Florida LLC Costs: TRUE Prices Revealed for Starting a Florida LLC

Form a Florida LLC for The Best Price Without Doing Any Work

By paying $30 to the Secretary of State, you can get certified copies of your Florida company records.

This document, also known as a Florida certificate of good standing, can be obtained by contacting the Secretary of State and paying the $5 cost. Banks and lending institutions frequently require a certificate of status.

Forming an LLC in Florida is Simple (5 Steps With Prices)

If you’re looking for a full guide on how to form a Florida LLC – here’s our comprehensive guide.

You’ll need to file Articles of Organization with the Florida Division of Corporations to form a Florida LLC. The cost of submitting is $120. This may be done either online or by mail through the SunBiz website. The Articles of Organization are the legal documents that establish your limited liability corporation in Florida. Follow these five steps to forming an LLC in Florida

STEP 1: Choose a Name For your Florida Limited Liability Company (Price: $50)

2. Is the given name accessible in the state of Florida? Do a name search on the Sunbiz Florida website to make sure the name you choose isn’t already used.

3. Is it possible to get the web domain registered? We suggest looking online to see whether your company name is accessible as a web domain. Even if you have no plans to construct a company website right now, you may wish to purchase the URL to prevent others from doing so.

Consider setting up a business phone line after getting a domain name for your LLC to increase legitimacy and boost client satisfaction.

Do I need a DBA or a Trade Name for my company?

A DBA isn’t required for most LLCs. The LLC’s name can also be used as your company’s brand name, and you can take checks and other forms of payment under that name. If you want to do business under a different name, you might want to register a DBA.

STEP 2: Select a Florida Registered Agent (Price: $0-$199)

Who is eligible to serve as a Registered Agent?

A registered agent must be a full-time resident of Florida or a corporation allowed to do business in the state, such as a registered agent service. You have the option of electing someone from your organization, including yourself.

Is it possible for me to act as my own Registered Agent?

Yes. Your LLC’s registered agent might be you or anybody else in your firm. Find out how to be your own registered agent.

Is it worthwhile to hire a Registered Agent?

Using a professional Registered Agent service to manage your LLC’s federal filings is a cost-effective option. For most firms, the benefits of hiring a professional registered agent service (such as privacy, peace of mind, and avoiding litigation) much surpass the yearly expenditures.
We recommend using Northwest Registered Agent.

STEP 3: File the Articles of Organization for your Florida LLC (Price: $120)

OPTION 2: SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION BY MAIL

The Florida Department of State charges a filing fee of $120. (Nonrefundable)

Mail to:

Corporations Division
6327 P.O. Box
32314 Tallahassee, FL

In Florida, how long does it take to incorporate an LLC?

Articles of Organization for Florida LLCs are handled in the order in which they are submitted, which can take anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks.

What is the difference between a domestic and a foreign Florida limited liability company (LLC)?

When an LLC does business in the state where it was founded, it is referred to as a “domestic LLC.” Normally, when we talk about an LLC, we’re talking about a domestic one. When an existing LLC wants to expand its operations to another state, it must incorporate a foreign LLC.

STEP 4: Draft an Operating Agreement for a Florida LLC (Price: Free)

What are the benefits of operating agreements?

A detailed operating agreement guarantees that all firm owners are on the same page and decreases the likelihood of future disagreement.

Is it necessary for me to submit my operating agreement to the State of Florida?

No. The operating agreement is a private document that you should save for future reference.

STEP 5: Obtain an EIN for Your Florida Limited Liability Company (Price: Free)

What is the purpose of having an EIN? For the following, an EIN number is required:

Where can I obtain an EIN? The business owner obtains an EIN from the IRS (for free) after founding the firm. This may be done either online or in the mail.

FOR INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS: An EIN does not require an SSN.

Option 1: Apply for an EIN with the IRS.

Alternatively,

Option 2: Submit an EIN application via mail or fax.

Mail to:

IRS is the Internal Revenue Service.
ATTENTION: EIN OPERATING OFFICERS
45999 Cincinnati, OH

Fax:
(855) 641-6935 is a toll-free number.

There’s no fee for this.

If I don’t have a Social Security number, how can I acquire an EIN?

Obtaining an EIN does not necessitate the use of a Social Security number. You may just leave section 7b blank on the IRS Form SS-4. Then, to finish your application, call the IRS at 267-941-1099. Check out our EIN application guidance for overseas applicants.

What tax structure should I choose for my limited liability company?

When you apply for an EIN, you will be told of the many tax categorization options accessible to you. The default tax status is chosen by the majority of LLCs.

Some LLCs, on the other hand, can minimize their federal tax liability by electing S corporation status. To determine which option is best for you, we recommend speaking with a local accountant.

Is an EIN required for my LLC?

An EIN is required for any LLC with workers or more than one member. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires this.

How Do I File a DBA in Florida? (Cost: $50)

(here’s our full guide on DBA filing)

A fabricated name is a DBA in Florida. Fictitious name registration in Florida permits a company to operate under a name other than its legal one.

Unlike founding an LLC or company, DBA registration will not safeguard your personal assets.

The main cost for a DBA in FL is $50.

It’s simple to register a Florida trade name or DBA in Florida with these  three easy steps:

A DBA is only used for branding purposes. To keep your company and personal assets distinct, we propose incorporating an LLC.

Step 1: Conduct a fictitious name search in Florida

Your fictitious name in Florida must be distinctive and comply with Florida’s company name standards.

To begin, look for your new DBA name on the Sunbiz Florida Fictitious Name Search to ensure it isn’t already in use.

Review the naming requirements in Florida next. In Florida, your fictional name shall not contain the following words:

Unless the business is genuinely an LLC, corporation, etc., any business entity suffix, such as LLC, Incorporated, Corp, etc.

Any phrase used to describe a financial institution, such as “bank,” “banc,” “banco,” “banque,” “banker,” “trust business,” “savings and loan association,” “savings bank,” “credit union,” and related terms.

Step 2: Make up a fictitious name in Florida

BEFORE your false name is registered, you must publish a “legal notice of intent to file a fictitious name” in a newspaper. The notification must be published once in a newspaper distributed in the county where the business’s main location is located.

The “legal notice of intent to file a fictitious name” must include the following information:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned intends to register the fictitious name of [Your DBA Name Here] with the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations, Tallahassee FL, and/or the Clerk of the Circuit Court of [County], FL, in order to conduct business under such name. [Name of your company, address, city, state, and zip code]

The following are the essential needs for the newspaper:

• A minimum of 25% of the words in the publication must be written in English.
• At least once a week, the publication must be printed or published.
• The magazine must be available and attractive to the public, and it must be accepted as a periodical in the post office in the county where it is published.
• The newspaper has to have been around for at least a year before being considered.
• See Chapter 50 of the Florida Statutes if you’re publishing in a county without a newspaper.
• See Chapter 50 of the Florida Statutes if you’re going to post something online.

Evidence of Publication

You attest to the following when you sign the Florida Application for Registration of Fictitious Name form:

“I also certify that the intention to register the fictitious name to be registered has been advertised at least once in a newspaper as defined in Chapter 50, Florida Statutes…I understand that the signature below shall have the same legal effect as if made under oath, and I am aware that providing false information in a document to the Department of State constitutes a third-degree felony as provided for in s.817.155, F.S.”

If you want to register your DBA in Florida, you must first publicize it.

Step 3: Create a Florida DBA

The Secretary of State in Florida can accept your fictitious name application online or by mail. You may file your fictitious name application online using the SunBiz Fictitious Name Portal or by filling out the Application for Registration of Fictitious Name.

The following are some key sections of the form:

• Section 1: Include your new fake name, business address, and primary place of business (county), as well as your FEIN (EIN) number, if applicable.
• Part 4: Use this section to cancel or alter an existing registration, as well as to change the registration’s name (this can only be done on the application for registration of fictitious name form, not online).
• Choose whether you want a “Certificate of Status” or a “Certified Copy” for your fake name at the bottom of the form.

Florida’s Statement of Annual Report (Cost: $138.75)

To continue in good standing and prevent costly fines or penalties, you must stay on top of your state’s filing deadlines after forming your Florida LLC.

The cost of a Statement of Annual Report in Florida is $138.75.

For a Florida LLC, this section answers the following questions:

1. What is the purpose of an annual report?
2. What is the procedure for submitting an annual report?
3. Is it necessary for me to hire a registered agent?

What Is the Purpose of an Annual Report?

An annual report is a required filing in Florida that your LLC must submit every year to update your business information, which includes:

• Address of the principal location of business
• Postal address
• Name and address of the registered agent
• Principals’ names and addresses (i.e., members, managers, directors, or officers)
• Contact information through email

The goal of this report is to maintain your Florida company records up to date. This enables creditors and other interested parties to check up your company address in the event that they need to get in touch with you. This information is used by the government to trace the payment of your LLC state taxes.

What is the procedure for submitting an annual report?

The Department of State’s Florida Sunbiz website is where you may file your Florida LLC annual report. You must enter your 6- or 12-digit Document Number or use the “Forgot Number?” feature to look for your company. ” a hyperlink

With Florida Sunbiz, you may file your paperwork online.

The cost is $138.75.

Annual reports for Florida LLC are due on May 1st of each year.

Late filings are subject to a $400 late fee if they are received after May 1. Your Florida LLC will be dissolved if you do not file an annual report by the third Friday in September.

Is it necessary for me to hire a registered agent?

You may ensure that your LLC’s reports are always filed on time to the relevant government agency by employing a registered agent service. The following are the three primary benefits of employing a registered agent service for your LLC (we recommend Northwest):

1. Avoid late filing penalties: A Florida LLC that fails to file an annual report will be dissolved by the Department of State. A registered agent service will remind you when reports are due, and for an extra cost, they may also file the paperwork for you.
2. Attain Flexibility: A registered agent is a person or corporation designated by your firm to receive and submit official documents on your behalf. You may ensure that your LLC’s reports are always filed on time to the relevant government agency by employing a registered agent service. The following are the three primary benefits of employing a registered agent service for your LLC.

• Avoid late filing penalties: A Florida LLC that fails to file an annual report will be dissolved by the Department of State. A registered agent service will remind you when reports are due, and for an extra cost, they may also file the paperwork for you.

Business License in Florida (Price: no more than $100)

A Florida business license can be obtained online, via mail, or in person.

We give the resources and information you’ll need to get federal, state, and municipal licenses and permissions for your small company, including the seller’s permit.

As for the costs – in most cases, the business licence should cost more than $100.

How to Obtain a Florida Business License?

By submitting an application to the appropriate licensing or regulating body for your business, you can obtain a business license online, by mail, or in person.

The type of license you’ll need depends on your business’s activity and location (zoning requirements).

The following are the three primary licensing authorities:

• State
• Local
• Federal

Business Licensing in the State of Florida

The Annual Resale Certificate for Sales Tax, often known as a seller’s permit, is the most important state-level permission or license in Florida.

If you do any of the following, you must get an Annual Resale Certificate for Sales Tax:

• Are you a Florida businessperson?
• Have the intention of selling taxable products or services.
• To receive an Annual Resale Certificate for Sales Tax, go to the Florida Department of Revenue’s website.
• In addition, many businesses and professions in Florida require a separate business license. The Florida Division of Library and Information Services has further information on these license requirements.

Local Business Licensing in Florida

Depending on your company activity or location in Florida, you may require additional licenses or permissions from your local government.

A plumber in Miami-Dade County, for example, must get county-level plumber’s licenses as well as state-level building contractor permits.

For further information, contact your local Florida government agency.

Steps to Obtaining a Florida Business License

Other Business Licenses in Florida

Other Florida business licenses may be required, and the procedure differs based on the type of business and the office that oversees that sector or specialty.

The Florida Division of Library and Information Services or your local government agency can provide you with further information about these licensing requirements.

Renewal

Each year on December 31, the Florida Annual Resale Certificate for Sales Tax expires, but the Department of Revenue automatically renews it and mails it to you.

Any other licenses your company holds should be renewed by contacting the appropriate state or local government office.

The Benefits of Forming a Limited Liability Company in Florida

If your company is sued or unable to pay its bills, limited liability can safeguard your personal assets.

Other advantages of forming a Florida LLC include:

Protection against Limited Liability

If a business owner’s liability protection is restricted, he or she cannot be held personally liable if the company suffers a loss. Personal assets (vehicle, home, and bank account) are therefore safeguarded.

The LLC must maintain its corporate veil in order to have limited liability protection.

Other forms of businesses, such as sole proprietorships and partnerships, do not provide limited liability protection.

Corporations have limited liability, but they are complex to run and can provide negative taxation to small businesses.

Pass-Through Taxation

LLCs, like sole proprietorships and partnerships, are subject to pass-through taxation by default. This means that the net revenue of the firm is passed through to the owner’s personal tax return. Income taxes (depending on the owner’s tax band) and self-employment taxes are then applied to the net income.

LLCs are taxed similarly to sole proprietorships and partnerships, but they do not provide limited liability protection or other tax benefits.

Profits from a Florida corporation are subject to “double taxation.” Earnings are taxed before being dispersed to owners, and profits are taxed again when owners declare their part of profits on their personal tax returns.

Alternatives to Taxation

Once a small firm has grown to the point where it can pay its owners a respectable compensation and at least $10,000 in dividends each year, another LLC tax alternative, the S corporation (S corp) tax status, may be advantageous.

Under the correct circumstances, an LLC electing S corp tax minimizes self-employment and total tax burden.

An LLC can pay income tax in one of three ways. Being taxed as a S company is a common choice. An S corporation is a tax categorization, not a specific sort of business entity.

Simplicity

LLC are extremely simple to incorporate and run in Florida, requiring minimal paperwork and cost. LLCs, unlike C companies, are not obliged to designate formal officer responsibilities, have annual meetings, adopt bylaws, or keep track of company minutes and resolutions.

Credibility has improved.

Creating a LLC in Florida adds legitimacy to your organization. A LLC is considered a more formal corporate structure than a sole proprietorship or a partnership.

Customers and partners will recognize you as a respectable company if you include LLC in your business name.

Registration of a Name

When forming an LLC in Florida, you’ll pick a unique name that will be registered after the company is founded. No other businesses in your state will be able to use your name while your business is functioning if you register it.

The business name for a sole proprietorship or partnership must be the name of the owner(s). To use a name other than their own, a lone proprietor or partnership would need to register a DBA name.

Flexibility in ownership

A Florida LLC’s ownership and management can be structured in a variety of ways, with just a few exceptions:

Disadvantages of Forming an LLC in Florida

Although Florida LLCs have numerous advantages, there are some situations when forming a Florida corporation or sole proprietorship is preferable.

Foreign LLC in Florida (Cost: $120)

The procedures for registering a foreign limited liability corporation to do business in Florida are included.
The cost for a foreign LLC is the same as a regular LLC — $120.

The specifications are as follows:

• The enclosed application must be completed in its full in accordance with Florida Statutes 605.0902.
• The foreign limited liability firm must produce a certificate of existence that is no older than 90 days and has been officially validated by the U.S. government.
• An official in charge of records in the jurisdiction where it is organized under the law. If the certificate is written in a foreign language, a certified translation of the certificate must be provided under the translator’s oath.

• On the Florida Department of State’s records, a limited liability company’s name must be identifiable. If your limited liability company’s name isn’t discernible in our records, you’ll need to come up with a new name to utilize in Florida.
• The words “Limited Liability Corporation,” the abbreviation “L.L.C.,” or the designation “LLC” must appear in the name of a limited liability company in the state of Florida.

A preliminary check of the Division’s records at www.sunbiz.org can be done to see if a name is available.

The Division of Corporations no longer offers preliminary name searches or name reservations. You are liable for any name infringement that may occur as a result of your name choice.

The following are the registration fees:

• The application fee is $100.00.
• $25.00 Registered Agent Designation
• Certified Copy $30.00 (optional)
• Certificate of Status $5.00 (optional)

Important Information About the Annual Report Requirement In order to keep their “active” status, all foreign limited liability companies must file an Annual Report every year. The initial report is required the year after the company is formed. Between January 1st and May 1st, the report must be filed electronically online. The yearly report will set you back $138.75. A $400 late charge is applied to the annual report filing cost after May 1st. When you submit this document for filing, we will send you “Annual Report Reminder Notices” to the e-mail address you give. Visit our website at www.sunbiz.org to file any time after January 1st. There is no provision for a late charge waiver. Make sure you file by May 1st.

Upon registration, a letter of appreciation will be sent to you for free. Please make a single check payable to the Florida Department of State for the entire filing cost as well as any optional certificates or copies.

Get Professional Help in Forming an LLC in Florida for The Best Price Possible

It can be difficult and time-consuming to form an LLC. It might be beneficial to have some assistance, and we’ve compiled a list of two of the top LLC creation services available.

#1 – ZenBusiness can help you form an LLC in Florida

ZenBusiness provides LLC creation services at a low cost and with a number of useful features. Most LLCs will benefit from two of these aspects in particular. All of ZenBusiness’s products include a year of complimentary registered agent service. With their Pro and Premium Packages, they offer ensure worry-free compliance. ZenBusiness will file your yearly report and notify you if there is anything further you need to do to be in compliance with the state under this assurance. For $119 per year, those with the basic package can purchase worry-free compliance.

ZenBusiness will help you form an LLC in Florida for $120. They have a customer satisfaction rating of 98 percent and over 4500 verified reviews.

You may also want to check out our full review of ZenBusiness here.

#2 – Create an LLC in Florida using Northwest Registered Agent

With decades of expertise, Northwest Registered Agent is an exceptional LLC creation service. They deliver excellent, well-informed customer service. Their biggest benefit, though, is the seclusion they provide. They don’t outsource any of their services to third parties, don’t sell your information, and even build their own code.

Northwest can help you form an LLC in Florida right now. They have a customer satisfaction rating of 98 percent and over 4150 verified reviews. They’ll come with a complimentary year of registered agent service!

And here’s our extended review of Northwest Registered Agent.

FAQs: Costs and Prices for Forming an LLC in Florida

Conclusion

The costs for getting an LLC in Florida aren’t that bad. In fact, it’s far more affordable than in many other states. Also, it is way cheaper to maintain a business in Florida than elsewhere.
Considering the tax climate – it is one of the most popular states in that regard.

In the event of a lawsuit or business collapse, forming a Florida LLC is a fantastic method to safeguard your personal assets. Fortunately, Florida makes forming an LLC simple and offers a favorable business climate. If you want to create a Florida LLC, simply follow the instructions above and you’ll be up and running in no time.

Alternatively, you may hire one of the professional services listed above to get everything taken care of for you.