To start a business in Miami, you form a Florida LLC with the state ($125 at Sunbiz), get a free EIN, and then get a Local Business Tax Receipt from Miami-Dade County. Inside the City of Miami or another municipality, you’ll need that city’s receipt too. Budget about $300-$500 for the basics and at least two to four weeks before you can operate.
How do you start a business in Miami, step by step?
1. Form your Florida LLC
File Articles of Organization at Sunbiz.org. The fee is $125 and processing takes 2-3 business days. You’ll need a name that includes “LLC”, a principal address, a registered agent with a Florida address, and the members’ or managers’ names.
2. Get an EIN and open a bank account
The EIN is free at IRS.gov. You need it for banking, hiring and tax filings. Local banks include City National Bank, Ocean Bank, BankUnited and Amerant Bank, and they’ll ask for your EIN, Articles of Organization, operating agreement and personal ID.
3. Get your Miami-Dade Local Business Tax Receipt
Every business operating in Miami-Dade County needs one. It’s what used to be called an occupational license. Apply through the Miami-Dade Tax Collector online or in person. Have your Sunbiz document number, business address and type, employee count and owner information ready.
The fee depends on your classification and number of employees. Most businesses pay $50-$300 a year, and the receipt renews annually by September 30.
4. Add a city receipt if you’re inside city limits
This is the step people miss. A business within City of Miami limits needs both the county receipt and a City of Miami receipt from the Finance Department at 444 SW 2nd Avenue, 2nd Floor, Miami, FL 33130. Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Hialeah and the other municipalities have their own requirements. A “Miami” mailing address doesn’t tell you which city you’re legally in.
5. Confirm zoning before you sign a lease
Ask Miami-Dade Planning & Zoning whether your business type is allowed at the address and whether special use requirements apply. Restaurants need specific zoning, and some areas prohibit certain business types outright. We’d get that answer before committing to anything, because a lease on a space you can’t legally use is the costliest mistake here.
6. Get industry-specific permits
| Business type | Permits you’ll likely need |
|---|---|
| Restaurant or food | Health permit, fire inspection |
| Retail | Sales tax registration |
| Construction | Contractor license |
| Alcohol sales | Liquor license |
| Childcare | DCF license |
| Healthcare | Professional licenses |
These set your timeline. The LLC takes 2-3 days, the EIN is same-day and the county receipt takes 1-5 days. City permits and zoning verification run 1-2 weeks each. Industry permits can take weeks to months.
How much does it cost to start a business in Miami?
| Item | To get started | Every year after |
|---|---|---|
| Florida LLC formation | $125 | – |
| Florida annual report | – | $138.75 |
| Miami-Dade business tax | $50-$300 | $50-$300 |
| City business tax (if applicable) | $50-$200 | $50-$200 |
| Registered agent | $49-$200 | $49-$200 |
| Business bank account | Free-$30/month | – |
| Insurance | – | Varies |
That’s roughly $300-$500 to start, before rent. Miami’s commercial rent is among the highest in Florida, so build your budget around the lease, not the filing fees. Leave room for hurricane insurance and a slow summer too: many Miami businesses earn most in the winter high season.
Which Miami neighborhood fits your business?
Brickell and Downtown are the financial district: professional services, tech startups and expensive but prestigious office space. Wynwood draws creative firms and restaurants with tourist foot traffic. Little Havana has lower rents and suits cultural businesses, restaurants and cafes. Doral is warehousing, logistics and international trade at lower rent than downtown. Miami Beach is high rent and high visibility for tourism and retail, and it’s a separate city with its own permits.
What taxes will a Miami business pay?
Florida has no personal income tax. Sales tax in Miami-Dade is 7%: the 6% state rate plus a 1% county surtax. Register with the Florida Department of Revenue before your first taxable sale. Hospitality businesses also deal with a 6% tourist development tax on short-term rentals, charged on top of sales tax and remitted separately.
Before hiring, register for Florida reemployment tax, get workers’ compensation insurance and set up new hire reporting, plus the federal W-4, I-9, payroll tax and FLSA basics. Miami-Dade’s minimum wage follows the state minimum. Some contracts require E-Verify.
Where can you get local help?
SCORE Miami offers free mentoring, the FIU Small Business Development Center does training and consulting, the Miami Bayside Foundation makes microloans, and the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce is the networking option. Startup founders can also look at Venture Cafe Miami and CIC Miami.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a business license in Miami?
You need a Miami-Dade Local Business Tax Receipt. If you’re within a specific city, such as Miami or Miami Beach, you may need that city’s receipt too.
Can I run a business from home in Miami?
Yes, with limits. You typically can’t have customers visiting, employees working there or visible signage. Check Miami-Dade zoning for your address.
Do I need a Florida LLC, or can I use a DBA?
Get the LLC. A DBA (fictitious name) is just a business name and gives you no legal protection.
Start your Miami business with IncCraft
IncCraft handles your Florida LLC formation for $0 + the $125 state filing fee. We include registered agent service and can guide you through Miami’s local requirements, so you can apply for the county receipt as soon as Sunbiz approves your filing.
Form your Florida LLC with IncCraft today and start your Miami business.