Businesses change registered agents for all kinds of reasons. A founder who started as their own agent may want to get a home address off the public record, an outside provider may have raised its prices, or a company may be consolidating its multi-state compliance under one service. Whatever the reason, Florida makes the switch straightforward through a single filing with the Division of Corporations.
The Form You Need
To replace your registered agent or update the agent's address, you file a Statement of Change of Registered Office or Registered Agent or Both. There are separate versions for LLCs, for-profit corporations, nonprofit corporations and limited partnerships, and each can be filed online through Sunbiz or mailed to the Division of Corporations in Tallahassee.
| Entity type | Filing fee |
|---|---|
| Limited liability company | $25.00 |
| For-profit corporation | $35.00 |
| Nonprofit corporation | $35.00 |
Optional certified copies or certificates of status cost extra. Always check current fees on Sunbiz before submitting.
Step-by-Step: Filing a Statement of Change on Sunbiz
1. Choose and confirm your new agent
Before filing anything, line up the new agent. If you are hiring a commercial service, sign up and get the exact legal name and Florida street address they want listed. The new agent must formally accept the appointment, so their signature, or their electronic consent, is part of the filing.
2. Gather your company details
You will need the company's exact name and its Sunbiz document number, which you can find by searching the business on the state's website.
3. Complete the statement
Enter the new registered agent's name and physical Florida address. A post office box is not allowed. Include the signature of an authorized person for the company, such as a manager, authorized member or officer, along with the signature of the new agent accepting the role.
4. Pay and submit
Online filings are typically processed within a few business days. Paper filings take longer. Once approved, the Sunbiz record updates to show the new agent. Before changing a Florida registered agent, it helps to know what the replacement should offer.
5. Notify the old agent
Tell your previous agent about the change and cancel any ongoing subscription. Ask them to forward any documents received during the transition.
Changing Your Agent on the Annual Report
If the timing works, you can also update the registered agent when you file your annual report between January 1 and May 1. Doing it this way avoids the separate statement of change fee, because the change is included in the report. The trade-off is waiting for the filing window; if you need the change to take effect now, the standalone statement is the faster route.
When the Agent Resigns Instead
Sometimes the change starts on the other side. A registered agent can resign by filing a resignation with the state and sending a copy to the company. Under Florida law, the resignation generally takes effect 31 days after it is filed, and the company must appoint a replacement before then. If no new agent is designated, the company risks falling out of compliance and eventually facing administrative dissolution. If you receive a resignation notice, treat it as urgent.
Common Reasons Owners Switch
- Privacy. Replacing a home address with a commercial agent's address removes it from future public filings.
- Availability. An owner who travels or works in the field cannot guarantee being present every business day.
- Price and service. Renewal increases, slow document scanning or poor support are frequent triggers.
- Relocation. If the existing agent moves out of Florida, they can no longer serve.
Keep in mind that older filings remain in the state's archive, so a past home address may still be viewable in historical documents even after the change.
Avoiding Gaps During the Transition
The biggest risk when switching is a window in which nobody is reliably accepting service. To avoid it, keep the old agent in place until the state has approved the new appointment, then cancel. Check your Sunbiz record after filing to confirm the update is live, and update your bank, licensing agencies and accountant if they keep the agent's address on file. A clean handover takes little effort and keeps your company's record of good standing unbroken.