There are a few simple steps you need to comply with to register a new business in Florida. To do that, you must first choose your business entity: non-profit, sole proprietorship, LLC, or corporation. This is important as it will impact the requirements for the succeeding steps. Go to the SunBiz website to fulfill the necessary forms to register your business.
Upon filing, you must provide basic information about your business, list the owner names, and then settle the filing fee. The forms will have minimum statutory requirements but you might have to fulfill additional requirements based on your business type.
The next step is to register your DBA with a unique business name. Then, go to the IRS website or the local IRS office in Florida to register your business for taxes. There could be different state, county, and city business taxes you must complete depending on where you want to register your business in.
Obtain a business license based on the nature of your business. For those providing professional services, you can register via the Department of Business Professional Regulation.
When all of that is done, you can pick your business location and check if there are additional permits or requirements to fulfill. If not, you can look at options for funding your business.
Florida State has 66 counties and 404 municipalities. Each county is led by a five-member elected board of county commissions, which has the administrative and legislative authority over the county departments (except those led by independently elected officials). The state also has 95 public school districts.
Counties without charters on the other hand, have elected officials that include a sheriff, elections supervisor, property appraiser, and court clerk. County charters may have varying number of elected officials, and a city manager (county administrator). Before 1968, a state legislation restricted the operations of county government; these laws had since been repealed. Counties may enact any laws that are consistent with state laws. However, the local government and the taxing power are limited.
State legislature has incorporated and chartered municipalities, except where a county charter specifies otherwise.
See the main Florida Page for county links.© State & Local 1995-2023