ZenBusiness reviews its own products and services and compares them to others in the industry.
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If you’re looking for an excellent Florida LLC service then choose ZenBusiness. We’ve already formed 700,000+ businesses since 2017!
If you want a socially conscious Florida LLC service with a service discount, choose ZenBusiness.
Northwest Registered Agent charges $225 (plus state fee) for LLC filing services. That said, Northwest’s personalized customer support is a feature that could make their prices worth paying for some entrepreneurs.
Overall, Northwest does have some points in its favor. However, keep in mind that it charges $225 (plus your state’s required fee) for its LLC filing services.
Want to learn more? See this Northwest LLC review.
LegalZoom is one of the biggest names in the industry, with millions of customers served and frequent advertising efforts. LegalZoom provides an LLC filing package for free (plus the state’s fee).
LegalZoom is a huge company, so while it offers extended support hours, the quality of its customer support may vary a bit from representative to representative.
Want to learn more? See this LegalZoom LLC review.
Incfile/Bizee offers LLC formations for free, as long as you pay your state’s fee. Incfile and ZenBusiness have some similar characteristics, but there are also some significant differences that set the two apart.
If you’re looking for a cheap LLC formation service in Florida and ZenBusiness doesn’t feel right for some reason, Incfile/Bizee could be worth a closer look.
Want to learn more? See this Incfile/Bizee LLC review.
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*Processing times are based on receiving complete information. ZenBusiness processing times do not include Secretary of State processing times, which can vary.**SPECIAL OFFER – Get Starter for $0 plus state fees. Includes one optional free year of Worry-Free Compliance that renews at $199/yr.† ZenBusiness is a financial technology company and is not a bank. Banking services provided by Thread Bank, Member FDIC.
Technically speaking, you don’t have to use an LLC formation service like ZenBusiness or LegalZoom. These services are incredibly helpful, but you can save money by completing the process yourself.
You can read our complete guide to DIY an LLC setup in Florida, but here’s a quick look at the process:
Every LLC in Florida needs a name that’s memorable and gives potential clients a good idea of what goods or services are available. The name also needs to be unique — both for legal reasons and so your business stands out from the competition.
As we’ve mentioned in this guide, every LLC needs an agent who can accept service of process on your behalf. In all states, you can act as your own registered agent as long as you have a physical address in the state. That said, we generally recommend that you appoint someone else (like an online service) to act as your agent.
This document, once filled out and filed, officially forms your business in the state of Florida. You’ll need to provide some important information, including your contact information, your business address, signatures for your LLC’s members, and more. Florida has a $125 filing fee.
Setting up the LLC is as easy as 1-2-3; it’s the maintenance requirements that are a bit more complicated:
If you have employees, you’ll need to get an Employer Identification Number from the IRS. Then there are state-specific taxes, too. Florida does not have an individual income tax, so only LLCs that file as corporations will need to pay income taxes (5.5%). That said, Florida does have sales taxes to account for (6% plus local fees). You can find out more about these and other miscellaneous taxes at the Florida Department of Revenue.
Most Florida businesses will need to obtain a business license, but not on the state level. Instead, these licenses are obtained through the county tax collector. Plenty of businesses will also need to get professional licenses, which can be found at the Division of Library and Information Services.
Even single-member LLCs should create a “master document” that sets out how the business will operate, both now and in the future.
Each year, your LLC will need to file an annual report to update the state about the standing of your business. The report is due by May 1, and when you file, you’ll need to pay the accompanying $138.75 fee.
Every business with employees needs to maintain workers’ compensation insurance and a commercial vehicle policy for company-owned vehicles. You may also want to get a general business liability policy, too.
You should sign up for a business bank account so you can write checks and make purchases in the name of the business instead of pulling from your personal accounts (a legal no-no).
This is just the tip of the iceberg, though. For more detailed guidance, we recommend contacting an attorney or checking out the full Florida LLC Formation Guide.
LLCs are formal legal entities that are typically taxed similarly to sole proprietorships and general partnerships, in that the owners include any company profits or losses into their personal returns — the LLC itself does not owe income taxes. An LLC may also elect to be taxed like a corporation, although this is not a very common option. For more a more in-depth description see: What is an LLC?
In addition to the costs of a business formation service or hiring an attorney (which are optional, as we’ve discussed), there are quite a few other required and optional expenses when forming and maintaining a Florida business. You cannot form an LLC in Florida without filing the Articles of Organization, as this document is the one that officially registers your business within the state. Florida requires a $125 fee for this registration.
Your LLC will need to file an Annual Report every year. This simple filing keeps the state informed about some basic but vital business information, like your address and registered agent. The base fee is just $138.75, but if you file it late, Florida charges a hefty late fee of $400. Read more about Florida costs – Florida LLC costs.
FAQ's
Where Can I Get More Information About Forming LLCs in Florida?
We invite you to take a look at our comprehensive guide to forming a limited liability company in Florida. This article walks you through the LLC formation process in this state step by step, ensuring that you don’t miss any crucial elements.
How Can I Search Florida’s Business Name Database?
One of the most important steps in forming a Florida LLC is choosing a business name. Once you come up with ideas for your name, you should search through the state’s Division of Corporations business name search tool to make sure your desired name is available. For more information on conducting a business name search in Florida, check out our full article on the topic.
Where Can I Find the Florida Articles of Organization?
If you would like to file your Articles of Organization online, you can do so by using the Department of State’s e-filing portal. Alternately, if you would rather print off a paper form and fill it out. All you need to do once you’ve completed it is mail or hand-deliver it to the Department of State.
What Are Florida’s Ongoing LLC Maintenance Requirements?
All LLCs operating in the state of Florida are required to file an annual report, which is due by May 1 of each year. You can file this simple form online through the Division of Corporations website, and there is a fee of $138.75 attached to this filing.
Where Can I Get Information on Licensing for My Florida LLC?
To find out which permits and licenses are applicable to your business, head on over to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation website, where you can find extensive information about licensing requirements in this state.
How Quickly Can Florida Process My LLC Formation?
The Florida Division of Corporations website maintains a real-time document processing time page. At the time of this writing, the state was taking around 3-5 business days to process online filings, or 6-7 business days for a paper filing.
Which Company Provides the Best Florida Registered Agent Service?
If you want more details about what these companies can offer in this state, or you’d like to take a look at some other options, check out our complete guide to Florida registered agents.
How Can I Dissolve My Florida LLC?
Unfortunately, not all businesses last forever. If the time comes when you need to close your LLC’s doors, you’ll need to do so in a manner consistent with the state’s regulations. That’s why we wrote our guide to Florida LLC dissolutions, so you can complete the process in a compliant manner.
What if I Need to Expand a Business From Another State to Florida?
If your LLC already exists in another state, you don’t actually need to “form” it in Florida. Instead, you’ll need to foreign qualify the business in this state. This process is somewhat similar to LLC formation, but there are some crucial differences as well. Take a look at our guide to foreign qualifications in Florida for more information.
Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.
Written by Team ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness has helped people start, run, and grow over 700,000 dream companies. The editorial team at ZenBusiness has over 20 years of collective small business publishing experience and is composed of business formation experts who are dedicated to empowering and educating entrepreneurs about owning a company.
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