1
MAY
2025
Starting a Business in Florida? Here’s What You Really Need to Know
Starting your own business can feel like standing at the edge of something powerful—full of promise, purpose, and potential. But that first step? It can also be confusing and overwhelming. Florida is a great place to launch a business, thanks to its favorable tax environment and growing economy. But to get started the right way, you need more than just a great idea—you need clarity on the practical steps that will set you up for success and keep you compliant with the law.
At Spirit Driven Enterprises, we help aspiring entrepreneurs move from vision to action. Here’s what every business owner should know before launching in Florida.
Choose the Right Entity Type
Your business structure affects your taxes, legal protections, and day-to-day operations. In Florida, the most common choices are:
- LLC (Limited Liability Company): This is often the best choice for small business owners who want liability protection without the complexity of a corporation. It separates your personal assets from your business liabilities.
- S-Corporation: Offers some tax advantages and may be ideal if you’re planning to pay yourself a salary and reinvest profits. It has stricter requirements and more paperwork than an LLC.
- Sole Proprietorship: Easiest to set up, but offers no liability protection. It’s not a legal entity, just you operating under a business name.
Tip: When in doubt, start with an LLC—you can always restructure later as your business grows.
Get an EIN (Even If You're a Solo Operator)
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is like a social security number for your business. You’ll need it to:
- Open a business bank account
- Hire employees
- File federal taxes
- Apply for licenses and permits
Pro Tip: Even if you’re a one-person business, getting an EIN helps separate your business finances from your personal ones—which is key for protection and professionalism.
Register with SunBiz
SunBiz.org is the Florida Department of State’s official registration portal. Once you’ve chosen your entity, you’ll need to register your business name and file your formation documents.
Here’s what that typically includes:
- Articles of Organization (for an LLC)
- Registered agent designation
- Filing fee (usually $125 for an LLC)
Check Local Requirements
Your legal setup doesn’t stop at the state level. Each city and county in Florida may require you to get a:
- Business Tax Receipt (formerly known as an occupational license)
- Zoning permit, if you’re working from home or renting commercial space
- Additional licenses if you’re in a regulated industry (food, cosmetology, construction, etc.)
For example, in Walton County or DeFuniak Springs, you’ll need to apply through local offices before you begin operating. Failing to do so can result in fines or being shut down.
Set Up Systems from Day One
Too many entrepreneurs get caught up in their product or service and put off organizing their back-end operations. Don’t make that mistake.
Start with:
- Invoicing tools (like Wave, QuickBooks, or FreshBooks)
- Expense tracking for taxes and budgeting
- Customer relationship management (CRM) tools to keep track of leads and clients (HubSpot, Notion, or even a Google Sheet to start)
- File management: Use Google Drive or Dropbox to stay organized
Why it matters: Systems save time, reduce stress, and make you look more professional to clients.
Conclusion: You Don’t Have to Figure It Out Alone
Starting a business in Florida comes with incredible opportunity—but it also comes with paperwork, deadlines, and decisions. If you're feeling stuck or unsure, Spirit Driven Enterprises is here to help.
We walk you through the steps, provide personalized consulting, and help you create a business that’s not only compliant—but built with purpose.
Let’s turn your vision into action—together.
© 2025 Spirit Driven Enterprises. All rights reserved.
We need your consent to load the translations
We use a third-party service to translate the website content that may collect data about your activity. Please review the details in the privacy policy and accept the service to view the translations.