Florida LLCs are still easy and worth it—no state tax on pass-through profits, personal stuff protected from business issues, low startup cost. Sunbiz.org (official site) lets you do most online for $125. But people mess up the basics all the time: name too close to something else, no good agent, skip annual report → late fees or dissolved company.
This hits searches like LLC forms Florida, open/register/start/create/file/set up an LLC in Florida, annual report fee, renewal, formation services, operating agreement forms, and the statute.
State fees are clear:
Florida Annual report: $138.75 by May 1 (late after? $538.75 with $400 penalty).
Ongoing: agent service $50–$150/year, EIN free, operating agreement template free.
DIY startup: $125–$300. No truly free way—the $125 state fee hits no matter what.
Main form to start: Articles of Organization (PDF cr2e047)—free on Sunbiz forms page. Fillable, print/sign if mailing.
All free at dos.fl.gov/sunbiz/forms/limited-liability-company/. Online e-file skips paper—go there.
Search.sunbiz.org—free/quick. Enter name (must have “LLC,” “Limited Liability Company,” etc.). If too similar, rejected. Add “FL,” “Group,” numbers. Check agent/officer too.
Physical FL street address (no PO box), available weekdays for legal mail. Self if you’re in FL (address public). Otherwise service: florida registered agent $79/year—their address public (privacy good), scans same day, forwards to portal, junk filtered, human support (call/WhatsApp/email Mon-Sat). Solid for no drama.
Online dos.fl.gov/sunbiz/start-business/efile/fl-llc—name, principal address (anywhere), agent (signed consent from service), management (member if solo). Pay $125. Approved days usually. Mail PDF alternative.
IRS.gov free after—quick online.
Not filed. Free templates: LLC University 2026 (member/manager Word/PDF—fill ownership/profits/rules, sign). eForms good too. Covers splits, decisions, exits.
Sales tax if selling (Florida Revenue). Bank account. BOI FinCEN report (free federal owner info, 90 days).
1–2 weeks DIY.
Renewal = annual report—no extra form.
If forms annoy you:
ZenBusiness/Northwest usually win reviews for Florida.
Not filed. Free:
Chapter 605, Florida Statutes (Revised LLC Act)—formation, management, dissolution. Full at leg.state.fl.us (search 605). Sunbiz follows it.
Sunbiz.org does searches, filings, annuals, forms. DIY cheap; service like FloridaAgents.net easier with privacy/help. Questions? Shoot.