Florida LLC Cost: $125 to File on Sunbiz (2026)

Full guide fact-checked September 14, 2026. Cost comparison and navigation updated September 16, 2026.

A Florida LLC costs $125 to form: $100 for the Articles of Organization and $25 to designate a registered agent. The annual report costs $138.75 when filed on time. You can submit directly through Sunbiz or use ZenBusiness Starter for a $0 formation service fee plus the same $125 state fee. Optional services cost extra.

Already have a Florida LLC? Go to annual-report fees and deadlines. Comparing the cost of starting one? See required and optional Sunbiz charges or DIY filing versus a filing service.

This guide is for creating a new Florida LLC. If you already have an LLC formed in another state, check Florida’s foreign-registration requirements before creating a second company.

Florida LLC costs: required fees and optional extras

Start with the Florida Division of Corporations fee schedule. These are government charges, separate from anything a formation company bills you.

Budget example: $125 to form plus $138.75 for the first on-time annual report equals $263.75 across those two filings. That is not an all-in business startup budget: permits, insurance, taxes, professional help, and subscriptions are separate.

The $25 agent-designation fee does not buy a year of registered-agent service. It pays the state to record your choice. A commercial agent charges its own fee.

Why does a Florida LLC filing sometimes total $160 instead of $125?

The required state formation fees total $125. Adding an optional $30 certified copy and $5 certificate of status brings that filing total to $160. Those documents are separate purchases; check whether you need them. Registered-agent services, formation-company add-ons and later annual reports are additional. See the official Florida LLC fee schedule.

Should you file on Sunbiz or use ZenBusiness?

Choose DIY if you are comfortable reviewing the instructions, supplying the correct information, and keeping your own records. Choose a filing service if you prefer a guided questionnaire and help preparing and submitting the formation paperwork. Either way, you make the decisions about ownership, addresses, and management.

ZenBusiness lists Starter at $0 without a base-plan renewal. Its optional first year of Worry-Free Compliance renews at $199/year; registered-agent service is listed at $199/year. EIN and operating-agreement services are separate Starter purchases. Check the current package terms and checkout selections.

A free introductory service can become a recurring expense. Before paying, review the initial total, renewal amounts, and cancellation terms. Keep a copy of your selections. A reminder is not confirmation that an annual report was filed, and the state filing fee remains separate.

Can you be your own Florida registered agent?

Yes. A member or manager may serve, but the LLC cannot name itself as its agent. The agent accepts service of process and needs a Florida street address; a P.O. box or out-of-state address does not qualify. The agent must accept the appointment. See the Sunbiz filing instructions.

Consider whether you can reliably receive legal documents at that address. If your working day is spent at customer homes, job sites, or events, paying an agent may be more practical than making yourself the point of contact. Compare document-delivery procedures and renewal costs before choosing.

Plan your address use before filing. Florida makes business records publicly accessible. A registered-agent address is one field; principal-office, mailing, and other required addresses are separate. Hiring an agent does not automatically make the entire filing private. Ask which address uses a provider permits, and supply accurate information in every field.

How to file your Florida LLC: a practical checklist

1. Check the name. Search Sunbiz and review similar names before ordering signs or a website. The name must be distinguishable and include an LLC designation. Filing acceptance is not a trademark clearance.
2. Gather addresses and agent consent. Have the principal-office and mailing addresses, registered-agent details, and a working correspondence email ready. Do not enter someone else’s electronic signature without permission.
3. Decide who manages the company. Agree on responsibilities before filling in titles. Sunbiz distinguishes members, managers, and authorized representatives in its division FAQs. Ask your bank what supporting records it needs.
4. Review and submit. Use the official Florida LLC filing page or your chosen service. Check names, addresses, and the effective date carefully, then pay the applicable charges.
5. Confirm acceptance. Save the acknowledgment and filed Articles, check the public record, and retain receipts. A payment receipt alone is not a reason to assume every detail was accepted correctly.

How long does approval take?

Check Sunbiz’s current processing dates rather than relying on a fixed promise. A service’s preparation time is separate from Florida’s review. ZenBusiness lists standard preparation at 7–10 business days before state processing; faster service preparation does not guarantee immediate state approval.

If an opening date, lease, or financing depends on the LLC, leave room for corrections. Do not treat completing an online questionnaire as the moment the company is approved.

Florida LLC annual report: what happens after formation?

The annual report updates or confirms the state’s business record; it is not an income-tax return. An active LLC must file even when its information has not changed. The regular window is January 1 through May 1. See Florida’s annual-report instructions.

Example: an LLC effective in 2026 has its first report due in 2027. Set reminders for January and April, verify the current contact email, and save the filing confirmation. If you buy compliance assistance, check that the report was actually submitted.

Missing May 1 adds $400 to the $138.75 report fee. Continued nonfiling can lead to administrative dissolution in September. Check the state’s current September filing and payment instructions if you are already late; do not plan around the final processing cutoff.

Starting near year-end? Florida permits certain future effective dates. If you will not operate until the next calendar year, review the effective-date guidance before submitting. The effective year can change when the first annual report is due. Choose the date around your actual business start, not just the fee calendar.

After filing: get the business ready to operate

• Document how the LLC works. An operating agreement can set ownership, contributions, decision-making, distributions, and exit arrangements. Florida law governs its scope and limits. Keep it with your company records. For multiple owners, resolve disagreements before money or contracts are committed.
• Get an EIN when needed. Form the entity first, then use the free IRS application if eligible. An EIN service fee pays someone to assist; it is not an IRS charge. Save the confirmation for banking and tax records.
• Separate business finances. Ask the bank for its document checklist and establish a bookkeeping process. Use the correct legal business name on applications and contracts; keep any trade-name registrations consistent.
• Check taxes and operating permissions. LLC formation does not itself select S-corporation taxation or issue a professional license. The IRS explains LLC tax classifications. Identify the state and local requirements for your actual work before opening.
• Check the current BOI rule. As of this review, FinCEN exempts entities created in the United States from beneficial-ownership reporting. A newly created Florida LLC falls within that exemption. Consult FinCEN directly before buying a BOI filing add-on.

For a simple one-owner operation, organize these tasks into a short checklist. Where ownership, investors, or tax elections are complicated, formation paperwork alone will not resolve those decisions.

Match insurance to the work your LLC performs

Entity formation and insurance solve different problems. Ask the insurer to identify the correct business and operations; ask clients or landlords what coverage and certificate of insurance they require. Use the relevant guide to compare coverage:

• Florida cleaning business insurance
• Florida food truck insurance
• Florida HVAC insurance
• Florida landscaping insurance
• Florida daycare insurance

Continue with the Florida business guide for the broader startup process.

Florida LLC questions before you file

What is the cheapest way to form a Florida LLC?

The minimum state filing total is $125. Filing directly avoids a third-party preparation charge; ZenBusiness Starter also advertises a $0 formation service fee. Optional services and later annual reports are additional.

Is the Florida annual report fee due when I form the LLC?

The first annual report is due in the calendar year after the LLC’s effective year. An LLC effective in 2026 files its first report in 2027. The on-time fee is $138.75.

Does the $25 registered-agent fee pay for an agent?

No. It is a state designation charge. You still need an eligible agent who accepts the appointment, whether that is you or a separately paid provider.

Does forming an LLC give me a Florida business license?

No. Formation creates the entity. The licenses and operating approvals for your work are separate; check your industry and location before opening.

Can I get an EIN without buying a service?

Yes. The IRS issues EINs free. Form the LLC first, then check eligibility for the IRS online application or use its alternative application instructions.

Prefer someone else to handle filing, agent, and compliance? See Get your LLC set up.