In Florida, entities and fictitious names (DBAs) are filed with the Division of Corporations (Sunbiz). Many occupations are licensed by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). Sales and use tax registration goes through the Florida Department of Revenue. Most counties and many cities also require a local business tax receipt. Confirm current forms and fees on each official site.
Florida research checklist
| Step | Where |
|---|---|
| Form an LLC or corporation, or file a fictitious name | Division of Corporations (Sunbiz) |
| Federal EIN if needed | IRS |
| State occupational license (if your work is regulated) | DBPR (MyFloridaLicense) |
| Construction contractor licensing | DBPR Construction Industry Licensing |
| Sales and use tax registration (if you sell taxable goods or services) | Florida Department of Revenue |
| County local business tax receipt | Your county tax collector or finance office |
| City business tax receipt, zoning, certificate of use | Your city |
| Food service and mobile food | DBPR Division of Hotels and Restaurants |
City editions
Other Florida cities
Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Tampa, Jacksonville, Naples and Ocala follow the same state steps above. The local steps are your county tax collector’s local business tax and your city’s business tax receipt and zoning rules. Search your county tax collector’s official site and your city’s official site, both ending in .gov or the county’s official domain.
Worked example
Carla is opening a residential cleaning LLC in Fort Lauderdale. She forms the LLC on Sunbiz, gets an EIN from the IRS, and checks DBPR to confirm cleaning is not a state-licensed occupation. She asks the Florida Department of Revenue whether her services are taxable and learns which products and services would require sales tax registration. Next, she applies for Broward County's local business tax receipt and the City of Fort Lauderdale's business tax receipt, asking each office whether a home-based business needs zoning approval. She records every receipt number, renewal date and fee page link in one spreadsheet and sets reminders before each renewal.
Industries with extra state licensing
Florida regulates many occupations through DBPR, including construction trades, cosmetology and barbering, real estate and others, while food service establishments and mobile food units are regulated by DBPR's Division of Hotels and Restaurants. Check DBPR's licensing portal for your occupation before you open, and follow the industry playbooks for details.
Common questions
Is this legal advice?
No. It is a research checklist with official agencies. Confirm requirements, fees and timelines with each office.
How often is this checked?
Sources were checked on October 6, 2026. Rules change, so verify before you file.
Do Florida LLCs file annual reports?
Yes, Florida requires annual reports for LLCs and corporations through Sunbiz; check the current due dates and fees there.
Is a county business tax the same as a state license?
No. The local business tax receipt is separate from state occupational licensing; many businesses need both.
Sources
- Florida Division of Corporations: Start a business
- Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz)
- Florida DBPR: Professional licensing (MyFloridaLicense)
- Florida DBPR: Construction Industry Licensing
- Florida Department of Revenue: Sales and use tax
- Florida DBPR Division of Hotels and Restaurants: Licensing
Sources checked October 6, 2026. Rules, fees and forms change; confirm details with the agency or provider before you act. This guide is general information, not legal, tax or insurance advice.
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