Key Takeaways
- Florida recognizes the PLLC as a distinct entity type for licensed professionals (Fla. Stat. Ch. 621)
- Florida does not require licensing board pre-approval as a condition of filing
- Filing fee: $125
- No. A Florida PLLC generally must be organized to render a single category of professional service — you can't combine, say, a law practice and a medical practice under one PLLC. Some closely related professions may be able to share an entity if the relevant licensing boards both permit it, but this needs case-by-case confirmation rather than an assumption.
- LLC Attorney does not form PLLCs or other professional entities — this guide is educational; where your profession permits a standard LLC or corporation, LLC Attorney can form that
If you're a licensed professional in Florida — a doctor, lawyer, accountant, or similar occupation — state law generally requires you to form a Professional LLC (PLLC) instead of a standard LLC, with ownership restricted to people who hold the same license.
This guide covers exactly how to form a Florida PLLC in 2026 — which professions need one, whether licensing board approval comes before or after the state filing, the $125 cost, and what liability protection a PLLC actually provides for negligent professional acts.
What Is a Florida PLLC?
A Professional Limited Liability Company (PLLC) is a special LLC designation for licensed professionals — doctors, lawyers, accountants, and similar occupations. It works like a regular LLC, but ownership is restricted to people who hold the same professional license, and formation often requires sign-off from your licensing board before the state will accept your filing.
Yes. Florida recognizes the PLLC as a distinct entity type for licensed professionals (Fla. Stat. Ch. 621).
Who Needs a PLLC in Florida?
Physicians, surgeons, dentists, veterinarians, chiropractors, optometrists, psychologists, attorneys, CPAs, architects, landscape architects, professional engineers, clinical social workers, and mental health counselors — anyone practicing a profession that Florida law requires a license to perform must use a PLLC or PC rather than a standard LLC.
Do I Need Licensing Board Approval First?
The Division of Corporations (Sunbiz) accepts and files PLLC Articles without prior licensing-board sign-off; board notification or approval (e.g., Florida Bar rules for law firms, Department of Health notification for medical practices) happens after state filing, not before.
Because Florida doesn't gate the Sunbiz filing behind board approval, your PLLC can exist as a legal entity within days — but you should still confirm your specific board's post-formation notification requirements (most professions just require keeping your license current, not a separate entity registration with the board).
How to Form a Florida PLLC
- Filing agency: Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations (Sunbiz)
- Form: Articles of Organization for a Professional Limited Liability Company
- Filing fee: $125
- Processing time: About 2-5 business days for online Sunbiz filings
- Name requirement: Must contain "PLLC," "P.L.L.C.," or "Professional Limited Liability Company"
Who Can Own a Florida PLLC?
All members must hold the professional license required for the services rendered — Florida licensed professionals within Chapter 621's scope must use a PLLC or PC rather than a standard LLC, and non-licensed individuals cannot hold a membership interest.
No. A Florida PLLC generally must be organized to render a single category of professional service — you can't combine, say, a law practice and a medical practice under one PLLC. Some closely related professions may be able to share an entity if the relevant licensing boards both permit it, but this needs case-by-case confirmation rather than an assumption.
What Liability Protection Does a PLLC Actually Provide?
A PLLC protects you from business debts and from a co-owner's malpractice — but it never shields you from your own malpractice. If you personally provide negligent professional services, you remain personally liable for that regardless of the entity structure.
A Florida PLLC shields members from each other's malpractice and from ordinary business debts, but never from a member's own negligent professional acts — that liability follows the individual professional regardless of the entity wrapper.
Florida does not impose a blanket statutory malpractice-insurance mandate tied to PLLC formation itself, though individual licensing boards may separately require coverage or proof of financial responsibility as a condition of maintaining your professional license — check your specific board's rules rather than assuming the PLLC filing alone satisfies any insurance requirement.
How Is a Florida PLLC Taxed?
By default, a PLLC is taxed exactly like a regular LLC — pass-through to the owners' personal returns, with the option to elect S-corp or C-corp taxation if that fits your situation better. The professional designation changes ownership eligibility and licensing oversight, not the default federal tax treatment.
Florida has no state personal income tax, so a Florida PLLC's pass-through profit isn't taxed at the state level — only federal income tax and federal self-employment tax apply to the default pass-through treatment.
Florida PLLCs owe the same $138.75 annual report fee as any other Florida LLC, due each year between January 1 and May 1 to remain in good standing with Sunbiz.
How to Set Up Your Florida PLLC Step by Step
If You Do It Yourself
Step 1 — Confirm you need a PLLC (not a plain LLC) for your profession.
Physicians, surgeons, dentists, veterinarians, chiropractors, optometrists, psychologists, attorneys, CPAs, architects, landscape architects, professional engineers, clinical social workers, and mental health counselors — anyone practicing a profession that Florida law requires a license to perform must use a PLLC or PC rather than a standard LLC.
Step 2 — Get licensing board sign-off if required.
The Division of Corporations (Sunbiz) accepts and files PLLC Articles without prior licensing-board sign-off; board notification or approval (e.g., Florida Bar rules for law firms, Department of Health notification for medical practices) happens after state filing, not before. Because Florida doesn't gate the Sunbiz filing behind board approval, your PLLC can exist as a legal entity within days — but you should still confirm your specific board's post-formation notification requirements (most professions just require keeping your license current, not a separate entity registration with the board).
Step 3 — File your formation documents.
File the Articles of Organization for a Professional Limited Liability Company with Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations (Sunbiz), $125.
Step 4 — Appoint a registered agent.
Florida calls this role a "Registered Agent" — required at formation.
Step 5 — Confirm ownership eligibility for every member.
All members must hold the professional license required for the services rendered — Florida licensed professionals within Chapter 621's scope must use a PLLC or PC rather than a standard LLC, and non-licensed individuals cannot hold a membership interest.
Step 6 — Address malpractice insurance requirements.
Florida does not impose a blanket statutory malpractice-insurance mandate tied to PLLC formation itself, though individual licensing boards may separately require coverage or proof of financial responsibility as a condition of maintaining your professional license — check your specific board's rules rather than assuming the PLLC filing alone satisfies any insurance requirement.
Step 7 — Handle ongoing state compliance.
Florida PLLCs owe the same $138.75 annual report fee as any other Florida LLC, due each year between January 1 and May 1 to remain in good standing with Sunbiz. Florida has no state personal income tax, so a Florida PLLC's pass-through profit isn't taxed at the state level — only federal income tax and federal self-employment tax apply to the default pass-through treatment.
Step 8 — Watch for Florida-specific PLLC traps.
The most common Florida-specific mistake is assuming Sunbiz's lack of pre-filing licensing-board approval means there's no licensing oversight at all — your board may still have its own post-formation notification or compliance rules that a fast state filing doesn't satisfy on its own.
Where LLC Attorney Fits In
LLC Attorney doesn't form Florida PLLCs or other professional entities, and the filing steps above are for you or your attorney to complete. What we can do:
- Form a standard Florida LLC or corporation the same day where your profession permits one.
- Handle S-corp elections.
- Serve as your Registered Agent (registered agent).
- Connect you with flat-fee attorney consultations (no retainer) for licensing and ownership questions before you file.
When Should You Talk to an Attorney About Your Florida PLLC?
Talk to an attorney before forming your Florida PLLC if you're unsure whether your specific profession is required to use a PLLC versus a regular LLC, if you're considering bringing on a member who doesn't hold the same professional license, or if your practice spans more than one licensed profession and you need to confirm whether a single entity can hold both.
How LLC Attorney Can Help Florida Professionals
LLC Attorney doesn't form professional entities like PLLCs. This guide exists so professionals get the Florida rules right — here's what we do offer.
- Standard LLC or corporation formation in Florida, where your profession permits one — no markup on state fees.
- S-corp election handling when that fits your tax situation.
- Registered agent (Registered Agent) service in Florida.
- Access to professionally trained Business Success Advisors at no charge, plus flat-fee attorney consultations (no retainer) for licensing and ownership questions.
Need Help Starting Your Florida Business?
LLC Attorney doesn't form professional entities like PLLCs; if your profession allows a standard LLC or corporation in Florida, we can form it and serve as your registered agent; if you're unsure which entity your license requires, a flat-fee attorney consultation can settle it before you file. See our full pricing for all service tiers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Florida recognizes the PLLC as a distinct entity type for licensed professionals under Fla. Stat. Chapter 621.
Physicians, dentists, veterinarians, chiropractors, optometrists, psychologists, attorneys, CPAs, architects, landscape architects, professional engineers, clinical social workers, and mental health counselors are among the professions required to use a PLLC or PC rather than a standard LLC in Florida.
No, not as a pre-filing requirement. Sunbiz accepts and files PLLC Articles without prior board sign-off — any board notification or approval process happens after the state filing, not before.
The Florida PLLC filing fee is $125, the same as a standard LLC's Articles of Organization fee.
All members must hold the professional license required for the services the PLLC renders — non-licensed individuals cannot hold a membership interest in a Florida PLLC.
Generally no. A Florida PLLC must be organized to render a single category of professional service, so combining unrelated licensed professions under one PLLC typically isn't allowed without confirming both licensing boards permit it.
A Florida PLLC shields members from each other's malpractice and from ordinary business debts, but never from a member's own negligent professional acts — that liability always follows the individual professional.
Florida doesn't impose a blanket malpractice-insurance mandate tied to PLLC formation itself, though your specific licensing board may separately require coverage as a condition of maintaining your license.
No. LLC Attorney does not form PLLCs, professional corporations, or other license-restricted professional entities in Florida or anywhere else. We form standard LLCs and corporations (including S-corp elections), provide registered agent service, and offer flat-fee attorney consultations if you need help confirming which entity your license allows.