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LLC 101 Guide

Section 3 · Florida

Foreign LLC Registration in Florida (2026): 5 Tasks and the 3 Best Services

For registering an out-of-state LLC in Florida in 2026, this unit puts Mainstay Filing ($199), Florida Registered Agent.io ($199) and FL Registered Agent.org ($199) at the top of the class, in that order. Do you have to register at all? Start there; 5 tasks follow, with a $125 state fee at the end.

Prepared by the LLC 101 Guide instructors

The quick version

Registration fee
$125
Taken from flsenate.gov in October 2026
Home-state certificate
90 days
No older than
Maintenance filing
$138.75
Annual report
State fees over three years
$402.50
Service fees not included
Unit tasks
5
One by one

By the end you will know

  • Whether Florida registration applies to your LLC
  • What to file and what it costs
  • Staying in good standing
  • The services at the top of the class

Services we recommend in Florida

Five published criteria decide the order; read them on how we grade.

Top of the class

1. Mainstay Filing: best for companies adding a second state

Our first pick$199 and the $125 state fee, then $149 yearly

Mainstay Filing comes out first, and the reason is that it files the Florida registration for $199 plus the state's fee, and the first agent year costs nothing.

Three years run $100 higher than with Florida Registered Agent.io, but it completes more of the assignments, and the grade pays for that.

Past year one, agent service costs $149 yearly.

What the price covers

  • Registration prepared and sent
  • The registered agent costs nothing in year one
  • Any state, one price

What works

  • The same fee in every state
  • Year-one agent is covered
  • $199 to register

What to weigh

  • A pricier agent renewal ($149)
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Top of the class

2. Florida Registered Agent.io: best for a budget registration

Focused on Florida$199 and the $125 state fee, then $99 yearly

Florida Registered Agent.io takes second place: $199 above the state fee, first agent year covered, then $99 a year.

What the price covers

  • The filing is done for you
  • One year of agent service is part of the price

What works

  • Agent covered in year one
  • $199 to register
  • $99 a year for the agent after that

What to weigh

  • Serves Florida alone
Visit Florida Registered Agent.ioPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Top of the class

3. FL Registered Agent.org: best for a small agent renewal

Focused on Florida$199 and the $125 state fee, then $99 yearly

FL Registered Agent.org takes third place: $199 above the state fee, first agent year covered, then $99 a year.

It lists the same prices as Florida Registered Agent.io.

What the price covers

  • The filing is done for you
  • One year of agent service is part of the price

What works

  • $99 a year for the agent after that
  • Agent covered in year one
  • $199 to register

What to weigh

  • Serves Florida alone
Visit FL Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

All the prices in one table

#ServiceFirst yearFrom year twoThree-year total
1Mainstay Filing$199$149/yr$497Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2Florida Registered Agent.io$199$99/yr$397Visit Florida Registered Agent.ioPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3FL Registered Agent.org$199$99/yr$397Visit FL Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Each company's posted price on November 13, 2026. Every row also owes the $125 state fee.

The unit, task by task

  1. Task 1

    Is Florida registration needed?

    Out-of-state LLCs that do business in Florida register first as foreign LLCs. If you skip it: Florida courts will not hear a claim from an unregistered LLC (Fla. Stat. 605.0904(1)). Signed contracts keep their force (Fla. Stat. 605.0904(4)). The penalty is anywhere from $500 to $1,000. A bill for earlier fees should be expected.

    Source: Taken from dos.fl.gov in October 2026

  2. Task 2

    Ask your home state for proof of good standing

    Enclose certificate of existence (or record of similar import) from the jurisdiction of formation, from the last 90 days.

    Order it at the end so it is fresh when you file.

  3. Task 3

    Arrange a Florida registered agent

    Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. The address has to be a Florida street address that matches the agent's business address. P.O. boxes are not accepted. Florida law sets minimum hours of 10 a.m. to noon and 2 to 4 p.m. on weekdays.

    Each of the recommended services serves as the registered agent.

    Source: Taken from flsenate.gov in October 2026

  4. Task 4

    File the Application by Foreign Limited Liability Company for Authorization to Transact Business in Florida

    the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations (Sunbiz), Registration Section receives the form and the $125 fee together.

    Source: Taken from flsenate.gov in October 2026

  5. Task 5

    What comes after

    Plan for the annual report and its $138.75 fee (between January 1 and May 1).

What this unit costs

EntryPayeeTotal
Registering the LLCThe state$125
Annual reportThe state$138.75
Service, if you hire oneYour service$199 in the first year
State total across three yearsThe state$402.50
State fees were read from the official pages named in the sources. Three years means the filing, two years of reports and the minimum tax where there is one.

The reasoning behind the order

Assignments the price completes settled first place in Florida. It is worth 31% of the grade, and the other 69% comes from course fee across three years, second-year fee, match with the state syllabus and plain pricing.

Registering involves two states, and one provider for both moved ahead of Florida Registered Agent.io.

Short answers

How much does Florida charge an out-of-state LLC to register?

$125 at the state office. Put $199 on top if you hire a service.

Which form do I file to register?

Look for the Application by Foreign Limited Liability Company for Authorization to Transact Business in Florida (Form CR2E027); the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations (Sunbiz), Registration Section takes it.

Do I need a certificate from my home state?

Yes: certificate of existence (or record of similar import) from the jurisdiction of formation, issued within 90 days of filing.

What if the LLC does business there without registering?

Florida courts will not hear a claim from an unregistered LLC (Fla. Stat. 605.0904(1)). Signed contracts keep their force (Fla. Stat. 605.0904(4)). The penalty is anywhere from $500 to $1,000. A bill for earlier fees should be expected.

What is due after registering?

The annual report keeps the registration active, and it costs $138.75.

Which service should handle the registration?

The order is Mainstay Filing, Florida Registered Agent.io and FL Registered Agent.org, and Mainstay Filing is first since $199 beyond the state fee in any state, with year one of the agent included.

Reading list and sources

  1. Hand-in notes for Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations. Each statement rests on dos.fl.gov, last opened August 2026.
  2. Hand-in notes for Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations. Each statement rests on dos.fl.gov, last opened August 2026.
  3. Hand-in notes for Florida yearly filing: Annual report: fee, official source. Each statement rests on flsenate.gov, last opened October 2026.
  4. Hand-in notes for Florida report due date. Each statement rests on leg.state.fl.us, last opened August 2026.
  5. Hand-in notes for Fla. Each statement rests on flsenate.gov, last opened August 2026.
  6. Hand-in notes for Florida formation fee: Filing fee, official source. Each statement rests on dos.fl.gov, last opened October 2026.
  7. Hand-in notes for Florida formation fee: Filing fee, official source. Each statement rests on flsenate.gov, last opened October 2026.
  8. Hand-in notes for Florida registered agent statute. Each statement rests on flsenate.gov, last opened October 2026.
  9. Hand-in notes for Form CR2E027, foreign LLC application. Each statement rests on form.sunbiz.org, last opened October 2026.
  10. Hand-in notes for Florida Statutes 605.0902, certificate of authority. Each statement rests on flsenate.gov, last opened October 2026.
  11. Hand-in notes for Florida Statutes 605.0905, activities that are not transacting. Each statement rests on flsenate.gov, last opened October 2026.
  12. Hand-in notes for Florida Statutes 605.0904, consequences of transacting business without. Each statement rests on flsenate.gov, last opened October 2026.
  13. Hand-in notes for Form CR2E057, withdrawal. Each statement rests on form.sunbiz.org, last opened October 2026.
  14. Mainstay Filing Florida service page, opened November 13, 2026
  15. Florida Registered Agent.io pricing page, opened November 13, 2026
  16. FL Registered Agent.org pricing page, opened November 13, 2026