Registering a Florida business means filing with two separate state agencies, and most guides blur them into one. You form your entity with Sunbiz, the Florida Division of Corporations, then register for taxes with the Florida Department of Revenue. They do not talk to each other.
The full path runs in one line: choose an entity, clear the name, file with Sunbiz, get an EIN, register for state taxes with the Department of Revenue, secure licenses, and file your annual report. This guide walks each step with verified 2026 fees, timing, and deadlines.
What Are the Steps to Register a Business in Florida?
Registering a business in Florida takes seven core steps, and you can start most of them online the same day. Here is the checklist:
Which Agencies Handle Florida Business Registration: Sunbiz or the Department of Revenue?
Both, for different jobs. Sunbiz, the Florida Division of Corporations, handles entity formation, fictitious names, and annual reports. The Florida Department of Revenue (DOR) handles tax registration through the Florida Business Tax Application, Form DR-1. Completing one does not complete the other.
This is the single most common mistake founders make. Filing your Articles of Organization on Sunbiz gives you a legal entity. It does not register you for sales tax, reemployment tax, or any DOR obligation. Per the Florida Division of Corporations fictitious-name guidance, Sunbiz filings are separate from and not a substitute for DOR tax registration. Both tracks must be completed independently.
What Are the Types of Business Entities in Florida?
Florida recognizes LLCs, corporations, sole proprietorships, and partnerships, and your choice sets your liability, taxes, and filing cost. LLCs are the default for most small businesses. The table below compares the main structures.
| Entity | Liability | Taxation | Sunbiz filing | Formation cost | Ideal use case |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LLC | Limited | Pass-through (default) | Yes, Articles of Organization | $125 | Most small businesses |
| C-Corp | Limited | Entity-level, then dividends | Yes, Articles of Incorporation | $70 | Raising outside investment |
| S-Corp | Limited | Pass-through (IRS election) | Yes, plus IRS Form 2553 | $70 | Owner-operators wanting pass-through |
| Sole proprietorship | Unlimited personal | Owner’s return | No entity filing | $0 ($50 if using a DBA) | Single-owner, low-risk ventures |
| GP / LP / LLP | Varies by type | Pass-through | LP and LLP file; GP optional | Varies | Multi-owner and professional firms |
Source: entity requirements and formation fees per the Florida Division of Corporations (dos.fl.gov/sunbiz); taxation treatment per the IRS.
An S-Corp is a tax election, not a separate Florida entity. Licensed professionals can form a professional association (PA) or professional limited liability company (PLLC), and mission-driven groups can form a nonprofit corporation. Florida charges no state personal income tax, which strengthens the pass-through appeal of LLCs.
Florida LLC vs Corporation: Which Should You Choose?
Choose an LLC if you run a typical small business and a corporation if you plan to raise outside investment. LLCs give pass-through taxation, liability protection, and a low $125 filing cost. Corporations suit companies issuing stock to investors. The decision turns on how you plan to fund and grow.
S-Corp status carries hard limits. Per the IRS, an S-Corp may have no more than 100 shareholders, all shareholders must be U.S. citizens or residents, and it can issue only one class of stock. Many venture-backed startups choose a C-Corp because those restrictions do not fit investor structures or option pools. Some founders incorporate in Delaware while operating in Florida, which then requires foreign qualification in Florida.
How Do You Do a Florida Business Name Search?
Search the Sunbiz records database before you file. Your proposed name must be distinguishable from every existing Florida entity and must include the required designator for your structure, such as “LLC” for a limited liability company or “Inc.” for a corporation. Names implying a government affiliation are not allowed.
Run the search early, because a conflict is the most common cause of a rejected filing. You can also check availability with Commenda’s company name checker before you commit to branding or a domain.
What Is Florida DBA (Fictitious Name) Registration?
Any business operating under a name other than its legal name must register a fictitious name, or “doing business as” (DBA), with the Florida Division of Corporations for $50. This is a separate filing from entity formation, and for a sole proprietor it is often the only Division of Corporations filing they make.
Florida’s Fictitious Name Act, Fla. Stat. § 865.09, requires you to register before conducting business under the name and to certify that you advertised your intent at least once in a newspaper in your principal county. Per the same statute, the registration is valid through December 31 of the fifth calendar year, then must be renewed. Registering a fictitious name does not create an LLC or corporation.
Does Florida Require a Registered Agent?
Yes. Every Florida LLC and corporation must designate a registered agent with a physical Florida street address, and PO boxes are not accepted. The agent can be an individual Florida resident or a registered agent service company. The agent accepts legal documents and service of process on the business’s behalf.
Under Fla. Stat. § 48.091, the registered office must stay open with someone present to accept service from at least 10 a.m. to 12 noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on every weekday except legal holidays. That availability standard applies to domestic corporations and LLCs alike.
How Do You File Formation Documents With Sunbiz?
LLCs file Articles of Organization and corporations file Articles of Incorporation, either online at Sunbiz or by mail. The online e-filing portal is the fastest route. Most founders complete the filing in a single session once their name and registered agent are set.
The filing asks for your business name, principal office address, registered agent name and address, and the members (LLC) or officers and directors (corporation). Filing fees are listed in the cost table below.
How Do You Get a Florida EIN?
Apply free at IRS.gov, and the IRS issues your Employer Identification Number (EIN) immediately when you apply online. An EIN is your federal tax ID. Never pay a third-party site for it, because the IRS charges nothing.
You need an EIN if you hire employees, form a corporation or multi-member LLC, or elect corporate taxation. Foreign founders without a Social Security number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) cannot use the online tool. They must file Form SS-4 by fax or mail, which can stretch EIN issuance to several weeks.
How Do You Register for Florida State Taxes?
Businesses selling taxable goods or services must register as a sales and use tax dealer with the Florida Department of Revenue before conducting business, via the online Florida Business Tax Application or the paper Form DR-1. To repeat the callout: your Sunbiz filing does not register you for tax.
Employers also register for reemployment tax, Florida’s term for state unemployment tax. Florida has no personal income tax, so there is no employer income-tax withholding to set up. For guidance, the DOR publishes the Business Owner’s Guide for Sales and Use Tax (GT-300015) and the DR-1N instructions. To scope your rate exposure by county, use Commenda’s sales tax calculator, and see the Florida sales tax permit guide for the full registration walkthrough.
Do I Need a Business License in Florida?
Florida has no general statewide business license, but licensing exists at three levels: state professional licensing, local business tax receipts, and industry or federal permits. Which apply depends on your profession, location, and industry. Check all three before you open.
Which Professions Need a DBPR or State License?
Regulated professions license through the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), covering real estate, construction, cosmetology, and food service. Healthcare providers license through the Department of Health. If your profession is regulated, verify your board’s requirements before operating.
What Is a Local Business Tax Receipt?
Most Florida counties and cities require a local business tax receipt, formerly called an occupational license, to operate. Local rules also cover zoning and health and safety compliance. Contact your county tax collector to confirm what your address requires. See the Florida business license guide for the county-by-county picture.
Which Industries Need Extra Permits?
Some industries need federal or specialized permits, including alcohol, firearms, and transportation. These sit on top of any state and local requirements. Confirm with the relevant federal agency before you begin operations.
How Much Does It Cost to Register a Business in Florida?
A Florida LLC costs $125 to form, which is a $100 filing fee plus a $25 registered agent designation fee, and a for-profit corporation costs $70. The full fee schedule is below, verified for 2026 against the Sunbiz fee pages.
| Filing | Fee (2026) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| LLC formation (Articles of Organization) | $125 ($100 + $25 agent) | Sunbiz LLC fees (dos.fl.gov/sunbiz) |
| For-profit corporation formation | $70 ($35 + $35 agent) | Sunbiz corporate fees (dos.fl.gov/sunbiz) |
| Fictitious name (DBA) registration | $50 | Sunbiz fees (dos.fl.gov/sunbiz) |
| LLC annual report | $138.75 | Sunbiz LLC fees (dos.fl.gov/sunbiz) |
| Corporation annual report | $150 | Sunbiz fees (dos.fl.gov/sunbiz) |
| Certified copy (LLC / corp) | $30 / $8.75 | Sunbiz fee schedule (dos.fl.gov/sunbiz) |
| Certificate of status (LLC / corp) | $5 / $8.75 | Sunbiz fee schedule (dos.fl.gov/sunbiz) |
How Long Does It Take to Register a Business in Florida?
Online Sunbiz filings typically process in 2 to 5 business days, paper filings take several weeks, and your EIN is immediate when you apply online with the IRS. Timing is the step most guides get wrong.
Expect slower turnaround during peak season from January through April, when annual report filings flood the system. Plan formation ahead of any hard launch date so processing delays do not stall your bank account or license applications.
What Are Florida’s Annual Report Filing Requirements?
Every Florida LLC and corporation must file an annual report with Sunbiz between January 1 and May 1 each year. Your first report is due in the calendar year after the year you formed. Miss the deadline and a non-waivable $400 late fee hits for-profit entities. The details:
| Entity | Fee | Deadline | Late penalty | Consequence if never filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LLC | $138.75 | May 1 | $400 (non-waivable) | Administrative dissolution, 4th Friday of September |
| For-profit corporation | $150 | May 1 | $400 (non-waivable) | Administrative dissolution, 4th Friday of September |
| Nonprofit corporation | Varies | May 1 | No $400 fee | Administrative dissolution, 4th Friday of September |
Source: Florida Division of Corporations annual report guidance; dissolution timing per Fla. Stat. § 607.1420 and § 605.0212.
The original version of this page cited a March 1 deadline. That was wrong. The statutory deadline is May 1.
What Are Common Mistakes When Registering a Business in Florida?
The most costly errors come from assuming one filing covers everything. Watch for these traps:
- Assuming your Sunbiz filing registers you for sales tax. It does not.
- Skipping the name search and getting your filing rejected.
- Missing the May 1 annual report and eating the $400 late fee.
- Operating under a trade name as a sole proprietor without the $50 DBA filing.
- Paying a third party for an EIN that the IRS gives out free.
How Do You Verify a Florida Business Registration?
Use the Sunbiz records search to verify any Florida business. It shows name availability, entity status (active or dissolved), formation date, and the registered agent on file. Check it before filing to confirm your name is clear and after filing to confirm your entity is active.
How Commenda Helps You Register a Business in Florida
Commenda’s incorporation platform handles Florida entity formation, state filings, and ongoing compliance in one place, so your Sunbiz and Department of Revenue obligations both get done and stay done. You get certainty that each filing is tracked, submitted, and confirmed, instead of juggling separate agencies and deadlines yourself.
For founders running multiple entities or expanding across states, Commenda’s entity management keeps every jurisdiction on one standardized workflow, and the compliance calendar tracks your annual report and tax deadlines automatically. Comparing states? See the guides for California, Texas, and New York.
Book a demo to get your Florida entity formed and your compliance calendar handled from day one.
