Florida is one of the cheaper states to start a business, but the real formation number is higher than the $100 figure most guides quote. Here is the full breakdown, verified against the state’s own fee schedule.
What Does It Cost to Start and Maintain a Florida LLC?
Forming a limited liability company (LLC) in Florida costs $125, the Articles of Organization filing fee that bundles a $100 filing fee with a mandatory $25 registered agent designation fee, per the Sunbiz (Florida Division of Corporations) fee schedule. Maintaining it costs $138.75 per year for the annual report. That is the whole required bill.
These fees are current as of 2026. The Florida Legislature can change them, so confirm live figures on Sunbiz before filing.
One-time / startup costs
| Item | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization (form the LLC) | $125 one-time | Sunbiz fee schedule |
| EIN | $0 | Internal Revenue Service (IRS) |
| Operating agreement | $0 DIY to $200–$1,000+ attorney | Fla. Stat. 605.0105 (not required) |
| Registered agent service, year one | $0 self, or ~$50–$150 | Market estimate |
| Fictitious name (DBA), if needed | $50 | Sunbiz fee schedule |
| Certified copy of Articles (optional) | $30 | Sunbiz fee schedule |
| Certificate of Status (optional) | $5 | Sunbiz fee schedule |
Recurring / annual costs
| Item | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Annual report (due Jan 1–May 1) | $138.75/yr | Sunbiz annual report page |
| Registered agent service, if hired | ~$25–$150/yr | Market estimate |
| Local business tax receipt renewal | Varies, often $20–$200+ | County tax collector |
Situational costs
| Item | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Late annual report penalty (after May 1) | $400 flat | Sunbiz |
| Reinstatement of dissolved LLC | $100 + all owed reports | Sunbiz |
| Professional licensing (regulated fields) | $100+ | Florida DBPR |
What Is the Florida LLC Filing Fee for Articles of Organization?
The Florida LLC filing fee is $125, paid to the Sunbiz (Florida Division of Corporations) fee schedule, non-refundable, and identical online or by mail. The fee combines a $100 filing fee with a $25 registered agent designation fee. You cannot form a Florida LLC for $100 alone.
The $25 designation fee is mandatory and cannot be separated out, so the honest minimum is $125, a figure many guides get wrong by quoting only $100. Online filing on Sunbiz processes faster than mail. Florida has no verified standard expedite tier for online LLC filings, so plan around the standard online turnaround. See the step-by-step process in Commenda’s Florida LLC formation guide.
What Is the Registered Agent Fee for a Florida LLC?
The $25 registered agent fee is a one-time state designation fee already included in the $125 Articles of Organization filing, per Sunbiz. A commercial registered agent service is optional and runs roughly $25 to $150 per year. Serving as your own agent is free.
Florida Statute 605.0113 requires a registered agent with a physical Florida street address (no P.O. boxes), available during business hours to accept service of process, who signs a written acceptance. Acting as your own agent saves money but puts your address on public record and makes you responsible for catching legal mail. Changing your registered agent later costs $25, per the Sunbiz fee schedule.
How Much Does an EIN Cost for a Florida LLC?
An EIN (Employer Identification Number) costs $0 when you apply directly with the IRS online, and the number issues immediately, per the IRS EIN application page. Non-US residents without a Social Security number (SSN) apply by fax or mail using Form SS-4.
Watch for third-party services that charge a fee for something the IRS provides free. That charge is a common hidden cost. Commenda’s EIN for LLC service handles the application for founders who want it done accurately, including non-residents filing without an SSN.
How Much Does a Florida LLC Operating Agreement Cost?
A Florida LLC operating agreement costs $0 with a do-it-yourself template or roughly $200 to $1,000+ with an attorney. Florida Statute 605.0105 does not require one, but it protects members and sets the management structure. Written rules prevent ownership disputes and strengthen your liability shield.
For what a solid agreement should contain, see Commenda’s operating agreement requirements guide.
Can You Reserve an LLC Name in Florida?
No. Florida does not offer general LLC name reservation, so the widely repeated “$25 for 120 days” claim is wrong for LLCs and carried over from corporation rules or other states. Instead, check availability free on the Sunbiz name search, then lock your name by filing the Articles of Organization.
Filing the Articles is what actually secures the name, so there is no separate reservation step or fee to budget for. Run a quick check first with Commenda’s company name checker.
What Does It Cost to Maintain a Florida LLC Each Year?
Maintaining a Florida LLC costs about $139 per year if you act as your own registered agent, covering the single mandatory $138.75 annual report, per the Sunbiz annual report page. With a paid agent, plan for roughly $165 to $290 per year.
Florida LLCs must file an annual report every year, contrary to the myth that Florida requires none. The report is due January 1 through May 1 under Florida Statute 605.0212, filed on Sunbiz. Miss May 1 and Florida adds a flat $400 late fee, then administratively dissolves the LLC if it stays unfiled.
| Recurring item | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Annual report | $138.75/yr | Sunbiz annual report page |
| Registered agent service (if hired) | $25–$150/yr | Market estimate |
| Local business tax receipt renewal | Varies | County tax collector |
| Professional license renewals | Varies | Florida DBPR |
Never miss the deadline with Commenda’s compliance calendar, which tracks filing dates by entity.
Do You Need a Business License or DBA for a Florida LLC?
Florida has no general state business license, but most counties and cities require a business tax receipt (often $20 to $200+), regulated professions need Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) licenses ($100 to several thousand a year), and a DBA (doing business as) name costs $50 and renews every five years, per the Sunbiz fee schedule.
Confirm the business tax receipt amount with your county tax collector, since rates vary by location. Healthcare, legal, accounting, contracting, and real estate businesses all need DBPR licenses, so research your industry’s requirement early. You file a DBA only if you operate under a name different from your LLC’s legal name.
Does Florida Charge Franchise Tax on LLCs?
No. Florida charges no franchise tax on LLCs, and LLCs are federal pass-through entities by default under IRS Publication 3402, so members pay tax on their personal returns. Register for sales tax free with the Florida Department of Revenue (DOR) if you sell taxable goods or services.
Florida also has no state personal income tax, a major reason founders form here. An LLC that elects corporate tax treatment does owe Florida’s 5.5% corporate income tax, so choose your tax classification deliberately.
What Is the Cheapest Way to Form an LLC in Florida?
The cheapest way is to file the Articles of Organization yourself on Sunbiz for $125, serve as your own registered agent, get the EIN free from the IRS, and use a free operating agreement template. Total: $125 to form and about $139 per year to maintain.
The tradeoffs are real. Your home address goes on the public record. You must be reachable during business hours to accept service of process. You alone must catch the May 1 annual report deadline, and missing it triggers the $400 penalty, per Sunbiz.
How Much Does a Florida LLC Cost With a Registered Agent Service?
With a paid registered agent, expect $125 state filing plus roughly $50 to $150 for the service, landing around $175 to $275 in year one. Ongoing years run about $165 to $290, covering the $138.75 annual report plus agent renewal, per Sunbiz plus market service pricing.
| Path | Year one | Year two onward |
|---|---|---|
| Self as registered agent | $125 | ~$139 |
| Paid registered agent service | ~$175–$275 | ~$165–$290 |
How Much Do Florida LLC Formation Services Cost Compared to DIY?
Doing it yourself costs $125 in state fees. A formation service adds a service fee on top of that same $125, typically landing all-in around $200 to $500 in year one depending on bundled registered agent and compliance features.
DIY is cheapest and keeps you in direct control, but you own every deadline and error. A formation service costs more yet adds error prevention, registered agent coverage, and compliance reminders that keep the LLC in good standing. Only verifiable published prices belong in your comparison, so ask any provider for a flat, written quote before you commit.
How Much Does a Florida LLC Cost for Non-US Residents?
The state fees are identical for non-residents: $125 to form and $138.75 per year, per Sunbiz. The added costs come from having no Florida address, so a commercial registered agent (~$25–$150/yr) is effectively required, and the EIN is applied for by fax or mail with Form SS-4 (still free, but slower).
Non-residents may also pay for US banking setup and an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) if needed. Foreign-owned single-member LLCs carry a serious compliance cost: the IRS penalty for a missed Form 5472 starts at $25,000, per IRS Form 5472 instructions. That makes reliable filing support worth its price. See Commenda’s US LLC registration service for cross-border founders.
Form Your Florida LLC With Commenda
A Florida LLC costs $125 to form and $138.75 per year to maintain, and $400 more if you miss the May 1 report. Commenda’s incorporation service handles the Sunbiz filing, registered agent, and ongoing annual report compliance so that deadline never slips. Pair it with our EIN for LLC service and US LLC registration guide for cross-border founders.
Book a demo and get a flat, all-in quote for your Florida LLC before you file.
