Florida · Articles of Organization for Florida Limited Liability Company

Florida Articles of Organization for an LLC

The articles of organization are the document that creates a Florida limited liability company. They are filed with the Florida Department of State's Division of Corporations, almost always online through Sunbiz, under section 605.0201 of the Florida Statutes. The state's charge is $125: a $100 filing fee plus $25 to designate the registered agent.

Florida's form is one of the shorter ones. The questions that trip people up are the registered agent's acceptance, which the agent has to sign (or type) on the articles, and the effective date, which can be used to push a late-year formation into January and skip a year's annual report.

Have the Articles of Organization prepared and filed for you

We fill every field the way Sunbiz expects, check the name first and submit it. State fee: $125, itemized before you pay.

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Private filing service, not the Florida Department of State. The official form and portal are at dos.fl.gov/sunbiz/start-business/efile/fl-llc, and the state's fee is the same if you file there yourself.

What Articles of Organization Asks For

1.Article I: NameMust contain Limited Liability Company, LLC or L.L.C., and be distinguishable from the names on the Division's records. Professional LLCs use PLLC and state one specific professional purpose.
2.Article II: Principal office and mailing addressA street address for the principal office; a separate mailing address if different. Either can be outside Florida.
3.Article III: Registered agentName and Florida street address (no PO box). The agent accepts the appointment by signing, or by typing their name when filing on Sunbiz. A member or manager can serve; the LLC cannot be its own agent.
4.Article IV: Managers or authorized representatives (optional)Names and addresses of managers (MGR) or authorized representatives (AR). Not required by statute, but banks often expect a manager on the public record before opening an account.
5.Article V: Effective date (optional)Up to five business days before, or 90 days after, the Division receives the filing. A January 1 effective date on an October to December filing defers the first annual report by a year.
6.Authorized representative signatureAt least one person authorized to execute and file records signs (typed name online). A filing service commonly signs as the authorized representative.
7.Correspondence name and emailWhere Sunbiz sends the acknowledgment and, each year, the annual report notice.

Why Florida Rejects It

A name that is the same as or not distinguishable from an existing Florida entity.
A registered agent with a PO box or out-of-state address, or no agent acceptance signature.
A professional LLC without a specific professional purpose stated.
An effective date outside the allowed window.
Payment short of the $125 fee.

A rejection costs days, sometimes a second fee, and in a few states the name you wanted. Our name check and field review happen before the form goes to Sunbiz, which is most of what you pay us for.

After the State Files It

The Division of Corporations files the articles and emails the acknowledgment letter; the filed document is viewable on Sunbiz. Current processing dates are posted on the Division's site.
Optional extras at filing: a certified copy ($30) and a certificate of status ($5).
From the year after formation (or after the effective date), the LLC owes a Florida annual report between January 1 and May 1, for $138.75. Filing after May 1 adds a $400 late fee set by statute, and companies still unfiled by the fourth Friday in September are administratively dissolved.
Florida has no state income tax on LLCs taxed as partnerships or disregarded entities and no newspaper publication requirement.

More on filing in Florida: Florida LLC filing through Sunbiz.

Articles of Organization Questions

Where do I file Florida articles of organization?+

On Sunbiz, the Florida Division of Corporations' filing portal, at dos.fl.gov/sunbiz. Paper filing by mail is accepted but slower. The fee is the state's either way; we charge only for preparing and submitting the articles for you.

Does Florida require members to be listed?+

No. Article IV is optional. Many owners list themselves as manager or authorized representative anyway because banks look for a named person on the public record when opening the company's account.

What is the effective date trick?+

Florida lets you set an effective date up to 90 days after the filing is received. A company filed in October with a January 1 effective date is not on the books for the current year, so its first annual report is due the year after next, saving one $138.75 report.

What does it cost to have you file it?+

One flat service fee plus Florida filing & processing, which covers the state's $125 and the card and portal processing that goes with it. Both lines show on the checkout page before you pay.

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The Articles of Organization prepared and submitted for you. State filing & processing itemized before you pay.

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America LLC Filing is a private filing service, not affiliated with the Florida filing office or any government agency.