Florida is a great place to live, work, and start a business. My grandparents lived in Florida, my mom splits her time between there and Vegas, and the rest of my family goes to visit once or twice a year. I started my writing career in Florida before moving back to Las Vegas, and I still own a Florida limited liability company (LLC).
I’m really excited about writing this blog because I have long wanted to start providing more state-specific resources. Generic suggestions such as “look up your state’s Secretary of State website” just aren’t as meaningful as telling Florida residents to go to SunBiz.org, look up their business name, and register an LLC for $100.
What is a good business to start in Florida?
When looking for small businesses to start in Florida, just look at the state’s population compared to the rest of the U.S.
- A whole 21.6% of Florida’s population is over 65—that’s 25% higher than the country overall. That means senior care and healthcare businesses can thrive in the state.
- Tourism in Florida brought in a record $105.1 billion in 2021. The industry represents 8% of the gross state product compared to 4.6% of the U.S. gross domestic product. Restaurants, hotels, clubs, Airbnbs, and other local businesses can capitalize on this.
- Florida receives over $1 billion annually to help repair areas after natural disasters. That’s more money from FEMA than every state except for Texas. Cleaning, remediation, HVAC, electrical, and roofing companies all benefit from this.
So what are the best businesses to start in Florida?
Best businesses to start in Florida
#1. Food business
Food is big business in Florida. It’s such a big business that the majority of Florida’s extra North American Industry Classification codes are for food businesses.
It’s a great place for Florida business owners to serve fruit, BBQ, hamburgers, pizza, fish, Mexican, and more—from a traditional mom-and-pop or a food truck.
Because Florida is such a tourist-heavy state, you could also make a nice chunk of change running vending machines. Check out our interview with Adam Hill of Hill Vending below:
Want to learn more? Check out our vending machine business course with Hill.
#2. Senior care
Florida is a popular destination for retirees. In fact, 21.6% of the population is over 65 years old, and some need help in their everyday tasks. Both my grandparents lived in a senior care facility in Florida after my grandma got Alzheimer’s and my grandpa started missing her.
Healthcare facilities have a 35.63% gross profit margin and 5.31% net profit. Since the average facility costs $4,300 per month for between 27 and 33 residents, net profits can be over $90K and double for more extensive care.
#3. Airbnb and short-term rentals
Short-term rentals are the ultimate Florida business idea! With beachfront property renting for $74 to $2,158 per night, getting into the rental business could make you a ton of money. Plus you can develop wealth as the value of the properties rises.
Learn how to start an Airbnb business in Florida, or check out our interview with an Airbnb owner below.
#4. Microbrewery
In honor of Florida Man and all his newsworthy escapades, I have to bring up the idea of starting a microbrewery business in Florida.
The demand is there. The Sunshine State has so many craft breweries that you can’t even see the state when you check out the map on Beer in Florida. Just learn from Florida Man…and don’t make the news for the wrong reasons.
#5. Cleaning
Given all the short-term rentals, nursing homes, and other properties that need cleaning, a cleaning business is another one of the best businesses to start in Florida.
Find out how Cristobal Mondragon spends his day as a cleaning business owner below:
Check out our cleaning business course to learn Cristobal’s entire process. Florida businesses can especially benefit from his Airbnb cleaning strategies.
#6. Travel agency
Start a small business as a travel agent. You can go to each popular tourist destination, take pictures, write a blog about the business, and help people book the area’s best hotels, restaurants, and events. Plus, you get to have a great time doing it.
To hit the ground running, you can even open a travel agent franchise, like Dream Vacations. A low-cost franchise like this benefits from an established brand name and a solid business plan.
#7. Landscaping and gardening
Opening a landscaping and gardening service can earn you a great living in Florida.
According to the University of Florida (I hope my Seminole-fan family doesn’t see that citation), there are $4 million acres of maintained grass in the state—equal to $7.82B annually.
Learn about starting a lawn care business from small businesses that are already successful below:
#8. Customized tours
There are so many business ideas in this category that we could write a whole blog about it. From dolphin excursions to city tours, swamp boating to shark fishing, and gator wrestling to haunted mansions, the Sunshine State has adventures for everyone.
Let us know in the comments if you’ve operated a tour business. How did it go? What were the benefits and challenges?
#9. Organic farming
The weather in Florida makes an organic farm the perfect business. You’ll have plenty of food and can sell it at farmers markets or ship it to small businesses nationwide. You could even open a food truck selling your organic fruits.
Find out how Rane Roatta started with just $200 and developed a seven-figure income with her exotic fruit farm:
#10. Real estate
Beachfront property sells for up to $40M, and the average commission is 2.7% (that’s up to $1.08 million for a single sale). Granted, everyone can’t get those big sales, but the average real estate agent sells 12 homes at an average price of $402,000.
You’ll make $135K per year if you hit those numbers. That’s enough to live the good life in most parts of Florida.
#11. Fitness
Another of the business business opportunities in Florida is a fitness club. Everyone wants to look their best at the beach.
You might start a yoga studio, travel as a personal trainer, or open a gym. You’ll be able to have locals for annual memberships but can also get lots of one-time customers when tourists come to town.
#12. Moving services
Another of the best businesses to start in Florida is a moving company. Florida leads the country in new residents, which makes starting a moving company another great Florida business.
You don’t need high startup costs, either. You can start moving with a box truck from Uhaul and a couple of your buddies for less than $1k in startup costs.
#13. Consulting
Business and professional services are a huge industry in Florida. A consulting firm is probably the best business to start in Florida, and all you need is high-speed internet access and a laptop. And given there’s no income tax in Florida and no physical products sold, all you’ll have to pay is your federal taxes.
#14. Web development
Another of the businesses to start in Florida is web development. Like other businesses that don’t sell a physical product, web developers will benefit from the friendly business environment in Florida.
It requires more technical skills than some of the other ones, but you can outsource those. Software solutions are often built as minimum viable products and are built out as the company grows.
Many of the top companies in the world are web development companies. Maybe yours will be the next major tech company.
#15. Freelance writing
Writing is another in-demand field in which you can make a great living from home. Businesses and publications in the Sunshine State and across the globe need writers specializing in all topics—so try writing if you’re reading from somewhere other than Florida, too.
Whether you worked in auto repair shops, real estate sales, or food trucks, you probably know things about a particular industry that others don’t. Share your knowledge and make money by writing about what you know.
#16. Tutoring
Students from elementary school to college struggle with a variety of subjects. If you understand the subject and know how to teach it, tutoring can be one of the best business ideas in Florida. Florida students are near the bottom (42nd of 50 states) of standardized test scores.
You don’t have to limit your tutoring to your location because online tutoring is an option, too.
Below, find out how a piano teacher makes $480K per year with online tutoring.
#17. Home-based childcare
While kids under five years old make up less of the population in Florida than the country overall, there is still a need for at-home daycare services. It’s one of the best small business opportunities in Florida.
According to The Palm Beach Post, the average cost of childcare in the state is over $700 per child monthly—amounting to one of the highest costs as a percentage of household income in the country.
If you start a home-based childcare business, you could compete on quality of care or price and make a great living.
Below, find out how a former surgical assistant discovered child care is one of the best small business ideas in Florida:
18. Auto repair
While you can start an automotive repair shop on your own (assuming you have the mechanic skills), busy shops will normally need multiple auto technicians. The salty air in Florida damages metal in vehicles.
Learn how to start an auto repair shop.
#19. Information technology
As is obvious by now, there are nearly countless viable businesses in Florida. Those companies will need assistance with technical maintenance.
Your business can offer them services ranging from mobile device management, software installation, network setup, data recovery, and other tasks.
How to start a business in Florida
Once you’ve chosen the best business to start in Florida, you’ll need to go through the business startup process. You’ll want to:
- Validate the business idea
- Develop a business plan
- Choose a business name
- Fund your business
- Choose a business location
- Choose a business type
- Register your business
- Get a business license
- Open a business bank account
- Get insurance for your business
- Buy your supplies
We discuss most of these in our learning hub, but it’s helpful for you to understand the parts that are specific to starting a business in Florida.
How to get a business license in Florida
You may need to get a business license depending on what field you are in. Many of the business ideas will require business licenses from either the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation or the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS).
You’ll need to fill out the paperwork, comply with any requirements, and pay the fee. There may be other listing agencies you need, which can be found on this Florida Department of State webpage.
How much is a business license in Florida?
Business license fees vary depending on the type of business you are running. Make sure to check with the government agencies listed above.
According to the Florida DACS, for example, “Food Establishment Permit Fees are determined at the time of initial inspection and are based on the type of food establishment.”
In other words, they don’t disclose the business license fees until you own the food business. Hopefully, someday, they’ll decide small business operations should not be governed by the good ole boys’ network.
More Florida business resources
Small business owners in Florida will need to interact with a variety of government agencies and websites. You’ll want to be familiar with:
- Florida Secretary of State (SOS): The Division of Corporations, also called SunBiz, is the area of the Florida SOS website where you can register your business for the $100 mentioned in the intro. You can also perform business searches and submit changes and tax filings.
- Florida Department of Revenue: A profitable business will need to report new employees and collect child support withholdings. There’s zero state income tax, though, so you’re operating in a tax-friendly environment. Here are some Florida Department of Revenue resources.
- County Clerk’s Offices: Some counties may have additional requirements for small businesses. Check your county clerk’s office to verify whether your small business needs to perform additional steps to get off the ground.
Are you ready to make your Florida business idea a reality?
We’ve discussed ideas to start a business in Florida, plus the information to perform a Florida Secretary of State business search. We’ve provided you with the sites you need to get more information from the agencies.
If y’all appreciate this piece, let us know and we’ll expand the information provided and provide more state-specific resources.
One last reminder: Make sure to write a solid business plan so you have something to guide you through the entire process of starting a business in the Sunshine State.
What do you think is the best business to start in Florida?
