How to Start a Florida LLC

First, you’ll need to gather basic information about your LLC, including the names and addresses of the managers or members. The LLC members are typically the people who own and run the business. They are also the ones who can take profits out of the business to pay themselves.

You will need a distinctive and original name for your Florida LLC that’s not used by any other business in FL. To find out if another company is using your chosen business name, carry out a Florida business entity name search on the FL Department of State website.

There are a few rules you’ll need to follow when choosing an LLC name. You can find out more in our guide to searching for and naming your Florida LLC.

Learn about Florida LLC business naming rules.

Every Florida LLC must have a designated street address. That could be your home address (if you’re running the company from your residence), your company’s office building or any physical address of your preference. The address can be outside the state of Florida, but it cannot be a P.O. Box.

Every FL LLC must have a “Registered Agent.” This is an official position; the Registered Agent is someone who receives official legal and tax correspondence and has responsibility for filing reports with the Florida Department of State.

This position can be filled by you, another manager in the business or a dedicated Registered Agent service. Your FL Registered Agent must have a physical street address in Florida and must be present to receive important documents for your company during business hours.

At Incfile, all of our packages include a Florida Registered Agent service that is free for the first year and just $119 per year afterward. We also have a dashboard where you can log in and easily view any document your Registered Agent has received on your behalf.

Learn more about Florida Registered Agents.

You will need an EIN to identify your business to the IRS. You use this number when filing and paying taxes or when submitting payroll information and payments for your employees. You can obtain one directly from the IRS, or we can get one for you as part of the Florida LLC business formation process.

Once you've gathered all the information for your Florida LLC, you’ll need to file a formal document with the FL Department of State. This document is known as your “Articles of Organization,” and filing the document creates your Florida LLC. Here’s what is typically included:

• Your business name and address

• Details of your Registered Agent

• Names of managers or members of the LLC at the time of filing

• Addresses of managers or members of the LLC at the time of filing

You can file your Florida LLC Articles of Organization online, mail in a form or have Incfile do it on your behalf. There is a fee to file and start an LLC in Florida. You only need to file your Articles of Organization once.

Form Your LLC Now

In Florida, you also have the option to set up a “Series LLC” — these are specialized LLCs designed to allow you to manage multiple separate LLCs under one master, umbrella LLC. These can be very useful if you don’t want to set up a separate Florida LLC for every individual business you run.

Decide if a Florida Series LLC is right for your new business.

Some states, including Florida, allow certain occupations to form “Professional LLCs.” These types of business typically have special requirements and licensing. Here are some of the occupations that the FL Department of State allows to form Florida professional LLCs:

• Certified public accountants
• Public accountants
• Chiropractic physicians
• Dentists
• Osteopathic physicians
• Physicians and surgeons
• Doctors of medicine
• Doctors of dentistry
• Podiatric physicians
• Chiropodists
• Architects
• Veterinarians
• Attorneys at law
• Life insurance agents

If your business is already operating in another state and expanding to Florida, you’ll need to form a foreign LLC.

More information on Florida filing and licensing requirements can be found here.