We form your Florida LLC with the state
We prepare and file your articles with the state. A person checks the name, the address, and the registered agent before anything is sent.
Can I get a free LLC in Florida?
Not quite. Every filing costs the $125 state fee. The $0 offers cover the form only. The registered agent, the EIN, the annual reports and faster filing each cost extra.
Over three years, with the LLC filed in three business days or less, you pay $899 with us, $975 at ZenBusiness and $1,123 at LegalZoom. With us, you see the full price before you start.
| Company | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LegalZoom | $427 | $348 | $348 | $1,123 |
| ZenBusiness | $377 | $299 | $299 | $975 |
| My U.S. Business | $299 | $300 | $300 | $899 |
What the state requires to form an LLC
A name the state will accept
The State of Florida requires that your company name include the designation “limited liability company” or “LLC.” It must be unique, and not already in use in the state’s records. Minor differences like punctuation, a plural, or “and” for “&” do not count. We check before filing to make sure your filing gets approved.
A Florida street address
The main office needs a street address, not a P.O. box. If you do not have a Florida address, we offer a Florida virtual mailbox service to receive mail and send you scanned copies via email.
A registered agent
Someone at a Florida street address who accepts legal mail during business hours. You can do it yourself if you live in Florida, and your address goes on the public record. We can serve as your registered agent instead.
Authorized representative
Within the first year of formation, you are required to disclose who has authority to act (sign contracts, etc.) for your company. Most banks require this to open your business bank account. We can list this for you.
Three steps to file your LLC
For every step in detail, read our guide on how to start an LLC in Florida.
- YouAbout 10 minutes
Tell us about the company
The name, the address and who runs it.
- UsName checked same day
We file with the state
We check the name, then submit the articles.
- UsAfter approval
Your first year is set up
Records opened, and next spring’s report on our calendar.
Your first year, from filing to the first annual report
As of October 29, the state is approving online filings it received on October 26. That is a wait of three business days. We check the Florida Division of Corporations’ processing dates every weekday.The state usually approves an online filing in about 10 business days.
- Day 1
You send us the details. We check the name.
- State approval
The state approves the filing, about three business days after it arrivesabout 10 business days after it arrives. Your LLC is formed, and we let you know same day.
- Same week
If you ordered these services, we get your EIN and open your business records. EIN obtainment times may vary, but in most cases we can obtain it the same business day if the principal owner of the business has a U.S. Social Security number.
- January 1
The window for your first annual report opens.
- May 1
Your first annual report is due. We put it on our calendar.
These dates assume you start today, that we file within three business days, and that the state keeps approving filings at its current pace.
Four things most new companies need next
None is added unless you choose it.
EIN
You need it to open a business bank account and file taxes. We apply with the IRS once the state approves your LLC.
Registered agent
Florida requires one to receive lawsuits and state notices at a Florida address during business hours. We serve as yours and send every notice to you promptly.
Operating agreement
An operating agreement sets out the rules of ownership and governance of your company. It is not strictly required, but without it your company is left to operate under default statutory rules. Banks often ask for it.
Virtual mailbox
The state publishes your company’s address online. Ours keeps your home off the public record, with your mail scanned and forwarded to you.
Our prices, with the state fee where applicable
The state fee is the same regardless of whether you file directly or through us – we do not upcharge you.
Common questions about forming an LLC in Florida
Does a Florida LLC have to file a state tax return?
Usually no. Florida does not charge a personal or business state income tax, except on corporations (other taxes, like sales tax, excise and employment taxes, may still require state filings). So an LLC taxed as a disregarded entity, a partnership or an S-corp does not file a state income tax return, only a federal one. If you elect to have your LLC taxed as a corporation, you also file a Florida corporate income tax return. Check with an accountant about every filing that applies to you. We are not accountants and do not file tax returns for you.
What happens if you start an LLC and do nothing?
It misses its first annual report the following May, the state adds $400, and in September it closes the company. Its debts do not close with it. Closing properly is a $25 filing.
Can I form a Florida LLC from outside the U.S.?
Yes. You can live anywhere, even outside the U.S. Florida only asks for a registered agent with a street address in the state. We can be your registered agent, and we can get your EIN without a Social Security number.
Start your Florida company
Every price is on this page. A person on our team files your LLC and puts your first annual report on our calendar.