Starting a Business in Miami: Licenses, Registrations & Checklist
A step-by-step plan to open a business in Miami: what to file first, what depends on what, and which permits come before opening day. Change the business details to fit yours.
Permits and registrations specific to Miami, FL
- County and city Local Business Tax Receipt — Miami, Miami-Dade County, Florida · County tax collector and city: Miami / Miami-Dade County (city)
- Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Miami · Miami (Miami-Dade County) building department (city)
- Obtain and renew City of Miami Business Tax Receipt · City of Miami (city)
- Obtain and renew Miami-Dade County Local Business Tax Receipt · Miami-Dade County Tax Collector (city)
- File Miami-Dade County business personal property return · Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser (county)
- Obtain or renew the Miami-Dade County business tax receipt · Miami-Dade County Tax Collector (county)
- Form the business: Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz)
- Register for state taxes: Florida Department of Revenue
- Register as an employer: Florida Department of Revenue (Reemployment Tax)
Startup sequence and prerequisites in Miami
Based on your selections, this plan has 14 steps. What you file first decides what you can do next: later registrations and licenses wait on the ones below.
Do these first
- Maintain a registered agent in Florida
- File formation documents with the Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz)
- Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Then, once those are done
- Register for and file Florida entity-level taxes — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Notify residents and regulators of a data breach within 30 days (Florida) — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- County and city Local Business Tax Receipt — Miami, Miami-Dade County, Florida — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Miami — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Obtain and renew City of Miami Business Tax Receipt — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Obtain and renew Miami-Dade County Local Business Tax Receipt — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Obtain or renew the Miami-Dade County business tax receipt — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Known charges: $138.75 per year.
Total incomplete: some fees unknown
13 of 14 steps have no fee amount in our data. The figures above count only the 1 step with a recorded fee. Check each agency's fee schedule.
Common questions about Miami
The state licenses your industry through its own regulator, and the city and county add local permits. These are the authorities and local items on record for Miami:
- Contractor licensing: Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board (DBPR)
- Real estate licensing: Florida Real Estate Commission
- Alcohol licensing: Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco
- Child care licensing: Florida Department of Children and Families
- Health facility licensing: Florida Agency for Health Care Administration
- County and city Local Business Tax Receipt — Miami, Miami-Dade County, Florida (County tax collector and city: Miami / Miami-Dade County, city)
- Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Miami (Miami (Miami-Dade County) building department, city)
- Obtain and renew City of Miami Business Tax Receipt (City of Miami, city)
- Obtain and renew Miami-Dade County Local Business Tax Receipt (Miami-Dade County Tax Collector, city)
- File Miami-Dade County business personal property return (Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser, county)
- Obtain or renew the Miami-Dade County business tax receipt (Miami-Dade County Tax Collector, county)
With your current selections, the licenses and permits are: County and city Local Business Tax Receipt — Miami, Miami-Dade County, Florida; Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Miami; Obtain and renew City of Miami Business Tax Receipt; Obtain and renew Miami-Dade County Local Business Tax Receipt; Obtain or renew the Miami-Dade County business tax receipt. Change the industry above to see yours.
Sources: dos.fl.gov, floridarevenue.com, floridarevenue.com
Formation comes first; tax, license and employer registrations wait on it. In your plan the first steps are:
- Maintain a registered agent in Florida
- File formation documents with the Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz)
- Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Sources: dos.fl.gov, floridarevenue.com
Known government fees for your plan: $0.00 one-time and $138.75 per year.
Steps without a recorded fee are not counted, so check each agency's fee schedule before you budget.
Sources: dos.fl.gov, floridarevenue.com
In your plan for Miami, requirements come from four levels. Florida sets formation, state taxes and employer rules; the city and county add local licenses and taxes.
- Federal (2): Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN); File federal income tax return: Form 1040 with Schedule C
- State (5): Maintain a registered agent in Florida; File Annual Report (Florida); Register for and file Florida entity-level taxes; File the annual unclaimed property holder report (Florida)…
- County (2): File Miami-Dade County business personal property return; Obtain or renew the Miami-Dade County business tax receipt
- City (4): County and city Local Business Tax Receipt — Miami, Miami-Dade County, Florida; Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Miami; Obtain and renew City of Miami Business Tax Receipt; Obtain and renew Miami-Dade County Local Business Tax Receipt
Sources: dos.fl.gov, floridarevenue.com
- Register for unemployment insurance with Florida Department of Revenue (Reemployment Tax).
- Workers' compensation: Florida Division of Workers' Compensation. Required when: 4 employees (1 in construction)
Sources: floridarevenue.com, floridajobs.org