Government Resources for Entrepreneurs: Using Florida as a Case Study: Get Registered

Part of the Florida Department of State, this division incorporates a variety of businesses in Florida, such as corporations and limited liability companies (LLCs), along with many other functions.

This portal is Florida’s latest effort to make business registration easier for people. However, as librarians it is important to understand the fundamental business agencies in your state in case this tool does not work as expected.

This page will show entrepreneurs the different types of federal business tax that they may have to contend with.

In practice, I have historically found it very difficult to speak to a human being at the IRS. When I’ve had patrons with this problem, I have advised them to make an appointment with their nearest taxpayer office.

The Florida Department of Revenue administers a variety of state taxes. The most common scenario is when entrepreneurs have to register to collect and remit sales taxes, although there are other situations that may apply.

As with the IRS, sending a patron to a DOR taxpayer service center is a viable strategy if other methods of contact are not working for them.

In Florida, it is often necessary for businesses to pay county sales tax of some kind. It is wise for entrepreneurs to check in with their county tax collector to find out what they need to do.

Florida entrepreneurs who operate within a city's boundaries may need to obtain a business tax receipt from their municipal government. Companies who are operating in unincorporated areas of the county will likely have a different tax regime.

This is one of two major agencies that regulates professional licensing for a grab bag of professions. In general, my experience is that professional licensing requirements positively correlate with degree of possible harm, such as a realtor knowingly selling a bad house. However, this correlation does not always appear.

In addition to its many responsibilities promoting Florida farmers and agriculture, this agency also regulates a wide range of different professions, such as private investigators and travel agents. Emphasis on consumer protection has varied based on the agenda of the sitting Commissioner of Agriculture at the time, In Florida, this position is elected and is a member of the Florida Cabinet, a relic of the post-Reconstruction era historically designed to limit gubernatorial power.