Small Business Start-up Guide
| Incorporation | Plan to do business as a corporation? | Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations www.sunbiz.org. |
| Business Name | If your business does not operate as a corporation, you plan to run your business under a name other than your own full name, register the business with a "fictitious" name. |
Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations
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| City License | If your business is in a city within Brevard County, you'll need to obtain a Business Tax Receipt (aka Occupational License) from the City and Brevard County. |
Brevard County Tax Collector's Office - https://www.brevardtaxcollector.com/ Cocoa - https://flvec.com/city-of-cocoa-business-tax-receiptsCocoa Beach - http://www.cityofcocoabeach.com/139/Starting-a-Business-in-Cocoa-Beach Melbourne - https://www.melbourneflorida.org/departments/financial-services/business-tax-receipts/license-requirements-for-businesses Palm Bay - https://www.palmbayflorida.org/government/city-departments-f-to-z/finance/revenue/business-tax-receipts Rockledge - https://www.cityofrockledge.org/145/Business-Tax-Receipts Titusville - https://www.titusville.com/207/Business-Tax-Receipts |
| County License |
If your business is outside the City, but inside Brevard County, you will need a Business Tax Receipt from the County. |
Brevard County Business Tax Receipts https://www.brevardtaxcollector.com/services/business-tax-receipts/ |
| Corporate Income Tax | Corporations in Florida must pay State corporate income tax. | Florida Department of Revenue - http://dor.myflorida.com/dor/taxes/corporate.html |
| Personal Property Tax | Brevard County taxes the personal property of businesses (for items such as business equipment.) | Brevard County Property Appraiser - https://www.bcpao.us/ |
| Employee Tax Information | If you hire employees, payroll tax must be withheld. | Internal Revenue Service - https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/payroll-professionals-tax-center-information-for-payroll-professionals-and-their-clients |
| Employer Identification Number | All businesses, except sole proprietorships with no employees, must register for a federal identification number. | Internal Revenue Service - http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=98350,00.html |
| Federal Income Tax Withholding and Social Security Tax | Employers must withhold from employees salaries for federal tax and pay for Social Security. | Internal Revenue Service - https://www.irs.gov/payments/tax-withholding |
| Federal Unemployment Tax: | Most businesses with one or more employees must contribute to a federal fund that pays for unemployment insurance to workers who have been laid off. |
Internal Revenue Service -
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| State Unemployment Tax | Businesses must also pay into a State fund that pays unemployment insurance. |
Department of Revenue -
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| Worker's Compensation | Companies with four or more employees must pay into a State fund that compensates workers who are injured on the job. In construction businesses, the rules that apply are stricter. |
State Compliance Division of Workers Compensation - |
| Health Department Information: | People who open, own or operate restaurant, hotel, or child care or other businesses need to comply with public health regulations. |
State Department of Business and Professional Regulation - https://www.stateofflorida.com/business-regulation.aspx
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| Zoning: | Business owners must make sure that the business they want to conduct is permitted on the property that the business will be located. |
Brevard County Planning and Development Department - https://www.brevardfl.gov//PlanningDev |
| New Employee Hire Reporting Requirements: | Federal and State law requires employers to report all new/rehire employees who work in the State of Florida to whom the employer anticipates paying earnings. |
Florida New Hire Reporting Center -
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| Department of Agriculture | Various businesses are governed by the Florida Department of Agriculture. | Starting a small business? Check with the Department of Agriculture - https://www.fdacs.gov/Business-Services/ |
LOCAL RESOURCES
Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast
STATE AND NATIONAL RESOURCES
Florida Small Business - The guide for entrepreneurs and emerging companies