How to start a cleaning business in Florida

To start a cleaning business in Florida, you need to register your business with the state, submit a fictitious business statement, and get the appropriate insurance plans.

Here are details on each of these steps you can take and others to start a cleaning business in Florida:

• Register your business with the state. Unless you plan on starting your cleaning business as a sole proprietorship, you need to register your business with the state of Florida.

  Here are your options and the filing fees for each:

  • LLC - $125

  • Corporation - $70

  • General Partnership - $50

  • Limited Partnership - $1000

  Again, if you choose to set up your business as a sole proprietorship, you do not need to register it in the state of Florida.

• Submit a fictitious business statement. If you want to operate your business using a name other than your legal name, you must file a fictitious business statement.

  If you are planning on doing a sole proprietorship under a name other than your legal one, you have to take this step. This also goes for LLCs, partnerships, and corporations operating under a different name than the entity's legal one.

  The cost of a fictitious business name in Florida is $50.

• Obtain an employer identification number (EIN). If you are planning on hiring employees you must obtain an EIN.

  Your employer identification number (EIN) is critical to starting and growing your business. It helps with matters like opening a business bank account and paying taxes.

  Essentially it is like a social security number, but for your business. You can apply for it online through the IRS. Applying for an EIN is free.

• Get a sales tax permit. If you plan on offering your cleaning services to more than just residential homeowners, you are going to need a sales tax permit.

  Residential cleaning customers are exempt from paying sales taxes, however, commercial customers are not.

  Registering online is free, while registering by mail costs $5.

• Obtain the proper business license requirements. You will have to do some research as different counties and cities in Florida have different requirements.

  For example, if you are starting your business in Miami, you are going to need a local business tax receipt, while Jacksonville requires two business tax receipts, one from the city of Tampa, and one from Hillsborough county. In Orlando, you need both a business tax receipt and a Certificate of Use certificate. Do some research into your local area to find out what is required.

Here are some common business insurance plans to look at:

• Workers' compensation (If you plan on hiring employees)

• General liability

• Tool and equipment

• Commercial auto

The specific insurance plans you need all depend on how you plan to operate your business.

To be clear, bonds and insurance policies are not the same.