Local guide · Fort Lauderdale, Florida
How to Start a Business in Fort Lauderdale
Eight steps across five offices: the state, the IRS, the City, the County and the Department of Revenue.
Start with step 1Short answer
Form the business with the state first. Then get zoning approval through a Certificate of Use, the City of Fort Lauderdale business tax receipt and, for most businesses, the Broward County receipt, in that order.
Last checked against official sources: November 5, 2026.What are the steps to open a business in Fort Lauderdale?
Choose a structure and form the LLC on Sunbiz
Sunbiz, the Florida Division of Corporations, lists the Articles of Organization at $100 and the registered agent designation at $25. Our Florida LLC guide covers the choices. Source: Sunbiz LLC filing help.
Checked Nov 5, 2026Get an EIN
The IRS issues it and says you never pay a fee for an EIN. The online form needs the responsible party’s SSN or ITIN. Source: IRS online EIN application.
Checked Nov 5, 2026Get zoning approval with a Certificate of Use
The City of Fort Lauderdale says that starting October 1, 2026 you must get zoning approval through a Certificate of Use before you apply for a business tax receipt. Apply through the LauderBuild portal, linked from the City’s Certificate of Use page. Zoning line: 954-828-4295. Source: City business tax applications.
Checked Nov 5, 2026Get the City of Fort Lauderdale business tax receipt
The City’s Business Tax Division (101 NE 3rd Avenue, Suite 100, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301) issues it; you apply through the City’s online portal. The City says that in most cases its receipt must be obtained first, before the County receipt. Sources: City Business Tax and Business Tax FAQs.
Checked Nov 5, 2026Get the Broward County business tax receipt
The City says its receipt is separate from the County’s and that most businesses need both. The County’s fee and rules are on its own page, Broward County local business taxes; our Broward County business tax receipt guide walks through it.
Checked Nov 5, 2026Register for state sales tax if you sell taxable goods or services
Find out first whether the Florida Department of Revenue taxes your activity. If it does, register online or with Form DR-1, once for each location. Source: Florida sales and use tax. See our sales tax permit guide.
Checked Nov 5, 2026Register a fictitious name if you use a different name
If you do business under a name other than your legal name, you register it with the Division of Corporations: $50 online, valid five years, renewable July 1 to December 31 of the expiry year. Source: Sunbiz fictitious names. More in our Florida DBA guide.
Checked Nov 5, 2026Set up compliance
The Florida LLC annual report is due May 1 every year: Sunbiz charges $138.75 from January 1 to May 1 and a $400 late fee after that (Sunbiz annual report help). See our Florida annual report guide. The City receipt renews July 1 to September 30.
Checked Nov 5, 2026
What do the official pages say it costs?
The City and County pages we read list no receipt fee, so we show none.
Working from home in Fort Lauderdale
A home-based business within the City needs a business tax receipt. The City’s FAQ says it is a restricted receipt, and the application includes a copy of your Florida driver’s license or state-issued ID, the Home-Based Business Affidavit and the Home-Based Business Checklist (checked Nov 5, 2026).
Common questions
Which comes first, the City receipt or the County receipt?
The City of Fort Lauderdale says most businesses need both and that in most cases its receipt must be obtained first.
Do I need a Certificate of Use before the City receipt?
Yes, from October 1, 2026. The City says you must get zoning approval through a Certificate of Use before you apply.
Do I need a receipt to work from home in Fort Lauderdale?
Yes. The City lists home-based businesses among those that need a business tax receipt.
How much is the City business tax receipt?
The City pages we read do not list a fee. Ask the Business Tax Division at BusinessTax@fortlauderdale.gov or 954-828-5207, option 1. Card payments add 2.75%.
When do the receipts renew?
The City’s renewal season runs July 1 through September 30; unpaid receipts go delinquent October 1. For the County, read its page.
Do I have to register a fictitious name?
Only if you do business under a name other than your legal name. Sunbiz charges $50 online and the registration lasts five years.
Sources 9 official links, opened November 5, 2026
- Florida Division of Corporations, LLC filing help, checked Nov 5, 2026
- Florida Division of Corporations, LLC annual report help, checked Nov 5, 2026
- Florida Division of Corporations, fictitious names, checked Nov 5, 2026
- IRS, apply for an EIN online, checked Nov 5, 2026
- City of Fort Lauderdale, business tax applications, checked Nov 5, 2026
- City of Fort Lauderdale, Business Tax, checked Nov 5, 2026
- City of Fort Lauderdale, Business Tax FAQs, checked Nov 5, 2026
- Broward County, local business taxes, checked Nov 5, 2026
- Florida Department of Revenue, sales and use tax, checked Nov 5, 2026
Last checked against official sources: November 5, 2026. General information, not legal advice. Confirm with the office before you pay.
Start your LLC with a Fort Lauderdale company
We file the Florida LLC. Registered Agents Inc, our partner firm, is the registered agent of record. The City and County receipts stay with you.
Start my LLC with Vermilion VitezNeed a business address for your mail? See Vitezmail.