Florida Registered Agent: Requirements & Cost (2026)

Q: Does a Florida LLC need a registered agent?

Yes. Under Fla. Stat. 605.0113, every Florida LLC must designate and continuously maintain a registered agent with a physical Florida street address who has accepted the appointment. You name the agent in the Articles of Organization.

Q: Can I be my own registered agent in Florida?

Yes. You can serve as your own registered agent if you are a Florida resident with a physical Florida street address and are available during business hours to accept service of process. Many owners instead hire a commercial registered agent for privacy and reliability.

Q: What are the requirements to be a Florida registered agent?

The agent must be an individual Florida resident, or a business entity authorized to do business in Florida, with a business office at a physical Florida street address that matches the registered office. A post office box alone does not qualify, and the agent must sign to accept the appointment.

Q: What happens if my Florida LLC loses its registered agent?

Failing to maintain a registered agent is a ground for administrative dissolution by the Division of Corporations, and it risks a default judgment because the LLC may never receive a lawsuit. You should appoint a replacement agent promptly by filing a Statement of Change.

Q: Is a registered agent the same as a registered office in Florida?

No. The registered agent is the person or company that receives legal documents; the registered office is the physical Florida street address where the agent is available. The two are linked: the agent's business office must be the registered office.

Fact-checked by the LegalGlass editorial team against primary sources · Published Aug 6, 2026 · Last updated Aug 6, 2026

Every Florida LLC must continuously maintain a registered agent with a physical Florida street address under Fla. Stat. § 605.0113. You designate the agent in your Articles of Organization for a $25 registered agent fee, and you can change the agent later by filing a Statement of Change with the Division of Corporations for $25 - or for free when you file your annual report.

Quick Answer

Required?: Yes - Fla. Stat. § 605.0113 for every LLC
Who qualifies: Florida resident individual or an entity authorized in Florida
Address: Physical Florida street address (no PO box)
Designation fee: $25, paid with the Articles of Organization
Change fee: $25 Statement of Change (free via annual report)
If lapsed: Ground for administrative dissolution; risk of default judgment

What a Florida Registered Agent Is

A Florida registered agent is the person or company your LLC designates to receive service of process (lawsuit papers), tax notices, and official correspondence from the state. The requirement comes from the Florida Revised Limited Liability Company Act: Fla. Stat. § 605.0113 provides that every LLC must designate and continuously maintain a registered agent and a registered office in Florida. The agent is the LLC's reliable point of contact so that anyone - a court, a creditor, or the Department of State - always has a known address at which to reach the company. For the national concept, see our registered agent overview and do I need a registered agent.

The role is narrow but important. The agent does not manage the business, sign contracts, or make decisions; the agent simply guarantees that legal and government documents can be delivered to a real Florida address during business hours. You name the initial agent directly on the Articles of Organization when you form the LLC in Florida, and the agent's acceptance of that appointment is what makes the designation valid.

Who Can Serve as a Florida Registered Agent

Florida law is specific about who qualifies. The registered agent must be one of the following:

An individual who is a Florida resident and whose business office is identical to the registered office; or
A domestic or foreign business entity authorized to do business in Florida whose business office is identical to the registered office.

In every case the agent must have a physical Florida street address - a post office box alone does not satisfy the registered office requirement - and the agent must accept the appointment in writing. On the Articles of Organization, the person or entity named signs to acknowledge that they are familiar with and accept the obligations of the position. An LLC cannot serve as its own registered agent; the agent must be a separate individual or entity. If you are a member or manager who lives in Florida, you can personally be the agent, or you can appoint another member, an attorney, or a commercial service.

Registered Agent vs Registered Office

Florida law ties the agent to an address called the registered office. These are two linked concepts: the registered agent is who receives documents, and the registered office is where they are received. The statute requires the agent's business office to be the registered office, so you cannot list an agent in one city and a registered office in another. The registered office must be a street address in Florida where the agent is available during normal business hours. It can be your home, your business location, an attorney's office, or a commercial agent's Florida office - but it must be a genuine physical location, not a mail drop or PO box standing alone.

Designating Your Agent When You Form (the $25 Fee)

You appoint your first registered agent on the Articles of Organization, filed with the Florida Division of Corporations through the Sunbiz portal. The state's $125 total formation cost is made up of a $100 filing fee plus a $25 registered agent designation fee - so the agent designation is a built-in part of forming the LLC, not a separate later step. The agent's name, the registered office street address, and the agent's signed acceptance all appear on the Articles. For the full formation walkthrough and cost breakdown, see how to form an LLC in Florida and Florida LLC cost.

Being Your Own Agent vs a Commercial Service

You have three practical options, each legal under Florida law:

Be your own agent. Free beyond the built-in $25 designation. Requires you to be a Florida resident, keep a Florida street address on the public record, and be reachable there during business hours.
Name a member, manager, or your attorney. Useful when one owner is a Florida resident with a stable address, or when your lawyer offers the service.
Hire a commercial registered agent. A company whose business is serving as agent, typically for an annual fee. It keeps your home address off the public record, forwards documents, and stays reachable even when you travel or move.

The trade-off is privacy and reliability versus cost. Serving as your own agent saves the annual fee, but your street address becomes part of the public Sunbiz record and you must personally accept legal service - which can be awkward if you are served with a lawsuit in front of customers. Owners who work from home, move often, or run multiple entities frequently prefer a commercial agent. Whichever you choose, the legal duty is the same: the LLC must always have a valid agent on file. Compare the general trade-offs in our registered agent guide.

How to Change Your Florida Registered Agent

You will need to change agents if your current agent moves, resigns, or you switch to a commercial service. Florida gives you two routes:

File a Statement of Change of Registered Office or Registered Agent. Under Fla. Stat. § 605.0114, the LLC files this statement with the Division of Corporations to change the agent, the registered office, or both. The fee is $25 for an LLC, and the new agent must accept the appointment.
Update it on your annual report. The Florida annual report lets you change the registered agent and registered office at no extra charge as part of the yearly filing.

If you are already filing your annual report and simply want to swap agents, doing it there avoids the separate $25 fee. If the change cannot wait for the report, file the standalone Statement of Change. Either way, keep the new agent's signed acceptance and confirm the update appears on your Sunbiz record.

If Your Registered Agent Resigns

A Florida registered agent may resign. Under Fla. Stat. § 605.0116, the agent files a statement of resignation with the Division of Corporations, which then notifies the LLC. The resignation becomes effective after a statutory waiting period, giving the LLC time to appoint a replacement. If your agent resigns, treat it as urgent: without an agent on file, you can miss a lawsuit and the LLC becomes subject to administrative dissolution. Appoint a new agent by filing the Statement of Change described above. Service of process on a registered agent, and the alternative of serving the Department of State when no agent can be found, are governed by Fla. Stat. § 605.0117.

Consequences of Not Maintaining an Agent

Letting your registered agent lapse creates two serious risks. First, failing to maintain a registered agent and registered office is a ground for administrative dissolution of the LLC by the Division of Corporations under Fla. Stat. § 605.0714; an administratively dissolved LLC loses the right to carry on business except to wind up, and must file a reinstatement application and pay fees to be restored. Second, and more immediately, if a plaintiff cannot serve your agent, they can serve the Department of State instead - which means a lawsuit can proceed and result in a default judgment without your ever seeing the papers. Keeping a valid agent on file is therefore both a compliance requirement and basic legal protection. See how to dissolve an LLC in Florida for the difference between administrative and voluntary dissolution.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a Florida LLC need a registered agent?

Yes. Under Fla. Stat. § 605.0113, every Florida LLC must designate and continuously maintain a registered agent with a physical Florida street address who has accepted the appointment. You name the agent in the Articles of Organization.

Can I be my own registered agent in Florida?

Yes, if you are a Florida resident with a physical Florida street address and are available during business hours to accept service of process. Many owners instead hire a commercial agent for privacy and reliability.

How much does it cost to change a registered agent in Florida?

Filing a Statement of Change of Registered Office or Registered Agent costs $25 for an LLC. You can also update the agent for free when you file your annual report.

What are the requirements to be a Florida registered agent?

The agent must be a Florida resident individual, or an entity authorized to do business in Florida, with a business office at a physical Florida street address matching the registered office. A PO box alone does not qualify, and the agent must sign to accept the appointment.

What happens if my Florida LLC loses its registered agent?

It becomes a ground for administrative dissolution, and you risk a default judgment because the LLC may never receive a lawsuit. Appoint a replacement promptly by filing a Statement of Change.

Is a registered agent the same as a registered office?

No. The agent is the person or company that receives legal documents; the registered office is the physical Florida street address where the agent is available. The agent's business office must be the registered office.

Sources

Florida Statutes - § 605.0113, Registered agent (requirement to designate and maintain an agent and registered office).
Florida Statutes - § 605.0114, Change of registered agent or registered office (Statement of Change).
Florida Statutes - § 605.0116, Resignation of registered agent.
Florida Statutes - § 605.0117, Service of process, notice, or demand on an entity.
Florida Statutes - § 605.0714, Grounds for administrative dissolution.
Florida Statutes - Chapter 605, Florida Revised Limited Liability Company Act.
Florida Division of Corporations - Start a Florida LLC ($100 filing + $25 registered agent designation).
Florida Division of Corporations - Fees for Corporations, LLCs and Partnerships ($25 registered agent change).
Florida Division of Corporations - Annual Report (update registered agent at no extra charge).
Florida Division of Corporations - Division of Corporations Forms and Fees.
Cornell Legal Information Institute - Registered agent (Wex).
Cornell Legal Information Institute - Service of process (Wex).
IRS - Limited Liability Company (LLC) (federal classification).
IRS - Get an Employer Identification Number (free EIN).

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. This page is general information, not legal advice. Statutes and fees change; verify current requirements with the Florida Division of Corporations and the Florida Statutes before acting.