persons skip this box.
Pick the option that matches the Sunbiz record. Sunshine Wealth Advisors checks LLC. Lone Star Securities, Inc. checks Corporation.
A nuance: an LLC taxed as an S-corp is still an LLC for Box 8, because the question is about legal form, not tax election. The most common mistake is checking Corporation for an LLC because the firm files as an S-corp; this triggers a Sunbiz mismatch. The misconception is that a Series LLC counts as one entity — Florida treats each protected series as a separate filer under §605.0902, F.S..
Box 9: State of Formation and Date
This box asks where and when the entity was organized. Individuals leave it blank.
Enter the state name and the date in MM/DD/YYYY format. Sunshine Wealth Advisors enters Florida, 04/12/2019. The date must match the Sunbiz formation date exactly.
A nuance: foreign LLCs (formed outside Florida) must also be registered to do business in Florida under §605.0902, F.S., and the Florida registration date should be attached separately. The most common mistake is entering the date the firm started doing business rather than the formation date. The misconception is that a Delaware LLC is automatically Florida-registered — it is not.
Box 10: Direct Owners and Executive Officers
This box (or schedule) asks for every person who owns 5% or more of the firm or who serves as an executive officer. Each person needs a name, CRD number (if any), title, and ownership percentage.
List each individual in the order specified by the form. David Lin, CCO, 25% and Sandra Park, CEO, 75% are listed in alphabetical order by last name. Each person must also file their own OFR-S-15 as an associated person if they will conduct securities activities.
A nuance: indirect owners holding through a holding company must be disclosed on a separate schedule under Rule 69W-301.002(4), F.A.C.. The most common mistake is listing only the operating company and not the upstream owners, which is a securities-law violation. The misconception is that a 4.99% owner is exempt — they may be, but only if the 5% threshold is calculated on a fully diluted basis.
Box 11: Disciplinary Disclosure Questions
This is the most-scrutinized section. The questions mirror the Form U4/BD disclosure pages and ask about criminal history, regulatory actions, civil judgments, customer complaints, bankruptcies, and unpaid judgments going back 10 years (or longer for felonies).
Answer each question Yes or No. Every Yes requires a Disclosure Reporting Page (DRP) attached, with certified copies of the underlying documents. Marisol answers No to all questions; Lone Star Securities answers Yes to a 2022 FINRA AWC and attaches the AWC and the DRP.
A nuance: dismissed criminal charges still require disclosure under §517.161(1)(h), F.S., because Florida cares about the underlying conduct, not just the conviction. The most common mistake is answering No to a sealed or expunged matter; OFR’s background check finds it anyway, and the false answer becomes a separate violation under §517.301, F.S.. The misconception is that an out-of-state regulatory action does not need disclosure — it does.
Box 12: Florida Resident Agent for Service of Process
This box asks out-of-state firms to designate a Florida resident who will accept legal process. Florida residents skip it.
Enter the agent’s name, Florida street address, and signed acceptance. Lone Star Securities, Inc. names CT Corporation System, 1200 South Pine Island Road, Plantation, FL 33324 and attaches the signed acceptance.
A nuance: the agent must consent in writing on a form attached to OFR-S-15, and changes require an amendment within 30 days under Rule 69W-301.002(5), F.A.C.. The most common mistake is naming an agent without attaching the acceptance, which voids the designation. The misconception is that the firm’s Florida lawyer is automatically the agent — only a designated and consenting agent qualifies.
Box 13: Attachments Checklist
This checklist confirms which supporting documents are included. Items vary by filer category but generally include Form BD/ADV/U4 copies, financial statements, surety bond, fingerprint cards, organizational chart, and DRPs.
Check each box that applies and confirm the document is physically attached or uploaded to REGI. Sunshine Wealth Advisors checks Form ADV Parts 1, 2A, 2B, 3; Audited Balance Sheet; Surety Bond; Fingerprint Cards; and Organizational Chart.
A nuance: REGI uploads must be PDFs under 10 MB each per the REGI user guide. The most common mistake is checking the box but forgetting to attach the file, which produces an automatic deficiency. The misconception is that prior filings stay attached forever — OFR purges old supporting documents periodically and may request fresh copies.
Box 14: Filing Fee
This box confirms the fee enclosed. Fees are set by §517.12(10), F.S.: \$200 for dealers, \$200 for IAs, \$40 per associated person, \$100 per branch, plus a \$200 assessment for dealers under §517.131, F.S. (Securities Guaranty Fund).
Enter the dollar amount and select the payment method (check, ACH through REGI, or CRD/IARD funding account). Sunshine Wealth Advisors enters \$200.00 and pays via IARD funding. Lone Star Securities enters \$400.00 (\$200 dealer + \$200 SGF assessment) and pays via CRD funding.
A nuance: fees are non-refundable under Rule 69W-301.002(8), F.A.C., even if the application is withdrawn or denied. The most common mistake is sending a personal check from an associated person when the firm should pay; this triggers a return. The misconception is that the SGF assessment applies to IAs — it does not.
Box 15: Signature, Title, and Date
The signature block is where an authorized officer or the individual filer signs under penalty of perjury per §517.301(1)(c), F.S.. The signature certifies that every answer is true and that the filer has read the form’s instructions.
Sign in ink (paper) or apply the REGI e-signature (online), then print name, title, and date in MM/DD/YYYY format. David Lin, Chief Compliance Officer, 05/27/2026 signs for Sunshine Wealth Advisors. Marisol signs for herself: Marisol Elena Ortega, Investment Adviser Representative, 05/27/2026.
A nuance: the person who signs must be an authorized officer or partner; an outside lawyer cannot sign for the firm. The most common mistake is letting an unauthorized employee sign, which voids the filing. The misconception is that an electronic typed name without REGI authentication is acceptable — it is not.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Scenario 1: Marisol Ortega, New IAR Joining a Florida State-Registered Adviser
Marisol is a 28-year-old investment adviser representative joining Sunshine Wealth Advisors, LLC, a Florida-registered firm with \$60 million in AUM. She has just passed the Series 65 exam and has no prior registrations.
| Form Section | What Marisol Enters |
|---|---|
| Box 1 — Type | Associated Person |
| Box 2 — Name | Ortega, Marisol Elena |
| Box 3 — CRD | 7654321 (newly assigned via U4) |
| Box 4 — SSN | 123-45-6789 |
| Box 5 — Address | 200 South Biscayne Blvd, Suite 2900, Miami, FL 33131 |
| Box 11 — Disclosure | No to all questions |
| Box 13 — Attachments | Fingerprint cards (FD-258), Form U4 |
| Box 14 — Fee | \$40.00 via IARD funding |
| Box 15 — Signature | Marisol Elena Ortega, IAR, 05/27/2026 |
Scenario 2: Lone Star Securities, Inc., Out-of-State BD Adding a Florida Branch
Lone Star Securities is a Texas-based broker-dealer registered with FINRA. It is opening its first Florida branch in Miami and registering both the firm and the branch with OFR.
| Form Section | What Lone Star Enters |
|---|---|
| Box 1 — Type | Dealer + separate filing for Branch Office |
| Box 2 — Name | Lone Star Securities, Inc. |
| Box 3 — CRD | 123456 |
| Box 4 — FEIN | 74-1234567 |
| Box 5 — Principal Address | 1500 Louisiana St, Houston, TX 77002 |
| Box 6 — Florida Office | 1 Brickell Ave, Suite 1500, Miami, FL 33131 |
| Box 11 — Disclosure | Yes to FINRA AWC 2022, DRP attached |
| Box 12 — Resident Agent | CT Corporation System, Plantation, FL |
| Box 14 — Fee | \$400.00 (\$200 dealer + \$200 SGF) plus \$100 per branch |
| Box 15 — Signature | Carlos Mendoza, President, 05/27/2026 |
Scenario 3: Aisha Patel, Sole-Proprietor Florida-Only Investment Adviser
Aisha is launching Patel Financial Planning, a fee-only RIA with \$8 million projected AUM, all Florida residents. She files as a state-registered IA.
| Form Section | What Aisha Enters |
|---|---|
| Box 1 — Type | Investment Adviser |
| Box 2 — Name | Patel Financial Planning, LLC |
| Box 3 — IARD | 333445 |
| Box 4 — FEIN | 87-9876543 |
| Box 5 — Address | 4200 NW 36th St, Miami Springs, FL 33166 |
| Box 8 — Form | LLC |
| Box 10 — Owners | Patel, Aisha — Sole Member, 100% |
| Box 11 — Disclosure | No to all questions |
| Box 13 — Attachments | Form ADV Parts 1, 2A, 2B, 3 (CRS); reviewed balance sheet; surety bond (\$25,000); fingerprint card |
| Box 14 — Fee | \$200.00 via IARD funding |
| Box 15 — Signature | Aisha Patel, Managing Member, 05/27/2026 |
How to File the Completed Form
Florida accepts OFR-S-15 through three channels, but the right one depends on the filer category. Picking the wrong channel is a leading cause of delay, so confirm with the OFR Bureau of Registration before sending anything.
- Online via REGI at https://real.flofr.gov/. Used for branch registrations, issuer/dealers, and Florida-specific attachments. Fees are paid by ACH or credit card; processing time runs 15–45 days; the filer’s confirmation email is the proof of filing.
- Through CRD at https://www.finra.org/registration-exams-ce/classic-crd for dealers and their associated persons. Fees are debited from the firm’s CRD funding account; CRD’s daily transmittal report is the proof of filing.
- Through IARD at https://www.iard.com/ for state-registered IAs and IARs. Fees are debited from the IARD funding account; the IARD filing receipt is the proof of filing.
- By mail to the Office of Financial Regulation, Division of Securities, 200 East Gaines Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399. Used for paper-only filings and for certain initial issuer registrations. Pay by check made payable to “Florida Office of Financial Regulation”; certified mail with return receipt is the proof of filing.
Processing times under §517.12(6), F.S. default to 45 days, but the clock pauses each time OFR issues a deficiency letter. Filers who answer deficiency letters within 60 days keep the file alive; missing the 60-day window forces a refile and a new fee.
What Happens After You File
Within a few business days, OFR enters the filing in its tracking system and an analyst is assigned. The analyst reviews each box, checks attachments, runs background and financial checks, and may issue a deficiency letter listing every problem. The letter arrives by email if you filed through REGI/CRD/IARD or by mail if you filed on paper.
If the file is clean, OFR approves the registration and posts the effective date to BrokerCheck or IAPD. The applicant receives a registration confirmation, and the file flips to “active” status under §517.12(11), F.S.. From that moment, the firm or person may legally transact securities business in Florida.
If the file is denied, OFR issues a Notice of Intent to Deny under Chapter 120, F.S., and the applicant has 21 days to request a hearing. Common grounds for denial are undisclosed disciplinary history, inadequate net capital, and material misrepresentations. A withdrawal filed before denial preserves the right to reapply later, although the underlying issue will resurface.
Renewals run on a calendar-year cycle. All Florida registrations expire December 31 each year and must be renewed through CRD/IARD by the deadline published in the FINRA renewal program, usually mid-December. Missed renewals lapse on January 1, and reinstatement requires a fresh OFR-S-15.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
- Using an outdated revision of the form. OFR rejects prior versions and requires the current PDF, costing a refile.
- Checking the wrong “Type of Application” in Box 1. A wrong category means the wrong fee and the wrong attachments, so the analyst returns the file.
- Leaving Box 3 (CRD/IARD number) blank. Without the federal number, OFR cannot match the filing and rejects on intake.
- Transposing digits in the SSN or FEIN. A digit error triggers an SSA/IRS mismatch hold that takes weeks to clear.
- Using a P.O. Box for the principal business address. Florida requires a physical street address for Box 5, and a P.O. Box voids the filing.
- Skipping the signed acceptance from a Florida resident agent. An unaccepted designation is no designation, and the file stalls.
- Forgetting fingerprint cards for control persons. Missing prints is the single most common deficiency under §517.12(7), F.S..
- Underpaying the fee. Fees are non-refundable, and underpayments produce a deficiency until the balance is paid.
- Answering “No” to a disclosure question that should be “Yes.” Florida treats false answers as fraud under §517.301, F.S., independent of the underlying conduct.
- Letting an unauthorized employee sign Box 15. Only an authorized officer, partner, or the individual filer may sign, or the form is void.
- Listing only the operating company in Box 10 and ignoring upstream owners. Indirect owners over 5% must be disclosed.
- Forgetting to upload attachments in REGI even when the box is checked. A checked box without a file is treated as missing.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do: – Pull a fresh copy of OFR-S-15 from the OFR forms page every time you file, because revisions occur without notice. – Match every name and address to Sunbiz and SSA records exactly, because OFR runs string-match background checks. – Pay through CRD/IARD whenever possible, because funded-account payments clear instantly. – Answer disclosure questions in Box 11 conservatively — when in doubt, disclose. – Attach DRPs for every “Yes” answer, with certified copies of the underlying order or judgment. – Keep a dated PDF copy of the entire submission, including attachments and proof of filing, for at least 5 years per Rule 69W-600.014, F.A.C..
Don’t: – Don’t file OFR-S-15 directly to Tallahassee when CRD or IARD is the proper channel. – Don’t use nicknames, DBAs, or trade names in Box 2; legal names only. – Don’t rely on an outside lawyer to sign Box 15 unless they have written authority on file. – Don’t skip fingerprint cards thinking CRD prints suffice — Florida re-runs prints. – Don’t ignore deficiency letters past 60 days; the file dies and the fee is forfeited. – Don’t forget to update the form within 30 days when any disclosure answer changes, per Rule 69W-301.002(5), F.A.C..
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Pros of pro se filing: – Saves \$1,500–\$5,000 in compliance consultant fees on a routine filing. – Forces the principal to learn the form, which pays off at renewal. – Faster turnaround for simple files (sole-proprietor IAs with no disclosures). – Direct relationship with the OFR analyst, with no intermediary delay. – Builds in-house compliance muscle that is needed regardless.
Cons of pro se filing: – High risk of missing a disclosure, fingerprint, or attachment requirement. – No malpractice protection if a mistake later causes a denial or sanction. – Steeper learning curve on Box 11 disclosure analysis, which is where most files break. – Time cost — a clean first-time filing takes 8–15 hours of focused work. – No relationship leverage with OFR analysts the way a frequent-filing lawyer has.
Florida OFR-S-15 vs. FINRA Form U4: How They Interact
| Element | OFR-S-15 (Florida) — Form U4 (FINRA) |
|---|---|
| Authority | Chapter 517, F.S. for OFR-S-15; FINRA By-Laws Article V for Form U4 |
| Filer | OFR-S-15 filed by the firm or individual; U4 filed only by individuals |
| Channel | OFR-S-15 through REGI, mail, or CRD/IARD passthrough; U4 only through CRD |
| Fee | OFR-S-15 — \$40 associated person; U4 — no separate fee, included in CRD |
| Disclosure scope | OFR-S-15 mirrors U4 disclosures plus Florida-specific items; U4 covers FINRA-wide |
| Update window | OFR-S-15 — 30 days under Rule 69W-301.002; U4 — 30 days under FINRA By-Laws |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I file OFR-S-15 if I am a federal covered investment adviser?
Yes. Federal covered advisers file a notice through IARD, which transmits OFR-S-15 information to Florida and triggers the \$200 notice-filing fee under §517.1201, F.S.
Can I use a P.O. Box in Box 5 (Principal Business Address)?
No. Florida requires a physical street address in Box 5; a P.O. Box may be used only as a separate mailing address on the attachments page.
Do I write my maiden name or married name in Box 2?
No to the prior name in Box 2. Use your current legal name, then disclose any prior name on the “Other Names Used” attachment.
Is the \$40 associated-person fee refundable if my application is denied?
No. Fees are non-refundable under Rule 69W-301.002(8), F.A.C., even after withdrawal or denial.
Do I check “Investment Adviser” in Box 1 if I am an IAR?
No. IARs check Associated Person in Box 1; Investment Adviser is reserved for the firm.
Must I disclose a dismissed criminal charge in Box 11?
Yes. Dismissed and even sealed charges require disclosure under §517.161(1)(h), F.S.; OFR’s background check will find them anyway.
Do I need separate OFR-S-15 filings for dual BD/IA capacities?
Yes. Each capacity is a distinct registration with its own fee, so dually registered persons file two OFR-S-15s.
Can my outside lawyer sign Box 15 for the firm?
No. Box 15 must be signed by an authorized officer, partner, or the individual filer; outside counsel may not sign without express written authority on file.
Do I list a 4.99% owner in Box 10?
No if the calculation is on a fully diluted basis and the owner stays under 5%. Yes if any conversion or option pushes them to 5% or more.
Is OFR-S-15 the right form to renew my registration?
No. Renewals run through the FINRA renewal program on the CRD/IARD calendar, not by refiling OFR-S-15.
Do fingerprint cards from CRD count for Florida?
No. Florida requires its own FD-258 fingerprint cards under §517.12(7), F.S., separate from any CRD prints.
Can a Series LLC file one OFR-S-15 covering all series?
No. Each protected series under §605.0902, F.S. is treated as a separate filer with its own fee and attachments.
Does the Securities Guaranty Fund assessment apply to investment advisers?
No. The \$200 SGF assessment under §517.131, F.S. applies only to dealers, not to IAs.
If I miss a deficiency letter deadline, can I revive the file?
No. Files closed for inactivity past 60 days require a fresh OFR-S-15 and a new fee; the prior fee is forfeited.
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