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Florida · 3 jurisdictions covered

Business licences and permits in Florida

Florida replaces a general business licence with the local Business Tax Receipt, and a business inside city limits can owe two of them — one to the city and one to the county. Every receipt expires on 30 September.

What applies everywhere in Florida

13 requirements are set by Florida itself and apply whichever city you open in. Local permits sit on top of them.

Requirements set by Florida that apply in every jurisdiction in the state, with the issuing agency, the published fee and the date each was last checked against its source
Annual Report (Corporation)Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations$150.00 — a $61.25 base fee plus the $88.75 annual supplemental corporate fee — rising to $550.00 if it is filed after 1 MayOnly in some cases2026-09-03
Annual Report (LLC)Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations$138.75 — a $50 base fee plus the $88.75 annual supplemental corporate fee — rising to $538.75 if it is filed after 1 May, because a $400 late charge attaches to the supplemental feeOnly in some cases2026-09-03
Articles of IncorporationFlorida Department of State, Division of Corporations$70 one-time filingOnly in some cases2026-09-03
Articles of Organization (LLC)Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations$125 one-time filingOnly in some cases2026-09-03
Barbershop LicenceFlorida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Board of Cosmetology and Barbers' Board$125 application and original licenceTo every business2026-09-03
Business Tax Application (Sales and Use Tax)Florida Department of RevenueNo fee — no fee to registerOnly in some cases2026-09-03
Child Care Facility LicenceFlorida Department of Children and Families, Child Care Licensure$1 per child of licensed capacity, subject to a minimum of $25 and a maximum of $100 per facility — so 25 children or fewer costs $25, and 100 or more costs $100To every business2026-09-03
Contractor LicenceFlorida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Construction Industry Licensing BoardCertified: $335 non-refundable application and examination fee. Registered: $100 application fee. Both then pay $200 for the initial licence, halved to $100 in the second year of a biennium, and $200 to renew every two yearsTo every business2026-09-03
Cosmetology or Specialty Salon LicenceFlorida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Board of Cosmetology and Barbers' Board$90 application and initial licenceTo every business2026-09-03
Food Service Employee Training and Manager CertificationFlorida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Division of Hotels and RestaurantsNo feeTo every business2026-09-03
Local Business Tax ReceiptFlorida Department of State, Division of CorporationsNo feeTo every business2026-09-03
Public Food Service Establishment LicenceFlorida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Division of Hotels and Restaurants$242–$357 per year, banded by seating, plus a $50 application feeTo every business2026-09-03
Veterinary Premises PermitFlorida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Board of Veterinary Medicine$250 one-time applicationTo every business2026-09-03

Which Florida city are you opening in?

Is there a single Florida business licence?

No. Florida has no single licence that covers every business. What you need depends on your industry, your city and your county, and most of the obligations that matter are issued locally rather than at state level.

The state-level registrations that do apply to nearly everyone are tax accounts rather than licences — which is why they are easy to miss.

Who issues permits in Florida?

By industry

Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.