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LLC SchoolhousePlain LLC lessons, one state at a time.

Session 3 · Florida

Foreign LLC Registration in Florida (2026): a 5-Step Lesson and the 3 Best Services

Florida Registered Agent.io ($199), Mainstay Filing ($199) and FL Registered Agent.org ($199) earned the top three grades for registering an LLC from another state in Florida in 2026, in that order. The 5 steps run from checking whether you must register to keeping up with the yearly filing, and the state fee is $125.

Taught by the LLC Schoolhouse editors

Key facts

What the state charges$125Look it up at flsenate.gov; last checked October 2026
Proof from home90 daysAge limit
Report fee$138.75Annual report
What the state collects in three years$402.50Before service fees
Number of steps5In order

What you will learn

  • When the rule applies
  • What to file and what it costs
  • The recurring filing
  • Our graded picks and the reasoning

Florida: the services that earned a grade

The order follows five published criteria; read how we grade for the details.
Best grade

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

$199 plus the $125 state fee, then $99 a year

We would start a new founder with Florida Registered Agent.io: $199 added to the state fee, with the agent covered in year one, then $99 a year.

A lower three-year cost than Mainstay Filing earns it first place; cost counts for 32% of the grade.

What the price covers

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

Marks in its favor

  • A service fee of $199
  • Agent covered for year one
  • A low $99 renewal

Where it loses points

  • A one-state service
Does the most for you

2. Mainstay Filing: best for several registrations

$199 plus the $125 state fee, then $149 a year

Mainstay Filing is a sound second choice because you pay $199 plus state fees to register, and the first year with a registered agent is free.

Florida Registered Agent.io is $100 lower across three years, which keeps this one out of first.

From year two the agent is $149 a year, wherever you register.

What the price covers

  • The filing is done for you
  • The registered agent costs nothing in year one
  • The same price in any state

Marks in its favor

  • Any state at one fee
  • Service fee of $199
  • The first agent year is included

Where it loses points

  • A bigger agent renewal ($149)
Local choice

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

$199 plus the $125 state fee, then $99 a year

For number 3 we picked FL Registered Agent.org: $199 added to the state fee, with the agent covered in year one, then $99 a year.

Florida Registered Agent.io and this service charge the same.

What the price covers

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

Marks in its favor

  • A service fee of $199
  • Agent covered for year one
  • A low $99 renewal

Where it loses points

  • A one-state service

Prices in one table

#ServiceFirst yearFrom year twoThree-year total
1Florida Registered Agent.io$199$99/yr$397Visit Florida Registered Agent.ioPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2Mainstay Filing$199$149/yr$497Visit Mainstay FilingPartner 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.
Taken from each company's pricing on November 13, 2026. No row includes the $125 state fee.

The steps

  1. Step
    1

    Confirm that you must register

    A foreign LLC is simply one formed in another state, and it registers before doing business in Florida. Without registration: Before it registers, the LLC may not bring a lawsuit in Florida courts (Fla. Stat. 605.0904(1)). Its agreements are not voided (Fla. Stat. 605.0904(4)). A penalty between $500 to $1,000. Back fees are owed on top of that.

    Where this comes from: Look it up at dos.fl.gov; last checked October 2026

  2. Step
    2

    Order a certificate from your home state

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

    Do this step right before you file.

  3. Step
    3

    Choose the 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.

    Our picks include this role.

    Where this comes from: Look it up at flsenate.gov; last checked October 2026

  4. Step
    4

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

    Prepare the Application by Foreign Limited Liability Company for Authorization to Transact Business in Florida (Form CR2E027), add $125, and send both to the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations (Sunbiz), Registration Section.

    Where this comes from: Look it up at flsenate.gov; last checked October 2026

  5. Step
    5

    Stay registered

    A registered foreign LLC files the annual report ($138.75), between January 1 and May 1.

What you will pay

LinePaid toCost
Filing to registerState$125
Annual reportState$138.75
Optional serviceYour service$199 up front
State fees, years one to threeState$402.50
State fees come from the official sources listed in the references. For three years we count the filing, two years of reports and the minimum tax where it applies.

How the grade worked out

won on tuition over three years (32% of the grade), with right behind.

Florida Registered Agent.io totals $397 for three years, leaving $100 in your pocket compared with Mainstay Filing.

Florida questions

What will the state charge to register a foreign LLC with Florida?

$125 in state fees. A service adds $199.

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); you deliver it to the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations (Sunbiz), Registration Section.

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?

Before it registers, the LLC may not bring a lawsuit in Florida courts (Fla. Stat. 605.0904(1)). Its agreements are not voided (Fla. Stat. 605.0904(4)). A penalty between $500 to $1,000. Back fees are owed on top of that.

What is due after registering?

Keep the registration alive by filing the annual report; the fee is $138.75.

Which service should handle the registration?

We would pick Florida Registered Agent.io, because it files the Florida registration for $199 and includes a year of agent service, then renews at $99. After that, Mainstay Filing and FL Registered Agent.org.

Related lessons

Class references

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