1. Choose a name that Florida will accept
Your LLC name must include "Limited Liability Company", "LLC" or "L.L.C." and must be distinguishable from every other business already on the Florida records. Search the Sunbiz database before you file. Some words, like bank, trust or insurance, may need approval from another regulator. Read the full Florida LLC name rules.
2. Appoint a registered agent
Every Florida LLC needs a registered agent with a physical street address in Florida who is available during business hours to receive legal papers. You can be your own agent if you live in Florida, or use a service. We act as registered agent for our Florida LLCs, as we do in every state we sell. See what a Florida registered agent does.
3. File the Articles of Organization
The Articles of Organization is the document that creates your LLC. You file it online with the Division of Corporations and pay $125: a $100 filing fee plus a $25 registered agent designation fee. The form asks for:
- The LLC name
- The principal office address and mailing address
- The registered agent's name, Florida street address and signature
- The name and address of each manager or authorized member (optional, but banks often ask for it)
- An optional effective date
Processing time is set by the State of Florida and changes; Sunbiz posts the dates it is currently working on. We submit your filing as soon as your order is complete.
4. Write an operating agreement
Florida does not require an operating agreement and you don't file it with the state. It is still worth having: it sets who owns what, how decisions are made and what happens if a member leaves. Without one, the default rules of Chapter 605 apply.
5. Get an EIN from the IRS
An Employer Identification Number is your LLC's federal tax ID. You need it to open a business bank account and to hire. It is free from the IRS. Owners without a Social Security number can still get one. See how to get an EIN for your LLC.
6. Get your licenses
Almost every Florida business needs a Local Business Tax Receipt from its county and, in many places, its city. Regulated work (food service, construction, cosmetology, real estate and others) also needs a license from the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. Our industry guides list what applies to common businesses.
7. Open a business bank account
Keep your LLC's money separate from yours. Mixing them is the fastest way to weaken the liability protection the LLC gives you. Banks usually ask for the filed Articles, the EIN confirmation letter and your ID.
8. File the annual report every year
Between January 1 and May 1 of each year after the year you form, you file an annual report and pay $138.75. After May 1 the state adds a $400 late fee. If the report is still missing in September, the LLC is administratively dissolved. See the Florida annual report guide.
The Florida LLC application, step by step
"Florida LLC application" and "LLC filing in Florida" both mean filing the Articles of Organization with the Division of Corporations. Before you start the online form, have this ready:
- Two or three name options, checked on Sunbiz
- The registered agent's name and Florida street address, and their agreement to serve
- Your principal office address and a mailing address (these can be outside Florida)
- The name and address of at least one manager or authorized member
- A card for the $125 state fee
If you file online, the state sends confirmation that your filing was received, and a copy of the approved Articles once it is processed. Keep that copy: the bank, the IRS and many online platforms ask for it.
Mistakes that slow an LLC filing in Florida
- A name that is too close to one already on the records, or that leaves out "LLC"
- A registered agent address that is a P.O. box (it has to be a Florida street address)
- Forgetting the registered agent's signature or acceptance
- Mixing up the principal address and the registered office
- Filing before you have decided who the managers or members are
What it costs in total
The minimum is $125 to form and $138.75 each year after that. Our Florida LLC cost breakdown lists every state fee, from certificates to amendments.
Not in Florida? We file in other states too
Coral Filings forms LLCs in 49 states and Washington, D.C., and acts as your registered agent in each one (or you can name your own). Compare filing fees in our LLC cost by state table, then open the page for the state you choose.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Florida LLC application?
It is the Articles of Organization, the document you file with the Florida Division of Corporations to create the LLC. The state fee is $125.
How long does it take to form an LLC in Florida?
Processing time is set by the State of Florida and changes; Sunbiz posts the dates it is currently working on. We submit your filing as soon as your order is complete. Filings by mail take longer.
Can I form a Florida LLC if I don't live in Florida?
Yes. Florida has no residency or citizenship requirement for LLC owners. You only need a registered agent with a Florida street address.
Do I need an operating agreement in Florida?
It isn't required by the state, but it is strongly recommended, especially with more than one owner. It is kept with your records, not filed.
Is $125 the only cost to start a Florida LLC?
It is the only required state fee to form. Local business tax receipts, professional licenses and a registered agent service, if you use one, are extra.
This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. For your specific situation, talk to a licensed attorney or CPA.