Florida Secretary of State
Form your Florida LLC, Corporation, or Nonprofit with chat-first AI business formation. State filing, registered agent, EIN, and ongoing compliance workflows — connected from the start.
Florida Business Filing Overview
The Division of Corporations is the state authority responsible for registering LLCs, corporations, nonprofits, and other business entities in Florida. The standard LLC formation fee is $125 with a processing time of 3-5 days. Online filing is available.
No state personal income tax. Florida LLC filings can be submitted online through Sunbiz or by mail using the official Articles of Organization PDF.
DIY LLC Formation Guide Available
Forming an LLC in Florida yourself? Follow our step-by-step Florida LLC DIY Guide , complete with official form downloads, filing portals, state fees, and annual report requirements.
Official Florida Filing Resources
Use these official state resources to review current requirements or prepare a mail-in filing.
Florida Entity Requirements
State-specific governance rules for Florida LLCs, Corporations, and Nonprofits.
Members
| Minimum required | 1 |
|---|---|
| Residency required | No |
Management Structure
| Default | Member Managed |
|---|
Can be structured as manager-managed under the operating agreement or articles of organization
Operating Agreement
| Required to file | No |
|---|
Not filed with the state; written operating agreement strongly recommended
Annual Meeting
| Required | No |
|---|
No statutory annual meeting requirement for LLCs
Formation Filings in Florida
These are the primary documents filed with the Division of Corporations to create a new legal entity. Each entity type has different requirements, fees, and processing times.
Articles of Incorporation
Corporation| Agency: | Division of Corporations |
|---|---|
| Filing Fee: | $70 + processing fee if filing online |
| Processing Time: | 3-5 days |
| Filing Method: | Online or Mail |
| Expedited: | Yes — $30 for 24 hours processing |
What to know
- Includes authorized shares and par value
- Names the registered agent
- Sets the corporation's purpose
Articles of Organization
LLC| Agency: | Division of Corporations |
|---|---|
| Filing Fee: | $125 + processing fee if filing online |
| Processing Time: | 3-5 days |
| Filing Method: | Online or Mail |
| Law: | Fla. Stat. §605.0201 |
Florida requires the LLC name, principal street address, mailing address if different, Florida registered agent name/street address and acceptance, signature of an authorized person, correspondence name/email, and optional effective date. Current Sunbiz instructions say not to list members; managers (MGR) or authorized representatives (AR) may be listed when needed. Professional LLCs must list one specific professional purpose.
What to know
- Names the registered agent and required filing contact information
- Sets the registered office address
- May include an optional effective date
Articles of Incorporation (Nonprofit)
Nonprofit| Agency: | Division of Corporations |
|---|---|
| Filing Fee: | $70 + processing fee if filing online |
| Processing Time: | 3-5 days |
| Filing Method: | Online or Mail |
Must register with FL Dept. of Agriculture charitable registration before soliciting.
What to know
- Public benefit purpose statement required
- Asset dedication language for IRS
- Members or directors structure
Foreign Qualification
LLCCorporation| Agency: | Division of Corporations |
|---|---|
| Filing Fee: | $125 + processing fee if filing online |
| Processing Time: | 3-5 days |
| Filing Method: | Online or Mail |
What to know
- Required when operating, hiring employees, or owning property in another state
- Needs Certificate of Good Standing from home state
- Creates registered agent and annual report obligations in the new state
Ongoing Compliance in Florida
After formation, Florida entities must maintain ongoing filings to remain in good standing. Missing deadlines can result in late fees, administrative dissolution, and loss of liability protection.
Annual Report
LLCCorporationNonprofit| Agency: | Division of Corporations |
|---|---|
| Filing Fee: | $138.75 + processing fee if filing online |
| Processing Time: | Immediate |
| Filing Method: | Online or Mail |
| Due Date: | May 1 |
| Filing Period: | Annual |
$400 late fee if filed after May 1. Administrative dissolution if not filed by September 30.
What to know
- Due date varies by state (often anniversary date or fixed month)
- Filing fees range $10–$825 by state
- Failure to file results in administrative dissolution
Amendment to Formation Documents
LLCCorporationNonprofit| Agency: | Division of Corporations |
|---|---|
| Filing Fee: | $25 + processing fee if filing online |
| Processing Time: | 3-5 days |
| Filing Method: | Online or Mail |
What to know
- Board or member approval typically required
- Certified copy may be needed for banks and contracts
- Most states allow online amendment filing
Articles of Dissolution
LLCCorporationNonprofit| Agency: | Division of Corporations |
|---|---|
| Filing Fee: | $25 + processing fee if filing online |
| Processing Time: | 3-5 days |
| Filing Method: | Online or Mail |
| Tax Clearance: | Not required |
What to know
- May require tax clearance before filing
- Assets must be distributed before dissolution
- Protects against future liability claims
Change of Registered Agent
LLCCorporationNonprofit| Agency: | Division of Corporations |
|---|---|
| Filing Fee: | $25 + processing fee if filing online |
| Processing Time: | 3-5 days |
| Filing Method: | Online or Mail |
What to know
- Must be maintained at all times
- Registered agent must be available during business hours
- Can be an individual or registered agent service
Document Retrieval in Florida
Certified documents from the Division of Corporations are often required by banks, investors, lenders, and for foreign qualification in other states.
Certificate of Good Standing
LLCCorporationNonprofit| Agency: | Division of Corporations |
|---|---|
| Filing Fee: | $8.75 + processing fee if filing online |
| Processing Time: | Same day |
| Filing Method: | Online or Mail |
What to know
- Required by most banks when opening accounts
- Needed for foreign qualification in other states
- Typically valid for 30–90 days
Apostille
LLCCorporationNonprofit| Agency: | Division of Corporations / Secretary of State |
|---|---|
| Filing Fee: | $10 |
| Processing Time: | 3-5 days |
| Filing Method: | Mail Only |
What to know
- Required for international business expansion
- Issued by Secretary of State office
- Attaches to formation documents and good standing certificates
Florida Tax Snapshot
Understanding Florida's tax environment is critical for choosing the right formation state and planning your entity's ongoing obligations.
Florida has no personal income tax. Corporate income tax rate is 5.5%. State sales tax 6%; local surtaxes add 0–2.5%. Annual report must be filed by May 1 to avoid $400 late fee.
Florida Agency Directory
Key government agencies for Florida business formation, tax registration, and employer compliance.
Division of Corporations
Primary filing authority for Florida business entities
Division of Corporations (Sunbiz)
Entity formation, annual reports, trademarks, UCC
Florida Department of Revenue
Sales and use tax, corporate income tax, reemployment tax
Florida Department of Economic Opportunity
Unemployment compensation, employer registration
Florida Department of Agriculture — Consumer Services
Charitable solicitation registration
Form your Florida entity today.
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