How to Form an LLC in Florida (2026): Costs, Steps and What Most People Forget

Florida is one of the easiest and cheapest states in the country to open a company: no state income tax, a fast online filing system, and a $125 startup cost. Here''s the whole process, plus the steps people skip and regret.

Step 1: Pick a name that will actually be approved

Your name must include "LLC," "L.L.C." or "Limited Liability Company" and must be distinguishable from every existing Florida entity. Search the state registry on Sunbiz before you commit to a logo or a domain.

If you want to operate under a different public-facing name, you file a fictitious name (DBA) separately — see our DBA service.

Step 2: Appoint a registered agent

Every Florida LLC needs a registered agent with a physical Florida street address (no PO boxes) available during business hours. You can be your own agent, but then your home address becomes public record and you must be there to receive service of process.

We provide registered agent service with a commercial address and same-day document scanning.

Step 3: File the Articles of Organization

• State filing fee: $125 ($100 filing + $25 registered agent designation)
• Filed online through Sunbiz; approval is usually 1–3 business days
• You''ll list the principal address, mailing address, registered agent and authorized members/managers

We file it for you and return the stamped documents — see LLC formation and our flat pricing.

Step 4: Get your EIN from the IRS

Free directly from the IRS, and required to open a business bank account, hire employees or file taxes. Single-member LLCs still want one so you''re not handing out your Social Security number. Apply through the IRS EIN page or let us handle it with EIN application service.

Note: the IRS online tool only works for applicants with a U.S. SSN or ITIN. Foreign owners file by fax or mail — that''s where we help most.

Step 5: Write an operating agreement

Florida doesn''t require one, but your bank will ask, and without it a multi-member LLC defaults to state rules that may not match what you agreed to. Cover ownership percentages, profit distribution, voting and what happens if someone leaves.

Step 6: Open a business bank account

Bring the stamped Articles, your EIN letter, the operating agreement, and ID for every member. Mixing personal and business money is the fastest way to lose the liability protection you just paid for.

Step 7: Handle licenses and local permits

State-level licensing depends on your industry (contractors, cosmetology, food service, transportation). County and city business tax receipts are separate. We advise on this through permits and consulting.

The recurring obligation nobody remembers

The Florida annual report is due by May 1 every year. The fee is $138.75 for an LLC. Miss it and the late penalty is $400 — no grace, no exceptions — and the state will administratively dissolve your company if you skip it entirely. Reinstatement costs more than the report ever would.

If your LLC already got dissolved, we handle reinstatements and voluntary dissolutions.

LLC vs. corporation in Florida

	LLC	Corporation
Setup fee	$125	$70+
Annual report	$138.75	$150
Taxation	Pass-through by default	C-corp, or S-corp election
Formality	Minimal	Bylaws, board, minutes
Best for	Small teams, real estate, service businesses	Raising outside investment

Need the corporate route instead? See corporation formation.

Total realistic first-year cost

• Articles of Organization: $125
• Registered agent (if outsourced): ~$99/year
• EIN: $0 direct
• DBA (if needed): $50 state advertising requirement included
• Annual report next May: $138.75

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to live in Florida? No. Non-residents and foreign nationals can own a Florida LLC.

How fast can I be open? Filings are typically approved in 1–3 business days; we can file same day.

Can one LLC hold multiple businesses? Yes, with separate DBAs — though separate entities isolate liability better.

Does an LLC protect me from everything? No. It protects personal assets from business liabilities as long as you keep finances separate and stay in compliance.

Let us file it for you

Send us the name you want and the owners'' details through our request form, or book a consultation. We''ll check name availability, file the Articles, secure the EIN and calendar your annual report so you never pay the $400 penalty.