How to Start an LLC in Florida (2026 Step-by-Step Guide)
Florida is one of the most popular states to form an LLC — no personal state income tax, a fast online filing system (Sunbiz), and a $125 setup cost. Here's the complete, verified 8-step process.
Written & verified by Enjoys-life Team, Enjoys-life · Updated August 2026
To start an LLC in Florida, file the Articles of Organization with the Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz) and pay the $125 fee. Name a Florida registered agent, get a free EIN from the IRS, then file an Annual Report ($138.75) by May 1 each year to stay active. Online filings process within a few business days, and Florida charges no personal state income tax.
- Filing Fee
- $125
- Annual Report
- $138.75 / yr
- Report Due
- May 1
- Late Penalty
- $400
- Processing
- A few business days
- State Income Tax
- None
- EIN Cost
- FREE
- State Website
- Sunbiz.org
Why Form an LLC in Florida?
Florida is consistently one of the top states for new businesses, and the appeal is practical. There's no personal state income tax, so your LLC's pass-through profits aren't taxed again at the state level. The filing system, Sunbiz, is fully online and fast. And the all-in cost is reasonable: $125 to form and $138.75 per year to stay active.
Forming in Florida makes sense if you live or do business here — you avoid the foreign-LLC double registration that traps people who form in Wyoming or Delaware while operating elsewhere. The eight steps below are the exact process, each linking to a detailed Florida-specific guide.
Enjoys-life Team's TakeFlorida is one of the few states where the "no income tax" advantage is real for residents — but the $138.75 annual report and its strict May 1 deadline catch people off guard. Put it on your calendar the day your LLC is approved.
New for Florida in 2026: protected seriesFlorida's Uniform Protected Series provisions took effect July 1, 2026. A series structure is not a ninth step for every LLC; it is a specialized option for businesses that actually need separate protected series. Read the Florida Series LLC guide.
The 8 Steps to Start a Florida LLC
Search & Choose Your LLC Name
Your name must include "LLC" or "Limited Liability Company" and be distinguishable from existing Florida entities. Check availability free on Sunbiz before filing.
Step 1: Florida LLC Name SearchAppoint a Florida Registered Agent
Florida requires a registered agent with a physical street address in the state, available during business hours. You can serve yourself or use a service to keep your address private.
Step 2: Florida Registered AgentFile the Articles of Organization
This is the document that creates your LLC. File it online with Sunbiz and pay the $125 fee. Online filings are typically processed within a few business days.
Step 3: Florida Articles of OrganizationCreate an Operating Agreement
Florida doesn't require you to file one, but you should have it. It defines ownership and management and helps protect your liability shield. A free template works for most LLCs.
Step 4: Florida Operating AgreementGet Your Free EIN from the IRS
Your federal tax ID — needed for a business bank account and taxes. It's always free at IRS.gov; never pay a third party for it.
Step 5: Florida LLC EIN NumberFile Your Annual Report (Every May 1)
File on Sunbiz between January 1 and May 1 and pay $138.75. Miss it and there's an automatic $400 late fee — and dissolution risk by the third Friday in September.
Step 6: Florida Annual ReportGet Business Licenses & Permits
Florida has no general statewide business license, but your county/city and industry may require one — and many businesses need a sales tax permit from the FL Dept. of Revenue.
Step 7: Florida Business LicensesUnderstand Your Florida LLC Taxes
No personal state income tax. By default your LLC is pass-through, so you pay federal income tax plus 15.3% self-employment tax. Some businesses register for Florida sales tax.
Step 8: Florida LLC Taxes- ✓Files your Florida Articles of Organization correctly
- ✓registered-agent service option; verify current provider terms
- ✓Keeps your address off Sunbiz public records
- ✓No upsells — real humans answer the phone
Disclosure: Enjoys-life may earn a commission via this link, at no cost to you. See our advertising disclosure.
Florida LLC Cost Summary (2026)
| Cost | When | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization | One time | $125 |
| Registered agent | Yearly (free if DIY) | $0–$125 |
| Operating agreement | One time | $0 (template) |
| EIN (IRS) | One time | $0 |
| Annual Report | Every year by May 1 | $138.75 |
| Typical first-year total (DIY) | — | ~$264 |
Don't miss May 1Florida's $400 late fee is automatic and non-negotiable — more than triple the annual report fee itself. File anytime from January 1 to be safe.
Florida LLC Cost & Compliance Planner
Separate the $125 formation amount, annual-report obligations, and optional/local costs instead of treating everything as one filing fee.
Planning tool only. Annual reports begin in the calendar year after formation/effective date. Local license and service costs vary.
Florida LLC — FAQs
Enjoys-life Team is the founder and CEO of Enjoys-life. Every Florida figure on this page was verified against the Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz) and is updated whenever the state changes its requirements.
About Enjoys-life Team → All State Fees →