How to Start an LLC in Florida
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Florida LLC filing fee & timeline
To form an LLC in Florida you file your Articles of Organization with the state and pay the state filing fee of $125. Incofile adds a flat, one-time service fee on top — no monthly charges — and your total is always shown before you pay.
Most Florida LLC filings are prepared and submitted within one business day. State approval time depends on Florida's current processing queue, typically ranging from a few business days to a few weeks, with expedited options available in many states.
Why form an LLC in Florida
Florida is consistently one of the top states for new LLCs: a $125 filing, fast online approval through Sunbiz, no state income tax, and a straightforward annual report. The one thing to watch is the annual report deadline — Florida charges a $400 late fee, the highest in the country.
Florida LLC at a glance
| State filing fee | $125 (includes the $25 registered agent designation) |
|---|---|
| Document filed | Articles of Organization |
| Standard approval time | Usually 2–5 business days online · 2–3 weeks by mail |
| Expedited option | Not offered by the state; online filing is the fastest route |
| Annual report | $138.75, due between 1 January and 1 May each year |
| Late penalty | $400 late fee after 1 May; administrative dissolution if not filed by the fourth Friday in September |
| Name reservation (optional) | $25, holds the name for 120 days |
| State income tax on LLC | None — Florida has no personal income tax and LLCs taxed as partnerships or disregarded entities pay no corporate income tax |
| Registered agent | Required; must have a physical street address in Florida and sign the acceptance |
State figures checked against the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations (Sunbiz), September 2026. State fees are set by Florida and can change; the exact total is shown before you pay.
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Florida?
| Cost | Amount | When |
|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization (state filing fee) | $125 (includes the $25 registered agent designation) | Required, one time |
| Registered agent | $0 if you act as your own agent at a Florida street address; otherwise a registered agent service | Required, ongoing |
| Annual report | $138.75 per year | Required every year, 1 January – 1 May |
| Late annual report penalty | $400 | Only if filed after 1 May |
| EIN from the IRS | Free from the IRS | Needed for a bank account and taxes |
| Local business tax receipt | Set by your county or city | Required in most counties and cities |
| Name reservation | $25 for 120 days | Optional |
These are state, IRS and other outside costs — not Incofile fees. Your Incofile package price is shown separately at checkout, and your full total is always shown before you pay. Estimate every cost for your state with our LLC cost calculator.
How to form an LLC in Florida — 4 steps
Choose your package
Pick the Incofile package that fits your goals. Your Florida state filing fee is shown before you pay.
Tell us about your LLC
Complete our short form with your company name, address and ownership details — about ten minutes.
We check & file with Florida
We confirm your name is available and file your Articles of Organization with the Florida state office.
Get your documents
Your approved Florida LLC documents land in your dashboard, with reminders for your annual report and other deadlines.
How to start an LLC in Florida: step by step
Here is exactly what forming a Florida LLC involves, whether you file it yourself or let Incofile handle the paperwork.
Choose and check your LLC name
Pick a name that includes “LLC” or “Limited Liability Company” and is distinguishable from existing Florida businesses. Check it with our free business name search. You can reserve it for 120 days for $25 if you are not ready to file.
Appoint a registered agent
Name a registered agent with a physical street address in Florida (not a PO box) who can accept legal papers during business hours. Florida also requires the agent to sign an acceptance. If you live outside Florida or want privacy, Incofile can act as your agent.
File the Articles of Organization
File on Sunbiz, the Florida Division of Corporations website, and pay the $125 fee. Online filings are usually approved in 2–5 business days; Florida does not sell expedited processing.
Create an operating agreement
Florida does not ask you to file an operating agreement with the state, but it records who owns the LLC, how profits are shared and how decisions are made. Banks commonly ask for it.
Get an EIN
Apply to the IRS for your Employer Identification Number (EIN). You need it to open a business bank account, hire staff and file federal taxes. The IRS issues it free; non-US owners without an SSN apply by phone, fax or mail, and our Gold package handles it for you.
Register for taxes and local licences
If you sell taxable goods or services, register for sales tax with the Florida Department of Revenue. Most counties and cities also require a local business tax receipt.
File your annual report every year
Between 1 January and 1 May every year, starting the year after formation, file the annual report on Sunbiz ($138.75). After 1 May a $400 late fee applies.
Florida LLC filing requirements: what you need
- A business name that is available and meets Florida's naming rules (it must include “LLC” or “Limited Liability Company”).
- A registered agent with a physical address in Florida — Incofile can be your agent.
- Articles of Organization filed with the Florida state office — we prepare and submit these for you.
- An operating agreement and EIN to open a business bank account (included in our Gold and Platinum packages).
- Ongoing compliance — Florida's reports, taxes and registered agent rules (see below). We track the deadlines and remind you.
Operating agreement
An operating agreement sets out who owns the LLC, how profits are split, how decisions are made and what happens if a member leaves. Florida does not ask you to file it with the state, but banks usually want to see it, and without one the state's default rules apply. Incofile includes a customised operating agreement in the Gold and Platinum packages.
EIN (Employer Identification Number)
Your EIN is the federal tax ID for your LLC. You need it to open a business bank account, hire staff and file taxes. The IRS issues it free — online in minutes if you have a Social Security number, or by fax or mail (one to eight weeks) if you don't. Our Gold and Platinum packages include it, and it is also available as a separate service.
This is general information, not legal advice. If you're unsure which structure is right, compare LLC vs S-Corp vs C-Corp.
Florida LLC naming rules
The name must end with “Limited Liability Company”, “LLC” or “L.L.C.” and must be distinguishable from every entity on the Sunbiz register. Check availability with our free business name search; you can reserve a name for 120 days for $25, though most founders simply file.
Keeping your Florida LLC compliant
Annual report
Every Florida LLC files an annual report on Sunbiz between 1 January and 1 May, starting the year after formation. The fee is $138.75. File even one day late and the state adds a $400 penalty; fail to file by the fourth Friday in September and the LLC is administratively dissolved. We track this date for every Florida client.
Registered agent
Florida requires a registered agent with a physical Florida street address (no PO boxes) who signs to accept the role. Incofile can act as your Florida registered agent.
Taxes
Florida has no personal income tax. An LLC taxed as a disregarded entity or partnership pays no Florida corporate income tax; only LLCs that elect C-Corp treatment pay the 5.5% corporate tax. Selling taxable goods or services requires a sales-tax registration with the Department of Revenue.
Licences
There is no general state business licence. Most counties and cities require a local business tax receipt, and regulated professions are licensed by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
Incofile clients get every Florida deadline tracked in their dashboard with email reminders — see registered agent service.
Official Florida resources
Florida LLC — frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Florida?
Incofile charges a flat, one-time formation fee (Silver, Gold or Platinum) plus the Florida state filing fee of $125. There are no monthly charges, and the total is shown before you pay.
How long does it take to form an LLC in Florida?
We prepare and submit your Florida Articles of Organization within one business day. State approval times vary from a few business days to a few weeks; expedited filing is available in many states.
Do I need a registered agent in Florida?
Yes. Florida requires every LLC to have a registered agent with a physical address in the state to receive legal and state mail. Incofile can serve as your Florida registered agent so you stay compliant and keep your address private.
Can I start an LLC in Florida if I live in another state or country?
Yes. You do not need to live in Florida to form an LLC there. Incofile can act as your registered agent and provide a business address, so you can form and run your Florida LLC from anywhere.
Why is the Florida late fee so high?
Florida charges a flat $400 penalty for any LLC annual report filed after 1 May. It is the highest late fee in the country, which is why Incofile sends reminders well before the deadline.
How quickly does Florida approve an LLC?
Online filings through Sunbiz are usually approved within 2–5 business days. Florida does not sell expedited processing, so filing online is the fastest option.
Does a Florida LLC pay state income tax?
No, unless it elects to be taxed as a C-Corporation. Florida has no personal income tax, so profits from a standard LLC are taxed only on the owners’ federal returns.
When is my first Florida annual report due?
Between 1 January and 1 May of the year after your LLC is approved. An LLC approved in November 2026 files its first report by 1 May 2027.
How much does a Florida LLC cost per year?
The state annual report is $138.75, filed between 1 January and 1 May. Add a registered agent service if you use one and any local business tax receipt. Filing late adds a $400 penalty.
Can I be my own registered agent in Florida?
Yes, if you have a physical street address in Florida and are available there during business hours. The address becomes public on Sunbiz, so many owners use a registered agent service for privacy.
Ready to launch your Florida LLC?
Most orders are prepared and submitted within one business day.
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