Florida · Start a business
How to start a business in Florida
Florida registers fictitious names with the state Division of Corporations, and each registration lasts 5 years.
See the checklistShort answer
To start a business in Florida, pick a structure and file with the Division of Corporations: $125 for an LLC, $35 for a corporation's articles. Then name a registered agent, get an EIN and register for state taxes.
Last checked .What do you file before you open in Florida?
Pick a structure
Most owners choose an LLC or a corporation; the S corp or C corp tax choice comes later. See Florida LLC guide, Florida corporation guide, S corp or C corp in Florida. By trade: cleaning business, handyman.
Check and register the name
Search the Division of Corporations records before you pick a name: state name search. A fictitious name in Florida is registered with the Department of State's Division of Corporations. The registration is valid for 5 years and expires on December 31 of the final year. 1 See Florida name search guide.
File with the state
Florida charges the state filing fee once: an LLC costs $125 2 and a corporation's articles of incorporation cost $35 3. See LLC cost.
Name a registered agent
Every Florida corporation must keep a registered office and a registered agent in the state, and an individual agent must live in Florida at the registered office address. 4 Our registered agent service runs through our partner Registered Agents Inc (RAI), the registered agent of record. See Florida registered agent rules.
Which accounts do you open after you file in Florida?
Get an EIN
An EIN is the business's federal tax ID. The IRS issues it online, for free, and warns about websites that charge for one. 5
Open your state tax accounts
The Florida Department of Revenue registers new businesses for state taxes through its online Florida Business Tax Application, which uses an interactive wizard to determine which tax registrations apply, or on paper with Form DR-1. 6 See Sales tax permit.
Register as an employer
Florida's unemployment insurance is called reemployment tax and is registered with the Department of Revenue. An employer registers by the end of the month following the calendar quarter in which it became an employer. 7 The Florida Department of Revenue runs the state's New Hire Reporting Center, and employers report newly hired, re-hired and temporary employees within 20 days of the employee's start date. 8 Under the Florida Division of Workers' Compensation, construction employers with one or more employees need coverage, and non-construction employers need it at four or more employees. Non-construction sole proprietors and partners are not counted as employees. 9
What keeps your Florida business in good standing?
Check licenses and permits
Many industries in Florida may require a license from the State. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation and the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services are the two main licensing agencies for skilled trades. 10
Calendar the yearly filings
Florida LLC annual report: $138.75, due May 1 every year. 11 See Florida annual report.
Use free local help
Small business advising in Florida runs through the Florida SBDC Network. 12 The Florida Department of Revenue points new businesses to the Open My Florida Business Portal, which gives regulatory and administrative information on starting and operating a business in Florida. 13
What it costs to start a business in Florida
Do you need a business license in Florida?
It depends on the trade and the place. The U.S. Small Business Administration says most small businesses need a combination of licenses and permits from federal and state agencies, and that requirements and fees depend on the business activity and the issuing agency. 16 Florida's own rule is in step 8. 10 Where to look up licenses: Open My Florida Business Portal.
- Local business tax (county and city). Most Florida county tax collectors require businesses to pay a local business tax, also called an occupational license, to operate inside the county. Some cities add their own local business tax. 15
How to register a business name in Florida
| Question | Florida |
|---|---|
| Where it is filed | With the state 1 |
| Office | Florida Division of Corporations |
| What it is called | fictitious name |
| Fee | $50 |
| Term in years | 5 |
Check that the name is free first: state name search.
Also in Florida
- E-Verify. Florida private employers with 25 or more employees must use E-Verify to confirm new hires' work eligibility. 17
More for Florida
Start your Florida business
We file it, and the state fee shows before you pay.
Start my LLCCommon questions
What are the steps to start a business in Florida?
Pick a structure, file with the Division of Corporations, name a registered agent, get an EIN, register for state taxes with the Florida Department of Revenue, then handle hiring, licenses, yearly filings and local help.
What does it cost to register a business in Florida?
In Florida, an LLC filing is $125 and a corporation's articles of incorporation are $35. The annual report is $138.75 each year.
Can I start a business in Florida with no money?
Florida charges $125 to file an LLC, and the annual report is $138.75 each year. An EIN is the business's federal tax ID. The IRS issues it online, for free, and warns about websites that charge for one. The Florida SBDC Network describes itself as a statewide group of over 220 business consultants and specialists, offering no-cost consulting to small businesses.
Are there small business grants in Florida?
FloridaCommerce says Florida's State Small Business Credit Initiative funding, administered through partner lenders, may be used for start-up costs and equipment. Eligible businesses must be Florida-based and have fewer than 500 employees.
What is the Florida SBDC?
The Florida SBDC Network describes itself as a statewide group of over 220 business consultants and specialists, offering no-cost consulting to small businesses.
Sources 18 links, checked Nov 12, 2026
- DBA or trade name registration dos.fl.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
- Official state fee schedule for LLC filings dos.fl.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
- Corporation filing dos.fl.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
- Registered agent rule leg.state.fl.us, checked Nov 7, 2026
- IRS: employer identification number irs.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
- State tax registration floridarevenue.com, checked Nov 12, 2026
- Unemployment insurance registration floridarevenue.com, checked Nov 12, 2026
- New hire reporting floridarevenue.com, checked Nov 12, 2026
- Workers' compensation coverage myfloridacfo.com, checked Nov 12, 2026
- General business license dos.fl.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
- Florida LLC annual report dos.fl.gov, checked Sep 1, 2026
- Small Business Development Center floridasbdc.org, checked Nov 12, 2026
- State business portal floridarevenue.com, checked Nov 12, 2026
- US Census Bureau, Business Formation Statistics (monthly file, 2025 added up) census.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
- Local business tax (county and city) dos.fl.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
- SBA: licenses and permits sba.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
- E-Verify floridarevenue.com, checked Nov 12, 2026
- State small business funding floridajobs.org, checked Nov 12, 2026
Last verified Nov 12, 2026.
This page explains the rules; it is not legal or tax advice.