Filing your Florida LLC articles of organization costs $125 and is done through the Division of Corporations’ Sunbiz portal. Before you start the form, have three things ready: an LLC name that complies with state rules, a Florida registered agent, and a physical street address for the business. Once processed, the filing creates your LLC as a legal entity separate from you, so your personal assets generally aren’t exposed to business debts.
What to Have Ready Before You File
A Compliant LLC Name
Your name must include “limited liability company,” “L.L.C.,” or “LLC,” and it has to be distinguishable from every other entity already on file in Florida. Cosmetic differences don’t count. Adding “the,” swapping “&” for “and,” or changing punctuation won’t make a name distinguishable, so “Smith & Co LLC” and “Smith and Co LLC” would conflict.1Online Sunshine. Florida Code 605.0112 – Name
Search the Division of Corporations database at Sunbiz.org before you commit. If a name is available but you aren’t ready to file, you can reserve it for $25.2Florida Department of State. Fees – Division of Corporations
A Florida Registered Agent
Every Florida LLC must have a registered agent to accept lawsuits and official state notices. The agent needs a physical Florida street address; P.O. boxes don’t qualify.3Florida Department of State. Instructions for Articles of Organization (FL LLC) The agent can be an individual Florida resident, another business entity authorized to operate in the state, or a commercial registered agent service. Many owners appoint themselves, which is fine if someone is reliably at that address during business hours. Commercial services typically run $35 to $350 per year.
What Goes on the Form
The statute keeps the required contents short:4Online Sunshine. Florida Code 605.0201 – Articles of Organization
- The LLC’s full name.
- The street address and mailing address of the principal office. The street address must be a physical location; the mailing address can be different.
- The registered agent’s name, Florida street address, and written acceptance of the role.
The Sunbiz form also asks for the names and addresses of managers or managing members. Florida LLCs are member-managed by default, meaning every owner shares in running the business. If you want authority limited to designated managers, specify manager-managed status in the articles or in your operating agreement.
Two signatures are needed: an authorized representative signs to authorize the formation, and the registered agent signs to accept the role.3Florida Department of State. Instructions for Articles of Organization (FL LLC) Typing your name in the signature block on the online form counts as a legal electronic signature.
Setting a Delayed Effective Date
By default, your LLC exists the moment the Division of Corporations processes the filing. You can specify a delayed effective date up to 90 days after filing if you want the LLC to start on a specific future date, like the beginning of a new quarter or tax year.5Online Sunshine. Florida Code 605.0207 – Effective Date and Time You can also set a specific effective time. If you pick a date without a time, it defaults to 12:01 a.m.
How to File
The fastest route is filing online through the Sunbiz e-filing portal at dos.fl.gov/sunbiz. You’ll pay by credit card, and filings are typically processed within a few business days. The Division posts current processing dates on its website so you can check the backlog before submitting.6Florida Department of State. Florida Limited Liability Company
To file by mail, download the articles of organization form from Sunbiz, complete and sign it, and send it with a check or money order to:
Department of State
Division of Corporations
P.O. Box 6327
Tallahassee, FL 323147Florida Department of State. Telephone Numbers, Addresses and Email – Division of Corporations
Mailed filings take noticeably longer. If timing matters, file online.
What It Costs
The total to form your LLC is $125:8Florida Department of State. LLC Fees
- $100 for the articles of organization filing fee.
- $25 for the registered agent designation.
Two optional add-ons are available at filing: a certified copy of your filed articles for $30, and a certificate of status for $5.8Florida Department of State. LLC Fees Banks and licensing agencies often ask for a certified copy, so ordering one now saves a trip back later.
After the State Approves Your Filing
Get an EIN
An Employer Identification Number is your LLC’s federal tax ID. You need one to open a business bank account, hire employees, or file business tax returns. The IRS issues EINs for free through an online application at irs.gov.9Internal Revenue Service. Get an Employer Identification Number Skip any third-party site that charges for it.
Write an Operating Agreement
Florida doesn’t require you to file an operating agreement with the state, but you should have one. This internal document sets out ownership percentages, how profits and losses are split, what happens when a member leaves, and how major decisions get made. Without one, Florida’s default statutory rules govern your LLC, and those defaults rarely match what the owners actually intended. Multi-member LLCs need this most; single-member LLCs benefit too, because banks often ask for one.
Open a Business Bank Account
Keeping personal and business money separate is the most basic step for protecting your liability shield. Mixing funds gives a court grounds to pierce the veil and hold you personally responsible for business debts. Most banks will ask for your filed articles of organization, your EIN confirmation letter, a government-issued ID, and your operating agreement.
The Annual Report You’ll Owe Next Year
Every Florida LLC must file an annual report with the Division of Corporations between January 1 and May 1 each year. The fee is $138.75.8Florida Department of State. LLC Fees It isn’t a financial report or a tax return, just a short update confirming your LLC’s current address, registered agent, and members or managers.
Miss May 1 and a $400 late fee applies, bringing the total to $538.75.10Florida Department of State. File Annual Report – Division of Corporations If you still haven’t filed by the third Friday of September, the state administratively dissolves the LLC on the fourth Friday of September.11Florida Senate. Florida Code 605.0714 – Administrative Dissolution Dissolution can affect your ability to enforce contracts, sue in Florida courts, and hold your business name. Reinstatement is possible but involves additional fees and filings. Set a January reminder and file early.