Filing directly means completing the online Articles of Organization yourself. The form asks for the LLC's name, its addresses, and a registered agent with a Florida street address who accepts the appointment. The Division's own filing instructions state that LLC formation is governed by section 605.0201 of the Florida Statutes and that the Division does not give legal advice, so the choices on the form are the filer's to make.
After the state approves the LLC, the IRS issues an Employer Identification Number (EIN) at no charge, and FinCEN states that companies formed in the United States are exempt from federal beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting. Keeping the LLC in good standing then comes down to one recurring task: the annual report, which the fee schedule lists at $138.75, rising to $538.75 if it is received after May 1.
A formation service mainly adds convenience, a commercial registered agent, and deadline reminders. For an owner who is comfortable filling in an online form and tracking one yearly deadline, filing directly on Sunbiz is entirely workable.
Florida LLC fees and requirements at a glance
| Item | Amount or requirement | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| New LLC filing (total) | $125 ($100 filing + $25 registered agent designation) | Division of Corporations, LLC fee schedule |
| Annual report | $138.75 | Division of Corporations, LLC fee schedule |
| Annual report received after May 1 | $538.75 (includes $400 late penalty) | Division of Corporations, LLC fee schedule |
| Amended annual report | $50 | Division of Corporations, LLC fee schedule |
| Certificate of Status | $5 | Division of Corporations, LLC fee schedule |
| Certified Copy | $30 | Division of Corporations, LLC fee schedule |
| Change of Registered Agent | $25 | Division of Corporations, LLC fee schedule |
| Articles of Correction | $25 | Division of Corporations, LLC fee schedule |
| EIN | $0, apply after the LLC is formed | IRS, Get an EIN |
| Federal BOI report | Not required for US-formed companies | FinCEN, BOI |
| Governing law | s. 605.0201, Florida Statutes | Division of Corporations, filing instructions |
How to file on Sunbiz yourself
1. Settle the name. Search the Division's business records on Sunbiz to see whether the name is already in use, then confirm the required designator and any restricted words in the Division's filing instructions before committing. Changing a name after filing means further paperwork, so this step is worth doing slowly.
2. Decide who will be the registered agent. Florida requires a registered agent with a Florida street address to receive official documents on the LLC's behalf. Many owners name themselves. Others use a commercial agent because they have no fixed Florida address, travel often, or prefer not to have their own address in the public record. Either way, the state charges the same $25 designation fee as part of the $125.00 total.
3. Complete the online Articles of Organization. Sunbiz's e-file system walks through the name, principal and mailing addresses, the registered agent and the agent's acceptance, and the people authorized to manage the company. Read the Division's instructions alongside the form. The Division's filing instructions state that it does not give legal advice, so decisions about how the LLC is managed and owned rest with the filer.
4. Pay the state fee. The fee schedule lists $125.00 for a new LLC. That is the whole state cost of formation. Check Sunbiz for current processing times and accepted payment methods before filing.
5. Get the EIN after approval. The IRS says to form the entity with the state first, then apply. The IRS issues EINs free of charge, so there is no reason to pay anyone for one.
6. Put the annual report on the calendar. The $138.75 annual report keeps the LLC in good standing. The fee schedule shows the cost jumping to $538.75 for a report received after May 1, a $400 penalty that is easy to avoid with a reminder. Check Sunbiz for the date the filing window opens each year.
Filing directly versus using a service
Filing directly costs $125.00 to form and $138.75 each year after, assuming the owner serves as registered agent. The work involved is one online form at formation and one short report each year. The main risks are a typo in the Articles (fixable with $25 Articles of Correction, per the fee schedule) and a missed annual report deadline.
A service charges the same state fee plus its own. ZenBusiness, as one example, offers a Starter plan at $0 plus the state fee, a Pro plan at $199 per year, and a Premium plan at $299 per year. Its registered agent service is separate on every tier, including Premium, at $199 per year, discounted to $99 for the first year when forming with the company. So forming through ZenBusiness with its agent comes to $125.00 plus $99 in the first year, then $199 per year for the agent after that, in addition to Florida's $138.75 annual report fee, which remains payable either way.
Where a service genuinely earns its fee is the registered agent role. An owner without a steady Florida address, or one who does not want a home address on the public record, has a real reason to pay for one. Owners in that position can compare ZenBusiness's LLC packages before filing. (statebystateformation.com may earn a commission on that link; it does not change the conclusion that filing directly works well for owners who can serve as their own agent.)
The IRS provides EINs at no cost, and FinCEN's exemption for US-formed companies means there is no federal BOI report to buy help with.
FAQ
What is the Florida LLC filing fee on Sunbiz?
The Division of Corporations fee schedule lists $125.00 in total: a $100 filing fee and a $25 registered agent designation fee. The fee is the same whether the owner files directly or through a service.
Can a Florida LLC file Articles of Organization online, and what are the fee and registered agent requirements?
Yes. The Articles of Organization can be filed online through Sunbiz. The $125.00 total includes the $25 registered agent designation fee, and the LLC must name a registered agent with a Florida street address who accepts the appointment. Changing the agent later costs $25, per the fee schedule.
How does Florida LLC online filing of Articles of Organization work on Sunbiz?
The owner completes the e-file form with the LLC's name, addresses, registered agent and management details, reviews it against the Division's instructions, and pays the state fee. Formation is governed by s. 605.0201, Florida Statutes. After approval, the next steps are getting a free EIN from the IRS and tracking the annual report.
What happens if the Florida annual report is late?
The fee schedule shows the $138.75 annual report fee becoming $538.75 if the report is received after May 1, which reflects a $400 late penalty.
Does a new Florida LLC need to file a BOI report?
No. FinCEN states that companies formed in the United States are exempt from federal beneficial ownership information reporting.
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 page is general information, not legal advice, and LLC requirements vary by state and change over time.