How To Start a Business in Florida—A Complete Guide
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As the 16th largest economy in the world with favorable regulatory requirements and low business taxes, Florida is a great place for starting new ventures. Like any other U.S. state, setting up a new business requires navigating various strategic and legal steps— from choosing a structure and registering a business to filing taxes.
This article will help you understand how to start a business in Florida and meet all the regulatory requirements within the state and local jurisdictions. We’ll also introduce Harbor Compliance, a trusted partner that assists with business registration—from licensing to meeting tax requirements—making your start-up journey seamless.
Steps To Start a Business in Florida
Starting a new business in Florida is less complex compared to other U.S. states, due to easier access to capital and lower operating costs.
The required paperwork and set-up costs vary depending on the type of business structure you select. For example, to form a corporation in Florida, you need to draft, review, and ratify bylaws at your first board of directors meeting, which isn’t required when forming an LLC. However, the general process of starting up remains the same, and it involves the following:
- Creating a business plan
- Finding a business location
- Choosing a business structure
- Picking a business name
- Registering your business
- Obtaining tax IDs
- Appointing a registered agent
- Applying for licenses and permits
- Registering for taxes
Create a Business Plan
A well-defined business plan serves as a roadmap for achieving your goals in the early years and helps you reassess your strategies when you’ve hit a bump. It’s especially crucial for businesses looking to secure funding—without it, investors might not even consider hearing your pitch.
The essential components of a business plan include:
- Executive summary—A crisp overview of your business with key information, including:
- A brief description of what your business is about
- Your financial projection for the next three to five years and your plans for achieving it
- Your reasoning behind why your business will be successful
- Company description—A high-level overview of your business model
- Market research—Your understanding of your business’ industry and its future projections
- Products and/or services—The range of products and/or services you offer and how they solve a specific problem of your target customers
- Marketing and sales strategies—How you plan on reaching your customers and selling your products or services
Find a Business Location
Finding a business location isn’t as easy as it sounds since it requires a lot of research and a deep understanding of your target market to pick the perfect spot. You must take the following factors into account before finalizing a location:
- Think about your location’s convenience to customers. Consider accessibility, parking facilities, and locality.
- Identify whether the businesses around you are competitors.
- Gauge the local labor market and see if you can hire potential employees within the locality.
- Assess the possibility of extra space for future expansion plans.
- Make sure that the area is in proximity to your suppliers.
- Don’t forget to check the local regulations and permits for your area.
Choose a Business Structure
Choosing the right business structure is crucial for long-term success. Each structure has varying costs associated with a new business formation, annual maintenance requirements, and tax obligations.
Consider the following factors while selecting a business structure:
- Tax requirements at federal and state levels
- Asset protection
- Costs associated with starting, maintaining, and operating the business
- Access to loans, grants, and investment capital
- Flexibility of the chosen structure
- Transferability of ownership interests
Pick a Business Name
As a sole proprietor, you can use your real name as your business name. However, if you’re an LLC or a corporation, make sure the name you select is available and doesn’t conflict with any other organization within the state.
You can visit the Division of Corporations website to check the availability of a business name.
Register Your Business With the Department of State
Sole proprietors are not required to register their business. However, if you decide not to operate under your name, you’ll need to file for a fictitious 'Doing Business As' (DBA) name. You can either pay the registration fee online or mail the form to the Division of Corporations along with a check.
Partnerships in Florida are required to register with the secretary of state. However, the forms and filing fees slightly differ depending on the type of partnership business owners decide to form.
To register your LLC or corporation, you need to file additional paperwork. This includes Articles of Organization for LLCs and Articles of Incorporation for corporations and nonprofits.
Obtain Tax IDs
All businesses operating in Florida are required to obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN). The number is a prerequisite for many business operations, including opening a business bank account, filing business taxes, or managing payrolls.
While EINs are optional for sole proprietors, it’s recommended to obtain them instead of using your Social Security number (SSN). That’s because most banks require an EIN for opening a business bank account. Additionally, an EIN offers better protection of personal identity against identity thefts and breaches and allows you to establish a credit history separate from your personal credit history.
You can apply for your EIN number from the IRS website or download, fill out, and mail the form.
Appoint a Registered Agent
Appointing a registered agent is mandatory to operate legally in Florida. They represent your business with the Florida Department of State and are responsible for accepting and forwarding legal notices on your business’s behalf.
To appoint a registered agent in Florida, you need to fill out Articles of Incorporation or Articles of Organization, depending on your entity type, and file the documentation with the secretary of state.
Apply for Business Licenses and Permits
Florida does not issue a state-wide business license. However, you may need local licenses and permits, including:
- Local business license
- Sales tax license
- Federal license
The specific licensing requirements depend on the city or county where your business is located and whether your industry requires extensive training or poses potential hazards to customers.
Visit the business information portal of the state of Florida to learn about the agencies that regulate your business and understand the tax and permit requirements in your area.
Register for Taxes
You may be required to register with the Florida Department of Revenue for collection and remittances of taxes, especially when your business involves taxable transactions, which include:
- Commercial rentals
- Employment of agricultural labor
- Communication services
- Utility services
- Sale of fuels
How Harbor Compliance Can Help You Get Your Business Up and Running
Starting a new business as a first-time entrepreneur can be challenging when it comes to managing a range of legal and regulatory requirements. From filing proper paperwork to registering a fictitious name and securing local business licenses—ensuring that you’re meeting varying requirements across different cities and counties demands careful attention and thorough knowledge.
This is where a professional service provider like Harbor Compliance can help you at nearly every step of the registration process—including incorporation and LLC formation, obtaining an EIN and DBA, appointing a registered agent, licensing, and payroll tax registration.
We assist in preparing and filing all the paperwork you need to start and register a business with the state. Our expert filing specialists not only save you hours of research into business code and legal requirements but also provide a much more affordable alternative compared to hiring an attorney for basic business filings.
We offer a range of services to simplify business formation and future operations:
- Registered Agent—Secure handling of legal and government notices across multiple states.
- Business Licensing—Ensure your business has the right licenses to avoid fines and delays.
- Annual Reports—Timely, accurate filing to keep your business in good standing.
- Foreign Qualification—Manage the process to legally operate in other states.
Our Software Suite automates entity management, license tracking, tax compliance, and record-keeping, providing full visibility and support to streamline compliance for entrepreneurs.
How To Order Harbor Compliance’s Services
Whether your business is an LLC, corporation, or nonprofit, you can count on Harbor Compliance for a seamless registration process. Simply follow these steps to order our service:
- Visit the appropriate link based on your business type:
- Click on the Order Now or Start My Nonprofit button.
- Follow the prompts and submit your form.
Please note that our award-winning Software Suite and its various modules are sold separately.
Schedule a Free Demo of Our Software
To schedule a free demo and explore the software, follow these steps:
- Visit the Software Suite page.
- Click on the Schedule a Demo button.
- Select your preferred date and time.
- Provide the requested details and submit the form.
Afterward, one of our team members will contact you to finalize the demo.
If you’re interested in any of our other services, feel free to contact us.
Additional Services by Harbor Compliance
Harbor Compliance's support goes beyond tax registration and licensing management solutions. We offer a range of services to help businesses meet various regulatory requirements. The table below highlights our key service categories:
| Service Category | Services |
|---|---|
| Document filing and retrieval | |
| Beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting | |
| Business licensing support | |
| Entity lifecycle management | |
| Nonprofit management | |
| Tax services |
Starting a Business in Florida FAQs
Below, you can find answers to some frequently asked questions about starting a new business in Florida. For more guidance, visit our Information Center.
It may be difficult for new businesses to get loans from banks, which is why the U.S. Small Business Administration offers different financing options to start a business. Additionally, you can enroll in Florida’s Microfinance Programs to get assistance from the Florida Small Business Development Network.
To form an LLC in Florida, you need to be at least 18 years old. There’s no minimum age requirement to start a corporation or sole proprietorship in Florida. However, directors must be at least 18 years old.
To start a business in Florida, you need to fulfill the following requirements:
- Obtain general business licenses regulated by your city or county
- Register the business with the Department of Revenue
- Register for taxes
- Apply for a fictitious business name
- Have an EIN number
- Open a business bank account
Partner With Harbor Compliance To Start a Business in Florida
Florida has friendlier laws and regulations regarding taxes and licensing requirements, making it an ideal place to start a new business. However, to legally operate within the state, the entire process requires accurate document filing and thorough knowledge of regulatory compliance.
With our formation services and award-winning Software Suite, you can entrust the workload to us. Start today by scheduling a free demo of our software to explore all the ways we can support your business.
Once you're all set, take advantage of our FREE Harbor Compliance Score™ to assess your entity’s regulatory standing with the state. Contact us or schedule a demo of the software to explore all the ways we can assist you.
For details on business registration throughout the U.S., consult the table below:
