The cheapest way to form an LLC in Florida is to file the Articles of Organization yourself on Sunbiz.org for $125, act as your own registered agent, and get your EIN straight from the IRS for free. That’s the whole bill. Most people end up somewhere between $125 and $300 in the first year, and anything past $500 usually means you paid for extras you didn’t need.
What does a Florida LLC actually cost?
Three costs are unavoidable. Everything else is optional.
| Fee | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization | $125 | One-time filing fee to the state |
| Registered agent | $0 – $150/year | Free if you serve as your own |
| Annual report | $138.75/year | Due every year by May 1 |
And the extras you might see:
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Operating agreement | $0 – $200 | Free templates are available |
| EIN (tax ID) | $0 | Free from the IRS |
| Certified copies | $30 | Sometimes required for banking |
| Certificate of Status | $5 | Proof your LLC is in good standing |
| Name reservation | $25 | Holds a name for 120 days |
Minimum first-year cost: $125. Typical first-year cost: $125 to $300.
The cheapest way to form an LLC in Florida: do it yourself
Filing on your own through Sunbiz.org, the Florida Division of Corporations site, takes an hour or two if you’re careful. Here’s the order we’d follow.
- Search your name for free on Sunbiz.org to make sure it’s available.
- Gather your details: the LLC name (it must include “LLC” or “Limited Liability Company”), principal address, mailing address, your registered agent’s name and Florida street address, and the names and addresses of members or managers.
- On Sunbiz, click “Start a Business,” choose “Florida Limited Liability Company,” complete the form and pay the $125 fee by credit card.
- Apply for your EIN on the IRS website. It’s instant and free.
- Write an operating agreement from a free template.
- List yourself as registered agent, if you have a Florida street address.
Total: $125.
Florida doesn’t require an operating agreement, but don’t skip it. It sets ownership percentages and how decisions get made, it supports your liability protection, and most banks ask for one before they’ll open a business account.
Being your own registered agent is the biggest single saving, $100 to $150 a year. You need a physical Florida street address (no P.O. boxes) and someone there during business hours to receive legal papers.
Where do people overspend?
Mostly on things that are free. EIN filing is always free from the IRS, so never pay a service extra for it. The application takes about 5 minutes. Name searches on Sunbiz are free. Basic operating agreement templates are free.
The other leak is add-ons:
- Business license packages. Most Florida businesses don’t need a state license. Check your industry before buying anything.
- Compliance packages. The only recurring state deadline for most LLCs is the annual report on May 1. A calendar reminder handles that.
- Corporate kits. A $50 to $100 binder. A regular folder holds your documents just as well.
- Expedited filing. Standard processing takes 2 to 3 business days. You rarely need it faster.
Registered agent services also vary a lot, from $50 to $300+ a year. If you need one, there’s no reason to pay the top of that range.
Should you skip the name reservation?
Usually, yes. A reservation costs $25 and only holds the name for 120 days. If you’re ready to file, just file. The name is yours once the LLC is approved.
The same logic applies to how you file. Online and mail filing both cost $125, but online approval comes back faster (2 to 3 days versus 5 to 7 by mail). There’s no reason to mail it.
When is spending more worth it?
Cheap isn’t always smart. There are four cases where we’d pay.
You want privacy. If you’re your own registered agent, your address goes on the public record. A registered agent service puts its address there instead, for about $50 to $150 a year.
You don’t live in Florida. Then you can’t be your own registered agent, and a service is required.
Your ownership is complicated. Multiple members, unusual ownership splits or custom profit-sharing deserve an attorney-drafted operating agreement, typically $200 to $500. A free template won’t cover those terms well.
Your time is expensive. If an hour or two of filing costs you more than $100 to $200 an hour in lost work, paying a service makes sense.
What do low-cost formation services charge?
Start your Florida LLC with IncCraft for $0 plus the $125 state fee. That includes:
- Articles of Organization filing
- An operating agreement template
- EIN filing help
- Registered agent service for the first year
- Compliance reminders
Other services advertise prices like these:
| Service | Base price | Total with state fee |
|---|---|---|
| IncCraft | $0 | $125 |
| ZenBusiness | $0 | $125 |
| Northwest | $39 | $164 |
| Incfile | $0 | $125 |
A $0 base price doesn’t mean $0 at checkout. Read what’s included, and watch for upsells on registered agent service, expedited filing and compliance packages.
Which costs show up after you form?
The annual report catches people. Every Florida LLC owes $138.75 by May 1 each year. Miss it and you’ll owe a $400 late fee, and keep missing it and the state can administratively dissolve the LLC. Set a reminder for April 1. Avoiding that one late fee saves you more than any formation discount ever will.
Depending on your industry and city, you may also need a local business tax receipt ($25 to $100), a professional license or an industry permit. And most business bank accounts charge $10 to $25 a month, though many waive it if you keep a minimum balance, and some online banks don’t charge at all. Compare before you open one.
Is Florida cheap compared to other states?
It’s in the middle.
| State | Filing fee | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | $125 | $138.75 |
| Texas | $300 | $0 |
| California | $70 | $800 (minimum tax) |
| New York | $200 | $25 |
| Delaware | $90 | $300 |
| Wyoming | $100 | $60 |
The $125 filing fee is reasonable, and $138.75 a year beats states with a franchise tax like California and Delaware.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the absolute minimum to start a Florida LLC?
$125, the state filing fee. Be your own registered agent, get your EIN free from the IRS and use a free operating agreement template.
Are $0 LLC formation services really free?
The service fee is, but you still pay the $125 state fee. Read the fine print for paid registered agent renewals, expedited filing and compliance packages.
Do I need a lawyer to form my LLC?
Not for a simple single-member LLC. For complex ownership or a partnership arrangement, legal advice is worth paying for.
Why do some services charge $300+ when I can file for $125?
They bundle registered agent service, operating agreements, compliance monitoring and support. Decide whether those extras are worth it to you.
Our pick
If you have a Florida address and an afternoon, file it yourself on Sunbiz for $125. If you’d rather hand it off without paying for padding, IncCraft’s free LLC formation costs only the $125 state fee, with no hidden costs or pushy upsells.
Either way, the bill that really matters comes later: $138.75 every year by May 1. Put that date in your calendar the day your LLC is approved.
Get started with IncCraft and pay just the state fee.