How to Start a Business
in Jacksonville
7 Steps to Starting a Jacksonville Business
The vibrant city of Jacksonville, Florida, offers a wide range of opportunities across business sectors.
Whether you’re a small business owner in the tourism industry or an entrepreneur disrupting the tech startup industry, our guide can help. We’ll walk you through the 101 of business registration, getting your Jacksonville business license, and accessing time-saving community resources.
Dive into all the details with our 7-step guide and list of business resources in Jacksonville.
1. Filing Formation Paperwork
When starting a business in Jacksonville, your first step will be filing formation paperwork with the Florida Division of Corporations.
- To form a Florida LLC, you must file Articles of Organization ($125).
- To create a Florida corporation, you must file Articles of Incorporation ($70).
You’ll also need to appoint a Florida registered agent whose name and address will be listed on your Articles (it’s a good idea to designate your agent before you start the paperwork).
Can I start a business anonymously in Florida?
Unfortunately, you cannot form LLCs or corporations anonymously in Florida. However, you can protect your privacy with the Double (Private) LLC structure. When you order our Double LLC Package, we create two LLCs that manage each other and allow you to use our permanent business address so that you can keep both your name and address off the public record.
Do sole proprietors need to register with the state?
You don’t need to register with the state if you’re forming a sole proprietorship. But if you’re trying to choose between starting a sole proprietorship and forming a single-member LLC, remember that a sole proprietorship doesn’t offer the personal asset protection or tax advantages that come from doing business as an LLC.
2. Applying for an EIN
To file your federal taxes, you’ll need a federal tax ID.
You can use your social security number if you’re a sole proprietor or single-member LLC. However, most businesses will need to get an Employer Identification Number (EIN). For example, the IRS requires corporations, multi-member LLCs, and all businesses with employees to get an EIN.
It’s also likely that you’ll need to provide your EIN when registering to pay local business taxes, on applications for certain licenses and permits, and on your application to open a business bank account.
How do I get an EIN?
There are many ways to apply for an EIN, but the easiest way is online using the IRS’s EIN Assistant. Getting an EIN is free.
Get liability protection with a Florida LLC
Plus, maintain your privacy with complimentary use of our business address
Florida Registered Agent offers an LLC Formation Package that’s a cut above the rest:
- LLC formation filing
- Registered agent for one year
- Same-day scanning for all legal & state docs
- All scans conveniently stored in secure online portal
- Complimentary business address
- Mail scanning for 3 non-state mail items
- Attorney-drafted LLC operating agreement
- 90-day free trial of website & phone service
- Enrollment in Renewal Service* for Annual Report filing
- Lifetime Customer Service
*Renewal Service helps protect your business from falling out of good standing due to a late or missing Annual Report. You will receive an email notification about your Annual Report 100 days before the due date, letting you know that we’ll file your report in one week. One week later, we’ll file on your behalf. Renewal Service is $100 + the state fee, charged at filing (and not before). If you want to be responsible for your own filings, you can easily cancel the service in your online portal.
3. Registering DBAs (Fictitious Names)
A Florida DBA, or “doing business as” name, allows your company to conduct business under a name other than its legally registered name.
This practice is common for all types of businesses:
Sole proprietors often adopt a fictitious name to avoid doing business under their own legal names—in Florida, unless the name of your sole proprietorship includes your full name, you must get a DBA.
LLCs and corporations also frequently use DBAs to rebrand or expand into a new line of business without having to form an entirely new business entity.
Is a Florida DBA a type of business?
A Florida DBA isn’t a type of business.
Instead, it’s an alias for your business, making it possible for you to operate under a name that’s different from your legal business name. For example, you could run a bed-and-breakfast in Neptune Beach under the name “Trident Cottage,” even though the legal name of your business is Vegarosa Rentals.
Do I need to register my fictitious business name?
Florida does require registration of fictitious names (also called DBAs or trade names) with the Division of Corporations. Fictitious name registration protects consumers by allowing them to figure out exactly who they’re doing business with.
How do I register a DBA in Florida?
The Florida DBA registration process involves three basic steps:
- Make sure your name is available by checking the Florida Fictitious Name Database.
- Publish notice of your intent to use a fictitious name in a Duval County newspaper, like Jacksonville Daily Record, which charges $35 to publish fictitious name notices.
- Submit an Application for Registration of Fictitious Name with the Division of Corporations. You can also register a Florida Fictitious Name through Sunbiz. Filing costs $50.
We provide Florida DBA filing service for $125 plus state and local fees–we take care of the filing and the publication requirement.
4. Registering for Florida State Taxes
Although there’s no state income tax in Florida, there is a 6% sales tax for all businesses involved in the sales of taxable items and services. Duval County charges an additional 1.5%, so in total, your Jacksonville business will need to collect and pay a 7.5% sales tax.
Corporations also need to pay a 5.5% corporate tax on all profits over $50,000.
Depending on your line of work, you may also have to pay additional industry-specific taxes. For example, if you plan on selling aviation fuel to small private airports, you’ll need to pay the Florida Fuel Tax.
How do I register for Florida state taxes?
You can register to pay Florida state taxes online using the Department of Revenue’s e-Services Enrollment portal. The Department also provides detailed information on account registration (for example, the information you need to register and what to do after registering) that you can review before starting the registration process.
How do I know if I need to collect and pay Florida sales tax?
Generally, any business selling goods or offering services (including rentals, operating vending machines, and even manufacturing goods) must pay sales tax. You can find a more complete list of qualifying businesses on the Department’s Florida Sales and Use Tax page.
How do I figure out which state taxes I need to pay?
To figure out which state taxes you need to pay, you can visit the Florida Business Information Portal at OpenMyFloridaBusiness.gov and search for the type of business you’d like to start (you can also browse business categories). The portal will provide you with a list of the taxes you may be required to pay.
You can also refer to the Department of Revenue’s Taxpayer Education guides and tutorials, including a New Business Start-up Kit.
5. Getting a Local Business Tax Receipt
If you’re doing business in Jacksonville, you’re on the hook for local business taxes. You’ll need to obtain a Local Business Tax Receipt from the Duval County Tax Collector.
All businesses, large and small, that provide merchandise, services, or entertainment to the public must have a Local Business Tax (LBT) Receipt. So, even if you’re just a sole proprietor who makes money teaching guitar lessons, you’re required to have a receipt.
Your LBT receipt must be clearly displayed within view of the public at your place of business, and you are subject to inspection by county tax officers at any time.
How do I get an LBT Receipt?
You can register for local taxes and get your LBT receipt online through the BTExpress portal.
The tax collector’s office also provides a Local Business Tax Information Sheet that lists the items required to apply for an LBT Receipt and contact information for relevant tax and licensing agencies, which you can download from the Local Business Tax page of the Tax Collector’s website.
My business operates in multiple locations–do I need an LBT for each location?
If your company operates in multiple locations, you will need a Local Business Tax Receipt for each location.
You’ll also need to get separate receipts for each type of work your business conducts that falls into a different tax classification. So, if your company performs work in three different tax classifications, you must get three receipts (one for each classification).
How do I find my tax classification code?
To find your tax classification code, use the Jacksonville/Duval County list of Local Business Tax Occupations Codes, which is also available for download on the Tax Collector’s Local Business Tax Page.
How much will I pay for my LBT receipt?
The annual tax varies widely, depending on the type of business you have. For example, restaurants with 10 or fewer seats pay $25 a year and retailers with less than $1000 in stock pay $31.25 a year. More seats or more stock increases your tax. Professional occupations tend to be between $50 and $200. For example, electrical contractors pay $100 a year and optometrists pay $150 a year.
You can calculate your local business tax rate using the Duval County Tax Collector’s Business Tax Receipt Calculator. You will need to know your county code, municipal code, or the name of your tax classification.
6. Obtaining Required Licenses and Permits
Florida doesn’t issue a general business license.
However, you may need a professional or industry-specific license if you work in a field that requires specialized education or training, such as a medical license or a wetlands permit.
Certain types of businesses also require special licenses or permits—for example, if you’re opening up a beachside bar, you’ll have to get a liquor license.
How do I find out which licenses I need?
If you’re not sure which licenses you need, you can use the Florida Business Information Portal. Search or browse to find the type of business you want to open, and the portal will provide you with a list of possible required licenses and where to get them.
How do I get a Florida business license or permit?
To get a professional or industry-specific license or permit, you’ll need to go through the state agency in charge of regulating your field. For example, if you’re a real estate agent or a hairdresser, you’ll need to apply for your license through the Department of Business & Professional Regulation. However, if you’re a respiratory therapist looking to get licensed or if you need a food permit for a nursing home, you’ll go through the Department of Health.
There are three main licensing agencies in Florida:
- The Department of Business & Professional Regulation
- The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
- The Department of Health
You can also use this list of state agency homepages to find the agency you need.
Do I need a Jacksonville business license?
Nope. There is no general Jacksonville business license or Duval County business license.
7. Getting a Certificate of Use
Before you can start operating your business, you need a Certificate of Use (COU) from the City of Jacksonville Building Inspection Division.
A COU verifies that your business space is compliant with local zoning ordinances, the Florida Fire Prevention Code, and the Florida Building Code. For example, say you’re opening a restaurant and want to offer outdoor dining. You’ll need to make sure that the property you plan to use is zoned for your needs.
How do I get a Certificate of Use in Jacksonville, FL?
To get a COU, you must submit an Application for Certificate of Use to the Zoning Section of the City of Jacksonville, by mail, in person or by email. There is a $112 filing fee for new COUs.
Your application will be reviewed by the Zoning Department, the Building Department, and the Fire Marshal’s office before it is approved.
Are there any exemptions to the Certificate of Use?
There are several exemptions to the Certificate of Use requirement. Home-based businesses located on residential property and peddlers are exempt from the COU requirement.
Do I need a Certificate of Use if I have a home-based business?
You don’t need a COU if you run a home-based business–home-based businesses located on residential property are exempt from the requirement.
What if I’m constructing a new building?
If you’re constructing a new building, you’ll need a building permit from the city’s Building Inspection Division.
You must apply online through JAXEPICS, Jacksonville’s single point of access for all local permitting needs.
Jacksonville Business Resources
Feeling overwhelmed or want some in-person guidance?
Here are some Jacksonville-specific business resources and organizations to help you on your way.
Getting Started
- City of Jacksonville Small Business Help Sessions
Get answers to your specific questions about permits, zoning, fire inspections, and certificates of use. These sessions are held twice a month, and you must register to join. Fill out the registration form online and find answers to some frequently asked questions on the city’s Small Business Help page.
- Jacksonville Public Library Small Business Resources
The library’s Small Business Resources Collection contains links to data for market research, information on business planning, and even tips for starting a side hustle.
- Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at the University of North Florida (UNF)
The Florida SBDC at UNF offers free business consulting and trainings on a variety of topics, including starting your business, government contracting, bookkeeping, and even hurricane preparedness. You can sign up for no-cost consulting online.
- US Small Business Administration (SBA) North Florida District
SBA North Florida provides free business consulting and support. The office can also connect you with state and federal resources and help you find funding, including Florida small business grants. And, if you’re feeling in need of inspiration, you can read some of the small business administration Jacksonville’s success stories.
Doing business with the City of Jacksonville
- Bidding Opportunities for Work with the City of Jacksonville
If you’d like to work with the city, check the city’s Bidding Opportunities page and learn about bid awards for contractual services and supplies, professional services, and capital improvements. Contracts with the city can range from landscaping to engineering design services.
- Jacksonville Small and Emerging Business (JSEB) Directory
To support the local economy in Jacksonville, the city made a goal to fulfill at least 20% of its contracts by hiring small and emerging Jacksonville businesses. You can sign up to be a supplier online, and once you’re approved, your business will be listed in the JSEB Directory. The directory is open to the public, so joining the JSEB supplier portal not only increases your opportunities for working with the city but also allows private citizens and businesses to find your services.
Connecting with the local business community
- Jacksonville Business Professionals (JBP)
Jacksonville Business Professionals is an organization that allows professionals like accountants, attorneys, insurance providers, and lenders to network and further their education. Another major goal of JBP is collaboration between members, so if you’re part of this sector, JBP membership could bring you business opportunities. You can apply for membership online.
- Downtown Investment Authority (DIA)
The Downtown Investment Authority offers resources to developers and other businesses seeking to invest in downtown Jacksonville. The DIA has numerous incentives and programs for partnering with the city to do business. Project profile assessment forms and applications are available online.
- JAX Chamber
JAX Chamber provides support to local businesses through initiatives like the JAX Bridges Entrepreneurship Program and resources such as the Jacksonville Women’s Business Center. Additionally, JAX Chamber advocates for business-friendly policies and laws in North Florida. You can fill out the membership application online.
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