How Much Does It Cost to Start a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit in Florida? (2026 Guide)

The short version: launching a Florida 501(c)(3) takes roughly $345 to $670 in required government fees - $70 to incorporate with the State of Florida, plus an IRS application fee of $275 (Form 1023-EZ) or $600 (full Form 1023). If your organization will solicit donations in Florida, add a state charitable registration that starts at $10 and scales with contributions. Attorney fees are separate, and at Braslow Legal we quote a flat fee after a free consultation, so you know the full cost before we start.

The Florida incorporation fees

Every Florida nonprofit begins as a Florida not-for-profit corporation. Filing Articles of Incorporation with the Florida Division of Corporations costs $70 total - $35 for the articles and $35 to designate your registered agent. Online filings are typically processed in one to three business days. The articles are also where many self-filed nonprofits go wrong: the IRS requires specific purpose and dissolution language before it will grant tax-exempt status. If that language is missing, you will have to amend and refile - and your IRS application will be delayed by months.

The IRS application fee: $275 or $600

Federal tax-exempt status requires an application to the IRS. Form 1023-EZ ($275) is a streamlined online form for organizations that project $50,000 or less in annual gross receipts for their first three years and have less than $250,000 in assets - most small community organizations qualify. The full Form 1023 ($600) is required for larger organizations and for certain types - including churches, schools, and hospitals - regardless of size. Choosing the wrong form is a real risk: filing the EZ when you were not eligible can put your exemption in question later, while filing the full form unnecessarily costs an extra $325 and months of waiting.

Florida charitable solicitation registration

If your nonprofit will ask Floridians for donations - including through a website donate button - Florida law requires annual registration with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services before you solicit. The fee is based on contributions received during your last fiscal year, starting at $10 for new and small organizations. Small charities raising under $50,000 may qualify for a simplified exemption registration.

Ongoing annual costs

Florida’s annual report is $61.25, due between January 1 and May 1 each year - missing it triggers a steep late fee. The IRS Form 990 series has no filing fee but is required every year, and three consecutive missed filings trigger automatic revocation of exempt status. Charitable registration renews annually at the contribution-based fee.

What does an attorney add?

Formation paperwork is the visible part. The value of counsel is in the parts that surface later: IRS-compliant articles and bylaws, a conflict-of-interest policy your board actually follows, correctly choosing between the two IRS forms, and structuring fire districts, first aid squads, and other special-purpose entities correctly from day one. Braslow Legal has served as counsel to nonprofits, fire districts, and first aid squads, and we handle formation as a flat-fee engagement quoted after a free consultation.

Quick answers

How much does it cost to start a nonprofit in Florida?

Roughly $345 to $670 in government fees: $70 to incorporate in Florida, plus $275 or $600 to the IRS, and charitable solicitation registration if you fundraise.

How long does IRS approval take?

Form 1023-EZ determinations often arrive in a few weeks to a couple of months; full Form 1023 applications commonly take six months or longer.

Do I need to register before fundraising in Florida?

Yes. Florida requires charitable solicitation registration before you solicit donations from Florida residents, renewed annually.

Can I file the cheaper Form 1023-EZ?

Only if you project $50,000 or less in annual gross receipts for your first three years, have under $250,000 in assets, and are not an ineligible type such as a church, school, or hospital.

This article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Fee amounts are set by government agencies and may change. Attorney advertising.