Registered agent for a Florida LLC
Data last updated: Apr 22, 2026The quick read on Florida registered agents
Every Florida LLC is legally required to maintain a registered agent with a physical street address in the state. The role is to receive service of process (lawsuit papers), state tax notices, and other official government mail on the LLC's behalf. You can serve as your own agent if you live in Florida and meet the requirements, or hire a commercial service for typically $99 to $299 per year.
Florida-specific rules matter. The statute is Fla. Stat. § 605.0113 and § 605.0114. The registered agent's address goes on the public state record, so most owners who want privacy use a paid service to keep their home address off the record. Owners who live in the state and don't mind the public listing often save $100 to $250 per year by serving as their own agent.
Who can serve as a registered agent in Florida
Florida allows an individual Florida resident at least 18 years old with a Florida street address, or an entity authorized to transact business in Florida, to serve as registered agent. PO boxes are explicitly disallowed under Fla. Stat. § 605.0113. The agent must sign the Articles of Organization or a separate written acceptance, and must be available during business hours.
Florida does not maintain a commercial registered agent registry, so any qualifying person or entity can serve without pre-registration. All filings go through Sunbiz, the state's online portal. The LLC's own member or manager can serve if they meet the residency rule. For context on the rest of the formation process, see our Florida LLC formation guide.
What Florida requires of a registered agent
- Physical street address in Florida
Not a PO box, not a mail-drop. The address becomes part of the public record visible on the Secretary of State's business entity search.
- Available during business hours
Typically 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday. The agent has to be physically present (or have staff present) to accept service, not just reachable by phone or email.
- At least 18 years old and a resident or registered entity
Individual agents must be 18+ and reside in Florida. Entity agents must be registered to transact business in Florida.
- Written consent on file
Florida requires the registered agent to consent in writing to serve. Formation services handle this automatically when you sign up. For an individual agent, a simple signed consent letter suffices.
Florida statute and change-of-agent rules
| Statute | Fla. Stat. § 605.0113 and § 605.0114 |
| Change of registered agent form | Statement of Change of Registered Office or Registered Agent |
| Change filing fee | $25 |
| Online filing | Accepted |
| Processing time | 5 business days |
| Commercial agents must register separately | No |
Choosing the right registered agent in Florida
Florida residents running the LLC from a home or office address can legitimately self-serve and save $100 to $250 per year. The address goes on the public Sunbiz record, searchable by anyone. Florida's $138.75 annual report is the main compliance checkpoint, and self-serve agents need to track that May 1 deadline manually.
For non-Florida residents, a commercial service is required. Pricing is competitive: $99 to $149 per year for national services (Bizee $119, Northwest $125, ZenBusiness $99 first year). Florida also has a thick local boutique market because of its size, with Miami, Tampa, and Orlando agents running $75 to $150 per year. Northwest at $125 with price-lock is the default for out-of-state owners, especially because Florida's $400 late-fee-plus-September-dissolution timeline punishes compliance slip-ups harder than most states.
Registered agent services that operate in Florida
National commercial registered agent services operate in all 50 states plus DC, so every provider below accepts Florida LLCs. Sorted by annual renewal cost. Click the service name for the full review.
| Service | Annual renewal | Trustpilot | Review count |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZenBusiness | $99/yr | 4.8 | 28,984 |
| Bizee fka Incfile | $119/yr | 4.7 | 25,227 |
| MyCorporation | $120/yr | 3.7 | 279 |
| Northwest Registered Agent | $125/yr | 3.8 | 217 |
| CorpNet | $149/yr | 4.9 | 1,205 |
| doola | $197/yr | 4.6 | 2,005 |
| Tailor Brands | $199/yr | 4.7 | 14,203 |
| BizFilings | $220/yr | 4.5 | 170 |
| Inc Authority | $249/yr | 4.9 | 46,831 |
| LegalZoom | $249/yr | 4.6 | 30,014 |
| Rocket Lawyer | $250/yr | 4.5 | 9,717 |
| Firstbase | $299/yr | 4.8 | 1,045 |
If you let your Florida registered agent lapse
Florida enforces registered agent compliance through the annual report. LLCs that miss the May 1 deadline face a $400 late fee (total $538.75). LLCs that fail to file by the third Friday in September are administratively dissolved. Reinstatement requires filing an Application for Reinstatement with a $100 fee plus each missed annual report ($138.75) plus the $400 per-year late fee. A two-year lapse can cost $1,000+ to remedy, and a three-year lapse can approach $1,500. Florida's reinstatement math is one of the steepest in the country, so keeping the agent and annual report current is genuinely important.
Florida filing agency
Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations
- Website
- dos.fl.gov/sunbiz
- Phone
- (850) 245-6052
- NewFilingsCorpHelp@DOS.MyFlorida.com
- Division of Corporations, P.O. Box 6327, Tallahassee, FL 32314
- Office
- The Centre of Tallahassee, 2415 N. Monroe Street, Suite 810, Tallahassee, FL 32303
- Hours
- 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern, Monday to Friday
Frequently Asked Questions
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Who can serve as a registered agent for a Florida LLC?
An individual Florida resident at least 18 years old with a Florida street address, or an entity authorized to transact business in Florida. PO boxes are explicitly not allowed under Fla. Stat. § 605.0113. The agent must sign the Articles or a separate acceptance. The LLC's member or manager can serve if they meet the residency rule.
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How much does a Florida registered agent service cost?
National services price between $99 and $149 per year (Bizee $119, Northwest $125, ZenBusiness $99 first year). Florida has a deep local boutique market with Miami, Tampa, and Orlando agents running $75 to $150 per year. LegalZoom charges $249 without meaningfully better service.
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Can I be my own registered agent in Florida?
Yes, if you're a Florida resident at least 18 years old with a Florida street address and availability during business hours. Your address goes on the public Sunbiz record. You'll also need to track the May 1 annual report deadline, since missing it triggers a $400 late fee and administrative dissolution by mid-September.
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What does it cost to change my Florida registered agent?
$25 for the Statement of Change of Registered Office or Registered Agent, filed online through Sunbiz. Processing typically takes about 5 business days. Most commercial services handle the change for free when you switch your RA to them, bundling the $25 state fee into the first-year service price.
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What happens if my Florida LLC loses its registered agent?
Florida enforces through the annual report. Missing the May 1 deadline triggers a $400 late fee (total $538.75). Missing the third Friday in September leads to administrative dissolution. Reinstatement costs $100 plus each missed annual report ($138.75) plus $400 per year in late fees. A two-year lapse easily exceeds $1,000 to remedy.
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Does Florida's annual report deadline matter more than the registered agent?
In practice, yes. Florida's administrative dissolution process is driven primarily by annual report non-compliance, and missing the $138.75 report by September is what typically causes Florida LLCs to lose good standing. The registered agent requirement is enforced mainly when an agent resigns without replacement. A commercial RA service that tracks and files the annual report (Northwest, Bizee Gold tier) prevents the compound failure.
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Do I need a registered agent for a Florida LLC?
Yes. Florida law requires every LLC to designate a registered agent with a physical street address in Florida and availability during business hours. There is no exception for inactive or small LLCs. If the LLC loses its registered agent and doesn't designate a replacement within the state's grace period, Florida begins administrative dissolution of the entity.
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How much does a registered agent service cost in Florida?
National services range from $99 per year (ZenBusiness) to $299 per year (Firstbase). The $190 average is close to the market median. Florida-based local registered agent services also operate in the state, typically pricing between $50 and $150 per year.
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How do I change my registered agent in Florida?
File Statement of Change of Registered Office or Registered Agent with Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations. The fee is $25. Online filing is accepted. Processing takes about 5 business days. Most formation services handle this paperwork for free when you sign up.
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Is the registered agent fee tax deductible?
Yes. Registered agent fees are an ordinary and necessary business expense deductible on the LLC's federal tax return (Schedule C, Form 1065, or 1120/1120-S depending on tax treatment). Florida state tax treatment follows federal on this deduction. Keep the invoices with your tax records.
Related
Sources
- Statute: www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2025/605.0113 · verified April 22, 2026
Florida Revised LLC Act, Chapter 605. Fla. Stat. § 605.0113 requires every LLC to maintain a registered agent with a Florida street address. § 605.0114 governs change of agent. PO boxes prohibited. - Change of agent: dos.fl.gov/sunbiz/forms/fees/llc-fees/ · verified April 22, 2026
Florida Division of Corporations LLC fee schedule. Statement of Change of Registered Agent fee is $25. Filed online through Sunbiz. Processing typically 5 business days. - Penalty: dos.fl.gov/sunbiz/manage-business/efile/annual-report/ · verified April 22, 2026
Florida Department of State annual report rules. $138.75 annual report due May 1. $400 late fee after May 1. Administrative dissolution for failure to file by third Friday in September. Reinstatement fee $100 plus all missed annual reports.