Limited liability companies (LLCs) offer a seamless and flexible solution for entrepreneurs who want to start a business in Florida. In addition to the standard paperwork required in the registration, owning a Florida LLC may require specific licenses and permits.Ā
Read on to find out the essentials of LLC business licenses in Florida.
LLC Business License in Florida – An Introduction
When forming an LLC in Florida, the new company’s owners (also referred to as “members”) must file Articles of Organization. This legal document is the primary element that establishes the company as a separate entity from its owners.
Once the LLC is registered, the owners must apply for a general business license. Also referred to as a “business tax receipt,” this license is a basic document for all types of businesses operating within state jurisdiction.Ā
Most counties and municipalities spread across the state require a local business tax receipt. The members are responsible for identifying the business tax receipt requirements in the LLC’s location and fulfilling the requirements to attain compliance.
The type of activities carried out in the LLC also determines whether the company will need additional licensing.
In Florida, the two main licensing agencies for skilled professionals are the Department of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR) and the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS).
From architects to private investigators, these two agencies are responsible for licensing regulated activities and professions.
Applying for an LLC Business License in Florida – Understanding the Process
General Business License
Depending on the particularities of an LLC, the members may need to file for a business tax receipt in the company’s city, county, or both. Currently, most business owners apply online, but it is possible to submit the paperwork by mail or in person.
The information required in the process varies in different locations, but most counties and municipalities will likely request:
- The names of the membersĀ
- The members’ Social Security number or Federal Employment Identification NumberĀ
- The LLC’s business name and fictitious nameĀ Ā
- Business address and contact informationĀ
- The members’ contact informationĀ
- The company’s industry code under the North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) (if applicable)Ā
- Evidence of required professional or commercial certifications (if applicable)Ā
Business & Occupational Licenses
If the activities of an LLC involve some type of regulated activity, the members must file with the appropriate agency for licensing. In addition, specific occupations require special licensing to perform services.
For example, the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR) is responsible for licensing businesses and professional activities in 35 different segments, which are:
- Alcoholic beverages and tobaccoĀ
- Architecture and interior designĀ
- Asbestos contractors and consultantsĀ
- Athlete agentsĀ
- AuctioneersĀ
- BarbersĀ
- Boxing, kickboxing and mixed martial arts (MMA)Ā
- Building code administrators and inspectorsĀ
- Certified public accountingĀ
- Child laborĀ
- Community association managers and firmsĀ
- Condominiums and cooperativesĀ
- Construction industryĀ
- CosmetologyĀ
- Drugs, devices, and cosmeticsĀ
- Electrical contractorsĀ
- Elevator safetyĀ
- Employee leasing companiesĀ
- EngineersĀ
- Farm laborĀ
- GeologistsĀ
- Harbor pilotsĀ
- Home inspectorsĀ
- Hotels and restaurantsĀ
- Labor organizationsĀ
- Landscape architectureĀ
- Mobile homesĀ
- Mold-related servicesĀ
- Pari-mutuel wageringĀ Ā
- Real estateĀ
- Real estate appraisersĀ
- Talent agenciesĀ
- TimeshareĀ
- Veterinary medicineĀ
- Yacht and shipsĀ
LLC Business License in Florida – Immediately Contact Jurado & Associates, P.A.
A well-versed attorney from Jurado & Associates, P.A. is willing to help you ensure full legal compliance for your LLC. Call us at (305) 921-0976 or email [email protected] for an individual assessment.
