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How to start an LLC in Florida

By Brent Chudoba, editor Updated

Forming an LLC in Florida costs $100 to file the Articles of Organization with the Florida Secretary of State. After that you file an annual report of $138.75. Florida charges no franchise tax on a standard LLC. Sunbiz lists the filing fee as $100 plus a mandatory $25 registered-agent designation, so the true cost to form a Florida LLC is $125, not $100. The annual report is $138.75, due by May 1 (a $400 late penalty applies after that).

How much does it cost to start an LLC in Florida?

Florida LLC costs (reviewed August 29, 2026)
ItemCost
Filing fee (Articles of Organization)$100
Annual report$138.75/year
Franchise or business taxNone
Registered agentRequired

Source: Florida Secretary of State, fee schedule reviewed August 29, 2026.

What are the steps to form an LLC in Florida?

  1. Name your LLC. Pick a name that is available and meets Florida naming rules, then check it against the Secretary of State's business database.
  2. Appoint a registered agent. Florida requires a registered agent with a physical in-state address to receive legal mail. You can be your own agent, or hire a service.
  3. File the Articles of Organization. Submit it to the Florida Secretary of State and pay the $100 fee. This is the step that legally creates the LLC.
  4. Get an EIN from the IRS. It is free and takes minutes. Do not pay a service for it. See how to get an EIN free from the IRS.
  5. Calendar your annual report. Florida charges $138.75 to keep the LLC in good standing. Missing it risks penalties or administrative dissolution.
  6. Open a business bank account. Keep business money separate from personal money so your liability protection holds up.

Does Florida have a franchise tax on an LLC?

No. No franchise tax for standard Florida LLCs. Florida's franchise tax applies only to banks and savings & loan associations.

How is an LLC taxed in Florida?

By default, an LLC is a pass-through entity: it pays no income tax itself, and the profits flow to the owners' personal returns. Florida has no state individual income tax, so those pass-through profits face no state income tax, only federal tax. That is one reason Florida is a popular state to form in.

An LLC can also elect to be taxed as an S-corp, which changes how owners pay self-employment tax. See LLC vs S-corp vs sole proprietorship and how self-employment tax works.

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