As of October 2026, it costs $125 to start an LLC in Florida: a $100 filing fee for the Articles of Organization plus a $25 registered agent fee, filed online through Sunbiz. To keep it active you then file an annual report every year between January 1 and May 1, which costs $138.75, or $538.75 if it arrives after May 1.
That second number is the one people forget. The filing fee is a one-off, but the annual report is forever, and Florida's late fee is $400 on top of the normal charge. Here's every step, every fee and the one date trick that can save you a whole year's report if you're forming late in the year.
Florida LLC fees at a glance
| What you're paying for | Fee as of October 2026 | Required? |
|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization filing fee | $100.00 | Yes |
| Registered agent designation | $25.00 | Yes |
| Certified copy of your Articles | $30.00 | Optional |
| Certificate of status | $5.00 | Optional |
| Annual report (filed January 1 to May 1) | $138.75 | Yes, every year |
| Annual report received after May 1 | $538.75 | Only if you're late |
| Amended annual report | $50.00 | Only if you need to change it |
All of those figures come from the Florida Division of Corporations' own LLC fee page. The minimum to form is $125. If you tick both optional extras, the online total comes to $160, which is the figure you'll see on the instructions page.
Step by step: forming your LLC on Sunbiz
- Pick a name and search it first. The Division says the name must be distinguishable on its records, and it must end in Limited Liability Company, LLC or L.L.C. Don't assume it's approved until you get the filing acknowledgment.
- Choose a registered agent. This is the person or business that accepts legal papers for the LLC. They need a physical street address in Florida, not a P.O. Box, and the LLC can't be its own agent, although you can name yourself.
- Get the registered agent's signature. The agent must sign to accept the role. Online, they type their name in the signature block.
- Add your principal office address and a mailing address, if it's different. A P.O. Box is fine for mailing only.
- Decide whether to list managers or authorized representatives. These are optional, and the instructions say not to list members. Your bank may still want a name on record.
- Pick an effective date if you need one. It can be up to five business days before, or 90 days after, the date the Division receives your Articles.
- Pay and submit online with a credit or debit card, or print the form and mail it with a check. Card payments have to go through the online application.
Once your Articles are approved, you'll get a confirmation by email with your document number. You can download an image of the filed Articles from Sunbiz free of charge.
The January 1 effective date trick
This detail is easy to miss, and it comes straight from the Division's own instructions. If you're forming between October 1 and December 31 but don't expect to trade until the new year, you can list January 1 as your effective date.
Your LLC then doesn't officially begin until January 1, even though it's already on the records. The Division says that lets you postpone your first annual report requirement by one calendar year. Form on December 20 with a normal date and you owe a $138.75 report by May 1. Form on December 20 with a January 1 effective date and your first report waits until the year after.
The annual report: dates and penalties
Every Florida LLC files an annual report to stay active, whether or not anything has changed. It isn't a financial statement. It simply confirms or updates the details the state holds.
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| January 1 | The annual report filing window opens |
| May 1 | Last day to file without the $400 late fee |
| After May 1 | The fee rises to $538.75 |
| Third Friday of September | Last chance before the LLC is dissolved |
| Fourth Friday of September | Unfiled LLCs are administratively dissolved at close of business |
For 2026, the Division said the last day to pay by check was September 18, and by card it was 5:00pm Eastern on September 25. If your LLC is dissolved, you can reinstate it, but you'll pay the reinstatement fee plus every annual report fee you owe at the same time. If you close the business, you don't need to file the report; you file to dissolve instead.
California's rules differ, and our guide to starting an LLC in California spells them out.
What the state fee doesn't cover
The $125 gets your LLC onto the state's records. It doesn't give you a federal tax ID. Most LLCs with staff, or more than one member, need an EIN from the IRS, and it's free; see how to get an EIN for your business. The Division also points owners to the separate federal Beneficial Ownership Information rules, which it notes but doesn't administer.
If you're still deciding whether you need an LLC at all, this LLC vs sole proprietorship comparison walks through the trade off, and if you'd rather pay someone to file for you, these LLC formation services handle the Sunbiz paperwork and act as your registered agent.
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The verdict
At $125, forming in Florida is cheap, and the online filing is simple enough to do yourself in one sitting. The cost that bites is the annual report. Put May 1 in your calendar the day you form, because missing it turns a $138.75 job into $538.75. And if you're setting up in the last three months of the year, use the January 1 effective date. It's a free way to skip a whole year's report, and it's written into the state's own instructions.
Considering Texas instead? See our guide to starting an LLC in Texas.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Florida?
As of October 2026, it costs $125 to form a Florida LLC: a $100 filing fee plus a $25 registered agent fee. A certified copy ($30) and certificate of status ($5) are optional.
How much is the Florida LLC annual report?
The annual report costs $138.75 if it's filed between January 1 and May 1, and $538.75 if it's received after May 1.
What happens if I don't file my Florida annual report?
If it isn't filed by the third Friday of September, the LLC is administratively dissolved at close of business on the fourth Friday of September. You can reinstate it, but you'll pay the reinstatement fee and every report fee due.
Can I be my own registered agent in Florida?
Yes. An individual associated with the business can be the registered agent, but the LLC itself can't, and the agent needs a physical Florida street address.
How do I avoid filing an annual report in my first year?
If you form between October 1 and December 31 and list January 1 as the effective date, the Division says your first annual report is postponed by one calendar year.
Can I file my Florida LLC by mail?
Yes. You can print the Articles of Organization and mail them with a check. Card payments must use the online application.
Do I need an EIN for a Florida LLC?
The state filing doesn't give you one. Most LLCs with employees or more than one member need an EIN from the IRS, which is free to apply for.
