Opening a business in Florida: state licenses, permits and registrations
The 7 state-level filings in Florida, and full guides for 3 cities there. The fixed government fees add up to about $175, 4 fees are set by the space or the business and 1 filing is free.
Fees and timelines at a glance
| Filing | Agency | Government fee | How long | Renews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LLC formation | Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz) | $125 | Not listed | Not listed |
| Florida sales tax and reemployment tax registration | Florida Department of Revenue | Varies | After registering online, the certificate number is available on the website after three business days. | Not listed |
| Registration of a fictitious name (DBA) | Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations | $50 | Not listed | Every five years; registrations expire December 31 of the fifth year. |
| Certified food protection manager | Florida DBPR, Division of Hotels and Restaurants | Varies | Not listed | Not listed |
| Food service plan review | Florida DBPR, Division of Hotels and Restaurants | Free | Not listed | Not listed |
| Florida alcoholic beverage license | Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco | Varies | Not listed | Not listed |
| Florida public food service license | Florida DBPR, Division of Hotels and Restaurants | Varies | Most applications are processed within a few business days; mailed ones take longer. | Every year online, on the district's date: October 1 in Miami, February 1 in Tampa, April 1 in Orlando. |
City guides in Florida
Every filing links to the agency's own page, and every fact comes from an official form or agency page. Agency requirements change; check the agency's page before you file. How we source and check these guides
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Get the plan for your exact address
This guide covers the city. Your exact address decides the county, the health district and the zoning. Placetta maps every filing for it, fills the official forms from your details, adds the deadlines and puts them up for your approval.
- The full list for your address, in filing order
- The official forms, filled line by line
- Renewal and inspection reminders