File Your Florida LLC Online Through Sunbiz.org

The fastest way to form your Florida LLC is filing online through Sunbiz.org — the Division of Corporations' electronic filing portal. Online submissions typically process in 1-2 business days, compared to 3-5 weeks for mailed paper filings. This guide walks through the entire Sunbiz.org online filing process field by field, so you know exactly what to expect before you start.

For the overall formation process and requirements, see our complete formation guide. For details on what information is required, see our Articles of Organization guide.

Before You Start: What You Need Ready

Have the following information prepared before beginning the online filing:

1. Your LLC name — Already searched and confirmed available on Sunbiz.org
2. Principal office address — Complete street address (can be a home address; can be outside Florida)
3. Mailing address — Where you want state correspondence sent (can be same as principal; P.O. box okay here)
4. Registered agent information — Full name and physical Florida street address of your registered agent; they must have agreed to serve
5. Management structure decision — Member-managed or manager-managed (see our LLC types guide if unsure)
6. Member/manager names and addresses — For each person who will be listed as a member (if member-managed) or manager (if manager-managed)
7. Credit or debit card — For the $125 filing fee payment

The entire online process takes 10-15 minutes if you have everything ready.

Step-by-Step Sunbiz.org Filing Process

Accessing the Filing System

1. Go to sunbiz.org
2. Click "Start a Business" in the top navigation
3. On the entity type selection page, choose "Florida Limited Liability Company"
4. The system presents the filing form in sections — you complete each section and advance to the next

Section 1: LLC Name

• Enter your full LLC name including the designator ("LLC" or "Limited Liability Company")
• The system performs an automatic name check — if a conflict is found, you will be alerted before you can proceed
• If you filed a name reservation, enter the reserved name exactly as it appears on your reservation confirmation

Section 2: Principal Office and Mailing Address

• Principal office: Enter the complete street address where the LLC's primary business is conducted. Must be a street address (not P.O. box). This address appears in the public record but does not need to be in Florida.
• Mailing address: Enter where you want Division correspondence sent. Can be the same as principal or different. P.O. boxes are acceptable for the mailing address.

Section 3: Registered Agent

• Agent type: Select whether your registered agent is an individual (Florida resident) or a business entity (authorized to transact business in Florida)
• Agent name: Full legal name of the individual or business entity
• Agent address: Physical street address in Florida — must be where documents can be hand-delivered during business hours. No P.O. boxes.
• Registered agent acceptance: You will confirm that the registered agent has agreed to serve (the system includes a statement to this effect)

Section 4: Management Structure

• Select "Member-managed" or "Manager-managed"
• This choice determines who has legal authority to bind the LLC:
  • Member-managed: All members can enter into contracts and make decisions on behalf of the LLC (§605.04074)
  • Manager-managed: Only designated managers have this authority (§605.04075)
• Most small Florida LLCs choose member-managed

Section 5: Authorized Representatives

• If you selected member-managed: Enter the name, address, and title of each member
• If you selected manager-managed: Enter the name, address, and title of each manager
• These names and addresses become part of the public record on Sunbiz.org
• You must list at least one person

Section 6: Effective Date

• Filing date (default): Your LLC becomes active when the Division processes the filing (1-2 business days)
• Future date: You can specify a future effective date up to 5 business days from the filing date. Useful if you want the LLC to officially start on a specific date (like the first of the month or the first of the year)

Section 7: Organizer

• Enter the name and address of the person submitting the filing
• The organizer does not need to be a member or manager — it can be an attorney, a formation service, or any authorized person
• The organizer's electronic signature (typed name) authorizes the filing

Section 8: Payment

• Filing fee: $125 (includes $100 Articles of Organization fee + $25 registered agent designation fee)
• Payment by credit card or debit card only for online filings
• Once payment processes, you receive a confirmation screen with your filing number

After Submission

Once you submit your filing and payment processes:

1. Immediate confirmation — You receive an on-screen confirmation with a filing number and the date submitted
2. Email confirmation — The Division sends a confirmation email to the address associated with your Sunbiz.org account
3. Processing (1-2 business days) — The Division reviews and processes your filing
4. Approval — Your LLC record appears on Sunbiz.org with status "Active" and your assigned document number (format: L + 8 digits)
5. Download filed Articles — Once processed, you can log in to Sunbiz.org and download your official filed Articles of Organization — this is your proof of formation

No paper certificate is mailed. For online filings, the Division does not send a physical document. Your downloadable electronic filing from Sunbiz.org is the official record and is accepted by banks, government agencies, and courts.

Why Online Is Better Than Mail

There is no additional fee for filing online — the $125 is the same whether you file electronically or by mail. Given the drastically faster processing and immediate documentation access, online filing through Sunbiz.org is the clear choice for nearly all filers.

Common Issues During Online Filing

Name conflict detected: The system's automatic name check identifies a conflict. Solution: try a different name or add a distinguishing word. See our name search guide for strategies.

Payment declined: The most common cause is a card issuer blocking an out-of-state transaction (the Division is in Tallahassee). Solution: contact your card company or try a different card.

Session timeout: The Sunbiz.org filing system can time out if you spend too long on a page. Solution: have all your information ready before starting. If you time out, you will need to start over (no draft is saved).

Registered agent address rejected: The system may flag certain address formats. Solution: ensure you are using a standard street address format — no P.O. boxes, include suite/unit numbers, use standard USPS abbreviations.

What Comes After Filing

Once your LLC is active on Sunbiz.org:

1. Draft your operating agreement — internal document, not filed with the state
2. Get your EIN — free from the IRS, apply online for immediate issuance
3. Open a business bank account — bring your downloaded Articles, EIN, and operating agreement
4. Register for sales tax if selling taxable goods or services (DR-1 with Department of Revenue)
5. Mark your calendar for the annual report — $138.75 due by May 1 starting the year after formation

FAQ

Is there a separate expedited fee for online filing?

No. Online filings through Sunbiz.org process in 1-2 business days at the standard $125 fee. There is no expedited tier for online submissions because the standard online timeline is already fast. Some older guides and third-party services reference a "$30 expedited" fee — this applied to paper filings and is no longer relevant for electronic submissions.

Can I save a draft and come back later?

No. The Sunbiz.org filing system does not save drafts. If you close the browser or the session times out, you will need to start over. This is why we recommend having all information ready before beginning. The actual filing takes only 10-15 minutes if prepared.

What email address should I use?

Use an email address you monitor regularly — this is where filing confirmations, rejection notices (rare), and annual report reminders will be sent. Many LLC owners use a dedicated business email. You can update the email on file later through your Sunbiz.org account.

Can I file outside of business hours?

Yes. Sunbiz.org accepts online filings 24/7. However, processing only occurs during Division of Corporations business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM ET). A filing submitted Friday evening will not be processed until the following Monday or Tuesday.