How to Start an LLC in Florida (2026)

To start an LLC in Florida, you file Articles of Organization with the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations, usually online through Sunbiz. The state charges $125: a $100 filing fee plus a $25 fee for designating your registered agent. After that, every Florida LLC files an annual report between January 1 and May 1, which costs $138.75. This guide covers each step with the official sources.

Check that your LLC name is available

Florida checks your name when it reviews your articles, so search first. The Division's records are searchable on Sunbiz; our Florida Sunbiz search guide links the official search and explains how to read the results. For a step-by-step walkthrough of Florida's name rules, dissolved-name waiting periods and reservations, read our Florida LLC name search guide.

In short, under Florida Statutes § 605.0112, your LLC name:

• must contain "limited liability company," "L.L.C." or "LLC";
• must be distinguishable from the names of nearly all other entities and filings on record with the Department, not just other LLCs (fictitious names, general partnership registrations and limited liability partnership statements are the exceptions); and
• may not imply a connection with a state or federal agency, or a purpose the LLC is not allowed to pursue.

Differences such as a different suffix, "the," "and" versus "&," a plural or a punctuation mark do not make a name distinguishable. Under § 605.01125, you can reserve an available name for 120 days if you are not ready to file, but a reservation is optional. A Sunbiz name is also not a trademark, so search the USPTO trademark database as well.

Appoint a registered agent

Every Florida LLC needs a registered agent with a registered office in Florida. Under § 605.0113, the agent must be one of the following:

• an individual who lives in Florida and whose business address is the registered office;
• a Florida for-profit corporation, LLC, limited liability partnership or limited partnership whose business address is the registered office; or
• an out-of-state entity of one of those types that is authorized to do business in Florida, again with its business address at the registered office.

The Division's Articles of Organization instructions add that the registered office must be a Florida street address, not a P.O. box, and that the agent must sign the articles and state that it is familiar with and accepts the obligations of the position. You can be your own agent if you live in Florida, or appoint a commercial registered agent. For background, see what a registered agent does.

File the Articles of Organization

The formation document is the Articles of Organization for a Florida Limited Liability Company. You can file online on the Division's Sunbiz e-filing page or by mail using the Division's form. Under the instructions, which cite Florida Statutes § 605.0201, the articles set out:

1. Article I: the LLC's name, with "Limited Liability Company," "L.L.C." or "LLC."
2. Article II: the street address and mailing address of the principal office.
3. Article III: the registered agent's name, Florida street address and signed acceptance.
4. Article IV: the name and address of each person authorized to manage the LLC. The instructions call this optional but note that most financial institutions want it on record before they open an account, and the Department of Financial Services needs it to issue workers' compensation coverage. Members who manage the company are listed as "AMBR" and managers of a manager-managed LLC as "MGR."
5. Article V (optional): an effective date, which may be up to five business days before the filing date or up to 90 days after it.

The form is signed by a member or an authorized representative of a member. The instructions note that the form is basic and that you may add other provisions allowed by law.

Fee. The Division's LLC fee schedule lists a $100 filing fee and a required $25 registered agent fee, for a total of $125 for a new Florida LLC. A certified copy of the filed articles ($30) and a certificate of status ($5) are optional extras you can order with the filing. Online filings are paid by credit or debit card.

Timing of the first annual report. The instructions explain that the first annual report is due starting January 1 of the year after the LLC is formed. If you file late in the year, an effective date in the new year can push that first report back by a year; the instructions show how this works.

After your LLC is formed

Annual report ($138.75, due May 1)

Every Florida LLC must file an annual report each year to stay active. According to the Division's instructions and its annual report page, the report is filed online between January 1 and May 1, and the fee for an LLC is $138.75. A report filed after May 1 costs $538.75 because a $400 late fee is added, and the instructions state that there is no provision to waive it. A company that does not file is administratively dissolved; our Florida page explains how that shows up on Sunbiz.

EIN

Most LLCs need an Employer Identification Number for taxes, banking and hiring. The IRS issues EINs free; its online application issues the number immediately once approved. See what an EIN is.

Operating agreement

Florida does not ask you to file an operating agreement. The articles only need the basics, so a written operating agreement is where members set out ownership, management, profit sharing and what happens if someone leaves. Banks and business partners often ask for one.

Fictitious names, licenses and taxes

If you plan to trade under a name other than the LLC's legal name, Florida has a separate fictitious name registration on Sunbiz; see DBA vs. LLC. Depending on your industry and location, you may also need state professional licenses, state tax registrations or local permits. The SBA's licenses and permits guide explains how federal, state and local requirements fit together.

Florida LLC costs at a glance

The minimum state cost to form a Florida LLC is $125, then $138.75 a year from the year after formation. Missing the May 1 deadline is the most expensive mistake on this list.

Do it yourself or use a formation service

You can form a Florida LLC yourself on Sunbiz in one sitting. The online form follows the five articles above, and the only required cost is the state's $125. DIY is a good fit if you live in Florida and can serve as your own registered agent, or already have an agent lined up.

A formation service charges its own fee on top of the $125. In return it prepares and files the articles, can act as your registered agent, which keeps your home address off the public record if you would otherwise list it, and usually reminds you before the May 1 annual report deadline. Whichever route you choose, the state fees are the same, and you should still check the name yourself before you file.