Form Your Florida C Corporation
Build the investor-ready structure venture capitalists require, issue stock on a clean cap table, and raise capital in a state with no personal income tax and no franchise tax
Filed in Florida
The Sunshine State · FL
- State filing fee$70
- Processing timeApprox. 5 business days (online)
- Our formation feeFree (you pay $100 if you choose a paid plan)
- Annual report$150 annual report — due May 1st annually
- State tax rate5.5% corporate; no personal income tax
Form your Florida C-Corp — pay only the state filing fee, nothing more.
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Everything to launch your Florida C-Corp
Free formation means you pay only the $70 state filing fee. All core services are included at no extra charge.
Articles of Incorporation filing
We prepare and submit your Articles of Incorporation to the Florida Division of Corporations.
Registered agent
Required in Florida — we act as your agent for the first year.
EIN from the IRS
Your federal Tax ID — required to open a US business bank account and file taxes.
Corporate bylaws
Professionally drafted corporate bylaws — defines ownership, voting, and profit splits.
Benefits of forming an C-Corp in Florida
Florida pairs a fast-growing Miami tech and finance ecosystem with no personal income tax and no state franchise tax, making it an attractive base for venture-backed C Corporations raising outside capital. Its deep talent pool, third-largest state population, and business-friendly regulatory climate give startups room to scale while keeping more capital on the balance sheet.
The structure venture capitalists and institutional investors require to write a check
Issue stock and equity to founders, employees, and investors on a clean cap table
Perpetual existence, so the company survives changes in ownership or leadership
No Florida personal income tax and no state franchise tax, keeping more capital in the business
Built for priced rounds and SAFEs, the standard instruments for startup fundraising
Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS) benefits under Section 1202 may apply to early shareholders
A board of directors and corporate bylaws give the formal governance investors expect
Third-largest state population and a fast-growing Miami tech and finance scene
Key features of a Florida C-Corp
- Investor-ready structure for VC, institutional capital, and priced rounds
- Issue stock and equity on a clean cap table
- Board of directors and bylaws for formal governance
- Perpetual existence independent of ownership changes
- No Florida personal income tax and no state franchise tax
- Online filing through Sunbiz.org in about 5 business days
Major industries in Florida
Form your Florida C-Corp in 6 steps
We handle every step while you stay in the loop. Processing takes Approx. 5 business days (online).
- 01
Choose Your Corporation Name
Your name must include 'Incorporated,' 'Corporation,' 'Company,' or an abbreviation such as 'Inc.' or 'Corp.' Search the Florida Division of Corporations Sunbiz database to confirm availability.
- 02
Appoint a Registered Agent
Florida requires every corporation to have a registered agent with a physical street address in the state, available during business hours to accept legal and tax documents.
- 03
File Articles of Incorporation
Submit your Articles of Incorporation to the Florida Division of Corporations through Sunbiz.org. The state filing fee is $70 and online filings are typically processed in about 5 business days.
- 04
Adopt Bylaws and Appoint a Board
Adopt corporate bylaws, name your board of directors, and hold an organizational meeting. Florida requires at least one director, and bylaws govern how the corporation operates.
- 05
Issue Stock and Set Up Your Cap Table
Authorize and issue shares to founders and early stakeholders. Founders receiving restricted stock should consider filing an 83(b) election with the IRS within 30 days of issuance.
- 06
Obtain an EIN and File the Annual Report
Apply for a free EIN from the IRS for banking and tax filing, then file your Florida annual report by May 1st each year for $150.
Florida C-Corp costs at a glance
Kicker formation is free — you pay only the required state fees. No hidden charges.
Florida C-Corp requirements checklist
Everything you need to form and maintain a Florida C-Corp in 2026.
- File Articles of Incorporation with the Florida Division of Corporations ($70)
- Appoint a registered agent with a physical Florida address
- Adopt corporate bylaws and appoint a board of directors (minimum one director)
- Authorize and issue stock to establish your cap table
- Obtain an EIN from the IRS
- File the Florida annual report by May 1st each year ($150)
- Obtain any required state and local business licenses
Filing information
- Formation document
- Articles of Incorporation
- Filing agency
- Florida Division of Corporations
- Registered agent
- Required
- Corporate bylaws
- Recommended
- EIN
- Required
- Name reservation fee
- $25 (120 days)
Free formation — pay only the state fee
Kicker formation is free. You pay the $70 Florida state filing fee and nothing more for the Starter plan. Optional plans add registered agent, EIN, corporate bylaws, and compliance.
Starter
- Articles of Incorporation filing
- Name availability check
- Digital document delivery
- Formation status tracking
Booster
- Everything in Starter
- Registered agent (required in Florida)
- EIN / Federal Tax ID
- Expedited processing (1–2 days)
- Corporate bylaws
- Priority support
- Kicker Voice — 3-day free trial
- Kicker Pay — free for 15 days
Founder
- Everything in Booster
- Business mailing address
- Bookkeeping — 3 months free
- Dedicated account manager
- Rush processing
- Kicker Voice — 6-day free trial
- Kicker Pay — free for 30 days
Kicker
- Everything in Founder
- ITIN filing & preparation
- Same-day priority processing
- 2nd year annual filing $0
- Kicker Voice 12-day + Kicker Pay 60 days free
Compare all plans on our pricing page.
Florida C-Corp questions, answered
Common questions about forming an C-Corp in Florida. Can't find an answer? Talk to our team.
How much does it cost to form a C Corporation in Florida?
The state filing fee for Articles of Incorporation is $70, paid to the Florida Division of Corporations. After formation, every Florida corporation files an annual report for $150, due by May 1st each year.
How long does it take to incorporate in Florida?
Online filings through Sunbiz.org are typically processed by the Florida Division of Corporations in about 5 business days. Filing online is the fastest and most reliable option.
Why choose a C Corporation instead of an LLC?
A C Corporation is the structure venture capitalists and institutional investors require. It lets you issue stock and equity on a cap table, supports priced rounds and SAFEs, has a board of directors and bylaws, and offers perpetual existence, which an LLC cannot match for fundraising at scale.
How are C Corporations taxed in Florida?
C Corporations pay a flat 21% federal corporate income tax, and Florida adds a 5.5% state corporate income tax. Profits distributed to shareholders as dividends are taxed again at the shareholder level, the 'double taxation' that defines C Corps. Florida has no personal income tax and no state franchise tax. The state sales tax is 6%.
What is QSBS and could my Florida C Corporation qualify?
Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS) under Section 1202 can let early shareholders exclude gain on the sale of qualifying C Corporation stock. Only C Corporations are eligible, and these benefits may apply to your shareholders, though the specific rules changed in 2025, so confirm current eligibility with a tax advisor.
What is an 83(b) election and when do I file it?
An 83(b) election lets founders and employees who receive restricted stock pay tax on its value at grant rather than as it vests. You must file the election with the IRS within 30 days of receiving the restricted stock, and missing that window cannot be undone.
Does my Florida C Corporation have to file a BOI report with FinCEN?
No. Under FinCEN's March 2025 interim final rule, U.S. domestic entities and U.S. persons are exempt from Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting. Only entities formed outside the U.S. that register to do business in a U.S. state still file.
How many directors and shareholders does a Florida C Corporation need?
Florida requires at least one director, and a single person can serve as the sole shareholder, director, and officer. You must adopt bylaws, appoint a board, and maintain a registered agent with a physical Florida address.
Florida government filing resources
Filing fees for common C-Corp services
Official Florida state charges for the filings you may need after formation — our service fee is separate, and we confirm the current amount before filing.
Florida does NOT offer a name reservation service.
VARIES BY ENTITY TYPE.
$10.00 per document for notarized documents and corporate documents (e.g., certificate of status / certified copy).
Resale certificate is a business-level registration (single entity='business').
Learn more$600.00 reinstatement fee PLUS the annual report fee ($150.00) for each year the entity failed to file.
Learn more$35.00 filing fee for dissolution & withdrawal per the corporate fee schedule (applies to both domestic voluntary dissolution and foreign-corporation withdrawal under…
Learn moreEverything you need to run your Florida C-Corp
Formation is the first step — stay compliant and operational with these services.
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Ready to form your Florida C-Corp?
Formation is free — you pay only the $70 Florida state filing fee. Personal-asset protection, pass-through taxation, and a complete document package, filed in Approx. 5 business days (online).
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