{
  "$schema": "https://govschema.org/spec/v0.3/govschema.schema.json",
  "govschemaVersion": "0.3.0",
  "id": "us/fl/doc/llc-formation",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "title": "Florida LLC Formation (Sunbiz Articles of Organization)",
  "description": "Form a limited liability company (LLC) in Florida by filing Articles of Organization with the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations (Sunbiz), pursuant to s. 605.0201, F.S. Covers the minimum statutory field set for the initial formation filing: LLC name and optional professional purpose, principal and mailing addresses, registered agent (name, Florida street address, and signature), an optional voluntary Manager/Authorized Representative designation, effective date, correspondence contact, the mandatory authorized-representative signature, and the two optional add-on items (Certificate of Status, Certified Copy). Filing may be completed online (dos.fl.gov/sunbiz/start-business/efile/fl-llc/) or by mailing the printed 'Articles of Organization for Florida Limited Liability Company' form; both channels collect the same underlying data. It does not submit the filing; the live Florida Division of Corporations source is always authoritative (see VERIFICATION.md). Out of scope: the LLC's operating agreement (not filed with the state), the annual report every LLC must file January 1 – May 1 of the following calendar year to remain active (a separate filing), the federal EIN application (see us/irs/employer-identification-number-ss4), and beneficial ownership information reporting (a separate federal FinCEN requirement, not administered by the Division of Corporations).",
  "status": "draft",
  "jurisdiction": {
    "country": "US",
    "level": "subnational",
    "subdivision": "US-FL"
  },
  "authority": {
    "name": "Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations",
    "abbreviation": "DOC",
    "url": "https://dos.fl.gov/sunbiz/"
  },
  "process": {
    "type": "registration",
    "language": "en-US"
  },
  "source": {
    "url": "https://dos.fl.gov/sunbiz/start-business/efile/fl-llc/instructions/",
    "retrievedAt": "2026-07-02",
    "documentRef": "Instructions for Articles of Organization (FL LLC); e-filing entry point https://dos.fl.gov/sunbiz/start-business/efile/fl-llc/; paper form 'Articles of Organization for Florida Limited Liability Company' (PDF), http://form.sunbiz.org/pdf/cr2e047.pdf"
  },
  "verification": {
    "method": "manual-source-review-v1",
    "lastVerifiedAt": "2026-07-02",
    "verifiedBy": "GovSchema Engineering (Standards Engineer)",
    "nextReviewBy": "2027-01-01",
    "notes": "Source-derived reference schema authored field-by-field from the live 'Instructions for Articles of Organization (FL LLC)' page on dos.fl.gov/sunbiz (fetched directly, not summarized), cross-checked against the live e-filing entry/FAQ page (same domain) for fee totals and payment/signature mechanics, and against the downloadable paper form 'Articles of Organization for Florida Limited Liability Company' (form.sunbiz.org/pdf/cr2e047.pdf) whose Article I-V statutory text was extracted via the repo's zlib-stream + parenthesized-Tj convention (glyph spacing is loose but the statutory language is legible) to confirm the Article-by-Article structure. Not a time-versioned/edition form: Articles of Organization is a one-time initial filing, not filed 'for' a recurring period, so it is authored at the plain (non-edition) registry path per the GSP-0005 §2 coexistence test. Authority slug 'doc' (Division of Corporations) chosen over 'dos' (the parent Department of State) because Sunbiz filings — including the sibling annual-report schema — are administered specifically by the Division, not by Department of State functions generally (Division of Elections, Division of Historical Resources, etc.); this convention should be reused for any other Sunbiz/Division-of-Corporations schema. Status remains 'draft' pending independent field-by-field re-review of the live e-filing interview screens themselves (this document is sourced from the Instructions/FAQ prose and the paper form, not an observed screen-by-screen run). See VERIFICATION.md."
  },
  "maturity": {
    "level": "structural-reference",
    "criteria": {
      "structuralReference": true,
      "verifiedSchema": false,
      "agentReadySchema": false,
      "executionTestedSchema": false
    },
    "method": "maturity-self-assessment-v1",
    "assertedBy": "GovSchema Engineering (Standards Engineer)",
    "assertedAt": "2026-07-02"
  },
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "fields": [
    {
      "name": "llcType",
      "label": "Company type",
      "type": "enum",
      "required": true,
      "description": "standard = an ordinary limited liability company; professional = a Professional Limited Liability Company, formed under both Chapter 605 and Chapter 621, F.S., for a single specific licensed profession. Determines both the required name suffix (see llcName) and whether a stated purpose is required (see llcPurpose).",
      "sourceRef": "Instructions for Articles of Organization (FL LLC) — 'Limited Liability Company Name'; 'Limited Liability Company Purpose'",
      "validation": { "enum": ["standard", "professional"] }
    },
    {
      "name": "llcName",
      "label": "Limited Liability Company name",
      "type": "string",
      "required": true,
      "description": "The proposed LLC name exactly as it should appear on Division of Corporations records. Must be distinguishable on the records of the Florida Department of State (a preliminary name-availability search is recommended before filing). Must include 'Limited Liability Company', 'LLC', or 'L.L.C.'; if llcType is professional, must instead include 'Chartered', 'Professional Limited Liability Company', 'P.L.L.C.', or 'PLLC'. Do not use or assume the name is approved until a filing acknowledgment is received from the Division.",
      "sourceRef": "Instructions for Articles of Organization (FL LLC) — 'Limited Liability Company Name'",
      "validation": { "minLength": 1, "maxLength": 200 }
    },
    {
      "name": "llcPurpose",
      "label": "Limited Liability Company purpose",
      "type": "string",
      "required": false,
      "requiredWhen": { "field": "llcType", "equals": "professional" },
      "description": "A single specific professional purpose (e.g. 'the practice of law', 'accounting services', 'practicing medicine'). Required only for a Professional Limited Liability Company. Non-professional companies are not required to state a purpose on the Articles, though they may do so voluntarily (out of scope here).",
      "sourceRef": "Instructions for Articles of Organization (FL LLC) — 'Limited Liability Company Purpose'",
      "validation": { "minLength": 1, "maxLength": 300 }
    },
    {
      "name": "principalAddressLine1",
      "label": "Principal office — street address",
      "type": "string",
      "required": true,
      "description": "The street address of the LLC's principal office (Article II). Not restricted to a Florida address; the Instructions and the statutory Article II text impose no in-state requirement here (unlike the registered agent's address).",
      "sourceRef": "Instructions for Articles of Organization (FL LLC) — 'Principal Place of Business Address'; paper form Article II",
      "validation": { "minLength": 1, "maxLength": 120 }
    },
    {
      "name": "principalAddressCity",
      "label": "Principal office — city",
      "type": "string",
      "required": true,
      "sourceRef": "Instructions for Articles of Organization (FL LLC) — 'Principal Place of Business Address'",
      "validation": { "minLength": 1, "maxLength": 80 }
    },
    {
      "name": "principalAddressState",
      "label": "Principal office — state",
      "type": "string",
      "required": true,
      "description": "Two-letter USPS state abbreviation. Modelled as a free field, not fixed to FL, since neither the Instructions nor the statutory Article II text restrict the principal office to Florida.",
      "sourceRef": "Instructions for Articles of Organization (FL LLC) — 'Principal Place of Business Address'",
      "validation": { "pattern": "^[A-Z]{2}$" }
    },
    {
      "name": "principalAddressZipCode",
      "label": "Principal office — ZIP code",
      "type": "string",
      "required": true,
      "description": "5-digit or ZIP+4 U.S. format, e.g. 32303 or 32303-1234.",
      "sourceRef": "Instructions for Articles of Organization (FL LLC) — 'Principal Place of Business Address'",
      "validation": { "pattern": "^[0-9]{5}(-[0-9]{4})?$" }
    },
    {
      "name": "mailingAddressLine1",
      "label": "Mailing address, if different from the principal office",
      "type": "string",
      "required": false,
      "description": "Optional; a P.O. box is acceptable here (unlike the principal office and registered agent addresses).",
      "sourceRef": "Instructions for Articles of Organization (FL LLC) — 'Mailing Address'",
      "validation": { "maxLength": 120 }
    },
    {
      "name": "mailingAddressCity",
      "label": "Mailing address — city",
      "type": "string",
      "required": false,
      "requiredWhen": { "field": "mailingAddressLine1", "notEquals": "" },
      "sourceRef": "Instructions for Articles of Organization (FL LLC) — 'Mailing Address'",
      "validation": { "maxLength": 80 }
    },
    {
      "name": "mailingAddressState",
      "label": "Mailing address — state",
      "type": "string",
      "required": false,
      "requiredWhen": { "field": "mailingAddressLine1", "notEquals": "" },
      "description": "Two-letter USPS state abbreviation.",
      "sourceRef": "Instructions for Articles of Organization (FL LLC) — 'Mailing Address'",
      "validation": { "pattern": "^[A-Z]{2}$" }
    },
    {
      "name": "mailingAddressZipCode",
      "label": "Mailing address — ZIP code",
      "type": "string",
      "required": false,
      "requiredWhen": { "field": "mailingAddressLine1", "notEquals": "" },
      "description": "5-digit or ZIP+4 U.S. format.",
      "sourceRef": "Instructions for Articles of Organization (FL LLC) — 'Mailing Address'",
      "validation": { "pattern": "^[0-9]{5}(-[0-9]{4})?$" }
    },
    {
      "name": "registeredAgentName",
      "label": "Registered agent — name",
      "type": "string",
      "required": true,
      "classification": "pii",
      "description": "Name of the individual or business entity accepting service of process on the LLC's behalf (Article III). A business entity with an active Florida filing or registration may serve as agent; the LLC cannot serve as its own registered agent, though an individual or principal associated with the LLC may. This document does not split the name into an individual/entity branch, since the source form uses a single name line for either case.",
      "sourceRef": "Instructions for Articles of Organization (FL LLC) — 'Registered Agent Name and Address'",
      "validation": { "minLength": 1, "maxLength": 160 }
    },
    {
      "name": "registeredAgentStreetAddressLine1",
      "label": "Registered agent — Florida street address",
      "type": "string",
      "required": true,
      "classification": "pii",
      "description": "Must be a physical Florida street address; a P.O. box is not acceptable.",
      "sourceRef": "Instructions for Articles of Organization (FL LLC) — 'Registered Agent Name and Address'",
      "validation": { "minLength": 1, "maxLength": 120 }
    },
    {
      "name": "registeredAgentCity",
      "label": "Registered agent — city",
      "type": "string",
      "required": true,
      "classification": "pii",
      "sourceRef": "Instructions for Articles of Organization (FL LLC) — 'Registered Agent Name and Address'",
      "validation": { "minLength": 1, "maxLength": 80 }
    },
    {
      "name": "registeredAgentState",
      "label": "Registered agent — state",
      "type": "enum",
      "required": true,
      "description": "Fixed to Florida: the registered agent must have a physical street address in this state.",
      "sourceRef": "Instructions for Articles of Organization (FL LLC) — 'Registered Agent Name and Address'",
      "validation": { "enum": ["FL"] }
    },
    {
      "name": "registeredAgentZipCode",
      "label": "Registered agent — ZIP code",
      "type": "string",
      "required": true,
      "classification": "pii",
      "description": "5-digit or ZIP+4 U.S. format.",
      "sourceRef": "Instructions for Articles of Organization (FL LLC) — 'Registered Agent Name and Address'",
      "validation": { "pattern": "^[0-9]{5}(-[0-9]{4})?$" }
    },
    {
      "name": "registeredAgentSignatureName",
      "label": "Registered agent's signature (typed name)",
      "type": "string",
      "required": true,
      "classification": "pii",
      "description": "The registered agent must sign, confirming familiarity with and acceptance of the obligations of the position under s. 605.0113(3), F.S. If filing online, typing the name in the signature block is sufficient (s. 15.16, F.S. gives electronic signatures the same legal effect as original signatures); if the agent is a business entity, a principal of that entity signs here to accept the obligations. Typing someone's name/signature without their permission is forgery under s. 831.06, F.S.",
      "sourceRef": "Instructions for Articles of Organization (FL LLC) — 'Registered Agent's Signature'",
      "validation": { "minLength": 1, "maxLength": 160 }
    },
    {
      "name": "representativeDesignation",
      "label": "Manager / Authorized Representative — designation",
      "type": "enum",
      "required": false,
      "requiredWhen": { "field": "representativeName", "notEquals": "" },
      "description": "manager = a person designated to perform the management functions of a manager-managed LLC (use MGR); authorized_representative = a person authorized to execute and file records with the Division of Corporations under s. 605.0102(8), F.S. (use AR). May be an individual or a business entity; do not list members. Entirely optional, though Florida's Division of Workers' Compensation or a financial institution may require it to be on record for a workers'-comp exemption or bank account. This document scopes to a single optional Manager/Authorized Representative; the live e-filing interview supports listing more than one — out of scope here, see VERIFICATION.md.",
      "sourceRef": "Instructions for Articles of Organization (FL LLC) — 'Manager/Authorized Representative'",
      "validation": { "enum": ["manager", "authorized_representative"] }
    },
    {
      "name": "representativeName",
      "label": "Manager / Authorized Representative — name",
      "type": "string",
      "required": false,
      "classification": "pii",
      "description": "Optional; leave blank to omit this voluntary designation entirely.",
      "sourceRef": "Instructions for Articles of Organization (FL LLC) — 'Manager/Authorized Representative'",
      "validation": { "maxLength": 160 }
    },
    {
      "name": "representativeAddressLine1",
      "label": "Manager / Authorized Representative — street address",
      "type": "string",
      "required": false,
      "requiredWhen": { "field": "representativeName", "notEquals": "" },
      "classification": "pii",
      "sourceRef": "Instructions for Articles of Organization (FL LLC) — 'Manager/Authorized Representative'",
      "validation": { "maxLength": 120 }
    },
    {
      "name": "representativeCity",
      "label": "Manager / Authorized Representative — city",
      "type": "string",
      "required": false,
      "requiredWhen": { "field": "representativeName", "notEquals": "" },
      "classification": "pii",
      "sourceRef": "Instructions for Articles of Organization (FL LLC) — 'Manager/Authorized Representative'",
      "validation": { "maxLength": 80 }
    },
    {
      "name": "representativeState",
      "label": "Manager / Authorized Representative — state",
      "type": "string",
      "required": false,
      "requiredWhen": { "field": "representativeName", "notEquals": "" },
      "description": "Two-letter USPS state abbreviation, or country subdivision if outside the U.S.; not restricted to Florida.",
      "sourceRef": "Instructions for Articles of Organization (FL LLC) — 'Manager/Authorized Representative'",
      "validation": { "maxLength": 40 }
    },
    {
      "name": "representativeZipCode",
      "label": "Manager / Authorized Representative — ZIP/postal code",
      "type": "string",
      "required": false,
      "requiredWhen": { "field": "representativeName", "notEquals": "" },
      "classification": "pii",
      "sourceRef": "Instructions for Articles of Organization (FL LLC) — 'Manager/Authorized Representative'",
      "validation": { "maxLength": 20 }
    },
    {
      "name": "effectiveDateOption",
      "label": "Effective date",
      "type": "enum",
      "required": true,
      "description": "on_filing = the LLC's existence begins on the date the Division of Corporations receives and files the Articles (the default); specified_date = an alternate effective date is specified (see effectiveDate), which must be no more than five business days prior to, or 90 days after, the date the Division receives the document. Filers forming an LLC between October 1 and December 31 can list a January 1 effective date to postpone the first required annual report by one calendar year.",
      "sourceRef": "Instructions for Articles of Organization (FL LLC) — 'Effective Date'",
      "validation": { "enum": ["on_filing", "specified_date"] }
    },
    {
      "name": "effectiveDate",
      "label": "Specified effective date",
      "type": "date",
      "required": false,
      "requiredWhen": { "field": "effectiveDateOption", "equals": "specified_date" },
      "description": "Must be no more than five business days prior to, or 90 days after, the date the Division of Corporations receives the Articles. This document does not structurally enforce that window, since it depends on the (unknown at authoring time) date of receipt; see VERIFICATION.md.",
      "sourceRef": "Instructions for Articles of Organization (FL LLC) — 'Effective Date'"
    },
    {
      "name": "correspondenceName",
      "label": "Correspondence — name",
      "type": "string",
      "required": true,
      "classification": "pii",
      "description": "Name of the point of contact for this filing.",
      "sourceRef": "Instructions for Articles of Organization (FL LLC) — 'Correspondence Name and Email'",
      "validation": { "minLength": 1, "maxLength": 160 }
    },
    {
      "name": "correspondenceEmail",
      "label": "Correspondence — email address",
      "type": "string",
      "required": true,
      "classification": "pii",
      "description": "A valid email address. If filing online, the filing acknowledgment and any requested certification are emailed here, and all future email communications about this filing are sent to this address.",
      "sourceRef": "Instructions for Articles of Organization (FL LLC) — 'Correspondence Name and Email'",
      "validation": { "minLength": 3, "maxLength": 254 }
    },
    {
      "name": "authorizedSignerName",
      "label": "Signature — typed name (authorized representative)",
      "type": "string",
      "required": true,
      "classification": "pii",
      "description": "The Articles must be signed by at least one person acting as the authorized representative (s. 605.0102(8), F.S.). If filing online, typing the name in the signature block is sufficient (s. 15.16, F.S.). This signer need not be the same person voluntarily designated as Manager/Authorized Representative above.",
      "sourceRef": "Instructions for Articles of Organization (FL LLC) — 'Signature'",
      "validation": { "minLength": 1, "maxLength": 160 }
    },
    {
      "name": "wantsCertificateOfStatus",
      "label": "Request a Certificate of Status?",
      "type": "boolean",
      "required": false,
      "description": "Optional add-on. A Certificate of Status certifies the LLC's status and existence and verifies all fees are paid through a certain date. Fee: $5.00.",
      "sourceRef": "Instructions for Articles of Organization (FL LLC) — 'Certificate of Status'"
    },
    {
      "name": "wantsCertifiedCopy",
      "label": "Request a Certified Copy?",
      "type": "boolean",
      "required": false,
      "description": "Optional add-on. A Certified Copy includes a filed-stamped copy of the Articles of Organization and verifies it is a true and correct copy of the Division's record. Fee: $30.00.",
      "sourceRef": "Instructions for Articles of Organization (FL LLC) — 'Certified Copy'"
    }
  ],
  "documents": [
    {
      "id": "articlesOfOrganizationFilingFee",
      "label": "Articles of Organization filing fee",
      "category": "payment",
      "required": true,
      "amount": { "currency": "USD", "value": 100.00 },
      "methods": ["credit_card", "debit_card", "prepaid_sunbiz_efile_account", "check_or_money_order"],
      "sourceRef": "New Florida Limited Liability Company Fees — 'Articles of Organization $100.00'"
    },
    {
      "id": "registeredAgentDesignationFee",
      "label": "Registered agent designation fee",
      "category": "payment",
      "required": true,
      "amount": { "currency": "USD", "value": 25.00 },
      "methods": ["credit_card", "debit_card", "prepaid_sunbiz_efile_account", "check_or_money_order"],
      "sourceRef": "New Florida Limited Liability Company Fees — 'Registered Agent Designation $25.00'"
    },
    {
      "id": "certificateOfStatusFee",
      "label": "Certificate of Status fee",
      "category": "payment",
      "required": false,
      "requiredWhen": { "field": "wantsCertificateOfStatus", "equals": true },
      "amount": { "currency": "USD", "value": 5.00 },
      "methods": ["credit_card", "debit_card", "prepaid_sunbiz_efile_account", "check_or_money_order"],
      "sourceRef": "New Florida Limited Liability Company Fees — 'Certificate of Status (optional) $5.00'"
    },
    {
      "id": "certifiedCopyFee",
      "label": "Certified Copy fee",
      "category": "payment",
      "required": false,
      "requiredWhen": { "field": "wantsCertifiedCopy", "equals": true },
      "amount": { "currency": "USD", "value": 30.00 },
      "methods": ["credit_card", "debit_card", "prepaid_sunbiz_efile_account", "check_or_money_order"],
      "sourceRef": "New Florida Limited Liability Company Fees — 'Certified Copy (optional) $30.00'"
    }
  ],
  "steps": [
    {
      "id": "llc_name_and_purpose",
      "title": "LLC name and purpose",
      "fields": ["llcType", "llcName", "llcPurpose"],
      "next": "addresses"
    },
    {
      "id": "addresses",
      "title": "Business addresses",
      "fields": [
        "principalAddressLine1", "principalAddressCity", "principalAddressState", "principalAddressZipCode",
        "mailingAddressLine1", "mailingAddressCity", "mailingAddressState", "mailingAddressZipCode"
      ],
      "next": "registered_agent"
    },
    {
      "id": "registered_agent",
      "title": "Registered agent",
      "fields": [
        "registeredAgentName", "registeredAgentStreetAddressLine1", "registeredAgentCity",
        "registeredAgentState", "registeredAgentZipCode", "registeredAgentSignatureName"
      ],
      "next": "manager_or_authorized_representative"
    },
    {
      "id": "manager_or_authorized_representative",
      "title": "Manager / Authorized Representative (optional)",
      "fields": [
        "representativeDesignation", "representativeName", "representativeAddressLine1",
        "representativeCity", "representativeState", "representativeZipCode"
      ],
      "next": "effective_date"
    },
    {
      "id": "effective_date",
      "title": "Effective date",
      "fields": ["effectiveDateOption", "effectiveDate"],
      "next": "correspondence_and_signature"
    },
    {
      "id": "correspondence_and_signature",
      "title": "Correspondence and signature",
      "fields": ["correspondenceName", "correspondenceEmail", "authorizedSignerName"],
      "next": "optional_add_ons"
    },
    {
      "id": "optional_add_ons",
      "title": "Optional add-ons",
      "fields": ["wantsCertificateOfStatus", "wantsCertifiedCopy"]
    }
  ]
}