The Short Answer
The order matters more than any single step. The IRS says to form the entity with the state first and apply for the EIN afterward. A business bank account comes after both. Most filing problems come from reaching a step before the thing it depends on exists.
Plan for two ongoing items from the start. Florida charges $138.75 for the annual report. According to the same fee schedule, a report received after May 1 costs $538.75, which includes a $400 late penalty. On the federal side, FinCEN's final beneficial ownership rule took effect on August 14, 2026. Under it, companies formed in the United States are exempt from BOI reporting, so a Florida LLC has nothing to file there.
Section 605.0201 of the Florida Statutes governs formation. The Division of Corporations states in its filing instructions that it does not give legal advice. Questions about structure or taxes go to your own advisor, not to Sunbiz.
Florida LLC Fees and Requirements at a Glance
| Item | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization filing fee | $100.00 | Florida Department of State, LLC fee schedule |
| Registered agent designation | $25.00 | Florida Department of State, LLC fee schedule |
| Total to form a new LLC | $125.00 | Florida Department of State, LLC fee schedule |
| Annual report | $138.75 | Florida Department of State, LLC fee schedule |
| Annual report received after May 1 | $538.75 (includes $400 late penalty) | Florida Department of State, LLC fee schedule |
| Amended annual report | $50.00 | Florida Department of State, LLC fee schedule |
| Certificate of Status | $5.00 | Florida Department of State, LLC fee schedule |
| Certified Copy | $30.00 | Florida Department of State, LLC fee schedule |
| Change of Registered Agent | $25.00 | Florida Department of State, LLC fee schedule |
| Articles of Correction | $25.00 | Florida Department of State, LLC fee schedule |
| EIN | $0 (free) | IRS, Get an Employer Identification Number |
| Federal BOI report | Not required for US-formed companies (final rule effective August 14, 2026) | FinCEN, Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting |
Filing the Florida LLC Step by Step
1. Choose and check the name
Search existing Sunbiz records before filing to confirm the name is available. The Division of Corporations sets out the naming requirements in its instructions for Articles of Organization (read September 28, 2026). Read them before you settle on a name.
2. Decide who will serve as registered agent
The registered agent receives legal papers on the LLC's behalf and needs a physical Florida address. You can name yourself if you meet the requirements the Division of Corporations publishes in its instructions for Articles of Organization (read September 28, 2026). The agent's name and address go on the public record.
If you have no Florida address, or would rather not list your own on the public record, this is the one step where a paid service does something you can't do yourself. You can form your LLC with ZenBusiness and use its registered agent service.
3. File the Articles of Organization on Sunbiz
File online through the Division of Corporations and pay the $125.00 listed on its LLC fee schedule (read September 28, 2026). The Division's instructions for Articles of Organization (read the same date) list each field on the form. The fee schedule does not state a processing time, so the only way to know how long approval takes is to file and watch for it.
4. Get the EIN from the IRS after approval
Apply directly with the IRS once the state has approved the LLC. The IRS's EIN page (read September 28, 2026) states that an EIN costs $0, warns against paying a third party for one, and says to form the entity with the state first.
5. Open the business bank account
Open the account only after you have the approved LLC and the EIN. No government office publishes a bank's document list. Each bank sets its own, so the list is only knowable by asking the bank you plan to use.
6. Put the annual report on the calendar
The Division of Corporations' LLC fee schedule (read September 28, 2026) lists the annual report at $138.75, and at $538.75 if it is received after May 1. The $400 difference is the most avoidable cost of owning a Florida LLC.
DIY Versus a Formation Service
Filing yourself costs the state's $125.00 at formation, plus $0 for the EIN. If you serve as your own registered agent, you pay nothing more to form.
ZenBusiness's Starter plan is $0 plus the state fee, so the $125.00 still applies. Its Pro plan is $199 per year and Premium is $299 per year. On every tier, including Premium, the registered agent is a separate $199 per year service. That price drops to $99 for the first year when you form with ZenBusiness. So Starter with the agent service costs $224 in the first year ($125 state fee plus $99). Some older pages, including ZenBusiness's own help centre, still show a $399 Premium tier with the agent bundled. That pricing is out of date.
A service does not lower the state fee, does not make the EIN any cheaper, and does not file the annual report for you unless the plan you choose says so. Check each tier's page for what it includes. The main difference is who appears as the registered agent on the public record.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Florida LLC filing fee for Sunbiz Articles of Organization?
The Florida Department of State's fee schedule lists a $100 filing fee for the Articles of Organization. A $25 registered agent designation fee brings the total to $125.00.
What does it cost to file Florida LLC Articles of Organization on Sunbiz with a registered agent in 2026?
The state charges $125.00 in total, which covers the $100 filing fee and the $25 registered agent fee. If you serve as your own agent, that is the full cost. A paid agent service costs extra. ZenBusiness, for example, charges $199 per year, or $99 for the first year.
Are domestic LLCs exempt from FinCEN beneficial ownership information reporting in 2026?
Yes. FinCEN's final rule, effective August 14, 2026, exempts entities created in the United States from BOI reporting. A Florida LLC is created in the United States and has no federal BOI report to file. New York's own LLC Transparency Act likewise applies only to LLCs formed under the law of a foreign country.
Does an EIN cost anything?
No. The IRS issues EINs for $0. Apply only after the state approves the LLC.
Sources
- Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations, “LLC Fees”
- Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations, “Instructions for Articles of Organization (FL LLC)”
- Internal Revenue Service, “Get an employer identification number”
- Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, “Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting”
This is general information, not legal advice. Requirements vary by state and change over time.