Starting an LLC in Florida for free isn’t quite possible: the state charges $125 to file, and that fee is non-negotiable. Everything else can be free. You don’t need a lawyer, you don’t need a formation service, and you don’t need to pay a registered agent. If you handle the paperwork yourself, $125 is the entire cost of getting the LLC on the books. The filing takes about half an hour online once your information is together.
Here is how to do every step without paying anyone except the state.
Check Your Name on Sunbiz First
Florida requires every LLC name to include “limited liability company,” “LLC,” or “L.L.C.” and to be distinguishable from every other entity already registered.1Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes 605.0112 – Name Two names that differ only by suffix or minor punctuation are not distinguishable in the state’s eyes.
Before you file anything, search your proposed name through the free Sunbiz.org entity lookup.2Florida Department of State. Search Records – Division of Corporations Look for close matches, not just exact duplicates. If the state rejects your articles for a name conflict, your $125 is gone and you file again. Five minutes of searching is free insurance.
Be Your Own Registered Agent
Every Florida LLC needs a registered agent to accept legal documents and state mail. Commercial registered agent services charge $50 to $300 a year for this. You can serve as your own agent for free if you’re a Florida resident with a physical street address — a P.O. Box doesn’t qualify.3Florida Department of State – Division of Corporations. Instructions for Articles of Organization (FL LLC)
Two trade-offs come with this choice. The address you list goes on the public record, so a home address becomes searchable. And you need to be reachable at that address during business hours to accept service of process. For most small LLCs, neither is a real problem. If either is, a paid service is the fix, but it’s optional, not required.
File the Articles of Organization Yourself
Go to Sunbiz.org and open the e-filing portal for Florida LLC articles of organization. The form asks for:
- The LLC name exactly as you want it registered, with the “LLC” designator
- Principal office address
- Mailing address (can match the principal office)
- Registered agent name and Florida street address — your own, if you’re serving as agent
- Names and addresses of the managers or members
Proofread every field before you submit. Correcting a typo after filing requires a formal amendment that costs an additional $25.
The total state cost is $125: a $100 filing fee plus a $25 registered agent designation fee.4Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes 605.0213 – Fees of the Department The portal offers two add-ons at checkout — a certified copy for $30 and a certificate of status for $5 — and neither is necessary to form the LLC.5Division of Corporations – Florida Department of State. LLC Fees Skip both if you’re keeping cost to the minimum. Pay by credit card inside the portal.
Online filings were taking roughly 10 business days to process as of early 2026, and the Division of Corporations posts current turnaround times at Sunbiz.org.6Florida Department of State. Document Processing Dates You’ll get an acknowledgment letter and a copy of your filed articles by email once it’s approved.
Get Your EIN Directly From the IRS
An Employer Identification Number is the federal tax ID for your LLC. You need one to open a business bank account, file taxes, and hire anyone. The IRS issues EINs for free through the online application at irs.gov.7Internal Revenue Service. Get an Employer Identification Number Ignore any third-party site that charges a fee for this. There are many, and they are selling you a form you can fill out yourself in five minutes.
You’ll need the Social Security Number or ITIN of the person applying, the LLC’s exact legal name as filed with Florida, and a few basic facts about the business. The IRS generates the EIN immediately and lets you download the confirmation notice on the spot. Save it. Banks and state agencies will ask for it repeatedly.
Write Your Own Operating Agreement
An operating agreement is the LLC’s internal rulebook: ownership percentages, how profits and losses split, who decides what, what happens when a member leaves. Florida doesn’t require you to file it with the state, but once it exists the law recognizes and enforces it.8Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes 605.0106 – Operating Agreement
Single-member owners sometimes skip this, figuring there’s no one to disagree with. It’s still worth doing. An operating agreement reinforces the legal separation between you and the business, which matters any time your liability shield is challenged. Free templates are easy to find online and can be customized to your situation without a lawyer.
Open a Business Bank Account
Most banks will open a business checking account at no charge. Bring your articles of organization (the state acknowledgment letter works), your EIN confirmation, and a government-issued photo ID. Some banks also ask to see the operating agreement. Call ahead so you don’t make the trip twice.
This step matters more than it sounds. Running business money through a personal account — or paying personal expenses from the business account — gives a court grounds to treat the LLC as a sham and hold you personally liable for its debts. That’s called piercing the corporate veil. A dedicated account, used only for business, is the simplest thing you can do to keep the $125 shield intact.
What “Free to Start” Doesn’t Cover
Formation is a one-time cost. Keeping the LLC alive comes with recurring obligations, and skipping them is far more expensive than the original filing.
The Annual Report
Every Florida LLC must file an annual report with the Division of Corporations between January 1 and May 1 of each year, starting the year after formation.9Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes 605.0212 – Annual Report for Department The fee is $138.75.10Division of Corporations – Florida Department of State. File Annual Report It’s an address and management update, not a financial statement.
Miss May 1 and a $400 late fee attaches automatically, taking the total to $538.75.11Division of Corporations – Florida Department of State. Fees Skip the report entirely and the state can administratively dissolve the LLC. Reinstatement runs another $100 on top of back fees and penalties, and until it’s done the LLC can’t sue or defend lawsuits. Put a January reminder on your calendar now.
Local Business Tax Receipts
Many Florida cities and counties require a local business tax receipt (once called an occupational license) before you operate inside their jurisdiction. Fees vary by location and industry, typically from around $25 up to a few hundred dollars. Check with your city and county tax offices both, because you may need one from each.
Sales Tax Registration
If the LLC sells taxable goods or services, register with the Florida Department of Revenue as a sales and use tax dealer before you start doing business. Registration is online.12Florida Dept. of Revenue. Account Management and Registration
None of these ongoing items change the formation math. $125 to the state, nothing to anyone else, and the LLC is yours.