Florida LLC cost: filing fee, annual costs & how to form
Forming an LLC in Florida costs $263.75 in state charges in the first year, then about $138.75 a year to maintain. Here is every state charge, the deadlines, typical processing times, and the formation steps in order.
Florida LLC cost summary
| Articles of Organization | $125 |
| Recurring charge (Annual report due May 1 (file January 1 – May 1)) | $138.75 / year |
| First-year total (state charges) | $263.75 |
| Ongoing cost per year | $138.75 |
| Foreign LLC registration (if formed elsewhere) | $125 |
Totals exclude optional costs: a hired registered agent (~$100–$300/yr), publication where required, and expedited processing.
Deadlines & processing
| Filing office | Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz) |
| Recurring due pattern | Annual report due May 1 (file January 1 – May 1) |
| Standard processing | Sunbiz online filings are typically processed in about 4–5 business days according to formation guides (LLC University cites 5 business days online, 12 by mail); times lengthen in the January–April annual-report rush. |
Run your own numbers
The calculator on the homepage totals any state’s filing fee, recurring charges, and franchise-tax minimum — with optional registered agent service added: Open the LLC cost calculator →
How to form an LLC in Florida, step by step
- Search your proposed name in the Sunbiz database — it must be distinguishable from existing Florida entities.
- Name a registered agent with a Florida street address and their consent.
- File Articles of Organization on Sunbiz — $125 total ($100 articles + $25 registered agent designation).
- Apply for a free EIN on IRS.gov.
- Adopt an operating agreement and open business banking.
- File the annual report on Sunbiz between January 1 and May 1 every year ($138.75) — and treat May 1 as a hard deadline.
Florida quirks that change the real cost
- The $400 late fee for annual reports filed after May 1 is one of the harshest in the country — it is larger than the report itself.
- Florida has no state income tax and no separate franchise tax on LLCs.
- An LLC that misses the annual report entirely can be administratively dissolved in late September.
Registered agent: hire one or be your own?
A commercial agent typically costs $100–$300 a year; acting as your own is free if you meet the address rules. The full cost guide: Registered agent cost guide →
First-year cost, in one view
Year one in Florida: $125 to file, plus the first $138.75 recurring charge = $263.75. From year two, budget $138.75 a year, plus a registered agent if you hire one. Operating in Florida but formed elsewhere? Registration as a foreign LLC costs $125 — see the foreign LLC guide.
Other state guides
TexasCaliforniaNew YorkWyomingDelawareNevadaArizonaColorado
Educational information only. LLC Cost Guide is not a law firm, accounting firm, or filing service, and nothing on this page is legal or tax advice. Fees and deadlines change; confirm the current figures with your Secretary of State (or Division of Corporations) before filing, and consult a licensed attorney or CPA for advice about your specific situation.