Florida is one of the busiest states in the country for new business formations, and forming an LLC there is quick and affordable. There’s no personal state income tax, the filing fee is moderate, and approval through Sunbiz usually takes only a few business days. The state has one sharp edge, though: a strict annual report deadline with a penalty that can’t be waived.
Here’s how to form a Florida LLC and keep it active.
What a Florida LLC costs
Table of Contents
| Item | Cost | When |
|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization | $100 | At formation |
| Registered agent designation | $25 | At formation |
| Total to form | $125 | |
| Annual report | $138.75 | January 1 to May 1, from the year after formation |
| Late annual report fee | $400 | If filed after May 1 |
| Fictitious name registration (if using a DBA) | Small state fee | When registering |
A Florida LLC’s first-year state cost is often just $125, because the first annual report isn’t due until the following spring.
Step 1: Choose your LLC name
Your name must include "Limited Liability Company", "LLC" or "L.L.C." and be distinguishable from other names on file. Search the Sunbiz database before you file. Also check federal trademarks, domains and social handles, following our business name checklist.
To trade under another name, register a fictitious name (Florida’s term for a DBA) with the Division of Corporations.
Step 2: Appoint a registered agent
Florida requires a registered agent with a physical street address in Florida, available during business hours. You can serve yourself, name another adult, or hire a registered agent company. The agent signs to accept the appointment, which is why the filing includes the $25 designation fee.
Step 3: File Articles of Organization on Sunbiz
File the Articles of Organization online through Sunbiz, the Florida Division of Corporations’ website, and pay $125. You’ll provide:
- The LLC name and principal office and mailing addresses.
- Your registered agent’s name, address and signature.
- The names and addresses of managers or authorized representatives (optional but common).
- An optional effective date.
Sunbiz usually confirms filings within a few business days and gives you a document number, which you’ll need for your EIN application and annual reports.
Tip on timing: if you’re forming late in the year and won’t start business until January, Florida lets you choose an effective date. Some owners use that so the LLC’s existence, and its first annual report, starts in the new year. Ask an accountant whether it makes sense for you.
Step 4: Create an operating agreement
Florida doesn’t require you to file one, but every LLC should have a written operating agreement covering ownership, management, profit sharing and what happens when members leave. It’s especially important for multi-member LLCs, and banks sometimes ask to see it.
Step 5: Get an EIN and open a business bank account
Apply for a free EIN from the IRS online. Then open a dedicated business bank account using your filed Articles and EIN. Keeping finances separate protects your liability shield. See choosing a business bank account.
Step 6: Register for taxes and local licenses
- Sales and use tax. If you sell taxable goods or services, register with the Florida Department of Revenue before your first sale.
- Reemployment tax. If you hire employees, register with the Department of Revenue for Florida’s reemployment (unemployment) tax.
- Local business tax receipt. Most Florida counties and many cities require a business tax receipt (formerly called an occupational license) to operate. Check with both your county and your city.
- State professional licenses. Many trades and professions are licensed by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, including contractors, cosmetologists and real estate professionals.
Step 7: File your annual report every year by May 1
This is Florida’s one hard deadline. Every LLC must file an annual report on Sunbiz between January 1 and May 1, starting the year after it was formed. On time, it costs $138.75. File after May 1 and Florida adds a $400 late fee, making the total $538.75, and the fee can’t be waived.
If an LLC still hasn’t filed by the third Friday in September, the state can administratively dissolve it. Sunbiz doesn’t mail reminders by default, so set your own.
Florida rules for common types of business
Forming the LLC is only the first approval some Florida businesses need.
Contractors and trades. Roofing, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, pool and general contracting work requires a license through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) and its Construction Industry Licensing Board. Florida distinguishes certified contractors, who can work statewide, from registered contractors, limited to the local areas where they hold a certificate of competency. Get licensed before you advertise. Our Orlando contractor guide covers marketing once you’re licensed.
Restaurants, food trucks and caterers. Most food service businesses need a license from the DBPR’s Division of Hotels and Restaurants, plus local permits and inspections. Some food made at home can be sold under Florida’s cottage food rules; see our cottage food business guide.
Short-term and vacation rentals. Florida generally requires vacation rentals to be licensed with the DBPR, and rentals of six months or less are usually subject to state sales tax on transient rentals and to local tourist development taxes. Many cities and HOAs add their own rules.
Home-based businesses. Check your city or county’s home occupation rules and your lease or HOA covenants before seeing clients or storing inventory at home.
How a Florida LLC is taxed
Florida has no personal income tax, so profits passed through to LLC owners aren’t taxed by the state as personal income. Owners pay federal income tax and self-employment tax. A standard LLC taxed as a sole proprietorship or partnership doesn’t pay Florida corporate income tax; an LLC that elects to be taxed as a C corporation does.
Sales tax, local business taxes and, for employers, reemployment tax are the main state and local taxes most small LLCs deal with.
Your Florida LLC compliance calendar
| Deadline | Filing | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| January 1 to May 1 each year | Annual report ($138.75) | Division of Corporations |
| September 30 each year (typical) | Local business tax receipt renewal | County and city |
| Monthly, quarterly or yearly | Sales and use tax returns | Department of Revenue |
| Quarterly | Reemployment tax reports, if you have employees | Department of Revenue |
| When details change | Amendments or registered agent changes | Division of Corporations |
Local renewal dates vary; check with your county tax collector.
Florida LLCs and out-of-state owners
Many people form Florida LLCs while living elsewhere, and many Florida residents ask about forming in Delaware or Wyoming instead. The rule of thumb is simple: form your LLC where you actually do business. An LLC formed in another state but operating in Florida must register in Florida as a foreign LLC, paying fees in both states. If you live and work in Florida, a Florida LLC is usually the simplest and cheapest choice.
Mistakes to avoid
- Missing May 1. Put it in your calendar every year; the $400 penalty is automatic.
- Forgetting the local business tax receipt, which many new owners don’t realize they need.
- Collecting sales tax before registering, or not collecting it at all.
- Using a different name from your registered one without filing a fictitious name.
- Letting your registered agent lapse, which can lead to missed legal papers.
- Ignoring email from Sunbiz. Make sure the email address on file is one you check, since reminders and notices go there.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Sunbiz take to approve an LLC? Usually a few business days for online filings.
When is my first annual report due? Between January 1 and May 1 of the year after your LLC was formed.
Can I reinstate a dissolved Florida LLC? Generally yes, by filing for reinstatement and paying the overdue reports and fees, but it’s far cheaper to file on time.
Is my information public? Yes. Your LLC’s principal address, registered agent and listed managers or authorized representatives appear in the public Sunbiz database. A registered agent service can keep your home address off the agent line.
What does it cost to change my registered agent? Florida charges a small fee to file a change of registered agent; you can also update it with your annual report.
Do I need a lawyer? Not to file. Many owners file online themselves. Consider legal help for multi-member agreements or regulated industries.
Next steps
Follow the Start a Business A–Z guide, check your startup costs, and read our Orlando contractor guide if you’re in the trades.
This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Fees and rules change; check Sunbiz and the Florida Department of Revenue before you file.
Sources
- Stripe, How to start an LLC in Florida
- Zenind, How much does an LLC cost in Florida (2026)
- UpCounsel, Florida LLC and Sunbiz renewal
- Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz)
Last reviewed October 18, 2026. Startup costs are estimates; check local prices, licensing and tax rules before you commit money.
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