How Much Does It Cost to Start a Business in Florida?
Last updated: May 2026
Florida Business Overview
LLC Filing Fee
$125
Sales Tax Rate
6.0%
Minimum Wage
$14/hr
Cost of Living Index
103.1
Workers Comp
Required
Annual Report Fee
$138
Starting a Business in Florida
Florida requires businesses to register with the Department of State. Many industries require professional licenses through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).
Florida has no personal income tax, making it one of the most attractive states for business owners. The corporate income tax rate is 5.5%.
Florida's no income tax policy and population growth make it highly attractive for business formation. Tourism-related businesses have strong year-round demand.
For official formation documents, visit the Florida Secretary of State.
Startup Costs for 100 Business Types in Florida
The table below shows estimated startup costs for every major business type, adjusted for Florida’s cost of living index of 103.1. Click any column header to sort. Click a business name to see full cost breakdowns, calculator, and licensing requirements.
| Accounting Firm | Professional Services | $7,840 | $22,400 | $51,520 |
| Airbnb & Vacation Rental Business | Real Estate | $12,320 | $33,600 | $100,800 |
| Ambulance Service | Transportation & Logistics | $89,600 | $224,000 | $560,000 |
| App Development Company | Tech & Online | $11,200 | $33,600 | $89,600 |
| Architecture Firm | Professional Services | $22,400 | $61,600 | $145,600 |
| Auto Detailing Business | Automotive | $5,600 | $33,600 | $112,000 |
| Auto Repair Shop | Automotive | $84,000 | $224,000 | $560,000 |
| Bakery | Food & Beverage | $22,400 | $106,400 | $336,000 |
| Bar & Nightclub | Food & Beverage | $112,000 | $392,000 | $952,000 |
| Barbershop | Beauty & Personal Care | $16,800 | $72,800 | $196,000 |
| Beauty Supply Store | Beauty & Personal Care | $33,600 | $112,000 | $336,000 |
| Bookstore | Retail | $28,000 | $112,000 | $336,000 |
| Brewery / Microbrewery | Food & Beverage | $280,000 | $448,000 | $1,680,000 |
| Cannabis Dispensary | Specialty & Regulated | $139,440 | $371,840 | $1,394,400 |
| Car Wash | Automotive | $139,440 | $609,280 | $1,740,480 |
| Carpentry & Woodworking Shop | Construction & Trades | $11,760 | $31,360 | $78,400 |
| Catering Business | Food & Beverage | $13,440 | $59,360 | $145,600 |
| Chiropractic Office | Health & Wellness | $112,000 | $134,400 | $336,000 |
| Cleaning Business | Home Services | $1,680 | $12,320 | $41,440 |
| Clothing Boutique | Retail | $33,600 | $112,000 | $336,000 |
| Coffee Shop | Food & Beverage | $67,200 | $134,400 | $392,000 |
| Concrete Business | Construction & Trades | $28,000 | $72,800 | $168,000 |
| Consulting Business | Professional Services | $2,240 | $10,080 | $29,120 |
| Convenience Store | Retail | $56,000 | $313,600 | $840,000 |
| Courier & Delivery Service | Transportation & Logistics | $8,960 | $24,640 | $61,600 |
| Cybersecurity Firm | Tech & Online | $22,400 | $61,600 | $168,000 |
| Dance Studio | Childcare & Education | $22,400 | $89,600 | $280,000 |
| Daycare Center | Childcare & Education | $67,200 | $201,600 | $560,000 |
| Demolition Company | Construction & Trades | $33,600 | $89,600 | $224,000 |
| Dental Practice | Health & Wellness | $392,000 | $560,000 | $1,120,000 |
| Digital Marketing Agency | Tech & Online | $4,480 | $13,440 | $35,840 |
| E-Commerce Store | Tech & Online | $5,600 | $16,800 | $56,000 |
| Electrical Business | Home Services | $16,800 | $61,600 | $179,200 |
| Esthetics & Skincare Business | Beauty & Personal Care | $8,960 | $44,800 | $134,400 |
| Excavation Company | Construction & Trades | $56,000 | $145,600 | $392,000 |
| Financial Planning Practice | Professional Services | $22,400 | $61,600 | $145,600 |
| Flower Shop | Retail | $22,400 | $84,000 | $224,000 |
| Food Delivery Service | Food & Beverage | $11,200 | $58,240 | $145,600 |
| Food Processing Business | Food & Beverage | $224,000 | $280,000 | $840,000 |
| Food Truck | Food & Beverage | $50,400 | $134,400 | $224,000 |
| Freight Brokerage | Transportation & Logistics | $17,920 | $40,320 | $89,600 |
| Furniture Store | Retail | $56,000 | $224,000 | $672,000 |
| General Contracting Business | Construction & Trades | $22,400 | $61,600 | $145,600 |
| Ghost Kitchen | Food & Beverage | $22,400 | $67,200 | $168,000 |
| Gift Shop | Retail | $22,400 | $78,400 | $224,000 |
| Gym & Fitness Center | Health & Wellness | $56,000 | $280,000 | $1,120,000 |
| Hair Salon | Beauty & Personal Care | $16,800 | $84,000 | $280,000 |
| Handyman Business | Home Services | $2,240 | $11,200 | $36,960 |
| Home Health Care Agency | Health & Wellness | $44,800 | $145,600 | $336,000 |
| HVAC Business | Home Services | $22,400 | $78,400 | $224,000 |
| Ice Cream Shop | Food & Beverage | $22,400 | $84,000 | $224,000 |
| Insurance Agency | Professional Services | $16,800 | $44,800 | $100,800 |
| IT Services Business | Tech & Online | $16,800 | $44,800 | $112,000 |
| Juice Bar & Smoothie Shop | Food & Beverage | $28,000 | $100,800 | $280,000 |
| Landscaping Business | Home Services | $11,200 | $44,800 | $134,400 |
| Laundromat | Real Estate | $112,000 | $280,000 | $672,000 |
| Law Firm | Professional Services | $13,440 | $38,080 | $90,720 |
| Limousine & Car Service | Transportation & Logistics | $44,800 | $100,800 | $246,400 |
| Liquor Store | Retail | $56,000 | $201,600 | $560,000 |
| Marketing Agency | Professional Services | $5,600 | $20,160 | $56,000 |
| Martial Arts Studio | Childcare & Education | $22,400 | $78,400 | $224,000 |
| Meal Prep Business | Food & Beverage | $22,400 | $72,800 | $224,000 |
| Med Spa | Health & Wellness | $112,000 | $392,000 | $1,120,000 |
| Medical Practice | Health & Wellness | $168,000 | $448,000 | $1,120,000 |
| Mental Health Practice | Health & Wellness | $16,800 | $56,000 | $168,000 |
| Moving Company | Home Services | $33,600 | $112,000 | $336,000 |
| Music School | Childcare & Education | $11,200 | $56,000 | $168,000 |
| Nail Salon | Beauty & Personal Care | $22,400 | $100,800 | $280,000 |
| Painting Business | Home Services | $5,600 | $28,000 | $89,600 |
| Personal Training Business | Health & Wellness | $5,600 | $28,000 | $112,000 |
| Pest Control Business | Home Services | $11,200 | $44,800 | $134,400 |
| Pet Store | Retail | $33,600 | $112,000 | $336,000 |
| Pharmacy | Health & Wellness | $280,000 | $448,000 | $1,120,000 |
| Physical Therapy Clinic | Health & Wellness | $67,200 | $201,600 | $504,000 |
| Pizza Shop | Food & Beverage | $84,000 | $196,000 | $448,000 |
| Plumbing Business | Home Services | $16,800 | $56,000 | $168,000 |
| Podcast Production Company | Tech & Online | $2,240 | $6,720 | $20,160 |
| Preschool | Childcare & Education | $56,000 | $168,000 | $448,000 |
| Property Management Company | Real Estate | $11,760 | $26,880 | $61,600 |
| Real Estate Agency | Professional Services | $11,200 | $31,360 | $78,400 |
| Real Estate Investing & Rental Business | Real Estate | $28,000 | $84,000 | $280,000 |
| Restaurant | Food & Beverage | $196,000 | $420,000 | $840,000 |
| Roofing Company | Home Services | $16,800 | $67,200 | $201,600 |
| SaaS Company | Tech & Online | $22,400 | $67,200 | $224,000 |
| Spa & Massage Therapy | Health & Wellness | $11,200 | $78,400 | $280,000 |
| Staffing Agency | Professional Services | $22,400 | $61,600 | $168,000 |
| Storage Unit Facility | Real Estate | $224,000 | $672,000 | $2,240,000 |
| Tattoo Shop | Beauty & Personal Care | $22,400 | $66,080 | $224,000 |
| Tax Preparation Business | Professional Services | $3,920 | $11,200 | $30,240 |
| Thrift Store | Retail | $22,400 | $84,000 | $224,000 |
| Tire Shop | Automotive | $56,000 | $168,000 | $448,000 |
| Towing Company | Automotive | $56,000 | $168,000 | $448,000 |
| Trucking Company | Transportation & Logistics | $33,600 | $89,600 | $224,000 |
| Tutoring Business | Childcare & Education | $2,240 | $26,880 | $112,000 |
| Used Car Dealership | Automotive | $56,000 | $224,000 | $672,000 |
| Vape Shop | Retail | $28,000 | $84,000 | $224,000 |
| Web Development Agency | Tech & Online | $3,920 | $13,440 | $36,960 |
| Welding Business | Construction & Trades | $16,800 | $44,800 | $112,000 |
| Winery | Food & Beverage | $560,000 | $853,440 | $3,360,000 |
| Yoga Studio | Health & Wellness | $16,800 | $89,600 | $224,000 |
Most Popular Business Types in Florida
Restaurant
Food & Beverage
$196,000 – $840,000
Real Estate Agency
Professional Services
$11,200 – $78,400
Landscaping Business
Home Services
$11,200 – $134,400
Cleaning Business
Home Services
$1,680 – $41,440
Gym & Fitness Center
Health & Wellness
$56,000 – $1,120,000
Airbnb & Vacation Rental Business
Real Estate
$12,320 – $100,800
Licenses & Permits in Florida
General Business License
Florida requires most businesses to obtain an Annual Resale Certificate and register for sales tax with the Florida Department of Revenue. Many professions require licenses through the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). Additionally, Florida counties and cities may require local business tax receipts (formerly called occupational licenses), which carry state-set annual fees that vary depending on business type and location.
Industry-Specific Licenses
- Food Service Establishment License — Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation — Division of Hotels and RestaurantsCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Annual
- Certified Contractor License — Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation — ContractorsCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Biennial
- Cosmetology Salon License — Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation — CosmetologyCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Biennial
- Real Estate Broker License — Florida Real Estate CommissionCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Biennial
- Child Care Facility License — Florida Department of Children and FamiliesCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Annual
- Beverage License — Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and TobaccoCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Annual
- Vacation Rental License — Florida Department of Business and Professional RegulationCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Biennial
- Home Health Agency License — Florida Agency for Health Care AdministrationCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Annual
Home-Based Business Rules
Florida municipalities and counties regulate home-based businesses through local zoning ordinances. Florida law (F.S. 559.955) prohibits local governments from banning home-based businesses entirely, but allows reasonable regulations regarding customer visits, signage, and storage. Many Florida counties have updated their home occupation ordinances to allow more types of businesses while limiting impact on neighbors.
Florida Business Resources
SBA District Office
Florida SBA District Offices — Miami, Jacksonville, Tampa
Secretary of State
https://dos.myflorida.com/sunbizZoning Information
Florida cities and counties manage zoning. High-growth areas like Miami, Orlando, and Tampa have active commercial zoning regulations.
Health Department Notes
Food businesses need a license from the Division of Hotels and Restaurants. Florida has detailed food safety training requirements.
Workers Compensation
Required for construction businesses with 1 or more employee and non-construction businesses with 4 or more employees.