There are two main types of business insurance that every LLC needs. Professional liability insurance protects you against claims of inaccurate or negligent work, while commercial workers’ compensation insurance protects your employees from workplace injuries or illnesses.
Forming a Florida LLC with sunbiz involves filing articles of organization and paying a state filing fee. You can do this online or by mail.
Articles of Organization
The articles of organization are the document that officially forms your LLC in Florida. You can file them online at the Sunbiz website or submit a hard copy by mail. The filing fee is $125.
The documents must contain basic company information, including the name and address of the registered agent. The document also lists the owners and their responsibilities. In Florida, LLCs can be managed either by members or managers. You must choose one of these options when you fill out the articles of organization.
The articles of organization must be written in easy-to-read English. Professional companies are required to list a purpose in their articles of organization, but non-professional entities can leave this field blank. If you do include a purpose in the articles of organization, it must be accurate. You can also specify an effective date when you file the articles of organization, but it cannot be more than 90 days prior to or after the date you filed them.
Registered Agent
A registered agent is a person or business that is available to receive service of process, documents and notices on behalf of a Florida LLC or other business entity. You can use a person as your registered agent, but hiring a reputable registered agent service is often preferable.
These services are inexpensive, easy to find online and available 24/7. They can save you time, money and hassle by handling administrative tasks on your behalf. They can also help you avoid costly mistakes and repercussions like missing an important deadline or losing crucial business information.
Some registered agent services also provide extra perks and features like tax consultation and a business bank account. MyCompanyWorks, for example, offers three tiers of service starting at $59 that includes LLC formation and a year of registered agent service. The higher tiers offer more comprehensive services like compliance checks and a domain name to give your company that professional vibe from day one.
State Filing Fee
A Sunbiz LLC is a hybrid entity that, depending on how many owners (Members) and what they elect to do, can be taxed as either a partnership or sole proprietorship. It can also be taxed as a corporation if the Members choose to have it so. It is important to understand how federal and state taxes affect an LLC before making any decisions about how it will be run.
The State filing fee is $125 and must be submitted with the Articles of Organization. This can be paid online through the Sunbiz website or by mail using a check or money order made payable to the Florida Division of Corporations.
A professional formation service is well aware of state demands and will take care of the entire filing for you, ensuring that your business meets all the necessary requirements. A good example is ZenBusiness, which has prices that start at $49 before state fees. They also offer free registered agent services for the first year when you hire them to file your articles of organization.
Annual Report
The Florida annual report updates and confirms the information that the Department of State has on file about your business. It is required by the state for all Corporations, LLCs, Partnerships and Nonprofits to keep them active and avoid a $400 late fee.
After submitting the annual report, you can choose to pay a $5 fee for a certificate of status. The certificate certifies that the limited liability company has filed its annual report and paid all fees due through December 31st. It can be downloaded right away if you paid the optional fee.
To submit an annual report, you need to have the 6- or 12-digit Document Number (for your business’s FEIN). You will also need your registered agent information, managers/owners, and contact information. You will also need your business’s management structure—for example, whether it is Manager-Managed or Member-Managed. Once you submit the annual report, the state will send 4 courtesy reminders via email before the deadline.