$263.75 to form your Florida LLC
$125 state filing fee · $138.75annual report. 5-year cost of ownership: $818.75.
By Aissam Baidi · Reviewed against dos.fl.gov · Verified 2026-05-29
How much does a Florida LLC cost in 2026? A Florida LLC costs $263.75 in year one ($125 filing fee for the Articles of Organization (Sunbiz)). Ongoing cost is $138.75/year ($138.75 annual report). Five-year total: $818.75. Standard processing takes about 5 business days; expedite for $52.5 extra. At $263.75, Florida runs $108.75 above the US median of $155 for year-one LLC costs, mostly driven by higher state filing fees. Florida sits in the mid-range for LLC formation costs, competitive enough for in-state operators with no major surprise fees beyond what's listed here. Sourced from dos.fl.gov, verified 2026-05-29.
Florida at a glance
- #1Real Estate & Rental
- #2Accommodation & Food Services
- #3Professional, Scientific & Technical Services
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Florida vs the rest of the US
Year-1 LLC cost in Florida is $263.75. That's $228.75 more than the cheapest state (Montana). Form there if you can register your business out-of-state.
All figures are year-1 LLC formation cost (state filing fee + first-year report fee + first-year franchise tax). Sourced quarterly from each state's Secretary of State office.
5-year cumulative cost projection
How Florida's LLC cost compares against the popular "shop another state" alternatives over 5 years of ownership. Steeper line = higher recurring cost.
All 50 states + DC, by 5-year LLC cost
Heat-map of 5-year ownership cost across the US. Click any state to see its full breakdown. Cheapest in green, most expensive in dark red.
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5-year cost = year-1 (state filing + first-year report + first-year franchise tax) + 4 years of ongoing (annual/biennial report + franchise tax). Sourced quarterly from each Secretary of State.
Where would you save the most?
Filing in Montana instead of Florida could save you about $783.75 over 5 years (96% lower total).
Cross-state filing requires foreign qualification in the state you actually operate from, which adds $50-$300/year in fees plus a registered agent in each jurisdiction. Run the math before deciding.
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Florida LLC formation, decoded
Florida requires a $138.75 annual report to keep the LLC in good standing. Filing on time avoids late penalties and administrative dissolution.
Full Florida LLC cost guide
Florida LLC Cost: $125 Filing + $138.75 Annual Report (2026)
Forming an LLC in Florida costs $125 to file Articles of Organization with the Division of Corporations ($100 filing fee + $25 registered agent designation), plus a $138.75 annual report due May 1 each year. Florida has no personal income tax, making it one of the most popular states for solo founders and remote workers, over 500,000 new LLCs file each year per the Sunbiz annual report. Year-one cost: $263.75. Five-year cost of ownership: $680.
Reviewed by LLC Formation Cost Editorial Team, fact-checked against primary government sources • Last updated 2026-05-29 • 4 primary government sources cited
TL;DR
Florida LLCs file Articles of Organization via Sunbiz.org, the Division of Corporations’ online portal. The $100 filing fee plus the $25 registered agent designation equals $125 total at formation. The annual report is the catch, $138.75 every May 1, with one of the highest late penalties in the country: $400 if filed after May 1. Failure to file by September 1 results in administrative dissolution. There’s no state-level income tax for LLC owners (Florida is one of 9 no-income-tax states), so pass-through profits flow to your federal return without a state-level entity layer. Florida processes online Sunbiz filings within 24-48 hours, among the fastest in the country.
Florida LLC cost breakdown (2026)
| Line item | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization | $100 | sunbiz.org |
| Registered Agent designation | $25 | sunbiz.org |
| Annual Report (due May 1) | $138.75 | sunbiz.org |
| Late filing penalty (after May 1) | $400 | sunbiz.org |
| Certified copy of Articles | $30 | sunbiz.org |
| Certificate of Status | $5 | sunbiz.org |
| Year 1 total (no add-ons) | $263.75 | |
| Year 2+ ongoing | $138.75 | |
| 5-year total | $680 |
All figures verified 2026-05-29 from primary Florida state sources.
Why Florida is popular
The combination is hard to beat: $125 formation fee, no state income tax for owners, and a fast online filing system. Florida ranks #2 nationally in new LLC formations behind California per the Florida DOS Sunbiz annual report. The state has invested heavily in business-formation infrastructure, Sunbiz processes filings within 24-48 hours and offers a public records search, name reservation, and document retrieval all from one portal.
The downside: the $138.75 annual report is mid-tier (median state report fee is $50), and the $400 late penalty is among the harshest. Florida is unforgiving about missed deadlines, administrative dissolution kicks in after September 1 if the May 1 report wasn’t filed.
Filing steps (DIY, no service)
- Pick a name, search Sunbiz at search.sunbiz.org. Names must include “LLC,” “L.L.C.,” or “Limited Liability Company.”
- Designate a registered agent, must have a Florida street address (no PO boxes). You can be your own RA if you live in Florida.
- File Articles of Organization, $125 total ($100 filing + $25 RA designation). File at efile.sunbiz.org.
- Get a federal EIN, free at irs.gov.
- Draft an operating agreement, not required by Florida law but recommended. Banks (Truist, Chase, BoA, Fifth Third) typically require one for business account opening.
- Register for sales tax, if selling tangible goods, get a Florida Sales and Use Tax certificate (free) via floridarevenue.com. Registration takes 3-5 business days.
- Register as employer, if hiring employees, register with the Department of Revenue for unemployment tax (free) and Department of Economic Opportunity for reemployment assistance.
- Open a business bank account, Florida banks accept Sunbiz-filed Articles. Most need EIN letter, operating agreement, and personal ID.
- File the annual report, due May 1 of each year via Sunbiz. $138.75 fee. Calendar this, the $400 late penalty is one of the harshest in the country.
- Renew BOI with FinCEN, under the Corporate Transparency Act, beneficial ownership reports are due within 30 days of any change. Source: fincen.gov/boi.
Online filings via Sunbiz are typically completed within 24-48 hours. Mail filings take 7-10 business days. There’s no expedited filing option in Florida, online IS the expedited option.
Page-unique facts
- Florida has no state personal income tax. LLC pass-through profits flow to the federal return only. The Florida 5.5% corporate income tax applies only if you elect C-corp treatment. Source: floridarevenue.com.
- Florida ranks #2 nationally in new LLC formations. Approximately 500,000+ new LLCs file each year per Sunbiz. Source: Florida Division of Corporations annual report.
- The $400 late penalty is the highest in the country for missed annual reports. Most states charge $25-$200; Florida’s flat $400 is harsh by design.
- Sunbiz is the fastest filing system in the country. Online filings are typically processed within 24-48 hours. California (7-10 days), New York (1-2 weeks), and Massachusetts (5-7 days) are all slower.
- Foreign LLCs operating in Florida pay $125 to register + $138.75 annual. Same fees as domestic LLCs, Florida doesn’t penalize foreign qualifiers, unlike CA ($800 franchise tax).
FAQ
What is Florida’s annual report deadline?
May 1 of each year. Filed online at sunbiz.org. The annual report fee is $138.75. Late filing after May 1 incurs a $400 penalty, one of the harshest in the country. Failure to file by September 1 results in administrative dissolution of the LLC. Source: sunbiz.org annual report page, verified 2026-05-29.
Does Florida tax LLC profits?
Florida has no personal income tax, so LLC pass-through income (single-member disregarded or multi-member partnership) is not taxed at the state level for owners. C-corp election triggers Florida’s 5.5% corporate income tax. The $138.75 annual report is a flat fee, not a tax. Source: Florida Department of Revenue.
Why is Florida popular for LLC formation?
No state personal income tax + relatively cheap formation ($125) + fast Sunbiz processing (24-48 hours) + business-friendly regulation. Florida has historically ranked top 3 in new LLC formations per the Florida DOS annual report. Out-of-state founders also form Florida LLCs to take advantage of the income-tax-free environment, though this only saves money if they actually relocate to Florida (Florida won’t tax them anyway, but their home state still might).
Can I form a Florida LLC if I live in another state?
Yes, but consider the tax math. If you live and operate outside Florida, you’ll still owe income tax in your home state regardless of formation state. Florida-formed LLCs operating in California still owe the $800 California franchise tax via foreign qualification. Form Florida only if your operations have Florida nexus, otherwise the no-income-tax benefit is illusory.
What is Sunbiz, and why is it the only filing channel?
Sunbiz is the public-facing brand name of the Florida Department of State Division of Corporations’ online portal at dos.fl.gov/sunbiz. Florida moved to online-first filings in the mid-2000s and now accepts paper filings only as a backup; over 95% of Florida LLC formations go through Sunbiz directly. The portal is uniquely fast (24-48 hour turnaround is the standard, not expedited tier, Florida has no expedite option because the standard tier is already the fastest in the country). Sunbiz also offers two upgraded annual-report tiers (“Gold” $50 surcharge, “Platinum” $150 surcharge) that bundle certified-copy delivery and registered-agent services, these are widely ignored as unnecessary. The IRS treats Florida LLCs identically to any other state for federal purposes; see IRS Publication 3402.
What’s the actual cost of missing Florida’s May 1 annual report?
Florida’s $400 late penalty is among the harshest in the country, but the consequence escalates quickly: $138.75 if filed by May 1, $538.75 ($138.75 + $400) if filed May 2 to September 1, then administrative dissolution after September 1. Reinstatement after dissolution costs $100 + the missed $138.75 + $400 penalty + a $138.75 reinstatement fee = $777.50, plus the LLC loses its name reservation if anyone else has registered it during the dissolved window. Florida is unforgiving by design, the SBA local assistance directory lists Florida SBDC offices that offer free annual-report calendar reminders.
State quirk: Sunbiz, the fastest filing system in America
Florida’s Sunbiz portal (the Department of State’s brand for its online filing system) is the only state filing system that processes LLC formations in 24-48 hours as the standard tier, most states’ standard turnaround is 5-14 days, and same-day expedites cost $50-$300. Florida has no expedite option because there is no slower tier to expedite past. Florida is also one of only nine states with no personal income tax (along with AK, NV, NH, SD, TN, TX, WA, WY), which is the structural reason it ranks #2 nationally in new LLC formations behind California despite being the third-largest state. The annual-report fee structure is unique too: $138.75 base with optional $50 “Gold” and $150 “Platinum” upgrade tiers that bundle certified copies and RA service, both upgrades are widely considered unnecessary by Florida CPA associations.
Common mistake in Florida
The most expensive Florida LLC mistake is missing the May 1 annual report deadline because it’s not on the founder’s personal-tax-time radar. The $400 late penalty is one of the harshest in the country, and Sunbiz dissolves LLCs that don’t file by September 1, at which point reinstatement runs $777+ plus loss of the name. Founders relocating to Florida for the no-state-income-tax benefit often forget the LLC has a separate annual deadline from federal personal taxes.
Sources
- Florida Sunbiz / Division of Corporations, last verified 2026-05-29
- Sunbiz e-File LLC Portal, last verified 2026-05-29
- Florida Department of Revenue, last verified 2026-05-29
- Sunbiz Corporate Records Search, last verified 2026-05-29
- IRS Publication 3402, Taxation of Limited Liability Companies, last verified 2026-05-29
- SBA Local Assistance Directory (Florida SBDCs), last verified 2026-05-29
About the author
Aissam Baidi is the founder and researcher behind llcformationcost.com. He verifies Florida LLC fees directly from sunbiz.org on a quarterly cycle. Connect on LinkedIn.
Not legal advice. Estimates based on publicly available data from each state’s Secretary of State office. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.
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Ask anything about Florida LLCs
Pre-answered for the questions founders ask first. Tap one to read the full answer, or write your own.
What's the actual filing fee in Florida?
Florida charges $125 to file the Articles of Organization (Sunbiz) with dos.fl.gov. Expedited service is available for an additional $52.5, reducing turnaround to about 1 business days vs. the standard ~5.
Does Florida have a franchise tax?
No. Florida does not impose a flat franchise tax on LLCs. Some pass-through entity income may still be taxed at the member level under state income tax rules.
What's the annual report situation in Florida?
Florida requires a annual report at $138.75.
Do I need a registered agent in Florida?
Yes. Every Florida LLC must designate a registered agent with a physical Florida street address (no P.O. boxes), available during business hours to accept legal mail. You can serve as your own agent for free if you live in Florida, but most founders use a commercial service ($100-150/year) to keep their home address off the public record.
Should I form my LLC in Florida?
Form in Florida if you operate primarily in Florida. Out-of-state formation (Delaware, Wyoming, etc.) requires foreign-LLC qualification in your home state, doubling fees. The exception is highly venture-funded startups raising priced rounds, where Delaware is investor-expected.
Florida-specific Operating Agreement preview
Five substantive sections with Florida-specific clauses (filing form, franchise tax, publication requirements, governing law). Use as a starting point with your attorney, or upgrade for the full 12-section document.
OPERATING AGREEMENT OF [COMPANY NAME], LLC
Article I. Formation
This Operating Agreement is entered into as of [date], by and among the undersigned members of [Company Name], a Limited Liability Company organized under the Florida Limited Liability Company Act. The Company was formed by filing the Articles of Organization (Sunbiz) with the Florida Secretary of State on [filing date]. The Company's principal office is located at [address], Florida.
Article II. Members & Membership Interests
The members of the Company are listed on Exhibit A. Each member's capital contribution and percentage interest are set forth therein. Members may be admitted only by [unanimous / majority] consent of existing members. Florida law does not mandate a written operating agreement, but the parties agree that this writing governs.
Article III. Management
The Company shall be [member-managed / manager-managed]. Florida default rules apply to any matter not addressed here. The Company shall timely file the annual report ($138.75) with the Florida Secretary of State to maintain good standing.
Article IV. Distributions & Allocations
Profits, losses, and distributions shall be allocated among members in proportion to their percentage interests, except as otherwise agreed in writing. Distributions shall be made [quarterly / annually / at the discretion of the [members / managers]]. The Company shall maintain capital accounts in accordance with Treas. Reg. § 1.704-1(b).
Article V. Dissolution & Florida-Specific Provisions
The Company shall dissolve upon [vote of majority members / occurrence of specific events]. Upon dissolution, the Company shall wind up its affairs and distribute remaining assets in accordance with Florida law. This agreement is governed by Florida law and any disputes shall be resolved in [forum].
7 more sections in the full document
Tax matters, indemnification, transfer restrictions, dissolution mechanics, signature pages, exhibits A & B (member roster + capital contributions), and amendment procedures. Plus state-specific signature-line text per $Florida convention.
Not legal advice. This template is a starting point for discussion with a licensed Florida attorney. Operating Agreements should be reviewed by counsel for your specific situation.
Florida LLC cost vs popular alternatives
A common decision is whether to form in your home state or an out-of-state filing state (Delaware, Wyoming, New Mexico). Out-of-state formation usually requires foreign-LLC registration in your home state too, adding both filing costs.
| State | First-year cost | Annual renewal | Franchise tax | Processing days | Publication required |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | $263.75 | $138.75 | - | 5 days | - |
| Georgia | $150 | $50 | - | 7 days | - |
| Texas | $300 | $0 | - | 7 days | - |
| Delaware | $390 | $300 | - | 14 days | - |
| Wyoming | $160 | $60 | - | 14 days | - |
Fees verified 2026-05-29 from each state's Secretary of State.
Frequently asked questions about Florida LLCs
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Florida in 2026?
Florida charges $125 to file the Articles of Organization (Sunbiz). An ongoing annual report fee of $138.75 keeps the LLC in good standing. Verified 2026-05-29 from dos.fl.gov.
Does Florida require an annual report?
Yes. Florida requires a annual report at $138.75.
What is the processing time in Florida?
Standard processing in Florida takes about 5 business days. Expedited processing is available for an additional $52.5, reducing turnaround to about 1 business days.
Does Florida have a publication requirement?
No. Florida does not require LLC formation to be published in newspapers.
Why is Florida's LLC annual report fee $138.75?
Florida charges $138.75 per year for the LLC annual report (Sunbiz.org filing), which is one of the highest annual-report fees in the country. The fee covers the state's mandatory LLC database maintenance and electronic filing infrastructure. Late filings incur a $400 penalty after May 1, bringing the late-filed total to $538.75. Florida has no franchise tax for LLCs, so the $138.75 annual report is the only recurring state-level cost.
When is the Florida LLC annual report due?
Between January 1 and May 1 each year. The first annual report is due by May 1 of the year following formation, so an LLC formed in October 2026 has its first report due May 1, 2027. The state sends an email reminder to the email address on file. Miss the May 1 deadline and the $400 late penalty applies. Miss it for a full additional year and the LLC is administratively dissolved by the Division of Corporations.
Does Florida have a state income tax on LLCs?
No state income tax for individuals, and Florida's corporate tax (5.5%) only applies to LLCs that elect C-corp tax treatment with the IRS. Single-member and multi-member LLCs taxed as disregarded entities or partnerships owe no Florida state income tax. This is a major reason Florida ranks competitively for LLC ownership despite the $138.75 annual report. Members still owe federal income tax and self-employment tax on LLC profits.
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Florida total?
Year one total for a Florida LLC: $125 filing fee + $138.75 first annual report (due May 1 of the year after formation) = $263.75 over the first 16 months. If you form January 1, you pay $125 immediately and $138.75 by May 1 of the next year, $263.75 over 16 months. Add a registered agent ($0 if you serve as your own, $100-$300/yr otherwise), free EIN from IRS, and free operating-agreement template.
Can I be my own registered agent in Florida?
Yes, if you have a physical Florida street address (not a PO Box) and are available during business hours. Florida law (F.S. § 605.0113) requires every LLC to designate a registered agent. Serving as your own costs $0. Hiring a Florida registered agent service costs $100-$300/yr. The agent's name and street address become public record on Sunbiz.org, so privacy-conscious owners typically prefer a commercial agent.
How fast does Sunbiz.org process LLC filings?
Online filings through Sunbiz.org are typically processed within 2-5 business days. Florida does not offer paid expedite service, the standard online processing is fast enough by national comparison that the Division of Corporations does not maintain a separate expedited queue. Mail-in paper filings take 8-15 business days and are not recommended.
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Open the AI advisorNot legal advice. Estimates based on publicly available data from each state's Secretary of State office. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.