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How to form a Florida LLC
In this guide, we will walk you through filing your Articles of Organization with the state.
Your Articles of Organization is the document that officially forms an LLC in Florida.
You can file your Articles of Organization with the Florida Department of State by mail or online (through Sunbiz).
Florida LLC Cost
The cost to form an LLC in Florida is $125. This is a one-time filing fee.
The filing fee is the same whether you file by mail or online.
How much is an LLC in Florida explains all the fees you’ll pay, including the Articles of Organization filing fee.
Note: The Articles of Organization fee is commonly referred to as the “LLC filing fee”. They are the same thing.
Florida LLC Approval Time
By mail: If you submit your Articles of Organization by mail, your Florida LLC will be approved in 12 business days (plus mail time).
Online: If you submit your Articles of Organization online, your LLC will be approved in 5 business days.
Note: Filing times may take longer due to government delays. For the most up-to-date LLC processing times, check how long does it take to get an LLC in Florida.
Recommendation: We recommend submitting your Articles of Organization online because the approval time is faster. However, we provide instructions for both filing methods below:
If you want to hire a company to form your LLC instead, check out Best LLC Services in Florida.
Prior Lessons: Before proceeding with this lesson, make sure you have searched your Florida LLC name and selected your LLC’s Florida Registered Agent.
How to file Florida Articles of Organization Online
Get Started:
- Go to the Sunbiz: Articles of Organization.
- Agree to the terms, and click “Start New Filing”.
Note: The Florida Department of State online filing system is called “Sunbiz”.
LLC Effective Date
Pro Tip: If you’re forming your LLC in October, November, or December, and you don’t need your business open during those months, forward date your filing to January 1st. This will save you money on the Florida LLC Annual Report. And, depending on how your LLC is taxed, can save you money on taxes.
Leave this section blank if you want your LLC to be effective upon filing. This means your LLC will go into existence on the date it is approved by Sunbiz.
If you want your LLC to go into existence at a later date, enter that specific date. This date can’t be more than 90 days later than the date you file. And you can’t back-date your filing at all.
Florida LLC Filing Fee
There is nothing to do in this section. The state is just telling you that the fee for filing your Florida LLC Articles of Organization is $125.
Certificate of Status (optional)
A Certificate of Status states that your LLC is in good standing. This document is not required to operate an LLC. Honestly, it’s just another way for the state to make more money. Most people don’t need one and don’t check this box.
Certified Copy (optional)
A Certified Copy is just a fancy copy of your Articles of Organization. This document is not required to operate an LLC. Honestly, it’s just a way for the state to make more money. Most people don’t need one and don’t check this box.
Tip: We know the pop-up on Sunbiz says you may need a Certified Copy to open an LLC bank account. However, this isn’t true. You can just use the “regular” stamped and approved Articles of Organization to open an LLC bank account.
Limited Liability Company Name
- Prior lesson: Make sure you read Florida LLC name and searched your name in the Florida Entity Name Search database.
Enter your LLC name with the spelling and capitalization you would like. Include the designator (ending) you’d like to use.
Florida allows you to use these designators:
- LLC (most common)
- L.L.C.
- Limited Liability Company
Principal Place of Business
Enter your Florida LLC’s Principal Address.
What is a Principal Place of Business? Your LLC Principal Place of Business is:
- where the primary business activities take place
- where the LLC Members or Managers are located
- or where your LLC records are kept.
Your Florida LLC’s Principal Address can be:
- located in Florida
- located in any state
- located in any country
- a home address
- an office address
- a virtual office address or mailbox rental
- the address of your Florida Registered Agent (if your Registered Agent allows it)
However, your Principal Office Address can’t be a PO Box.
Note: If you hire Northwest Registered Agent, you can use their address for your LLC’s Principal Office Address (and all other address fields). Check out our Northwest Registered Agent review for more information.
Mailing Address
Check the box if your LLC’s Mailing Address is the same as its Principal Address
If not, enter your LLC’s mailing address.
The mailing address can be in any state, or any country. And Florida does allow you to use a PO Box for the LLC’s mailing address.
Name and Address of Registered Agent
- Prior lesson: We recommend reading Is a Registered Agent a Member of an LLC?
If you or someone you know is the Registered Agent:
- Name: Enter the person’s name.
- Business to serve as RA: Leave this blank.
- Address: Enter the person’s name. Remember, this address can’t be a PO Box.
- Signature: Type the person’s name here. Make sure you have their consent to do this before filling out this section.
If you hired Northwest Registered Agent:
- Name: Leave this blank.
- Business to serve as RA: Enter “Northwest Registered Agent LLC”.
- Address: Enter the address as listed in your Northwest online dashboard.
- Signature: Enter “Taylor Newman”.
If you’ve hired a different Commercial Registered Agent: You should contact them to get their information for this section.
Other Provisions (optional).
This is optional and most people leave it blank.
Notice of Annual Report
There’s nothing to do in this section.
It’s just the state letting you know that your LLC has to file an Annual Report every year. The Annual Report costs $138.75.
Don’t worry, your first first Annual Report isn’t due until the year after your LLC is formed. To learn more, check out our Florida LLC Annual Report lesson.
Correspondence Name and Email Address
Enter your name, and your email address twice. The state will use this email address to send reminder notices and documents to your LLC.
Signature (Organizer)
- Related articles: LLC Organizer vs LLC Member and Registered Agent vs LLC Organizer
The LLC Organizer is the person who signs and submits your filing to the state.
Most people filing their own LLC are also the Organizer. If this is the case, just enter your name in the signature box.
Name and Address of Person(s) Authorized to Manage the LLC
- Related article: Member-managed vs Manager-managed LLC
Note: You should list any Member or Manager who will be on the LLC bank account in these fields. If you have more Members than can be entered, only enter the Members that will be on the LLC bank account.
If your LLC is Member-managed:
Enter the information for each Member.
- Title: Enter “AMBR”
- Name: Enter their last name, then first name
- Entity Name: Leave this blank
- Address: Enter the mailing address for the Member
Note: If your LLC is owned by another company, leave the “Name” field blank and enter the company name in “Entity Name”.
If your LLC is Manager-managed:
Enter the information for each Manager.
- Title: Enter “MGR”
- Name: Enter their last name, then first name
- Entity Name: Leave this blank
- Address: Enter the mailing address for the Manager
Note: If your LLC is managed by another company, leave the “Name” field blank and enter the company name in “Entity Name”.
Click “Continue” to proceed.
Review your filing information
Review your filing for accuracy and check for any typos.
If all looks good, click “Continue”. If you need to make any changes, click the back button in your browser.
Payment page
Click “Credit Card Payment”.
(Ignore the part about Sunbiz e-filing.)
Enter your billing information and submit your payment to Sunbiz.
Congratulations! Your Florida LLC filing has been submitted to the state.
Florida LLC Approval (online filing)
Your LLC will be approved in 5 business days.
Once approved, the state will email you an Acknowledgement Letter, and a link to download the stamped approved Articles of Organization.
Note: You’ll use your stamped and approved Articles of Organization and your Federal Tax ID Number to open a business bank account for your LLC.
Florida Articles of Organization (File by Mail)
Download the Florida LLC Articles of Organization.
Note: You can print the form, fill it out by hand (use blue or black pen), then sign. Or you can type in the form on your computer, then print and sign. Instructions for filling out the Articles of Organization are in pages 1 and 2 of the PDF.
Prepare Payment
Prepare a check or money order and make it payable to “Florida Department of State”.
Mail Documents
Send two copies of your completed Articles of Organization and filing fee to:
New Filing Section
Division of Corporations
PO Box 6327
Tallahassee, FL 32314
Why send two copies? The state keeps one, and returns the other copy stamped and approved to you.
LLC Approval by mail:
After filing by mail, your LLC will be approved in 12 business days (plus mail time). The state will then mail you an Acknowledgment Letter. If you sent two copies of your Articles of Organization, you will receive a stamped and approved Articles of Organization as well.
Mail filing video instructions:
Florida Department of State Contact Info
If you have any questions, you can contact the Florida Department of State at 850-245-6052.
Their hours are Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm Eastern Time.
Search your domain name
If you plan on building a website, you can quickly register your domain name. Creating a website with your business name as the domain name can help people find your business online. You can easily search and purchase a domain name through GoDaddy.
Find a domain name
References
Sunbiz – Instructions for Articles of Organization (LLCs)
Florida LLC Act – Section 605.0201
Sunbiz – LLC Filing FAQs
Sunbiz – LLC Filing FAQs
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
Hello Matt.
Thank you for this amazing tutorial! I was able to register my LLC online 5 days ago and I received an email but there wasn’t any stamped pdf on the email. The email was just text. See a copy of the email below:
” The Articles of Organization for ………….. were filed
electronically on October 14, 2024, as verified by this email
and authentication number shown below and were assigned document
number ……………… Please refer to this number whenever corresponding
with this office.
Please allow up to 24 hours for your record to appear on Sunbiz.org.
Electronic filing and certification is provided for in section
15.16, Florida Statutes and has the same legal effect as any
other filing or certificate.
To maintain “active” status with the Division of Corporations,
an annual report must be filed yearly between January 1st and
May 1st beginning in the year following the file date or effective
date indicated above. If the annual report is not filed by May
1st, a $400 late fee will be added. It is your responsibility
to remember to file your annual report in a timely manner.
A Federal Employer Identification Number (FEI/EIN) will be required
when this report is filed. Apply today with the IRS online at:
https://sa.www4.irs.gov/modiein/individual/index.jsp
Please be aware if the limited liability company’s address changes,
it is the responsibility of the limited liability company to
notify this office.
Should you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact
this office at the address given below. ”
How do I download the stamped copy of the Article?
Thank you so much in advance
1. Articles of Organization cannot be completed until the State provides me with A Letter of Acknowledgement, correct?
2. I am going through Northwest — I assume the fees already paid with them does not include the fee for Articles of Organization, correct?
3. Does Northwest complete the Articles of Organization form or will I have to?
Thanks so much! LOVE the website.
Hi Kristina, thank you! You’re very welcome :)
1. No. The stamped and approved Articles of Organization is the LLC approval. The Letter of Acknowledgement is less official. Think of the Letter of Acknowledgement as the “welcome letter”.
2. That is incorrect. If you hired Northwest Registered Agent, you paid the state filing fee. The state filing fee is the same thing as the fee for the Articles of Organization. Said another way, the Articles of Organization (once approved) is what creates the LLC.
3. Northwest completes the Articles of Organization and submits it to the state. Once the Articles of Organization is approved, Northwest will upload a copy to your online account (and you’ll get an email notification). This stamped Articles of Organization is the LLC’s approval.
Thanks Matt, truly appreciate the response back :)
You’re very welcome Kristina :)
I just want to say THANK YOU! You made this really scary process so simple and I cannot thank you enough.
Prince, you’re very welcome :) Your words mean a lot. Thank you!
I am in the military and I am stationed in California but my home of record is Florida. I’ll be moving to Japan and I wanted to start my business before I moved. I wanted to form an LLC but I wasn’t sure if I should do it in California, Florida, or another state. Also, how does that work since I’ll be living outside the US. The business I wanted to start is photography/videography business.
Hi Eric, thank you for your service! You can form an LLC in the states and run it while abroad. It would depend on where you’d be doing business when you return. We have more details here: best state to form LLC while in the military. Hope that helps.
Dear Matt, amazing site, really helpful thank you so much. I noticed in the videos you go with manager instead of the AMBR which would be a managing-member, is there any particular reason, advantages/differences?
Thank you,
Hi Esteban, I just looked over the video again and we used “AMBR” in the example for a Member-Manager LLC. You should use the title that reflects the person’s role in the context of how the LLC is managed. We have more info here: member-managed LLC vs manager-managed LLC. Hope that helps!
I’m interested in forming an LLC and had a couple questions about having a registered agent. 1) Is it possible to file online when one needs the signature of the registered agent or is it best to file by mail when you use a third party company? 2) Do I pay for the registered agent before or after I submit the Articles of Organization? I noticed Northwest Registered Agent asks for the company name, and the Articles of Organization asks for the registered agent. I was slightly confused which should come first. Thank you!
Hi Candice, 1) Yes, you can file online when hiring a Commercial Registered Agent. Once you sign up with the Registered Agent, they give you consent to check the box in the online filing. 2) This needs to be done before filing the Articles of Organization. 3) Ah, yea, the part about Northwest asking for the name ahead of time… that can be confusing. They just need a name to create the account. You can always change your LLC name with them after the Articles of Organization is filed (if for some reason the name wasn’t available). Hope that helps!
Dear thanks for your greats video, I just opened today but I had a mistake in my florida llc name, what I must do?
Thanks
Hi Ram, you’re very welcome! When you say “just opened today”, do you mean you just filed today or you just received your LLC approval? Also, did you file your Articles of Organization by mail or did you file it online?
Hello.My question is about how to open different business under one llc?Or Should l just open one llc for my business that l will start and if l am going to do different business in the future start one parent llc??Does it cost more opening different businesses under one llc??Thanks
Hi Volkan, your filing costs with the state will just be on a per-LLC basis, not a per-business basis. You can have an LLC own other LLCs or you can own the LLCs yourself. There isn’t a “black and white” rule as to which is best, so we’re not able to provide that information. I recommend speaking with a few attorneys to evaluate your situation in more detail and assess how much potential liability there is. Hope that helps.
Dear Mr.Horwitz,
I would like to give thanks for this fantastic video and written directions for filing an LLC. The best part for me is your simple English speaking (I can perfectly understood all of your words). I came from Hungary 10 yrs ago without any English and now I am 59 yrs old. I’m happy to be done with this LLC filing and you saved me $1,500!) I am going to save/bookmark this website.
Such a miracle mind you have to think of this to help people. Thank you so very much for your help.
My best wishes,
Rozi Christy
Rozi, thank you for the lovely comment! So happy to hear we could help you form an LLC and save a lot of money too ;)
I am in the beginning stages of opening a bookstore with a business partner. It has been recommended that we go ahead and form an LLC for the bookstore even though we do not anticipate having the bookstore open until January 2020. Is forming an LLC now a good idea?
Thank you,
Felicia C.
Hi Felicia, apologies for the slow reply. Your comment accidentally went into the spam folder. you can certainly form your LLC now if you’re beginning business activity (aside from opening the store). If there is no business activity yet, you don’t have to form the LLC now, although you can. As a note, depending on your state and local taxes, you may need to file a tax return, even if there is no income or loss (sometimes called an informational return). That is the only con I can think of right now, but it’s not a major con. Again, you can go either way here. Hope that helps.