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Starting an LLC in Florida comes with more costs than just filing the initial paperwork. But it doesn’t have to be as expensive as you think.
We explain all of the initial and ongoing Florida LLC cost details below, as well as give you tips on how to save money.
How much does a Florida LLC cost?
It costs $125 to form an LLC in Florida. This is a fee paid for the Articles of Organization.
You’ll file this form with the Florida Department of State. And once approved, your LLC will go into existence.
Need to save time? Hire a company to form your LLC:
Northwest ($39 + state fee) or LegalZoom ($149 + state fee)
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In addition to this LLC filing fee, there are other costs to be aware of when forming a Florida LLC (Limited Liability Company).
Costs to forming a Florida LLC
There is a $125 one-time state filing fee to form a Florida LLC.
There are also ongoing fees (like a $138.75 Annual Report fee and other annual fees), which we discuss below.
LLC Costs in Florida
| Requirement | Cost |
|---|---|
| LLC Name | $0 |
| Registered Agent | $0 or $125 per year |
| Articles of Organization | $125 |
| Operating Agreement | $0 (free on our site) |
| EIN Number | $0 (free through IRS) |
| Annual Report | $138.75 (every year) |
| Taxes | varies (filed and/or paid every year) |
Florida LLC Articles of Organization Filing Fee ($125)
Starting an LLC costs $125 in Florida. This is the state filing fee for a document called the Florida Articles of Organization.
The Articles of Organization are filed with the Florida Department of State. And once approved, this is what creates your LLC.
The $125 fee is a one-time fee. You don’t have to pay any monthly (or annual) Florida LLC fees to start your Florida LLC.
Note: LLCs are the most common business structure used in Florida. They are the most popular business entity because they offer liability protection for the LLC owners.
Depending on the state, the Articles of Organization form is sometimes called a Certificate of Organization or Certificate of Formation. Articles of Organization is the most common name – but they all mean the same thing: the form used to create your LLC.
Florida business name cost ($0)
Naming your Limited Liability Company doesn’t cost anything. Your Florida LLC Name is approved (at no extra cost) when your Articles of Organization filing is approved by the state.
You may have read online that LLC Name Reservations are required. However, this is not true in most states. Florida doesn’t require a Name Reservation to form an LLC. You don’t need to file anything extra or pay an additional fee.
How much does a DBA cost? ($50)
A DBA is filed with the Department of State. In Florida a DBA costs $50, and you must publish a notice in the newspaper. But these filing fees aren’t required, because a DBA is optional.
Note: A DBA is sometimes called a Trade Name, Fictitious Name, Assumed Name or Fictitious Business Name. They all mean the same thing.
Tip: You aren’t required to get a DBA for your LLC. It’s optional. For more information, read our article: Do I need a DBA?
Florida Registered Agent Fee ($0 or $125/year)
Florida law requires that you designate a Registered Agent when forming your LLC.
A Florida Registered Agent is a person or company who receives legal documents and state notices for your LLC. A Registered Agent needs a street address in the state and should generally be available during normal business hours.
There is no additional cost if you will be your own Registered Agent, or have someone you know be your LLC’s Registered Agent. This could be one of your business partners, or a friend or family member.
However, you have the option of hiring a Registered Agent service. This will cost you between $100 to $300 per year. But Registered Agent service companies offer other helpful business services and can protect your privacy.
Whichever one you choose, there’s no Registered Agent fee to pay when you file your LLC formation documents with the state.
Hiring a Registered Agent service is a good idea if:
- You don’t have an address in the state (Florida law requires Registered Agents to have a physical address in the state)
- You want to keep your address off public record (depending on which company you hire, you may be able to use their address to keep your address private)
Special offer: Hire Northwest to form your LLC ($39 + state fee), and you'll get a free year of Registered Agent service.
(Why is Northwest the best? Read our Northwest Registered Agent review)
LLC Operating Agreement Fee ($0)
A Florida LLC Operating Agreement is a written contract between the LLC Members. Operating Agreements include detailed information about LLC ownership, how the LLC is managed, and how profits are distributed.
Single-Member LLCs and Multi-Member LLCs should draft an Operating Agreement, keep it with their business records, and give a copy to each Member.
Most websites charge $50 to $200 for LLC Operating Agreements.
Here at LLC University®, we offer free LLC Operating Agreement templates for all types of LLCs.
LLC EIN Number Fee ($0)
An EIN Number is also known as an Employer Identification Number (EIN) or a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN).
This number is used to file income taxes, to open an LLC bank account, and to hire employees (if applicable).
Although many websites charge a service fee to get an EIN for your LLC, it can actually be done for free.
You can obtain an EIN for your LLC from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) at no cost. The online filing can be completed in a few minutes.
Florida LLC Annual Report Fee ($138.75/year)
Florida requires you to keep your LLC’s information up to date by filing an Annual Report.
This keeps your Florida LLC in good standing and in compliance with state law so it can continue operating. You simply confirm the information on the Annual Report, file it with the Florida Department of State, and pay the Annual Report fee.
The Florida LLC Annual Report costs $138.75 per year. This Florida LLC cost is something that you’ll pay every year for the life of your LLC.
Florida Business License and Permit Fees (varies)
Depending on where your LLC does business in Florida and the industry you’re in, you may need to obtain additional Business Licenses or Permits. For example, you may need to get a City Business Permit.
The costs for these other business licenses or permits will vary depending on location and industry, but usually the fees are not very high. Some licenses and permits are issued at the state level, and others are issued by a municipality (the town, city, or county).
LLC Taxes (varies)
There are many different types of Florida LLC taxes that owners must pay, so this annual cost varies widely.
Some of the taxes LLC owners pay include:
- Federal taxes
- State income tax
- Local income tax
- Business taxes
- Self-employment taxes
- Sales and use tax
- Payroll tax (if you have employees)
- Property tax (if the LLC owns property)
Your Florida LLC taxes depend on your industry and amount of business activity, so we’re not able to provide an estimate. Every business is different, and your specific circumstances determine what taxes apply to your LLC.
Note: By default, a Single-Member LLC is taxed like a Sole Proprietorship. And a Multi-Member LLC is taxed like a Partnership.
Hiring an Accountant
How much your small business pays in taxes is best determined by working with a qualified accountant in Florida.
The amount you’ll pay your accountant will vary. However, most accountants will charge $300 per year for a simple tax return, or up to $900 for more detailed filings.
Note: We recommend speaking with a few accountants in Florida to make sure they can help you meet all of your federal, state, and local tax obligations. We offer detailed tips on How to Find an Accountant.
Florida Department of State
If you have any questions about the cost of opening a Florida LLC, you can contact the Division of Corporations at the Florida Department of State.
(Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations Building)
Florida LLC Costs FAQs
How much does it cost to open a Florida LLC?
It costs $125 to start a Florida LLC. This is a one-time Florida LLC filing fee for the Articles of Organization.
Some LLCs may need a business license in Florida. This depends on your industry and where your LLC is located. The cost of local business permits varies.
How much does an LLC in Florida cost per year?
All Florida LLCs need to pay $138.75 per year for the Florida Annual Report. These Florida LLC fees are paid to the Department of State. And this is the only state-required annual fee. You have to pay this to keep your LLC in good standing.
If you hired a Registered Agent service, you’ll have an annual subscription fee to pay each year. This is usually about $125 per year.
Some LLCs may need a business license in Florida. This depends on your industry and where your LLC is located. You’ll need to check with your municipality to see if there are any annual renewal fees for the business permit.
Should I hire an LLC formation service?
You aren’t required to hire a professional service company to form your Florida LLC. You’re allowed to form your LLC yourself if you’d like.
However, if you want to save time and make sure your LLC is filed correctly, we recommend hiring Northwest Registered Agent.
Northwest Registered Agent has excellent customer service and they include Registered Agent services free for the 1st year. They also offer other services, like an Operating Agreement and filing your Annual Report.
Check out the 5 Best LLC Services for more suggestions.
Do I need to hire an attorney to form an LLC?
No, you aren’t required to hire an attorney to form your Florida LLC. You’re allowed to form your LLC yourself if you’d like.
However, some people may want to hire an attorney if their LLC has a complex ownership or management structure, has investors, or requires industry-specific documentation.
A business attorney usually charges between $800 and $2,500 to form an LLC.
How do I start an LLC in Florida?
Here are the steps to starting an LLC in Florida:
- Choose an LLC business name and make sure it’s available
- Choose who will be your Florida Registered Agent
- File the Florida Articles of Organization
- Complete and sign an LLC Operating Agreement
- Get a Tax ID Number (EIN) from the IRS
- Open an LLC bank account
- Check whether you need a business or sales tax license in Florida
What’s the cheapest way to start an LLC?
You can get an LLC cheaply by filing your formation documents yourself. You’ll also save money by being your own Registered Agent, and using our free LLC Operating Agreement template.
By forming your LLC yourself, being your own Registered Agent, and using our Operating Agreement template you can save over $400.
How long does it take to get an LLC in Florida?
How long it takes to get an LLC in Florida depends on how you file your Articles of Organization.
You can get an LLC in Florida approved in 5 business days if you file online. On the other hand, filing by mail takes about 12 business days (plus mail time).
How much does a Florida business bank account cost?
It varies. Some banks charge monthly fees ($10 to $20 per month), but these can sometimes be avoided by meeting certain requirements. For example, if you make a certain number of direct deposits or maintain a specified minimum balance, then they’ll waive the monthly fees.
And you might be able to find a bank that doesn’t charge any monthly fees.
Before you open your LLC business bank account, we recommend calling and asking if there are ways to avoid the monthly maintenance fees.
How much is a Foreign LLC in Florida?
A Foreign LLC is an LLC formed in another state that must register (aka Foreign Qualify) in Florida. This is because the LLC is doing business in both states.
The Florida Foreign LLC cost is $125.
If you form an LLC in Florida, it is called a “Domestic LLC”. If you formed your LLC in another state, it would be a Foreign LLC once you register it in Florida.
Is Florida a good state for an LLC?
Yes, Florida is a great state to start a business. Florida doesn’t charge a state business license fee, has quick approval times and helpful representatives at the Department of State if you have questions.
However, the most important factors in deciding where to start a business are where you live and where you’re doing business.
Meaning, if you live in or do business in Florida, then you should start your business in Florida. While many websites talk about tax rates and advantages of certain states, none of that applies if it’s not the state where you live and do business. And just because a certain state has cheaper LLC fees doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to form your LLC there.
For example, if you form an LLC in Delaware, but live in and conduct business in Florida, you’ll also need to register your Delaware LLC in Florida (and pay fees). And you’ll end up paying Florida taxes anyway. This ends up leading to more costs and more headaches with no advantages.
In summary, if you are a Florida resident, then yes, Florida is the best state to form an LLC. If you don’t live in and do business in Florida, then no, Florida probably isn’t a good state to start an LLC.
References
FL Department of State LLC Fees
SunBiz: Fictitious Name Registration
FL Department of State LLC Filing Instructions
Matt holds a Bachelor's Degree in business from Drexel University with a concentration in business law. He performs extensive research and analysis to convert state laws into simple instructions anyone can follow to form their LLC - all for free! Read more about Matt Horwitz and LLC University.
Florida LLC Guide
Looking for an overview? See Florida LLC
Hi I mainly wanted an LLC to market products online and digital services. Any recommendations to keep in mind? Hi! I am not a US resident or citizen.
Hi Oscar, as a non-US citizen, if you have no employees in the US and no physical presence in the US, you can pick any state. One of my favorites is the Ohio LLC. The cost to form the LLC is affordable. The paperwork is really simple. And there is no LLC Annual Report filing in Ohio.
Hi I mainly wanted an LLC to buy my home. I am retired. Is that any different from when you form an LLC for business purposes?
Also, does filing your taxes change in my case?
Thank you for the informative website. It’s very helpful.
Hi John, you’d still form the LLC the same way, regardless if it were for a business or to hold real estate.
The LLC is a pass-through entity. Meaning, the LLC itself doesn’t pay taxes. You pay the taxes as a part of your personal tax return. But that would only apply if you rent the property and collect rents (or otherwise make money with the property). If that were the case, you’d need to include a Schedule E (and possibly other forms) as a part of your personal 1040 tax return.
However, if you’re just holding title in the LLC and there’s no income (and the LLC is a Single-Member LLC), then there are no taxes to pay, and no tax filings. If the LLC is a Multi-Member LLC, there are still no taxes to pay, however, you’ll have to file a zeroed-out 1065 Partnership Return (it’s an informational return). Hope that helps, and you’re very welcome!