For years, Florida business owners have used standard limited liability companies to hold assets and conduct business. Some place several properties or business lines in one LLC. Others form a standalone company for each activity. As their operations grow, they may have to choose between keeping several assets under one company or maintaining multiple LLCs. In 2026, Florida law added another option for organizing those holdings: a series LLC.
Florida authorized this structure through Senate Bill 316, which Governor Ron DeSantis signed on June 20, 2025, and which took effect on July 1, 2026. The law allows an active LLC to designate protected series for particular assets or business activities. A business owner could use the structure for rental properties, investment holdings, or separate lines of business. This setup may reduce state fees and annual reporting requirements compared with forming several individual LLCs. Its liability protections still depend on how the owner maintains records and legal documents.
How Florida’s 2026 Series LLC Structure Works
Under Florida’s protected series LLC structure, an owner may use an existing active LLC as the main company or create one by submitting Articles of Organization with the Florida Division of Corporations. Once the main company is in place, the required member approval must be obtained to form a series LLC. The company then submits the designation for its first protected series. It gains that status when the filing takes effect.
Once created, each series can own assets and sign contracts in its own name. It can also take on its own obligations or be sued. Business owners sometimes refer to these series as “buckets” because each may hold a specific asset or business activity. For example, one may hold a rental property, while another runs a retail operation. Different managers may oversee each one.
When assigning an existing property or investment to a series, the owner must update the documents showing ownership of that asset. The company must also maintain the records required by Florida law for each series. When these requirements are met, a judgment tied to one series generally reaches only the assets it holds, which is one of the main LLC benefits of this structure.
How This Structure Differs From a Holding Company
Florida’s series LLC structure has led many business owners to compare it with a holding company. Both can divide assets or business activities, but they do so differently. A holding company owns subsidiaries, each of which is its own legal entity. By contrast, a series LLC assigns assets or business activities to protected series under one LLC.
For example, consider a fictional company called Sample Holdings LLC. It might own Sample Retail LLC and Sample Property LLC. Each Florida LLC subsidiary must be formed separately and file its own annual report. Under a series limited liability company, the retail and property activities could remain under one company but be assigned to different “buckets.”
Pros and Cons of Series LLCs in Florida
For business owners researching the pros and cons of an LLC in Florida, a series LLC presents a different balance. A single operating agreement may govern the main LLC and its protected series. The main LLC’s registered agent also serves each protected series. Shared administration may reduce some recordkeeping and administrative costs compared with maintaining several individual LLCs.
These LLC benefits come with tradeoffs. The operating agreement may need detailed provisions addressing ownership, management, voting, and transfers across the series. Using one registered agent also creates a shared dependency because a change affecting that appointment may affect the full company. Florida law also limits certain mergers, conversions, and other transactions involving series limited liability companies, which may create restrictions during a future sale or restructuring.
How to Form a Series LLC in Florida
With the structure now clear, the next step is learning how to set up a series LLC in Florida. The formation process generally involves the following steps:
- Obtain the affirmative vote or consent of all members to establish each protected series.
- Confirm that the registered agent has agreed to serve the main LLC and each protected series.
- File a separate online Protected Series Designation. The name must begin with the main LLC’s full legal name and contain “Protected Series,” “P.S.,” or “PS.” Florida’s other LLC naming rules also apply.
- Review the operating agreement and amend it if needed to address management.
- Document what belongs to each series and complete any deeds or ownership documents needed to transfer existing assets.
One important note: once effective, the designation creates the protected series but does not transfer assets into it.
Because the process may involve changes to the operating agreement, ownership documents, and asset records, business owners should consider legal counsel to help guide the setup.
When to Seek Legal Help Before Transferring an Asset
Transferring property or business rights within a Florida series LLC may require additional legal steps. Real estate may call for a new deed, and a mortgage may require lender approval. Contract rights or intellectual property may need a written assignment. Some agreements also restrict transfers without consent, so moving an asset without review could breach an existing obligation.
An attorney can review the transfer documents, required consents, assignment terms, and series records before the transfer. Florida’s associated-asset rules require enough detail to identify the property or right and show how the series acquired it. For a transfer from the main company or another protected series, the records must also show any consideration paid. They must identify who paid and who received it. This review can confirm that the transfer was properly completed and recorded for the intended series.
Get Legal Help With a Florida Series LLC
A limited liability company can provide a legal structure for holding assets and conducting business in Florida. Whether a series LLC is appropriate depends on the assets involved, the agreements already tied to them, and the owner’s plans.
Trembly Law Firm helps business owners understand their options before they start an LLC in Florida or add protected series to an existing company. Through our LLC formation services, our business attorneys can advise you on the legal requirements and decisions involved. Contact us to schedule a consultation and review your proposed structure.