How To Start An LLC In Florida Step-By-Step (2026)

Why Form an LLC in Florida?

Florida offers several advantages worth considering when it comes to establishing your LLC:

• Florida doesn’t have state income tax, so you may owe less in taxes than you would elsewhere.
• You don’t have to live in Florida to establish an LLC in the state, and you may still do business in other states.
• Florida has a much lower initial filing fee than many states.

Taking the time to create an LLC can be a wise decision in a variety of cases. For example, if you’re a sole proprietor and a client sues your business, they might be able to take your personal property. But because an LLC establishes your company as a separate legal entity, your personal assets will often be insulated from most lawsuits.

Florida LLC Requirements

If you’ve decided to open your LLC in Florida, follow these steps to start your company:

Choose Your LLC Name

Florida will only approve an LLC name that isn’t overly similar to the name of an existing business. If you think you’ve come up with a unique name, you can search it against the Florida Division of Corporations online database.

Florida requires every LLC to include one of these designations at the end:

• L.L.C.
• LLC
• Limited Liability Company

There are a few other state requirements for naming your LLC, but many of them are just common sense. For instance, you can’t include “inc.” or “incorporated” because that could mislead customers about your company structure.

Appoint a Registered Agent

Every Florida LLC must have a registered agent to accept government correspondence and legal documents. The registered agent should have a Florida address that isn’t a P.O. box.

There’s nothing wrong with serving as your company’s registered agent yourself. However, keep in mind that mishandling important tax and legal documents (even by accident) could potentially cause problems. Many LLC owners hire registered agent services instead.

File Articles of Organization

What are articles of organization? This is a document that you file with the Florida Department of State. It works like a birth certificate for your LLC, and your company doesn’t officially exist until it’s been filed.

When you submit your articles of organization, you’ll need to pay a $100 filing fee and a $25 registered agent fee.

Create an Operating Agreement

You don’t have to file your operating agreement with the state. However, a clear operating agreement is the backbone of a successful LLC. It describes how your company will be run, and if your LLC has multiple members, it may help prevent disputes.

It can be worth having an operating agreement as a single-member LLC, too. If your company is ever scrutinized by a court, this agreement shows that you recognize the LLC as a separate legal entity from yourself.

Get an EIN and Bank Account

Next, you’ll need to get an employer identification number (EIN) from the IRS. Even if you don’t have any employees, you will need this number to file taxes and open a business bank account.

Getting an EIN is fast and free, and you can do it online.

Florida LLC Costs and Fees

Compared to many other states, Florida has fairly low LLC fees. In addition to the $125 startup fee, you must submit a filing fee of $138.75 with your annual report. If you submit the report after May 1, you’ll face a $400 late fee.

Filing Your Annual Report

Your annual report confirms or updates important information about your LLC. It usually includes the following:

• Your company name
• Your main office and mailing address
• Your EIN
• Your registered agent’s name, address and signature
• Name, title and address of at least one company manager

You can file and submit your LLC’s annual report on the Florida Division of Corporations website.

How Florida LLCs Are Taxed

LLC taxes in Florida work similarly to taxes elsewhere. By default, an LLC is treated as a pass-through entity. This means that profits are passed through the LLC to you and then taxed as personal income. Because Florida has no personal income tax, you won’t owe additional taxes at the state level.

One of the main benefits of an LLC is tax flexibility. If you’d prefer, you can also elect to have your LLC taxed as a C-corporation or S-corporation.