How to Start an LLC in Florida
A flat $99 buys one year of registered agent service in Florida — the registered office, same-day scanning of court papers, and reminders before state deadlines.
Getting a Florida LLC up and running involves one main paperwork moment, a continuing agent requirement, and predictable annual housekeeping. The state charges $125 to file, takes about a few business days to approve, and then your ongoing obligations kick in. Below: each step explained, the cost picture, and what our service covers.
Get Your Florida LLC — $199
Our team assembles the Articles and lodges them with Florida Secretary of State for $199. Approval comes back in about a few business days.
What A Florida LLC Is (and Why People Form One)
An LLC is the modern default entity for small business owners — liability protection, flexible management, simple taxes. Small businesses across Florida default to the LLC structure for liability protection that doesn't come with corporate-level formality.
The Numbers for Florida LLC Formation
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Our LLC formation service | $199 one-time |
| State filing fee (Florida Secretary of State) | $125 one-time |
| Registered agent (required for every Florida LLC) | $99/year |
| State annual report fee | $138.75/year |
Our piece is $199 for the filing. Florida Secretary of State takes the state filing fee directly. The agent runs $99 a year, separately.
Important Florida-specific notes: Filing fee includes $100 for Articles + $25 statutory agent designation. Annual filing $138.75 (listed as $139 rounded). Due between January 1 and May 1. $400 late fee. No state income tax for individuals.
The Florida LLC Formation Process
1. Pick a Compliant Florida LLC Name
Naming rules in Florida are simple: include an LLC designator in the name, and choose something that does not collide with an entity already filed with the state. Confirm the name is open with Florida Secretary of State's entity search. Doing so first saves a rejected filing and the re-do fee.
Words implying banking, insurance, or government affiliation are restricted in entity names. Skip them unless you've already cleared the relevant authority.
2. Assign a Florida Registered Agent
The appointed agent requirement applies to any LLC in Florida: a real Florida address (not a post office box alone) and presence all through the business day. Florida Secretary of State records the agent's name and address in its public entity database — these details aren't private.
For $99/year, our team in Florida takes the agent role. Our address takes the public-record slot on your formation paperwork.
3. Submit the Articles to Florida Secretary of State
This is the action that creates the entity: hand off the Articles of Organization to Florida Secretary of State with payment of $125 to the state. What goes on the form: the entity name, the entity's principal location, the agent's details (name and address), manager- or member-managed designation, and the names listed for the organizers.
Online filings go through the state's filing portal and move faster than paper submissions through the state.
The state usually returns approval within a few business days. Faster turnaround exists for an added fee.
4. Document the Operating Agreement
The state doesn't ask for an operating agreement at filing time, but you should write one before the LLC opens for business. It spells out ownership stakes, distribution mechanics, management rights, and what happens when membership changes. If you skip the agreement, Florida's statutory defaults govern the LLC by operation of law. Those defaults won't always reflect your intentions.
5. Apply for the LLC's EIN
An EIN (Employer Identification Number) acts as your LLC's federal income tax ID. Banks won't open a business account without it; neither will payroll or federal taxes work without it. Get the EIN at IRS.gov — about a few minutes start to finish, and the number is issued immediately.
Skip paying a third-party service for an EIN — the IRS provides them free in about a few minutes.
6. Stay on Top of Ongoing Compliance
Forming the LLC is the easy part; keeping it in good standing requires ongoing attention to:
- Preserve a appointed agent tied to a Florida address every day the LLC exists
- Submit the yearly annual state report annually, by the state's deadline
- Enforce a thorough split between business records and personal records (separate accounts and separate books)
- Stay compliant with federal and state tax obligations without missing deadlines
Failure to maintain triggers administrative dissolution by Florida Secretary of State. The LLC loses its liability protection until reinstated.
Outsourcing this step? $199 one-time covers our Florida filing service.
The Registered Agent Requirement
Every LLC formed in Florida carries a continuous registered agent obligation — no carve-outs. Agent obligations:
- Hold an actual Florida location with a street address (PO boxes alone won't qualify)
- Remain available all through normal business hours to receive court papers and lawsuits
- Deliver legal documents and state notices promptly so deadlines aren't missed
The owner-as-agent option works but exposes the owner's address to the public. It joins the Florida Secretary of State publicly searchable record and is searchable from day one.
$99 per year covers our RA service in Florida. We handle the public-facing agent role and your address stays off the record.
FAQs
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Florida?
The state's filing fee is $125. On top of the filing fee, the annual state report runs $138.75/year.
How long does it take to form an LLC in Florida?
The state generally returns approval inside a few business days.
Does Florida require an annual report?
Yes, every year. The annual state report fee comes to $138.75/year.
Do I need a registered agent for my Florida LLC?
Yes. Florida LLCs must maintain an agent with an actual Florida address on file without any gap from formation forward.
Can I form an LLC in Florida if I live in another state?
Yes. You don't need to live in Florida to form an LLC there. — and an in-state registered agent is the one in-state dependency; we cover that at $99 per year.
File Your Florida LLC Today
Doing the filing yourself with Florida Secretary of State works by submitting through the state's filing portal. The registered agent rule still applies — $125 is the state filing fee.
We're available as your registered agent. Just $99/year covers a Florida agent address, same-day scanning of court papers, and proactive deadline reminders.
Just the agent, no formation? The registered agent product is $99 per year individually.
Curious about other parts of Florida LLC formation or how our service handles the agent role? See our FAQ or contact us throughout the business day.
Ready to get started?
One yearly price covers everything we provide as your agent — office address, scans, deadline alerts.
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