How to Get a Business License in Orlando Florida
Orlando, Florida: home of Walt Disney World, the Orlando Magic and possibly your future business. In the State of Florida, a business license is referred to as a business tax receipt, which is a record of payment of the business tax. According to the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission website, Orlando is one of the youngest and fastest growing regions in the United States. With a little planning, you can obtain your business tax receipt and have your business up and running in this city in as little as 45 minutes.
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Things You'll Need
- City of Orlando Business Tax Receipt Application
- Social Security number or federal employee identification number
- Fee payments
Instructions
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Confirm that your business location is within Orlando city limits. Call the City of Orlando Office of Permitting Services to confirm at 407-246-2204. If your business does not lie within the city limits, call Orange County Business Tax at 407-836-5650.
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Check the zoning regulations at your business address. Call the City of Orlando Office of Permitting Services at 407-246-2204 to ensure that your business complies with zoning regulations at that location.
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Obtain required registrations, licenses and permits from the State of Florida's Business Registration, Licensing and Permitting division. This includes registering your corporation or other type of business, filing for your fictitious name, receiving licensing for your specific occupation or business and obtaining specific environmental, hazardous waste and other related permits; some of those may not be required for your business. Most of these forms are available online on the state's website, which is linked in the Resources section.
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Fill out the City of Orlando's Business Tax Receipt Application. The application form can be obtained at City Hall or online. In Section I, fill in the name of the state licensed professional, if applicable, on line 1. Unincorporated businesses should complete lines 2 through 9. In Section II, sign and date the application.
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File the application. The application can be mailed or faxed to the City of Orlando's Office of Permitting Services, or it can be filed in person at City Hall. When filing, include the appropriate state license(s), registration(s) and/or permits, your Fictitious Name Registration and your Social Security number or federal employee identification number, along with the completed Business Tax Receipt Application.
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Pay the appropriate fee. Annual fees are calculated based on a number of factors, including square footage, number of employees and the cost of the average annual inventory, along with when you file the application. If filing by fax or mail, the city will send you an invoice for the appropriate fee within two weeks of receiving the completed application. If filing in person at City Hall, the appropriate fee is calculated and can be paid at the time of filing.
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Tips & Warnings
In addition to your city business tax receipt, you also need an Orange County business tax receipt, which can be obtained by calling 407-836-5650. For zoning purposes, the city tax receipt must be obtained prior to obtaining the county tax receipt.
If you plan to open a business in your residence, in addition to the previously mentioned documentation you must complete and submit the Home Occupation Application along with your floor plan, a notarized letter of approval from the property owner if you are not the owner, a notarized letter from the Home Owner's Association if your residence is a condominium and payment of an additional, one-time, $50 processing fee (in 2010).
Make checks payable to the City of Orlando.
All business tax receipts in Orlando expire each year on Sept. 30 and must be renewed annually. The city mails invoices for business tax receipt renewals on July 1 of each year. Payment is due no later than Oct. 1.
In order to be fully licensed, some businesses must obtain more than one City Business Tax Receipt, depending on the nature of the business.
Each April, your business will be mailed a declaration form that must be completed and mailed to the city no later than June 1 in order to avoid a 25 percent penalty, which is added to the next year's Business Tax Receipt fees.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit tropical sunset image by nTripp from Fotolia.com
