What information do Florida Articles of Organization require?

The Articles require the LLC name with a designator, the principal office and mailing address, the registered agent name and Florida street address with a signature, and the name and address of each person authorized to manage the LLC. An effective date is optional.

Florida Articles of Organization: LLC Filing & Fee (2026)

Q: How much does it cost to file Florida Articles of Organization?

The total cost is $125: a $100 filing fee plus a $25 registered agent designation fee, paid to the Florida Division of Corporations. A certified copy costs $30 and a certificate of status costs $5, both optional.

Q: Where do I file Florida Articles of Organization?

You file with the Florida Division of Corporations, part of the Department of State, through its Sunbiz online portal. Online filing is the fastest method; paper filing by mail is also accepted.

Q: Does a Florida LLC file an annual report?

Yes. Every Florida LLC must file an annual report with the Division of Corporations between January 1 and May 1 each year. The fee is $138.75, and filing after May 1 adds a $400 late fee.

Q: How long does it take to form a Florida LLC?

Online filings through Sunbiz are typically processed within a few business days, while paper filings take longer. Florida does not offer a separate paid expedite service for standard LLC filings.

Q: Do I need a registered agent for a Florida LLC?

Yes. Every Florida LLC must continuously maintain a registered agent with a Florida street address who accepts service of process. The agent is designated in the Articles of Organization and must sign to accept the appointment.

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

Florida Articles of Organization are the document that creates your LLC. You file them with the Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz), part of the Department of State, for $125 total - a $100 filing fee plus a $25 registered agent designation fee. File online at Sunbiz for the fastest turnaround. Every Florida LLC must then file an annual report of $138.75, due by May 1 each year.

Quick Answer

Document: Articles of Organization for a Florida LLC
Filing fee: $125 total ($100 filing + $25 registered agent designation)
Agency: Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz), Department of State
Registered agent: Required - Florida street address, must sign to accept
Annual report: $138.75, due Jan 1–May 1; $400 late fee after May 1
Governing law: Florida Statutes Chapter 605 (Revised LLC Act)

What the Articles of Organization Are

Under Florida's Revised Limited Liability Company Act (Chapter 605 of the Florida Statutes), an LLC is created by filing Articles of Organization with the Department of State. The Division of Corporations, which most people know by its website name Sunbiz, is the office that reviews and records the filing. Acceptance of the Articles is the legal act that brings the LLC into existence and starts its limited-liability protection. Florida uses the term "Articles of Organization," the same document Texas calls a Certificate of Formation. For the full formation walk-through, see how to form an LLC in Florida.

Filing Fee: $125 Total

The cost to file Florida Articles of Organization is $125, made up of two required parts: a $100 filing fee and a $25 registered agent designation fee. Two optional items are commonly ordered at the same time.

Item	Fee (2026)	Required?
Articles of Organization filing fee	$100	Yes
Registered agent designation	$25	Yes
Certified copy of the Articles	$30	Optional
Certificate of Status	$5	Optional

All amounts are set by the Florida Division of Corporations and are the same whether you file online or by mail. Confirm current amounts on the Division's fee schedule before paying. For the overall budget of running a Florida LLC, see how much an LLC costs.

What the Articles Require

Florida's Articles of Organization ask for a defined set of information:

LLC name - must include "Limited Liability Company," "LLC," or "L.L.C." and be distinguishable from names already registered with the Division.
Principal office and mailing address.
Registered agent - name and a Florida street address (not a P.O. box), plus the agent's signature accepting the appointment.
Managers or authorized members - the name and address of each person authorized to manage the LLC.
Effective date - optional; you may set it up to five business days before or 90 days after filing.

An organizer signs and submits the Articles. Once accepted, you receive an acknowledgment and can download the filed document from Sunbiz.

How to File on Sunbiz, Step by Step

Check the name. Run a Florida business entity search to confirm your name is distinguishable and available.
Line up a registered agent. Choose an individual Florida resident or an authorized business with a Florida street address who consents to serve as your registered agent.
File the Articles. Complete the Articles of Organization on Sunbiz and pay the $125 fee by credit card or Sunbiz account.
Save your records. Download the filed Articles and note your document number, which you will use for the annual report.
Handle post-formation steps. Get an EIN, adopt an operating agreement, and register for any taxes you owe.

Registered Agent Requirement

Every Florida LLC must continuously maintain a registered agent - an individual Florida resident or an authorized entity with a physical Florida street address who accepts service of process and official mail. The agent is named in the Articles and must sign to accept the role, which is why the $25 designation fee is mandatory rather than optional. You can act as your own agent, name a manager, or hire a commercial registered agent service. To change agents later, you file a Statement of Change with the Division. Failing to maintain an agent can lead the Department of State to administratively dissolve the LLC.

Annual Report and Ongoing Compliance

Filing the Articles is a one-time step, but Florida requires an annual report to keep the LLC active. It is due each year between January 1 and May 1, and the fee is $138.75. Filing after May 1 triggers a $400 late fee that Florida does not waive for LLCs, and continued failure to file leads to administrative dissolution in the fall. The annual report is not a tax filing - it simply confirms or updates your LLC's addresses, registered agent, and managers. See Florida business entity search to verify your status, and set a calendar reminder well before the May 1 deadline.

After Formation: EIN, Agreement, and Taxes

Once the Articles are accepted, three tasks typically follow. First, apply for a free federal EIN from the IRS to open a bank account and hire employees. Second, adopt an operating agreement; Florida does not file it, but it governs ownership and management internally. Third, register for state taxes as needed - Florida has no personal income tax, but an LLC that sells taxable goods or services must register for sales and use tax with the Florida Department of Revenue, and an LLC taxed as a corporation may owe Florida corporate income tax. By default the IRS treats a single-member LLC as a disregarded entity and a multi-member LLC as a partnership, with an S-corporation election available.

Choosing a Compliant Florida LLC Name

The name in your Articles must satisfy two rules. First, it must include a required designator - "Limited Liability Company," "LLC," or "L.L.C." Second, it must be distinguishable from every other name already on file with the Division of Corporations. Before you file, run a Florida business entity search on Sunbiz to confirm your preferred name is available; the search is free and shows close matches. Florida does not offer a formal name-reservation service for LLCs the way some states do, so the practical way to secure a name is to file the Articles promptly once you have confirmed it is clear. Keep in mind that a name that is distinguishable in Florida state records can still infringe someone else's federal trademark. If you intend to build a brand, a separate trademark clearance and, ideally, a registration protect the name in a way the Articles never do - the Articles only let you use the name in Florida, not exclude competitors nationwide.

Florida vs Other States: How Formation Differs

Florida's process is close to the national pattern but has its own quirks worth knowing. The document is called Articles of Organization, the same instrument Texas files as a Certificate of Formation; the substance is nearly identical even though the label differs. Florida's $125 formation cost sits in the middle of the national range, and its bundled $25 registered agent designation fee is a Florida particularity - many states fold that into a single filing fee. Where Florida stands out is the annual report: at $138.75 it is higher than several states' annual fees, and its $400 late fee for filing after May 1 is unusually steep and is not waived for LLCs, so the deadline matters more in Florida than almost anywhere else. Like Texas, Florida has no personal income tax, which is a common reason founders choose it. For the complete national picture and a state-by-state view, start at how to form an LLC and the general Articles of Organization explainer.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to file Florida Articles of Organization?

The total is $125: a $100 filing fee plus a $25 registered agent designation fee. A certified copy costs $30 and a certificate of status costs $5, both optional.

Where do I file Florida Articles of Organization?

With the Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz), part of the Department of State. Online filing is fastest; paper filing by mail is also accepted.

What information do the Articles require?

The LLC name with a designator, principal and mailing addresses, the registered agent's name and Florida street address with a signature, and the managers or authorized members.

Does a Florida LLC file an annual report?

Yes. It is due between January 1 and May 1 each year, the fee is $138.75, and filing after May 1 adds a $400 late fee.

How long does it take to form a Florida LLC?

Online Sunbiz filings are typically processed within a few business days; paper filings take longer.

Do I need a registered agent for a Florida LLC?

Yes. Every Florida LLC must maintain a registered agent with a Florida street address who signs to accept the appointment in the Articles.

Sources

Florida Division of Corporations - Start a Florida LLC (E-File) ($125 total; $100 filing + $25 registered agent).
Florida Division of Corporations - Articles of Organization Instructions (required fields; registered agent signature).
Florida Division of Corporations - Fees ($30 certified copy; $5 certificate of status).
Florida Division of Corporations - Annual Report ($138.75; Jan 1–May 1; $400 late fee).
Florida Division of Corporations - Sunbiz home (Division of Corporations).
Florida Legislature - Florida Statutes Chapter 605, Revised LLC Act.
Florida Legislature - Section 605.0201, formation of a Florida LLC.
Florida Legislature - Section 605.0113, registered agent requirement.
Florida Legislature - Section 605.0114, name distinguishability.
Florida Division of Corporations - Reinstatement (administrative dissolution and reinstatement).
Cornell Legal Information Institute - Registered agent.
Florida Department of Revenue - Florida Sales and Use Tax (registration for taxable sales).
Florida Department of Revenue - Florida Corporate Income Tax (LLCs taxed as corporations).
IRS - Limited Liability Company (LLC) (federal default classification).
IRS - Get an Employer Identification Number (free EIN).
Cornell Legal Information Institute - Limited Liability Company (LLC).

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. Laws, fees, and deadlines change; verify current requirements with the Florida Division of Corporations and Florida Department of Revenue before acting.