The requirements for registering a partnership in Florida depend on the type of partnership. Registration must be made with the Florida Department of State Division of Corporations. There are different forms for general partnerships, Florida limited partnerships, foreign limited partnerships, Florida limited liability companies, and foreign limited liability companies.
You can register a general partnership in Florida by filing a Partnership Registration Statement and paying a $50 fee. As indicated by the Citizen Media Law Project, a general partnership, which is formed whenever two or more persons carry on a business for profit as co-owners, is not required to file a registration statement. But as pointed out on the Florida Small Business website, any legal or commercial entity that is a general partner must be registered with the Florida Division of Corporations.
A Florida limited partnership or limited liability limited partnership must file a Certificate of Limited Partnership. The filing fee is $1,000. Limited partnerships and limited liability limited partnerships must also file an annual report to keep their active status. This report can be filed online between January 1 and May 1. The fee for filing the annual report is $500.
A Florida limited liability company must register its articles of incorporation. The filing fee is $125. Florida limited liability companies must also file an annual report. The fee for filing the annual report is $138.75.
An out-of-state limited partnership or limited liability limited partnership must file an application to transact business in Florida. The filing fee is $1,000. An annual report must also be filed and the fee is $500.
A foreign limited liability company must also register to transact business in Florida and file an annual report. The filing fee is $125 and the fee for the annual report is $138.75.
If you plan to operate a partnership business under a fictitious name, you need to file a fictitious name registration. You can do this online with the Florida Department of State Division of Corporations. The filing fee to register a fictitious name is $50.
The name of a limited partnership must include the suffix Limited Partnership, L.P., LP, or Ltd. A limited liability limited partnership must include the suffix Limited Liability Limited Partnership, L.L.L.P, or LLLP. A limited liability company must include the suffix Limited Liability Company, L.L.C., or LLC.
In addition to registering your partnership you will also need a certificate of use and a business tax receipt for the municipality and county in which you will operate your business. You will need to register with the Florida Department of Revenue to collect, report, and remit Florida sales tax. And depending on the type of business your partnership will operate, there may be other Florida state registration and reporting requirements. You can find these requirements and apply for a license on the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation website.
Sources: Apply for a License ‘” Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation
Forming a Partnership in Florida ‘” Citizen Media Law Project
Forms ‘” Florida Department of State Division of Corporations
Online Annual Report Filing – Florida Department of State Division of Corporations
Online Fictitious Name Registration – Florida Department of State Division of Corporations
Partnerships ‘” Florida Small Business
Registration and Account Maintenance ‘” Florida Department of Revenue
Start-up Kit for New Business Owners ‘” Florida Department of Revenue
