 California |  Florida | |
|---|---|---|
| All-in to start with usOur $40 fee with the EIN, the registered agent for the first year, and the state fee. | $155 | $210 |
| State filing fee | $70 | $125 |
| Typical approval time | 1–2 weeks | 2–5 business days |
| What the state asks each year | $800 franchise tax + statement of information $20 | Annual report $138.75 |
| Yearly state cost, about | $810 | $138.75 |
| Total over 5 years, aboutFormation, then four years of registered agent ($45) and state fees. Excludes bookkeeping and IRS filings, which are the same in every state. | $3,575 | $945 |
| State income tax on wages | Yes | None |
| Owners in the public formation document | Can be listed | Can be listed |
| Newspaper publication after formation | No | No |
California against Florida
Advantages
- Cheaper to form: $70 state fee against $125 in Florida.
Disadvantages
- About $671.25 a year more to keep than Florida ($800 franchise tax + statement of information $20).
- Slower approval: usually 1–2 weeks.
- Has a state income tax, though it normally only reaches income connected to the state.
Florida against California
Advantages
- Cheaper to keep: about $138.75 a year to the state, against $810 in California.
- Faster approval: usually 2–5 business days, against 1–2 weeks.
- No state income tax on wages.
- A large, well-known state with a big international banking scene.
Disadvantages
- Costs $55 more to form than California.
Which one to choose
Florida comes out ahead on both cost and speed: about $2,630 less over five years, and usually approved in 2–5 business days.
If your company will have staff, an office or a warehouse in one particular state, form it there: otherwise you register in that state anyway. Federal taxes and IRS filings are the same in every state.
General information about the states, not legal or tax advice. State fees change occasionally; the price at checkout is the price you pay.
California or Florida
Questions about this comparison
Is a California or a Florida LLC cheaper?
California is cheaper to form: $155 all-in with us, against $210. Each year after, California costs the state about $810 and Florida about $138.75, plus $45 for the registered agent.
Which is faster, California or Florida?
California usually approves an LLC in 1–2 weeks, Florida in 2–5 business days. We file within 48 hours of payment in either state.
Can a non-US resident form an LLC in California or Florida?
Yes, in both. Neither state asks for citizenship or residency, and the registered agent we include provides the in-state address. The EIN is included without an SSN.
Another pair