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Small-Business Startup Checklist: EIN, Licenses and a Bank Account

Updated 2026-10-27

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This article is general information, not legal or tax advice. Talk to a licensed professional about your situation.

Setup order matters: you can't get an EIN for an LLC that doesn't exist yet, and most banks want an EIN before opening a business account. Here are the steps in order, with Florida details.

Step 1: Choose your business structure

The SBA says to pick a structure before you register; it affects taxes, paperwork and liability.

• Sole proprietorship: no state filing to form it, but no separation between you and the business.
• LLC: a state filing plus a yearly report, with limited personal liability in most cases.
• Corporation: more formalities and recordkeeping.

Step 2: Register your business name

• LLC or corporation: file with the Florida Division of Corporations on Sunbiz. A Florida LLC costs $125 in required state fees (see our step-by-step LLC guide).
• Trade name ("doing business as"): if you operate under any name other than your legal name or your entity's exact legal name, Florida generally requires a fictitious name registration. It costs $50, lasts 5 years, and the name must be advertised once in a newspaper in your county first. Registering doesn't give you ownership of the name.

Step 3: Get a free EIN

An Employer Identification Number is your business's federal tax ID. According to the IRS:

• Applying online is free, and approved applicants get the number immediately. "You never have to pay a fee for an EIN."
• If you're forming an LLC or corporation, form it with the state first, or your application may be delayed.
• Finish the online application in one session; it times out after 15 minutes of inactivity.
• If you can't apply online, Form SS-4 is the mail or fax option.

Some sole proprietors can use their Social Security number instead, but many get an EIN anyway.

Step 4: Register for Florida state taxes, if they apply

Florida's Department of Revenue handles sales tax and reemployment tax, and you register for both with one form, the Florida Business Tax Application (Form DR-1), online or on paper.

Sales and use tax. You must register before you start if you'll do things like:

• Sell taxable items at retail
• Rent short-term lodging, equipment or other property
• Provide certain taxable services, such as nonresidential cleaning

Florida's general state rate is 6%, and many counties add a discretionary surtax. Once registered, you'll get a Certificate of Registration to display and an Annual Resale Certificate.

Reemployment tax. This is required once you pay $1,500 or more in wages in a calendar quarter, or have an employee in any 20 weeks of a year. See our payroll guide for details.

Step 5: Check licenses and permits

There's no single license that covers every business. Requirements depend on what you do and where you do it:

• Local: Florida counties and cities may require a local business tax receipt (often called an occupational license). Contact your county tax collector and city hall.
• State: many professions and trades are licensed by a state agency, such as the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
• Federal: only certain activities need one, such as alcohol, firearms, aviation or broadcasting.
• Zoning: the SBA notes that zoning can apply to home-based businesses too.

Track renewal dates; the SBA notes renewing is often easier than reapplying.

Step 6: Open a business bank account

The SBA recommends opening one as soon as you start accepting or spending money as a business. The IRS also recommends keeping business and personal funds separate. Banks commonly ask for:

• Your EIN (or SSN for some sole proprietors)
• Formation documents, such as your filed Articles of Organization
• Ownership or operating agreements
• Any business license you have
• A fictitious name registration if you use a trade name, which Florida notes most banks ask for

Compare monthly fees, minimum balances and transaction fees.

Step 7: Set up bookkeeping and insurance

• Bookkeeping: pick a system before the first sale. A spreadsheet works at first; many owners move to bookkeeping software. See our first-year bookkeeping guide.
• Insurance: the SBA lists general liability, professional liability and a business owner's policy among common types. Ask a licensed agent.

Step 8: Calendar your recurring deadlines

About BOI reports: FinCEN now says U.S. companies are exempt from beneficial ownership reporting (an exemption FinCEN made permanent in a final rule issued August 11, 2026). Ignore mailers asking you to pay to file one, and check fincen.gov/boi for updates.

The one-page checklist

• [ ] Choose a structure
• [ ] Register your entity and/or fictitious name
• [ ] Get a free EIN from IRS.gov
• [ ] Register with Florida DOR (DR-1) if you'll collect sales tax or have employees
• [ ] Get local, state and federal licenses that apply
• [ ] Open a business bank account
• [ ] Set up bookkeeping and insurance
• [ ] Add every deadline to your calendar

FAQ

Do I need an EIN as a sole proprietor? Not always. The IRS says you generally need one to hire employees or operate as a partnership or corporation. Many sole proprietors get one anyway since it's free.

Does Florida have a statewide general business license? Florida's Department of Revenue registers businesses for taxes, but licensing depends on your activity and location. Check with your county and city for a local business tax receipt, and with the state agency that regulates your profession.

Should I pay a website to get my EIN? No need. The IRS issues EINs for free at IRS.gov and warns against websites that charge for them.

Sources

• SBA: Launch your business
• IRS: Get an employer identification number
• IRS: Publication 583, Starting a Business and Keeping Records
• Florida Division of Corporations: Florida LLC and Fictitious Name Registration
• Florida Department of Revenue: Sales and Use Tax
• Florida Department of Revenue: Reemployment Tax
• FinCEN: Beneficial Ownership Information

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