Florida LLC Mandatory and Optional Fees
The following schedule outlines all official state fees, deadlines, and requirements for Florida LLCs as published by the state and federal government.
| Requirement / Fee | Amount | Frequency / Deadline | Official Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization Fee | $100.00 | One-time at formation | Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz) |
| Registered Agent Designation Fee | $25.00 | One-time at formation | Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz) |
| Employer Identification Number (EIN) | $0.00 (Free) | One-time after formation | Internal Revenue Service (IRS) |
| Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) | $0.00 (Exempt) | Exempt for US entities | Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) |
| Annual Report Filing Fee | $138.75 | Due yearly (Jan 1 to May 1) | Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz) |
| Annual Report Late Fee | $400.00 | Applied if submitted after May 1 | Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz) |
| Change of Registered Agent | $25.00 | As needed | Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz) |
| Articles of Correction | $25.00 | As needed | Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz) |
| Amended Annual Report | $50.00 | As needed | Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz) |
| Certificate of Status | $5.00 | Optional | Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz) |
| Certified Copy of Record | $30.00 | Optional | Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz) |
Breakdown of Florida DIY Formation Costs
Filing your Articles of Organization using Florida's electronic filing system, Sunbiz, is the most direct way to launch an LLC in the state. The Division of Corporations collects a $100.00 filing fee along with a $25.00 registered agent designation fee, making your total initial state payment $125.00.
When submitting your filing on Sunbiz, you must name a registered agent who maintains a physical street address in Florida to receive official state notices and legal service of process. You can act as your own registered agent at no additional charge if you have a physical street address in Florida and are available during regular business hours.
LLC formation in the state is governed by Florida Statute section 605.0201. The Division of Corporations serves administrative functions and gives no legal or statutory advice. Applicants are responsible for entering accurate information regarding member management, legal names, and business addresses.
Federal Taxes and Employer Identification Numbers
Once Sunbiz processes and approves your Articles of Organization, you can secure an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service. Banks require an EIN to open a business bank account, and the IRS requires it for tax reporting and employee payroll.
An EIN is $0 (free) directly on the official IRS website. You should never pay a third party or online filing company to obtain an EIN for you. Federal rules require you to form the entity with the state before applying for an EIN so that the legal entity name on your federal tax record matches your approved state registration.
Regarding federal beneficial ownership rules, domestic entities created within the United States are exempt from federal Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting. US-formed LLCs do not need to submit BOI reports to FinCEN upon formation.
Annual Maintenance and Statutory Penalty Fees
Maintaining an active LLC in Florida requires submitting an Annual Report through Sunbiz every year after your initial formation year.
- Filing Period: January 1 through May 1 each calendar year.
- Standard Annual Fee: $138.75.
- Late Penalty: $400.00 for filings submitted after May 1.
- Total Late Fee Payment: $538.75.
Florida strictly enforces the May 1 deadline, and the state does not grant statutory waivers for late penalties. Setting a recurring calendar reminder is critical to avoid paying $538.75 instead of the standard $138.75 fee.
If you need updated filings or extra documentation, Sunbiz processes optional requests at the following official rates:
- Change of Registered Agent: $25.00
- Articles of Correction: $25.00
- Amended Annual Report: $50.00
- Certificate of Status: $5.00
- Certified Copy: $30.00
Doing It Yourself vs. Hiring a Filing Service
Deciding whether to file yourself or hire an online document service depends on your comfort with filing paperwork and managing deadline reminders.
Filing yourself directly on Sunbiz is the best route if you want to keep costs to the minimum $125.00 state fee, have a simple ownership structure, and do not mind listing your personal street address on public state records. The Sunbiz web application takes about 15 minutes to complete.
Using a professional formation service is helpful if you prefer to keep your personal address off public state databases by using a commercial registered agent address. Services also offer automated compliance tools to ensure you do not miss Florida's May 1 annual report deadline.
The comparison table below outlines pricing for major business formation providers (listed alphabetically, not ranked).
Service Provider Pricing Comparison
Providers below are listed alphabetically, not ranked.
| Provider | Base Service Cost | Registered Agent Fee | Features and Fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bizee | $0 + state fee (as of 2026) | Free 1st year, then $119/yr (as of 2026) | Entry plan covers standard creation with one year of agent service. |
| LegalZoom | $0 + state fee (as of 2026) | $249/yr (as of 2026) | Well-known provider with broad legal templates and legal advice add-ons. |
| Northwest Registered Agent | $39 + state fee (as of 2026) | $125/yr (as of 2026) | Focuses on corporate address privacy and upfront pricing structures. |
| Rocket Lawyer | $99.99 + state fee (as of 2026) | $249.99/yr (as of 2026) | Subscription platform for businesses needing ongoing legal consultation. |
| Tailor Brands | $0 + state fee (as of 2026) | $199/yr (as of 2026) | Combines entity filing with website design and branding tools. |
| ZenBusiness | Starter $0 + state fee; Pro $199/yr; Premium $299/yr | Separate $199/yr service ($99 for 1st year with formation) | Best for structured compliance tracking and managed annual filings. |
When We Recommend ZenBusiness
For business owners who prefer professional filing assistance without high package markups, we recommend ZenBusiness. Their Starter tier costs $0 plus the required $125.00 Florida state fee, allowing you to hand off administrative processing without paying an extra package fee.
ZenBusiness is particularly useful if you want assistance tracking Florida's annual compliance deadlines to avoid the $400.00 late filing penalty. Registered agent coverage is available as a separate $199/year service across all plans, which is discounted to $99 for your first year when forming an LLC with them.
However, if you feel confident entering your information directly on the state website and managing your own deadline schedule, completing the filing directly on Sunbiz remains the cheapest path.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost to start an LLC in Florida Sunbiz filing fee?
The total Sunbiz filing fee to start an LLC in Florida is $125.00. This mandatory charge includes a $100.00 Articles of Organization filing fee and a $25.00 registered agent designation fee.
What are the official Florida LLC Articles of Organization filing fee and annual report fee on sunbiz.org?
According to the official fee schedule on sunbiz.org, the filing fee for Articles of Organization is $125.00 ($100.00 base filing fee plus $25.00 registered agent fee). The official annual report fee is $138.75, due each year between January 1 and May 1. Reports submitted after May 1 incur a $400.00 late penalty, bringing the total fee to $538.75.
How do I get an employer identification number EIN free online IRS on irs.gov?
You can get an Employer Identification Number (EIN) for $0 (free) directly from the IRS portal on irs.gov. You must establish your LLC with the state of Florida first before submitting the online EIN application to ensure your tax records match your approved state entity name.
Sources
- Internal Revenue Service, “Get an employer identification number”
- Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, “Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting”
- Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations, “LLC Fees”
- Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations, “Instructions for Articles of Organization (FL LLC)”
This article provides general informational content rather than formal legal advice. State fees, filing deadlines, and statutory requirements change over time; always verify current policies directly with official government portals before filing.