How to Start a Landscaping Business In Florida
Here is information on how to start a landscaping business, lawn care, lawn mowing, or any other property care business in the state of Florida. You may want to start here: How To Start A Landscaping Or Lawn Care Business
There are specific requirements on how to start a landscaping business in Florida. You must do your own thorough research, as laws change regularly. Here are some steps you may have to take (not necessarily in order) to start your landscaping or lawn care company, along with links to more information.
Here is a website to help you get started with your business in Florida: http://www.floridatrend.com/small-business
-Register your landscaping business name.
Find out more about registering a fictitious name here: https://efile.sunbiz.org/ficregintro.html
If you need help choosing a name: How To Choose A Business Name
-Select your business structure.
Sole-proprietor, LLC, Partnership, Corporation, etc. Find out more here: http://www.floridatrend.com/small-business
-Register your landscaping business.
You can register your landscaping business with the state of Florida here: Florida Business Registration
-Open a Business Checking Account.
You will need to open a separate bank account for your landscaping business with your new business name.
-Find out about taxes, hire an accountant.
You may want to file your own taxes if you are a small company. As you grow, it will be easier to have an accountant do the work. More information about taxes here:
-Get Landscaping Software
Landscaping software will streamline your business before you even start, giving you visibility and control over all your leads, sales, jobs, and tasks from a single program to get your company on the fast track toward growth.
You’ll also be able to create estimates, place material orders, automate the boring (but necessary) stuff, empowering you and your team to finish jobs on time and on budget. Try JobNimbus for Free!
-Get Liability Insurance.
We work with ContractorsLiability.com because they’re the one-stop-shop for General Liability insurance and are able to get online quotes in all 50 states. Learn more >
More about liability insurance here: Contractor Liability Insurance
-Worker’s Compensation.
You will need Worker’s Compensation if you have any employees. Find out more>
-Register as a Contractor.
Depending on what type of work you will be doing, you may need to register as a contractor. There is a fee to register. The registration fee must be paid every other year. There are two types of contractor licenses in Florida- Registered and Certified. Registration – The applicant has taken and passed a local competency examination and can practice only within that locale. Certification – The applicant has taken and passed an examination and can practice throughout Florida. You can find out more about applying for your registration here: Florida Contractor Registration .
-Get Health Insurance.
Since you will be self-employed, you will need your own health insurance. If you have employees, you will need a plan that will include their health needs also.
-City License.
You may be required to obtain a license to operate your landscaping business in a particular locale, whether you are a resident, or not.
-Permits.
Depending on the locale, you may need to apply for permits before commencing certain types of landscaping jobs.
-Building Code and Inspections.
You must be aware of building codes for your particular job, and may be subject to inspections.
-OSHA.
Depending on how many employees you have, you may need to follow OSHA regulations. http://www.osha.gov
