How much does it cost to start an LLC in Florida?

Your total first-year cost reaches $263.75 when you add the $138.75 annual report fee due by May 1. For example, if you form your LLC in August 2026, your first $138.75 annual report payment is due by May 1, 2027. Budget for this within your first year of operations. Additional costs may include a registered agent service and business licenses depending on your industry. Florida has no personal income tax, so members do not pay state income tax on pass-through profits. Exception: professional LLCs in regulated fields such as medicine, law, or accounting must obtain a separate state professional license before operating. File your Articles of Organization online at dos.myflorida.com for the fastest processing and immediate receipt confirmation. The Florida Division of Corporations posts the dates it's currently working through rather than a turnaround, so the figure moves week to week.

How long does it take to form an LLC in Florida?

Florida does not commit to a turnaround. Instead the Florida Division of Corporations publishes the dates it is currently working through, which moves week to week, so the only reliable answer is whatever that page says on the day you file. For reference, as of 2026-07-29 it reported: Florida does not state a fixed turnaround; it publishes a live queue instead. On its Document Processing Dates page updated 07/29/2026, the Division was processing "New Florida Business Entity Filings, Submitted Online" received 07/24/2026 and "By Mail" received 07/23/2026. That figure will have moved since. Because of that, do not plan a launch date around a number you read anywhere else.

Do I need a registered agent for my Florida LLC?

Yes, Florida law requires every LLC to maintain a registered agent with a physical Florida street address, P.O. boxes aren't permitted. Who is available during standard business hours to receive legal documents and state correspondence on behalf of the LLC. This obligation is ongoing for the entire life of your LLC. For example, a Miami business owner with a commercial office can list themselves as their own registered agent at no additional cost. Exception: if you operate from a home office and prefer to keep your residential address off the public Florida business registry, or if you travel frequently and can't guarantee daytime availability, a professional registered agent service is the better option. Professional services charge a yearly fee and provide reliable availability and address privacy. Notify the Florida Department of State immediately whenever your registered agent's name or address changes to avoid compliance lapses.

Does Florida require publication for LLCs?

No, Florida doesn't require LLCs to publish a formation notice in any newspaper. Once the Florida Department of State approves your Articles of Organization, your LLC is fully and legally formed without any additional publication requirement. This is a meaningful cost advantage over states like New York, where mandatory newspaper publication is charged at rates the newspapers set. Arizona requires a newspaper notice of a new LLC's formation, run three consecutive times within 60 days, unless the LLC's statutory agent has a street address in a county of more than 800,000 people (currently Maricopa and Pima Counties), where the Arizona Corporation Commission posts the notice online for free. For example, a Florida LLC formed on a Monday can be fully operational by Thursday with zero publication costs incurred. Exception: if your Florida LLC later registers as a foreign LLC in another state that does require publication, such as New York, you must fulfill that state's publication rules for the foreign registration. Confirm publication requirements in any state where you plan to do business. File your Articles of Organization at dos.myflorida. The Florida Division of Corporations posts the dates it's currently working through rather than a turnaround, so the figure moves week to week.

When is the Florida LLC annual report due?

Florida LLCs must file their annual report by May 1 each year with a $138.75 fee paid to the Florida Department of State. For example, if your LLC is formed in November 2026, your first $138.75 annual report is due by May 1, 2027, just six months later, so include this in your startup budget planning. The annual report updates your registered agent's name and address, your principal office address, and your manager or member information. Filing online through the Sunbiz portal at sunbiz.org is the fastest and most reliable method. Exception: annual reports submitted after May 1 but before the third Friday in September are accepted with a $400 late fee. Filings not received by the third Friday in September result in administrative dissolution of your LLC. Set a recurring calendar reminder each year for April to give yourself time to file the May 1 annual report without rushing.

Can a single person form an LLC in Florida?

Yes, Florida permits single-member LLCs and allows one individual to be the sole owner, the manager, and, if they have a qualifying Florida address, the registered agent of their LLC. Filing Articles of Organization with the Florida Department of State and paying the $125 fee is all that's required to create the entity. Single-member LLCs in Florida receive the same limited liability protection as multi-member LLCs. For example, a solo graphic designer can form a single-member LLC in Florida to protect personal savings and property from any business-related claims. Exception: single-member LLCs are taxed as sole proprietorships by default under federal rules, which means you report LLC income on your personal tax return using Schedule C. If you prefer a different tax treatment, you can elect to be taxed as an S-corporation or C-corporation by filing the appropriate IRS election form. Consult a tax professional to determine the best structure for your situation.

How to Start an LLC in Florida: Complete 2026 Guide

Form your Florida LLC with our step-by-step process.

By Edmond Hui · Last updated: October 2026

Filing an LLC in Florida costs $125 upfront and has an annual report due May 1 ($138.75). Florida processes filings from a live queue with no fixed turnaround. See breakdown below.

Florida publishes no fixed LLC processing time. It posts the dates it's currently working through, so the figure moves week to week

That rolling queue is the Florida Division of Corporations' own measure, and it's the only honest answer: any specific day count copied out of it's stale within a week. Check the agency's processing-dates page on the day you file rather than trusting a number quoted elsewhere.

Source: MyStateLLC 50-state primary-source processing verification, July 2026

Read this guide for another state:

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$39 with Northwest, plus your $125 state fee. Northwest's $39 includes a year of registered agent service.

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Form your LLC with Northwest ($39 + state fee)Includes a year of registered agent service. After year one, registered agent service is $125/yr. That enrolls you by default in annual report filing at $100 plus state fees, charged automatically to your saved payment method and cancellable any time.

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Quick Facts

State filing fee	$125
Processing time	Live queue, no fixed turnaround
Annual report due	May 1
Annual report fee	$138.75
State income tax	No personal income tax

Source: Florida Division of Corporations (verified July 2026)

Step diagram for forming an LLC in Florida, showing the 7 required steps, $125 state filing fee, $138.75 annual report. — The 7 steps to form an LLC in Florida, with the state's own filing fee and annual report cost. Source: Florida Division of Corporations, verified July 2026.

How to Form an LLC: Step-by-Step

1
Choose Your Florida LLC Name
Your LLC name must include 'Limited Liability Company' or an abbreviation like 'LLC'. Check name availability using the Florida Department of State's online database. Your name must be distinguishable from existing business entities in Florida.
How to search Florida's business entity records →
Pro tip: Reserve your name for 120 days by filing a Name Reservation form if you're not ready to file immediately.
2
Appoint a Registered Agent
Florida requires every LLC to have a registered agent with a Florida street address who can receive legal documents during business hours. You can serve as your own registered agent or hire a professional service. The registered agent must be available during normal business hours at the designated address.
Florida registered agent rules, costs and options →
3
File Articles of Organization
Submit your Articles of Organization to the Florida Department of State online at dos.myflorida.com. You'll need your LLC name, registered agent information, and business address.
What You File in Florida
In Florida, the formation document is the Articles of Organization (Form CR2E047), filed with the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations. The state filing fee is $125. Florida lets you fill in and file the Articles of Organization online. The state's published processing time: Live queue, no fixed turnaround. The form itself requires the LLC's name, the registered agent's name, the registered office address, the principal office address, a mailing address, the organizer's name and the registered agent's consent. Every line of the Articles of Organization, field by field →
Processing Times
- Online: Not fixed, the Florida Division of Corporations posts the dates it's currently processing rather than a turnaround, and that moves week to week
- Mail: Not published, Florida Division of Corporations states no standard turnaround for mailed filings, and every state that comments says mail is slower than online
- Expedited: No paid expedite option is published for LLC filings
Pro tip: File online for faster processing and immediate confirmation of your submission.
4
Create an Operating Agreement
This page has not confirmed whether Florida law requires an LLC to have an operating agreement. A written agreement signed by every member is worth having either way: it records who owns what share, who makes decisions and how profits are divided. This document outlines ownership percentages, management structure, and operating procedures. A written agreement helps prevent disputes between members.
Florida LLC operating agreement: what to include →
5
Obtain an EIN from the IRS
Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS, even if you don't plan to hire employees. Most banks ask for this federal tax ID to open a business bank account, and the IRS requires one if the LLC hires employees, owes certain employment or excise taxes, or is taxed as a partnership or corporation. The EIN is free when you apply directly through the IRS website.
How to get your LLC's EIN from the IRS, free →
6
Open a Business Bank Account
Keep your personal and business finances separate by opening a dedicated business bank account. Have your Articles of Organization, EIN, and operating agreement ready. This separation matters for maintaining your LLC's liability protection.
Business bank accounts for Florida LLCs →
7
Obtain Required Business Licenses
Check if your business type requires specific licenses or permits in Florida. Visit the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation website to identify requirements for your industry. Some businesses may also need local permits from city or county governments.
Does your Florida LLC need a business license? →

Watch: How to Start an LLC in Florida (2026): Step-by-Step Guide

This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. It reports what each Secretary of State publishes for forming an LLC, with the sources this page cites. It cannot tell you what your own filing needs: fees and forms change between our reviews, several occupations cannot use an ordinary LLC at all and must use a professional entity, and your city or county may require a registration of its own. Confirm the current fee and form with the filing office named on this page before you send anything.

Frequently Asked Questions

: Your total first-year cost reaches $263.75 when you add the $138.75 annual report fee due by May 1. For example, if you form your LLC in August 2026, your first $138.75 annual report payment is due by May 1, 2027. Budget for this within your first year of operations. Additional costs may include a registered agent service and business licenses depending on your industry. Florida has no personal income tax, so members do not pay state income tax on pass-through profits. Exception: professional LLCs in regulated fields such as medicine, law, or accounting must obtain a separate state professional license before operating. File your Articles of Organization online at dos.myflorida.com for the fastest processing and immediate receipt confirmation. The Florida Division of Corporations posts the dates it's currently working through rather than a turnaround, so the figure moves week to week.
: Florida does not commit to a turnaround. Instead the Florida Division of Corporations publishes the dates it is currently working through, which moves week to week, so the only reliable answer is whatever that page says on the day you file. For reference, as of 2026-07-29 it reported: Florida does not state a fixed turnaround; it publishes a live queue instead. On its Document Processing Dates page updated 07/29/2026, the Division was processing "New Florida Business Entity Filings, Submitted Online" received 07/24/2026 and "By Mail" received 07/23/2026. That figure will have moved since. Because of that, do not plan a launch date around a number you read anywhere else.
: Yes, Florida law requires every LLC to maintain a registered agent with a physical Florida street address, P.O. boxes aren't permitted. Who is available during standard business hours to receive legal documents and state correspondence on behalf of the LLC. This obligation is ongoing for the entire life of your LLC. For example, a Miami business owner with a commercial office can list themselves as their own registered agent at no additional cost. Exception: if you operate from a home office and prefer to keep your residential address off the public Florida business registry, or if you travel frequently and can't guarantee daytime availability, a professional registered agent service is the better option. Professional services charge a yearly fee and provide reliable availability and address privacy. Notify the Florida Department of State immediately whenever your registered agent's name or address changes to avoid compliance lapses.
: No, Florida doesn't require LLCs to publish a formation notice in any newspaper. Once the Florida Department of State approves your Articles of Organization, your LLC is fully and legally formed without any additional publication requirement. This is a meaningful cost advantage over states like New York, where mandatory newspaper publication is charged at rates the newspapers set. Arizona requires a newspaper notice of a new LLC's formation, run three consecutive times within 60 days, unless the LLC's statutory agent has a street address in a county of more than 800,000 people (currently Maricopa and Pima Counties), where the Arizona Corporation Commission posts the notice online for free. For example, a Florida LLC formed on a Monday can be fully operational by Thursday with zero publication costs incurred. Exception: if your Florida LLC later registers as a foreign LLC in another state that does require publication, such as New York, you must fulfill that state's publication rules for the foreign registration. Confirm publication requirements in any state where you plan to do business. File your Articles of Organization at dos.myflorida. The Florida Division of Corporations posts the dates it's currently working through rather than a turnaround, so the figure moves week to week.
: Florida LLCs must file their annual report by May 1 each year with a $138.75 fee paid to the Florida Department of State. For example, if your LLC is formed in November 2026, your first $138.75 annual report is due by May 1, 2027, just six months later, so include this in your startup budget planning. The annual report updates your registered agent's name and address, your principal office address, and your manager or member information. Filing online through the Sunbiz portal at sunbiz.org is the fastest and most reliable method. Exception: annual reports submitted after May 1 but before the third Friday in September are accepted with a $400 late fee. Filings not received by the third Friday in September result in administrative dissolution of your LLC. Set a recurring calendar reminder each year for April to give yourself time to file the May 1 annual report without rushing.
: Yes, Florida permits single-member LLCs and allows one individual to be the sole owner, the manager, and, if they have a qualifying Florida address, the registered agent of their LLC. Filing Articles of Organization with the Florida Department of State and paying the $125 fee is all that's required to create the entity. Single-member LLCs in Florida receive the same limited liability protection as multi-member LLCs. For example, a solo graphic designer can form a single-member LLC in Florida to protect personal savings and property from any business-related claims. Exception: single-member LLCs are taxed as sole proprietorships by default under federal rules, which means you report LLC income on your personal tax return using Schedule C. If you prefer a different tax treatment, you can elect to be taxed as an S-corporation or C-corporation by filing the appropriate IRS election form. Consult a tax professional to determine the best structure for your situation.

Sources

4 documents

Each entry below is a document recorded in our verified Florida sources, and each entry says what the document is. Some statutory text is read from an accurate mirror rather than from the state's own host, and those say so.

dos.fl.gov/sunbiz/Florida Division of Corporations: business entity filings
dos.fl.gov/sunbiz/forms/fees/Florida LLC filing fees
leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=605.0212&URL=0600-0699/0605/Sections/0605.0212.htmlFlorida statute: Annual Report
dos.fl.gov/sunbiz/manage-business/efile/annual-report/Florida agency guidance: Annual Report

More for Florida LLCs

Ready to Form Your Florida LLC?

$39 with Northwest, plus your $125 state fee. Northwest's $39 includes a year of registered agent service.

Affiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Prefer to file directly? File yourself at the Secretary of State → ($125 state fee, no service fee)

Not sure which service is right? Compare formation services →

Edmond Hui · Founder, MyStateLLC

Edmond Hui is a software engineer and serial entrepreneur based in New York who has founded multiple online businesses across e-commerce, media, and information publishing. Before transitioning into tech, he spent years as a commercial real estate professional closing deals totaling over 100,000 square feet, giving him firsthand experience with business formation and entity structuring. He built MyStateLLC to provide the free, state-specific LLC guidance he wished existed when forming his own companies.

How we check facts

How to Start an LLC in Florida: Complete 2026 Guide

Quick Facts

How to Form an LLC: Step-by-Step

Choose Your Florida LLC Name

Appoint a Registered Agent

File Articles of Organization

What You File in Florida

Processing Times

Create an Operating Agreement

Obtain an EIN from the IRS

Open a Business Bank Account

Obtain Required Business Licenses

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

More for Florida LLCs

Start and set up

Taxes, money and growth

Stay compliant

Operate in other states

Compare structures

By owner type

By profession

Ready to Form Your Florida LLC?

Quick Facts

How to Form an LLC: Step-by-Step

Choose Your Florida LLC Name

Appoint a Registered Agent

File Articles of Organization

What You File in Florida

Processing Times

Create an Operating Agreement

Obtain an EIN from the IRS

Open a Business Bank Account

Obtain Required Business Licenses

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

More for Florida LLCs

Start and set up

Taxes, money and growth

Stay compliant

Operate in other states

Compare structures

By owner type

By profession

Ready to Form Your Florida LLC?

More Florida LLC Guides

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