Florida Business License: Who Needs One & How to Apply (2025)

What Is a Business License in Florida?

A business license is a permit issued by a local, state, or federal body in order to allow businesses to perform a specific business activity and/or operate legitimately.

So, if there isn’t a “general business license” in Florida, what exactly is there?

Well, Florida — like the vast majority of states — imposes different requirements depending on where you’re located and what you actually do.

For example:

• A restaurant in Miami will need a Food Service License from the Florida Division of Hotels and Restaurants and a Local Business Tax Receipt from Miami-Dade County.
• A hair salon will need professional Cosmetology Licenses for stylists from the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR).
• A retail store selling taxable goods will need a sales tax account with the Florida Department of Revenue to collect and remit the state’s 6% sales tax plus any applicable county surtax.
• A business operating in Orlando will need both a Certificate of Use and a Business Tax Receipt from the City of Orlando, plus an Orange County Business Tax Receipt.

Do I Need a Florida Business License?

The answer to this will ultimately depend on what you do, and where you’re located. You can have a look at our table below in order to get a general idea:

Florida Business Licensing at a Glance

Jurisdiction	License Type	Who Needs It & Where to Apply
Local	Business Tax Receipts (BTRs), Certificates of Use, Occupancy Certificates, Industry-Specific Permits, etc.	Most businesses, including home-based.  Contact your county tax collector and city licensing department to determine local requirements.
State	Annual Resale Certificate for Sales Tax	Businesses selling physical products or taxable services.  Apply via Florida Department of Revenue.
	Professional Licenses	Regulated occupations (doctors, contractors, cosmetologists, real estate agents, etc.).  Apply via the DBPR or relevant agency.
	Industry-Specific State Licenses	Businesses in regulated industries (e.g., food service, hotels, environmental impact, financial services).  Apply through the relevant state department.
Federal	Industry-Specific Licenses	Businesses involved in federally regulated activities such as agriculture, aviation, firearms, alcohol, broadcasting, or wildlife. Apply through the relevant federal agency (e.g., USDA, FAA, ATF, FCC, FWS)

*While this table is meant to give you a general idea, it’s by no means exhaustive. For all your licensing needs, we suggest either going with a professional licensing service or consulting with a business attorney.

How to Get a Business License in Florida

The process of obtaining a business license in Florida will depend on the permit in question, but generally involves completing the following steps:

1. Form a Business Structure & Obtain an EIN

We recommend registering your business with the state before acquiring a business license in order to avoid potentially having to repeat this process again later down the line.

This also gives other benefits depending on the business model, such as:

• Personal liability protection
• Improved legitimacy
• Larger access to loans and other types of business financing

For most small businesses, an LLC provides good liability protection without the complexity of a corporation. Florida charges a $125 filing fee for LLC formation (including registered agent fees).

Once your business is formed, apply for a Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) through the IRS website. This free tax ID is essential for banking, licensing, and tax filings.

2. Apply for the Right Business License in Florida

This step will depend on the business license in question.

Florida Local Business Licenses

Many Florida cities and counties require local business licenses or permits to be obtained. In Florida, these are specifically called Local Business Tax Receipts (formerly known as Occupational Licenses) rather than “business licenses.” This can be in addition to the common state-wide licenses talked about above.

Here are some common local permits you may need:

• Local Business Tax Receipt: Required by most counties and cities for any business operating within their jurisdiction (e.g., if your business is in Miami-Dade County, you’ll need a Local Business Tax Receipt from the Miami-Dade Tax Collector).
• Certificate of Use (CU): Required to ensure your business location is zoned appropriately and complies with local laws (e.g., if you’re in the city of Miami, you must obtain a Certificate of Use before applying for your Business Tax Receipt).
• Health Permits: Required for restaurants, food trucks, and businesses handling food products (contact your local health department for county-specific requirements).
• Sign Permits: These can be required before installing business signage (check with your local building department).
• Fire Department Permits: These can be necessary for businesses with public access (contact your local fire marshal).
• Certificate of Occupancy: Required for most businesses before they can legally occupy a building or space. This verifies that the structure meets building codes and is safe for the intended use.

You can contact your county tax collector or city business licensing department to determine local requirements.

Florida State Business Licenses

Below we’ve included the most common business licenses that are required on a state level.

Florida Annual Resale Certificate

You can fill out a business license application to register for a Florida Annual Resale Certificate for Sales Tax online, by mail, or in person.

OPTION 1: Apply Online With the Florida Department of Revenue

Apply Online

– OR –

OPTION 2: Apply by Mail or in Person

Download Form

Fee: None

Mailing Address:
Account Management MS 1-5730
Florida Department of Revenue
5050 W. Tennessee St.
Tallahassee FL 32399-0160

Florida Professional Licenses

If you’re interested in a professional license, you’ll need to head over to the relevant state board or commission, as this is handled by various agencies. We’ve provided the licensing boards of a few of the most common professions below to get you started:

• Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR): Oversees over 1.6 million licensed businesses and professionals including contractors, real estate agents, cosmetologists, barbers, hotels, restaurants, and many others.
• Construction Industry Licensing Board: Issues licenses for General Contractors (CG), Building Contractors (CB), Residential Contractors (CR), Roofing Contractors (CC), and other construction trades.
• Division of Real Estate (DRE): Oversees Real Estate Sales Associate licenses and Real Estate Broker licenses.
• Board of Cosmetology: Issues Cosmetologist licenses, Nail Specialist licenses, Facial Specialist licenses, and Full Specialist licenses.
• Division of Hotels and Restaurants (H&R): Issues Food Service licenses and Public Lodging licenses.
• Florida Board of Medicine: Is responsible for licensing physicians and certain other healthcare practitioners.
• Florida Board of Nursing: Regulates the practice of nursing and issues licenses to registered nurses and advanced practice registered nurses.
• The Florida Bar: Handles the licensing and regulation of attorneys practicing law in the state.
• Division of Certified Public Accounting: Oversees the licensing and regulation of Certified Public Accountants (CPAs).

For more information on how to go about getting licensed, you can have a look at StateRequirement’s in-depth licensing guides.

Industry-Specific State Licenses

Some Florida businesses require additional licenses based on the specific industry they operate in.

Here are some common examples of industry-specific state licenses in Florida:

• Liquor License: Required for businesses that manufacture, distribute, or sell alcoholic beverages. Regulated by the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco.
• Motor Vehicle Dealer License: Required for selling three or more vehicles in a 12-month period. Regulated by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
• Child Care License: Required for facilities caring for more than five unrelated children. Regulated by the Department of Children and Families.
• Food Establishment License: Required for businesses that store, prepare, or serve food. Regulated by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

Florida Environmental Permits

If your business’s industry will mean that it could negatively impact the environment, there’s a good chance you’ll need some sort of license or permit from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

Examples of common Florida environmental permits include:

• Air General Permits: Required for facilities with air emissions including gas stations, dry cleaners, auto body shops, and concrete batch plants.
• Stormwater Discharge Permits: Required for construction activities disturbing one or more acres and industrial facilities with stormwater runoff.
• Underground Storage Tank Registration: Required for facilities with underground tanks storing petroleum or hazardous substances over 110 gallons.
• Hazardous Waste Generator ID Number: Required for businesses that generate hazardous waste, with different requirements for small quantity generators and large quantity generators.
• Water Well Construction Permits: Required for drilling new water wells or modifying existing wells.
• Wastewater Facility Permits: Required for businesses discharging industrial wastewater or operating treatment systems.
• Wetland Resource Permits: Required for dredging, filling, or construction activities in wetlands or surface waters.
• Marina and Dock Permits: Required for construction or operation of marinas, boat ramps, and docking facilities.

Federal Business Licenses for Florida Businesses

If your business is in a federally regulated industry (which is uncommon), it’ll need to acquire the appropriate business license from the right body before starting to operate.

A full list of industries regulated at a federal level can be found below:

• Agriculture: Overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture
• Alcoholic Beverages: Overseen by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and the Local Alcohol Beverage Control Board
• Aviation: Overseen by the Federal Aviation Administration
• Firearms, Ammunitions, and Explosives: Overseen by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
• Fish and Wildlife: Overseen by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• Commercial Fishing: Overseen by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service
• Maritime Transportation: Overseen by the Federal Maritime Commission
• Mining and Drilling: Overseen by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement
• Radio and Television Broadcasting: Overseen by the Federal Communications Commission
• Transportation and Logistics: Overseen by the U.S. Department of Transportation

Florida Business License Renewal

Depending on your business license, you may need to renew it periodically — usually within one or two years.

This is not required for a sales tax account with the Florida Department of Revenue unless you change the form of your business (e.g., start as a disregarded entity and then convert into a C Corp, etc).

Renewal is also required for practically all professional licenses and many local permits, including:

• Health department permits for food establishments (renewed annually)
• Professional licenses like real estate, contractors, cosmetology (typically every two years with continuing education)
• Liquor licenses (renewed annually)
• Motor vehicle dealer licenses (renewed annually)
• Local business tax receipts (renewed annually, though some counties offer multi-year options)

Having said that, renewal requirements will ultimately depend on both your location and the specific license in question. As a result, we recommend always checking with your issuing agency for the specific renewal timelines and requirements that will apply to you.

Florida Business License FAQs

Quick Links

• Florida Department of Revenue
• Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation
• Florida Department of State: Division of Corporations
• Florida League of Cities
• Florida Association of Counties