The Florida Articles of Organization are the LLC forms that must be completed and filed with the state in order to create an LLC.
It is simple to file the Florida Articles of Organization
We’ll walk you through the process of submitting the Florida LLC Articles of Organization in three simple stages.
Get Forms for Your Articles of Organization
Complete the Articles of Organization Forms.
Forms of Articles of Organization must be filed.
Step 1: Obtain your Articles of Organization.
You may either download and send your Florida Articles of Organization or file online
Step two: Complete the Articles of Organization
We will assist you with completing the Florida Articles of Organization form in this phase.
To complete each step, you will need to know the following information:
Name and address of the entity
Name of the Registered Agent and the Address of the Registered Office
Type of Governing Authority
Date of Implementation
Name and address of the entity
A unique and clever company name is crucial, but it is not as necessary as a legally valid name.
When selecting a name for your company, you must ensure that the name:
fulfils Florida naming standards
is not currently in use by another Florida firm
Stick to the Florida Naming Guidelines:
The word “limited liability corporation” or one of its acronyms must be in your name (LLC or L.L.C.).
Your name cannot include wording hinting that the LLC was formed for an illegal or unstated reason in its articles of incorporation.
Your LLC’s name cannot include anything indicating that it is affiliated with a state or federal government agency or enterprise.
Certain prohibited terms (e.g., bank, attorney, university) may need extra documentation and the participation of a licenced professional in certain jurisdictions.
Except for some fake name registrations, general partnership registrations, and limited liability partnership declarations, your name must be different from any existing firm in the state.
Examine Name Availability:
Is your name accessible in the state of Florida? Do a name search on Florida’s SunBiz website to ensure that the name you choose isn’t already used.
Obtain a Domain Name:
We suggest that you check to see whether your company’s name is accessible as a web domain. Even if you don’t intend to create a company website right away, you may wish to purchase the URL to prevent others from doing so.
Registered Office and Registered Agent
A registered agent receives and transmits legal paperwork on behalf of your LLC. When you form your Florida LLC, you must provide your registered agent and registered office address.
Your registered agent may be anybody over the age of 18 who resides in Florida. During normal business hours, your registered agent must always be present at the registered office. A P.O. box cannot be used as your registered office address.
In addition to stating your registered agent and registered office, your registered agent must assent to their appointment by physically or electronically signing the Articles of Organization form. When filing online, your registered agent must either complete the “Registered Agent Signature” portion personally or provide the filer permission to do so on their behalf.
Governing Bodies
You will be asked for the name and address of the person(s) authorised to operate your Florida LLC while filing on Sunbiz or by mail. Only the management of LLCs should be included here.
If you leave the area “person(s) authorised to run your LLC” blank, the state will presume your LLC is member-managed, and member privacy will be fully safeguarded.
Unless the manager is a firm or an authorised representative, simply the manager’s name is necessary if your LLC will be manager-managed (such as a registered agent service.) You may preserve the privacy of your LLC managers by supplying just the information that is required.
You have until the due date of your LLC’s first annual report to determine how to administer your LLC. Before you submit Effective Date, read our guidance on member-managed and manager-managed LLCs.
If an effective date is specified, it cannot be more than five business days before or 90 calendar days after the date of filing.
Step 3: Submit the Articles of Incorporation.
You must submit the Articles of Organization with the Florida Division of Corporations to register your Florida LLC.
You may submit your Articles of Organization in two ways:
Fill out the forms online.
Send a physical copy by mail or in person.
Steps to Take After Forming Your Florida LLC
After filing your Articles of Organization, you should do the following:
Make a Business Agreement
Obtain an EIN
Establish a Business Bank Account
Purchase Licenses and Permits
Make a Business Agreement
A Florida LLC Operating Agreement is a legal document that details your LLC’s ownership structure and member functions.
Although an Operating Agreement is not necessary in Florida to incorporate an LLC, it is a good idea to have one. You may begin working on your operating agreement before, during, or after filing your Articles of Organization.
Your operating agreement will be held in the private business records of your LLC; you will not submit it with the state.
Obtain an EIN
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is your LLC’s equivalent of a social security number. If you want to recruit staff or create company bank accounts, you’ll need an EIN.
You may get your EIN for free by using the IRS website, fax, or mail. Read our What is an EIN article to discover more about EINs and how they might benefit your LLC.
Establish a Business Bank Account
It is critical to use specific business banking and credit accounts to safeguard your company’s corporate veil. When you combine your personal and company accounts, your personal assets (house, vehicle, and other possessions) are at danger if your LLC is sued.
Purchase Licenses and Permits
When forming an LLC, you should consider if your company requires any licences or permissions to operate legally. There are a few commercial operations that need licences or permissions on the federal level.
Learn how to secure the licences and permissions required for your company, or hire an expert to handle it for you:
Federal: For federal business licences and permits, see the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
State: Visit Florida’s Business Licensing page to apply for or learn more about licences, permits, and registration.
Local: Inquire with your county clerk regarding local licences and permissions.