Frequently Asked Questions About Starting a Florida LLC

To form an LLC in Florida, you need a business name that includes "LLC" or "Limited Liability Company," a Florida street address for your principal office, and a registered agent with a physical Florida address. You'll file Articles of Organization with the Florida Division of Corporations through Sunbiz.org and pay the state filing fee.

Before filing, search the Sunbiz name database to confirm your proposed name isn't already in use. Your name is secured when the Division of Corporations accepts your Articles — Florida doesn't offer a separate name reservation process for LLCs.

Yes. You can file your Articles of Organization entirely online through Sunbiz.org, the Florida Division of Corporations' official portal. Once you've gathered the required information — business name, principal address, registered agent details, and management structure — the entire filing process happens online.

Sunbiz also handles annual reports, fictitious name registrations, Certificates of Status, and dissolutions — so it's the main portal you'll use throughout the life of your LLC.

The form you need is called the Articles of Organization. You file it with the Florida Division of Corporations through Sunbiz.org. The form asks for your LLC name, principal office address, registered agent information, and the names of any managers or authorized representatives.

Your Florida LLC name is registered automatically when the Division of Corporations accepts your Articles of Organization. There's no separate name registration step. Before filing, run a name search on Sunbiz to confirm your proposed name is distinguishable from existing entities on the state's records.

Yes. Florida law requires every LLC to designate and continuously maintain a registered agent with a physical street address in Florida — a P.O. box isn't allowed. The registered agent receives service of process, legal documents, and official state correspondence on behalf of your LLC during regular business hours.

You can serve as your own registered agent if you have a Florida street address and can be available during business hours. Many business owners use a professional registered agent service to keep their personal address off public records.

It depends. Florida law doesn't require a written operating agreement for your LLC to exist or stay in good standing. Without one, your LLC is governed by the default rules in Chapter 605 of the Florida Statutes. That said, most attorneys recommend having a written operating agreement — it governs how your business operates, who controls it, and what happens when members disagree or exit.

The operating agreement isn't filed with the state and isn't a public record. It's a private contract among the members. If you have more than 1 member, putting the terms in writing early is worth the effort — it's much harder to sort out disputes without one.

It depends on your LLC's structure. Multi-member Florida LLCs must have a federal Employer Identification Number (EIN). Single-member LLCs don't strictly need one unless they'll hire employees or elect corporate tax treatment — but getting an EIN is still a good idea. Most banks require one to open a business bank account, and it keeps your Social Security number off business documents.

You can apply for an EIN directly through the IRS online application at no cost. The IRS issues the EIN immediately upon completing the online form. You can also apply by filing Form SS-4 by fax or mail.

It depends on where you operate and what your business does. Florida doesn't have a single statewide general business license. Most Florida LLCs need a local business tax receipt — sometimes called an occupational license — from the county or city where they operate. Regulated professions and trades often require additional state-level licenses from agencies like the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

The licenses your LLC needs depend on your industry, location, and the products or services you sell. Check with your county tax collector's office and the Florida Department of State's licensing resources to figure out what applies to your business.

Generally, no — not at the entity level. Florida LLCs are pass-through entities by default, meaning the LLC itself doesn't pay state or federal income tax. Profits and losses pass through to the members, who report them on their individual federal tax returns. Florida also has no state income tax, which is one reason many entrepreneurs choose to form here.

Your LLC may still owe Florida sales tax if it sells taxable goods or services, and members owe federal self-employment tax (15.3%) on their share of net earnings. A tax professional can help you figure out which taxes apply to your specific situation.

Florida LLCs don't pay state income tax — Florida has no personal income tax. At the federal level, members pay income tax at their individual rates (starting at 10%) and self-employment tax at 15.3% on net earnings. If your LLC sells taxable goods or services, Florida sales tax applies at a base rate of around 6%, with local surtaxes that vary by county.

Members also need to pay estimated taxes to the IRS 4 times a year to cover federal income and self-employment tax. A tax professional can help you figure out your estimated payment amounts and due dates.

You register for a sales tax ID and file Florida sales tax through the Florida Department of Revenue. Use Form DR-1 — the Florida Business Tax Application — to register your LLC for sales and use tax. Once registered, you'll file returns and remit tax through the Department of Revenue's online portal.

Yes. Florida LLCs must file an annual report with the Division of Corporations every year to stay active on the state's records. The standard filing fee is $138.75 if you file by May 1. Miss that deadline and a mandatory $400 late fee kicks in, bringing the total to $538.75. Annual reports must be filed online through Sunbiz — paper filings are no longer accepted.

The annual report isn't a financial statement — it's an informational filing that confirms or updates your LLC's principal address, registered agent, and management details. You can file as early as January 1 each year. If your LLC doesn't file, the Division of Corporations can administratively dissolve it.

Florida LLCs should keep their formation and governance records permanently — that includes the Articles of Organization, any amendments, and the operating agreement. For tax and financial records, the general best practice is to retain returns, profit and loss statements, balance sheets, general ledgers, receipts, and invoices for at least 7 years from the date each return is filed.

No. Florida does not allow the formation of series LLCs. Series LLCs are only available in a limited number of states, including Delaware, Texas, Nevada, Illinois, and Tennessee, among others. If a series LLC structure is important to your business plan, talk to a legal professional about your options.

Most Florida LLC filings go through Sunbiz.org, the Florida Division of Corporations' online portal. That includes your Articles of Organization, annual reports, fictitious name registrations, Certificates of Status, and dissolutions. The portal handles the full lifecycle of your LLC's state filings in one place.