Florida has one of the most specific registered agent laws in the country. Your agent’s office must be open with someone present to accept service from at least 10 a.m. to 12 noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. every business day, under section 48.091 of the Florida Statutes. The agent can be a Florida resident or an authorized business entity, and must sign a written acceptance. Changing an LLC’s registered agent costs $25 under section 605.0213, as of October 2026.
Those fixed hours make self-service hard for anyone who is not at a desk all day. Our recommended registered agent in Florida is Mainstay Filing, at $149 a year.
Updated October 2026.
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Best Registered Agents in Florida (2026)
Comparing services for registered agent service in Florida? Start with this ranked shortlist; details for each pick follow the table.
| Rank | Provider | Best for | Price | What’s included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | Registered agent service with a flat renewal price | $149/year (renews at $149) | Registered agent service in all 50 states; switching from another agent included (state change fee at cost) |
| 2 | FL Registered Agent.org | Florida registered agent service only | $99/year | $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
| 3 | Florida Registered Agent.io | Florida registered agent service only | $99/year | in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
1. Mainstay Filing
Mainstay Filing is our top pick in Florida. It costs $149/year (renews at $149) and covers registered agent service in all 50 states; switching from another agent included (state change fee at cost). The price stays the same every year, with no add-on menu.
2. FL Registered Agent.org
FL Registered Agent.org is a Florida registered agent service at $99/year. It provides $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
3. Florida Registered Agent.io
Florida Registered Agent.io is a Florida registered agent service at $99/year. It provides in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
Florida registered agent at a glance
| Topic | Florida (October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Who can serve (LLC) | A Florida resident whose business address is the registered office, or an authorized domestic or foreign entity |
| Required office hours | At least 10 a.m.-12 noon and 2-4 p.m., weekdays except legal holidays |
| Written acceptance | Required from each initial and successor agent |
| Designate or change agent (LLC) | $25 (Fla. Stat. 605.0213) |
| Agent resignation (active LLC) | $85 |
| Articles of Organization | $100 (plus $25 to designate the agent) |
| LLC annual report | $138.75 ($50 report fee + $88.75 supplemental fee), due January 1 to May 1 |
| Filing office | Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations (Sunbiz) |
What does a registered agent do in Florida?
The registered agent is the company’s official recipient for service of process: summonses, complaints, subpoenas and similar legal papers. In Florida the agent’s name and registered office are listed on every entity’s public record in Sunbiz, so the address is where process servers and the state will go first.
Florida treats this seriously. The office-hours law means a process server should be able to walk in during set windows on any business day and find someone authorized to accept papers.
Florida’s registered agent requirements in detail
Who can serve
Under section 605.0113, a Florida LLC’s registered agent must be one of the following:
- An individual who resides in Florida and whose business address is identical to the registered office address.
- Another domestic entity that is an authorized entity (a for-profit corporation, LLC, limited liability partnership or limited partnership).
- A foreign entity of one of those types that is authorized to transact business in Florida.
Written acceptance
Every initial and successor agent must file a written statement accepting the appointment. The statute requires the statement to say that the agent is familiar with and accepts the obligations of the position.
Office hours and staffing
Section 48.091 requires the registered office to be open from at least 10 a.m. to 12 noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. each day except Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays. One or more people who are, or represent, the registered agent must be at the office during those hours so process can be served. The rule covers LLCs, corporations, limited partnerships and limited liability partnerships.
Can you be your own registered agent in Florida?
Yes, if you live in Florida and list your business address as the registered office. An officer or member can serve, but the LLC itself cannot be its own registered agent. The catch is the office-hours law: you, or someone representing you, must be at that address during both daily windows every business day.
Reasons to serve yourself
- You run a storefront or office in Florida that is already staffed on weekdays.
- You want to avoid an annual agent fee.
Reasons to hire an agent
- You work on job sites, travel, or keep irregular hours.
- You live outside Florida (snowbirds included), which rules you out as an individual agent.
- You run a home-based business and do not want process servers, or your home address on Sunbiz, tied to the company.
If service fails because nobody is at the registered office during the required hours, the case can proceed through alternate service, and you may learn about it late.
A practical test: think about the last month. If there were business days when nobody would have been at your address between 10 and 12 or between 2 and 4, a commercial agent is the safer choice. The cost of a missed lawsuit, such as a default judgment, is far higher than a year of agent service.
How much does it cost to change a registered agent in Florida?
For an LLC, Florida charges $25 to file a certificate designating or changing a registered agent, set by section 605.0213 of the Florida Statutes (2026). The related fees are:
| Florida LLC filing | Fee |
|---|---|
| Certificate designating or changing a registered agent | $25 |
| Registered agent’s resignation from an active LLC | $85 |
| Registered agent’s resignation from a dissolved LLC | $25 |
| Annual report (report fee + supplemental corporate fee) | $50 + $88.75 = $138.75 |
| Certified copy | $30 |
Corporations file under a different chapter of the statutes and pay $35 to change their registered agent.
Two ways to change your Florida registered agent
Option 1: a standalone change filing
- Choose an eligible agent who can meet the 10-12 and 2-4 office-hours rule.
- Have the new agent sign the written acceptance confirming it is familiar with and accepts the obligations of the position.
- File the change of registered agent with the Division of Corporations through Sunbiz and pay the $25 fee.
- Confirm the update on your company’s record using the Sunbiz entity search.
Option 2: through the annual report
Under section 605.0212(5), if your annual report lists a different registered agent name or address than the Department’s records, the difference is treated as a change of agent. If your report is due anyway (January 1 to May 1), you can make the change there with the new agent’s acceptance, rather than paying for a separate filing.
A commercial agent normally files the change for you as part of onboarding.
More Florida resources
Florida annual reports are filed between January 1 and May 1 each year on Sunbiz, and the $138.75 total combines the $50 report fee in section 605.0212 with the $88.75 supplemental corporate fee in section 607.193. A report filed after May 1 adds a $400 late fee, for a total of $538.75, and the late fee cannot be waived.
Planning a new company? Start with our guide to forming an LLC in Florida, check name availability using the Florida business name search guide, or see how to start a business in Florida for other structures.
FAQs
What are the registered agent office hours in Florida?
Section 48.091 of the Florida Statutes requires the registered office to be open from at least 10 a.m. to 12 noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. each day except Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays. Someone who is, or represents, the registered agent must be present to accept service during those hours.
How much does it cost to change a registered agent in Florida?
For an LLC, Florida charges $25 to file a certificate designating or changing a registered agent, under section 605.0213 of the Florida Statutes. A registered agent’s resignation from an active LLC costs $85. For a Florida corporation, the change fee is $35.
Can I be my own registered agent in Florida?
Yes, if you live in Florida and your business address is the registered office. You must also meet the office-hours rule, with someone present from 10 a.m. to 12 noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on business days. Out-of-state owners need a Florida resident or an authorized entity.
Can I change my Florida registered agent on the annual report?
Yes. Under section 605.0212(5), if an LLC’s annual report lists a registered agent name or address that differs from the Department of State’s records, it is treated as a change of registered agent. The new agent still needs to accept the appointment.
How much is the Florida LLC annual report in 2026?
The total is $138.75: a $50 annual report fee under section 605.0212 plus the $88.75 supplemental corporate fee under section 607.193. Reports are due between January 1 and May 1 each year, starting the year after formation, and filing after May 1 adds a $400 late fee.
Does a Florida registered agent have to accept the appointment in writing?
Yes. Section 605.0113 requires each initial and successor registered agent to file a written statement accepting the appointment and confirming that the agent is familiar with and accepts the obligations of the position. A commercial agent provides this acceptance when it takes on your company.
What is the best registered agent in Florida?
Our recommendation is Mainstay Filing at $149 per year, with renewal at the same price and the agent switch included. FL Registered Agent.org is an alternative at a flat $99 per year, with an in-state street address and online access to scanned documents.
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