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How to Start an LLC in Florida

Florida is the volume champion of American business formation, and its system shows it: cheap-ish entry, same-week online processing, no personal income tax, and one sharp edge, the $138.75 annual report whose $400 late fee is the harshest routine penalty in the country. As of July 2026 it also became a protected series LLC state, which is genuinely new news.

Filing fee
$125
$100 Articles of Organization plus the required $25 registered agent designation
File at
Sunbiz
the official state portal
Name reservation
Florida is unusual: there is no online name reservation flow, and Sunbiz warns not to treat any name as approved until your filing is acknowledged. File promptly instead of reserving.
optional in every state

The steps, Florida edition

  1. Clear the name

    Search the state's registry via Sunbiz. The name needs a designator: "Limited Liability Company," "LLC," or "L.L.C.". Reservation, if you want it: Florida is unusual: there is no online name reservation flow, and Sunbiz warns not to treat any name as approved until your filing is acknowledged. File promptly instead of reserving..

  2. Line up the registered agent

    An in-state street address that can receive legal papers during business hours; you can serve yourself or pay a service. The $25 registered agent designation is baked into the $125 total; the agent signs to accept. The rules and tradeoffs are in our registered agent guide.

  3. File the formation document

    $125 ($100 Articles of Organization plus the required $25 registered agent designation). Processing: Online filings were processing in about 2 to 3 business days as of mid-2026; Florida offers no paid expedite, though walk-in filings in Tallahassee are handled while you wait.

    Faster options:

    • None offered; Sunbiz states it plainly. Walk-in service in Tallahassee is the fast path.

  4. Get the EIN, free

    Minutes at irs.gov, no charge, no service needed.

  5. Adopt an operating agreement and open the bank account

    Not filed with the state, but banks ask for the agreement, and the separate account is what keeps the liability protection real. The general playbook is in our six-step guide.

  6. Calendar the recurring obligations

    Annual report of exactly $138.75, due May 1 (window opens January 1). Miss it and a $400 late fee lands, with administrative dissolution by the third Friday of September.

Florida taxes and recurring costs, straight

No state personal income tax

Default pass-through LLCs owe no Florida entity income tax and their owners no state income tax on the profits.

Corporate election caveat

An LLC that elects corporate taxation files a Florida corporate return at 5.5 percent, which is one reason the S and C elections deserve extra thought here.

For the raw fee lines next to every other state, see the 50-state cost table or run your numbers in the LLC cost calculator.

FL specifics most guides skip

Thinking about using a formation service?

Every service pays Florida's same state fees. We compare what they charge on top, and what the $0 tiers actually include.

See the comparison

Florida LLC questions, answered

How much is an LLC in Florida?

$125 all-in to form ($100 articles plus the mandatory $25 agent designation), then $138.75 every year by May 1. The number to respect is the $400 late fee that attaches the moment the annual report window closes.

Does Florida have expedited LLC filing?

No paid expedite exists, and Sunbiz says so directly. Online processing ran about 2 to 3 business days as of mid-2026, and walk-in filings in Tallahassee are handled while you wait.

Does Florida allow series LLCs?

Yes, as of July 1, 2026, Florida authorizes protected series. Any active Florida LLC can designate protected series online at $25 each, with the series name carrying the parent name plus a Protected Series identifier. The framework is brand new, so expect practice to evolve.

What happens if I miss the Florida annual report?

A $400 late fee immediately, and administrative dissolution if the report still is not filed by the third Friday of September. Florida is the state where calendaring May 1 matters most.

Other states: Arizona · California · Georgia · Illinois · New York · North Carolina · Ohio · Pennsylvania · Texas

Sources

General educational information, not legal or tax advice. Fees, processing times, and rules change; the figures here were verified against official Florida sources in July 2026, and processing times especially move. Confirm with the state before filing, and consult a professional about your situation.