Step 1: Choose a name Florida will accept
The name has to end with “Limited Liability Company”, “L.L.C.” or “LLC”. It also has to differ from the names already on the Florida Division of Corporations' records, and some words need another agency's approval. Check an LLC name in Florida against those rules and the registered names we hold, then confirm it on the official search.
Florida doesn't reserve names, so the name is yours only when the Articles of Organization is accepted.
Step 2: Appoint a registered agent
The Articles of Organization names a registered agent: a person or company with a street address in Florida who receives lawsuits and official notices for the LLC during business hours. You can usually serve yourself if you live in the state, or pay a commercial agent a yearly fee.
Our sister site lists the registered agents Florida companies use most, with how many companies each one serves.
Step 3: File the Articles of Organization
File it with the Florida Division of Corporations. The fee is $125. File online, or on paper. The LLC exists once the state accepts the filing.
How long it takes. Posted on the Division's page: the receipt dates it's working through, updated each business day. (The office's page.)
Step 4: Write an operating agreement
Florida doesn't require one (Fla. Stat. § 605.0105(2)), but without it the state's default rules decide how the LLC is run and how profits and votes are shared. It stays in the company's records; it isn't filed.
Make a free Florida LLC operating agreement and download it as a Word file.
Step 5: Get an EIN
An EIN (employer identification number) is the LLC's federal tax ID: banks ask for it to open a business account, and the LLC needs one to hire. The IRS issues it free; apply online at irs.gov once Florida has accepted the Articles of Organization.
Step 6: File the Florida LLC annual report
Fee: $138.75 ($50 annual report fee, F.S. 605.0213(5), + $88.75 supplemental corporate fee, F.S. 607.193); $400 late charge if filed after May 1. Due: Between January 1 and May 1 each year, starting the year after formation (F.S. 605.0212(3)). (Source: Fla. Stat. § 605.0212, leg.state.fl.us.)
| After formation | Florida |
|---|---|
| Recurring report | $138.75 each year (Jan 1 to May 1) |
| State tax or fee on LLCs | None |
| Proof of good standing | Certificate of Status, $5 |
Missing the recurring filing is the most common way an LLC loses its good standing, and in time its existence. On our sister site, look up an LLC's status or see how to get a Florida certificate of good standing.
What it costs to start an LLC in Florida
| State fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Formation filing | $125 |
| First year, state fees | $125 |
| Each year after | $138.75 |
Over five years, Florida's state fees come to $680. These are state fees only: a commercial registered agent, a publication notice and income taxes are extra. Compare every state's fees, with the options to reserve the name or file faster.
Sources
Fla. Stat. § 605.0112, leg.state.fl.us, checked 2026-10-07
Fla. Stat. § 607.0401, leg.state.fl.us, checked 2026-10-07
Fla. Stat. § 605.0213, leg.state.fl.us, checked 2026-10-07
Fla. Stat. § 605.0212, leg.state.fl.us, checked 2026-10-07
Fla. Stat. § 607.193, leg.state.fl.us, checked 2026-10-07
Fla. Stat. § 865.09, leg.state.fl.us, checked 2026-10-07
FAQs, dos.fl.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Byname, search.sunbiz.org, checked 2026-10-07
Document processing dates, dos.fl.gov, checked 2026-10-08
Apply for an EIN online, irs.gov
How to start an LLC in Florida
- Choose a name Florida will accept and check it against the Florida Division of Corporations' records.
- Appoint a registered agent with a street address in Florida.
- File the Articles of Organization with the Florida Division of Corporations ($125).
- Write an operating agreement.
- Get a free EIN from the IRS.
- Keep up with the recurring filings and fees.
Common questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Florida?
$125 to file the Articles of Organization. The state's fees come to $125 in the first year and $138.75 a year after that; a registered agent service or a newspaper notice costs extra.
How long does it take to start an LLC in Florida?
The Florida Division of Corporations gives posted on the Division's page: the receipt dates it's working through, updated each business day.
Do I need an operating agreement in Florida?
Florida doesn't require one (Fla. Stat. § 605.0105(2)), but it's the document that says who owns the LLC and how it's run; banks and partners often ask for it.
Can I start an LLC in Florida online?
Yes. The Florida Division of Corporations takes the Articles of Organization online, for $125.
When is the Florida LLC annual report due?
Between January 1 and May 1 each year, starting the year after formation (F.S. 605.0212(3)).
Does Florida require an annual report for LLCs?
Yes. Florida's recurring filing: $138.75 each year (Jan 1 to May 1).