Florida LLC Cost: Full Fee Breakdown (2026)
It costs $125 to form a Florida LLC: a $100 filing fee for the Articles of Organization plus a required $25 registered agent designation fee, paid to the Florida Division of Corporations. The main recurring cost is the $138.75 annual report, and a federal EIN from the IRS is free.
Quick Answer
- Formation total
- $125 ($100 Articles of Organization + $25 registered agent designation)
- Agency
- Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations (Sunbiz)
- Annual report
- $138.75 per year (due Jan 1 – May 1)
- Late fee
- $400 if annual report filed after May 1 (non-waivable)
- EIN
- $0 - free from the IRS
- Name reservation
- Not offered for LLCs in Florida
Formation Cost: $125
The one-time cost to create a Florida LLC is $125. Unlike most states, Florida splits this into two mandatory line items on the same filing: a $100 fee to file the Articles of Organization and a $25 registered agent designation fee. Both are required, so the effective minimum to form the LLC is $125. You file with the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations through its Sunbiz portal. The Articles of Organization is the document that legally creates the LLC; it lists the LLC's name, principal address, registered agent, and members or managers. For the full walkthrough, see how to form an LLC in Florida.
Full Florida LLC Fee Table (2026)
The table below lists the state fees a Florida LLC is most likely to encounter, each set by the Division of Corporations, the Department of Revenue, or the IRS. Amounts are effective for 2026 and are the government's own fees - not charges from any filing service.
| Item | Document / agency | Fee (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization (create the LLC) | Division of Corporations | $100 |
| Registered agent designation (required) | Division of Corporations | $25 |
| Formation total | Division of Corporations | $125 |
| Annual report | Division of Corporations | $138.75 |
| Annual report late fee (after May 1) | Division of Corporations | $400 |
| Certificate of Status (optional) | Division of Corporations | $5 |
| Certified copy of Articles (optional) | Division of Corporations | $30 |
| Change of registered agent | Division of Corporations | $25 |
| Articles of Amendment | Division of Corporations | $25 |
| Articles of Dissolution | Division of Corporations | $25 |
| Fictitious name (DBA) registration | Division of Corporations | $50 |
| Sales tax registration (Form DR-1) | Dept. of Revenue | $0 (free) |
| Federal EIN | IRS | $0 (free) |
Annual Report: $138.75 Every Year
After the first year, the main recurring cost of keeping a Florida LLC active is the annual report fee of $138.75, filed with the Division of Corporations each year between January 1 and May 1. This is a compliance filing, not a tax return, and it simply confirms your address, registered agent, and members or managers. The penalty for missing the deadline is severe: any for-profit entity that files after May 1 pays a $400 late fee that cannot be waived, pushing the total to $538.75. Continued non-filing leads to administrative dissolution. For the deadline and penalty detail, see Florida annual report.
Registered Agent Cost
Every Florida LLC must have a registered agent with a physical Florida street address. The $25 designation fee at formation is a state charge for naming that agent; it is separate from what an agent may charge you for the service. You can act as your own registered agent at no additional cost, or hire a commercial registered agent service, whose annual fees are set by the provider and are not a government charge. If you later switch agents, filing the change with the Division of Corporations costs $25. See do I need a registered agent for the requirement.
What Is Free: EIN and Sales Tax Registration
Two important registrations cost nothing. A federal EIN is issued free by the IRS - you never pay the IRS for one - and it is needed to open a business bank account, hire employees, and file taxes. Likewise, registering for a Florida sales tax Certificate of Registration (Form DR-1) with the Department of Revenue is free, though you then collect and remit the 6% state sales tax plus any county surtax. Beware of services that charge a fee to obtain an EIN "for" you, since the IRS provides it at no cost. See how to get an EIN for an LLC.
Name Reservation and Optional Items
Florida is unusual in that the Division of Corporations does not reserve LLC names - there is no name reservation fee for LLCs. You simply confirm availability with a Sunbiz search and claim the name by filing the Articles of Organization. Optional add-ons include a Certificate of Status ($5), which some banks or states request to prove your LLC is active, and a certified copy of your Articles ($30). If you plan to operate under a trade name, a fictitious name (DBA) registration costs $50. None of these are required to form or maintain the LLC; add them only if you have a specific need.
Typical First-Year and Ongoing Cost
Putting it together, a typical Florida LLC spends $125 in year one to form (plus $0 for an EIN and $0 for sales tax registration if applicable), then $138.75 each year for the annual report. If you hire a commercial registered agent, add that provider's annual fee; if you use a DBA, add the one-time $50. Optional certificates and certified copies add only a few dollars each. Compared with other states, Florida's formation cost is moderate but its annual report and $400 late penalty make on-time filing important. For a national comparison of formation costs, see how much does an LLC cost.
Costs People Overlook
Beyond the headline state fees, a few costs surprise new Florida LLC owners. First, the $400 late fee is the single most avoidable expense: it triples the cost of a year of compliance for missing a deadline that is the same May 1 for everyone. Second, if you fall into administrative dissolution, reinstatement requires paying every missed annual report fee plus a $100 reinstatement fee, so a lapse compounds quickly. Third, while a federal EIN is free, many third-party sites charge $50 to $300 to "get" one for you - an unnecessary cost, since the IRS issues it directly at no charge. Fourth, if you sell taxable goods you will collect and remit the 6% state sales tax plus any county surtax; that is not a state fee you pay, but it is money you must manage. Finally, remember that federal income tax still applies to your LLC's profits even though Florida has no personal income tax - see business tax, how to file business taxes, and self-employment tax for those obligations, and S-corp vs LLC if you are weighing an election that could change how your profits are taxed at the federal level.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Florida?
$125 total - a $100 Articles of Organization fee plus a required $25 registered agent designation fee, paid to the Division of Corporations. Optional items like a Certificate of Status ($5) cost extra.
What is the annual cost of a Florida LLC?
The annual report fee of $138.75, due between January 1 and May 1. Filing after May 1 adds a non-waivable $400 late fee. There is no separate state franchise tax on a standard LLC.
Is a Florida EIN free?
Yes. The IRS issues an EIN free of charge, and registering for a Florida sales tax certificate is also free.
Does Florida charge a name reservation fee for LLCs?
No. Florida does not offer or charge for LLC name reservations. You confirm availability on Sunbiz and claim the name by filing the Articles of Organization.
What does it cost to dissolve a Florida LLC?
Filing Articles of Dissolution costs $25. Changing your registered agent also costs $25, and a fictitious name registration costs $50.
Related
- How to form an LLC (cluster hub)
- How to form an LLC in Florida
- Florida annual report
- Business license in Florida
- How much does an LLC cost?
- How to get an EIN
- Glossary of business-legal terms
Sources
- Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations - Fees ($100 Articles + $25 registered agent; $138.75 annual report; $25 dissolution/amendment; $5 status; $30 certified copy).
- Florida Division of Corporations - Start a Florida LLC (e-file) ($125 formation total).
- Florida Division of Corporations - Annual Report Filing ($138.75; January 1 – May 1; $400 late fee).
- Florida Division of Corporations - Fictitious Name Registration ($50 DBA fee).
- Florida Division of Corporations - Sunbiz home (name availability search).
- Florida Statutes - Section 605.0212, Annual Report.
- Florida Statutes - Section 605.0201, Formation of Limited Liability Company.
- Florida Statutes - Chapter 605, Florida Revised Limited Liability Company Act.
- Florida Statutes - Chapter 605 (official Legislature text).
- IRS - Employer Identification Numbers (EIN) (free EIN).
- IRS - Limited Liability Company (LLC) (federal tax classification).
LegalGlass provides general information for educational purposes and is not a law firm or a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney or tax professional. Fees change; verify current amounts with the Florida Division of Corporations at Sunbiz before filing.