To start an LLC in Florida, file Articles of Organization with the Florida Department of State’s Division of Corporations (Sunbiz), naming a registered agent who signs to accept the role. The state charges $125: a $100 filing fee plus $25 for the registered agent designation (as of October 2026). Each year after that, the LLC files an annual report between January 1 and May 1, which costs $138.75 including the state’s supplemental fee.
Florida is popular for new LLCs because it has no state personal income tax and a straightforward online filing system. The deadline to respect is May 1: a late annual report triggers a $400 late charge.
Updated October 2026.
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Best LLC Formation Services in Florida (2026)
Comparing services for forming an LLC 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 | Forming an LLC with the agent, EIN and annual report included | $199/year + state fee at cost | LLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing |
| 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 $199/year + state fee at cost and covers lLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing. 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 LLC at a glance
| Item | Florida (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Filing office | Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations (Sunbiz) |
| Formation document | Articles of Organization |
| State fees to form | $125 ($100 articles + $25 registered agent designation) |
| Optional extras | Certified copy $30; certificate of status $5 |
| Annual report | $138.75 ($50 report + $88.75 supplemental fee); due January 1 to May 1 |
| Late charge | $400 if filed after May 1 |
| Registered agent | Required; Florida street address; must accept the appointment in writing |
| Publication | Not required for LLC formation |
The fees above are set in Florida Statutes s. 605.0213 and s. 607.193. If you want state and service costs in one place, Mainstay Filing’s Florida LLC cost page has that breakdown.
Step 1: Pick a Florida LLC name
A Florida LLC name must contain “Limited Liability Company,” “LLC” or “L.L.C.” and must be distinguishable from other names on the Division of Corporations’ records.
Generating ideas is quicker with the namechk business name generator. Once you have a shortlist, search each name on Sunbiz’s corporate name search, and follow our Florida business name search guide to catch near-duplicates the search might not flag obviously.
Florida’s LLC fee statute doesn’t list a name reservation, so the practical approach is to confirm availability and file promptly. Before filing, also:
- Check the USPTO trademark database for federal registrations
- Confirm the domain and social handles are free with namechk
- Plan a fictitious name registration if you’ll trade under a name other than the LLC’s legal name
Step 2: Choose a registered agent
Florida requires every LLC to have a registered agent with a Florida street address, and the agent must sign a statement accepting the appointment as part of the Articles of Organization. The $25 designation fee is charged on every new LLC, whether the agent is you or a company.
You can act as your own agent if you have a Florida street address and are there during business hours. Many Florida owners work from home, though, and don’t want that address on Sunbiz’s public record; others are seasonal residents. A professional agent solves both. Mainstay Filing includes a year of registered agent service in its formation package, and our Florida registered agent guide covers who can serve.
Step 3: File Articles of Organization on Sunbiz
Florida’s online filing through Sunbiz is the standard route, and the $125 fee is paid by card. The Articles ask for:
- The LLC name
- The principal office address and mailing address
- The registered agent’s name, Florida street address and signed acceptance
- Names and addresses of any managers or authorized representatives (optional but common, and often requested by banks)
- An optional effective date
- The signature of a member or authorized representative
At checkout you can add a certified copy of the Articles for $30 or a certificate of status for $5. Neither is required, but a certificate of status can be handy if your bank asks for proof of good standing.
Step 4: Draft an operating agreement
Florida doesn’t require you to file an operating agreement, but Florida’s LLC Act lets the agreement override most of the default rules, so it’s worth writing one. Cover member contributions and ownership percentages, management, voting thresholds, distributions and buyout terms.
A one-owner Florida LLC benefits as well: a signed agreement helps show that the company is separate from you, which supports the liability protection you formed it for.
Step 5: Get an EIN and register for Florida taxes
Request an EIN from the IRS for free once Sunbiz shows your LLC as active. Banks will ask for it, and you’ll need it for payroll.
Florida has no personal income tax, but an LLC may still need to register with the Florida Department of Revenue for sales and use tax, reemployment tax (if you hire employees) or other state taxes. LLCs taxed as corporations may also owe Florida corporate income tax.
On the federal side, FinCEN’s beneficial ownership page confirms U.S.-formed companies are exempt from BOI reporting under the final rule effective August 2026.
Step 6: File the annual report between January 1 and May 1
Florida Statutes s. 605.0212 requires the first annual report between January 1 and May 1 of the year after the LLC is formed, and every year after that in the same window. The total due is $138.75: the $50 annual report fee plus the $88.75 supplemental corporate fee.
File on the Sunbiz annual report page. If the supplemental fee is paid after May 1, Florida adds a $400 late charge, and an LLC that never files can be administratively dissolved.
Step 7: Get local business tax receipts and licenses
Most Florida counties and many cities require a local business tax receipt before you open. Regulated occupations, such as contractors, cosmetologists and real estate professionals, also need state licenses, usually through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. Check with your county tax collector and city hall for the local requirements.
What does a Florida LLC cost?
| Item | Amount | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization | $100 | At formation |
| Registered agent designation | $25 | At formation |
| Certified copy (optional) | $30 | At formation |
| Certificate of status (optional) | $5 | Any time |
| Annual report and supplemental fee | $138.75 | January 1 to May 1 each year |
| Late charge | $400 | If paid after May 1 |
Florida LLC FAQs
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Florida?
Florida charges $125 to form an LLC: $100 for the Articles of Organization and $25 for the registered agent designation, under Florida Statutes s. 605.0213, as of October 2026. A certified copy ($30) and certificate of status ($5) are optional. The annual report costs $138.75 each year after formation.
How much is the Florida LLC annual report?
The Florida LLC annual report costs $138.75: a $50 filing fee under s. 605.0213 plus an $88.75 supplemental corporate fee under s. 607.193. It’s due between January 1 and May 1 each year, starting the year after the LLC is formed, and paying after May 1 adds a $400 late charge.
When is the first Florida annual report due?
The first annual report is due between January 1 and May 1 of the calendar year after the Articles of Organization take effect, according to Florida Statutes s. 605.0212. An LLC formed in October 2026, for example, files its first report between January 1 and May 1, 2027.
Can I be my own registered agent in Florida?
Yes. A Florida resident with a Florida street address can serve as the LLC’s registered agent, including an owner, as long as they sign the acceptance and are available to receive legal papers during business hours. The address appears on Sunbiz’s public record, which is why many owners hire a registered agent service.
Does Florida require an operating agreement?
Florida doesn’t require LLCs to file an operating agreement, and it isn’t submitted with the Articles of Organization. Writing one is still recommended, because Florida’s LLC Act lets the agreement replace many default rules on management, voting and distributions, and banks often ask to see it.
Do Florida LLCs pay state income tax?
Florida has no personal income tax, so profits from an LLC taxed as a partnership or sole proprietorship aren’t taxed by the state at the owner level. An LLC that elects corporate tax treatment may owe Florida corporate income tax, and many LLCs must collect sales tax or pay reemployment tax.
Can I reserve an LLC name in Florida?
Florida’s LLC fee statute, s. 605.0213, doesn’t include a name reservation filing, so the usual approach is to search Sunbiz, confirm the name is distinguishable, and file the Articles of Organization promptly. Registering the matching domain and social handles early helps secure the name online.
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