Florida LLC vs Texas LLC (2026)
Compare Florida LLC vs Texas LLC — filing fees, taxes, privacy laws, and annual costs. Find out which state is actually better for your business.
By Edmond Hui · Last updated: July 14, 2026
Verdict: Florida wins for most businesses
For most Florida-based businesses, forming locally in Florida is the smarter choice — you avoid paying fees in two states and managing compliance in both. Texas only makes sense if your business genuinely operates there, and even then the total costs deserve a hard look.
| Factor | Florida | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $125 | $300 |
| Processing Time | 3 days | 3 days |
| Annual Report Fee | $138 | $0 |
| Annual Report Due | May 1 | May 15 |
| State Income Tax | No | No |
| Anonymous LLC | No | No |
| Publication Requirement | No | No |
| Foreign LLC Cost (if forming out-of-state) | N/A — you're in your home state | $125 + registered agent ~$150/yr |
Business Climate: Florida vs Texas
| Factor | Florida | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| 5-year business survival rate | 49.5% (#34 of 51) | 52.5% (#20 of 51) |
| Business application growth (2026 YTD (Jan–Jun) vs 2025 YTD (same months)) | +14.3% YoY (#1 of 51 by volume) | +11.5% YoY (#3 of 51 by volume) |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Business Employment Dynamics · U.S. Census Bureau, Business Formation Statistics (BFS)
Compare LLC Costs: Florida vs Texas
Florida
Texas
Costs include mandatory state fees: filing fees, annual report fees, California's $800/yr franchise tax, and Nevada's $550/yr (annual list $350 + state business license $200). New York's formation fee includes an estimated $500 publication cost (required by law; NYC counties typically run $1,500–$2,000+). Excludes registered agent fees and legal fees. For informational purposes only — not legal or tax advice.
Filing Fees & Formation Costs
Florida charges $125 to form an LLC, while Texas charges $300. Florida is $175 cheaper upfront. The cost that usually gets overlooked: if you form in Texas but operate in Florida, you must also register as a foreign LLC in Florida — a $125 filing — and maintain a registered agent in Texas (typically around $150 per year). That puts the realistic first-year cost of the Texas route at roughly $575, versus $125 for simply forming in Florida. Processing speed is a wash: both states approve standard online filings in about 3 business days.
Taxes: Florida vs Texas
Neither Florida nor Texas levies a personal income tax, so there is no income-tax advantage to forming in either state. Texas imposes a franchise tax; LLCs under the no-tax-due threshold ($2,650,000 total revenue for 2026-27 reports) owe $0 but must still file an annual Public Information Report.
Privacy & Asset Protection
Neither Florida nor Texas offers anonymous LLC formation: both states require owner or manager information on public filings. The Certificate of Formation (Form 205) must name at least one governing person (member or manager), a public record; the annual Public Information Report also discloses management. Business owners who prioritize privacy typically form a holding company in a state like Wyoming or New Mexico instead. Both states provide charging-order protection for LLC members, and for most small businesses the practical difference in asset protection between the two is minimal.
Annual Maintenance Costs
Florida LLCs file an annual report ($138, due May 1), and Texas LLCs file a free annual report (due May 15). If you form in Texas while operating in Florida, you maintain filings in both states — Texas's report plus Florida's equivalent for your foreign registration — and pay a Texas registered agent roughly $150 per year. That brings ongoing costs of the Texas route to roughly $288 per year, versus about $138 to keep a domestic Florida LLC in good standing. One more recurring cost to budget for: Texas imposes a franchise tax; LLCs under the no-tax-due threshold ($2,650,000 total revenue for 2026-27 reports) owe $0 but must still file an annual Public Information Report.
When Texas Actually Makes Sense
Forming in Texas makes sense in a few specific situations: your business genuinely operates in Texas — with a real office, employees, or property there, or you are relocating to Texas in the near future. For a typical small business based in Florida, none of these usually apply — and the extra formation, foreign-registration, and maintenance costs of the Texas route buy little in return. When in doubt, form where you actually do business.
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<iframe src="https://www.mystatellc.com/tools/compare-states?embed=1&stateA=FL&stateB=TX" width="100%" height="720" frameborder="0" style="border:0;max-width:900px;display:block;margin:0 auto;" title="Florida vs Texas LLC Cost Comparison" loading="lazy"></iframe> <p style="text-align:center;font-size:.8125rem;color:#6b7280">Source: <a href="https://www.mystatellc.com/llc/compare/florida-llc-vs-texas-llc">MyStateLLC — Florida vs Texas LLC Comparison</a></p>