Are You Interested in Opening a Business In St. Petersburg, Florida?
St. Petersburg requires that those who operate a business apply for, and be issued a business tax certificate (business license, also what used to be called an occupational license) from the Business Tax Division. You may request an application for a business tax certificate by visiting the Business Tax Division in person at 325 Central Avenue in St. Petersburg. If you prefer, you may print the application from the City of St. Petersburg website, or you may conveniently apply for your business tax certificate online. There are four hundred types of business classifications for business tax certificates in St. Petersburg, so you may need to contact the Business Tax Division at (727) 893-7241to be certain of which business tax certificate is best for your business.
What Other Agencies Will You Need to Contact?
When you have found the business location that you wish to use, you may need to determine if the location is within the city limits of St. Petersburg. Contact the Pinellas County Appraiser’s Office at (727) 582-7652 to discuss your business location and determine if it is within the city limits. You may need to contact the Construction and Permitting Department for building and/or occupancy permits. They are reached by phone at (727 )893-4220. If you plan to serve or sell alcohol, you will need to apply for and be issued a alcoholic beverage license from the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation. If you plan to hire any employees for your business, you may need to be issued a federal employer’s ID number (FEIN) from the IRS. If you are going to handle food as a part of your business activities, you may need to obtain a health permit from the Department of Agriculture. There may be other licenses and permits that you may need to obtain prior to opening your business; contact the Business Tax Division at (727) 893-7241 for more information, and to determine which, if any additional licenses or permits you may need.
What Type of Information is Needed to Complete A St. Petersburg Business Tax Certificate (business license) Application?
You will need the following information to complete your St. Petersburg business license, “business tax certificate” application:
- Type of business ownership (partnership, corporation, sole proprietor, LLC, other)
- Names, titles and home address of each owner and/or corporate officer
- Name, title, home address, contact phone number and business email of the person completing the application
- Description of the business activities you plan to conduct
- FEIN ( if applicable)
- Business start date
- Name of your business (note that you will need a fictitious name certificate if your business name is anything other than your legal name, you are an attorney practicing law in Florida, etc)
- A business mailing and physical address
- All phone numbers associated with your business
- If you are not hiring employees, you will provide your social security number
- A signed affidavit is attached to your business tax certificate application stating that you understand that it is illegal and punishable by law to knowingly provide false information on a St. Petersburg business tax certificate application
- Your business tax certificate application will need to be notarized
What Else Will You Need To Know?
There are many types of applications for a St. Petersburg business tax certificate. The application described here is for a basic commercial license. You may be opening a home business, a transportation business, real estate, fortune telling, etc. There will be separate applications that you may need to file for your business, many of them in addition to your business tax certificate. Contact the Business Tax Division (727) 893-7241 for more information regarding separate applications.
How Much Will I Be Expected to Pay for a St. Petersburg Business Tax Certificate?
Your costs will be largely based on your business classification. You will need contact the Business Tax Division to determine your fees and costs.
Whom Should You Contact for More Information?
The Business Tax Division can be reached Monday through Friday between 8:00am and 5:00pm. They can be reached via telephone at (727) 893-7241. You may visit them in person during the same hours at 325 Central Ave in St. Petersburg. The
City of St. Petersburg website has useful information for those that are planning to open their own business in St, Petersburg.
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Disclaimer: This site is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial or tax advise. The information on this site should not be relied upon as an official source of information and should be independently verified. |
