The best businesses to start in Florida
The businesses that work best in Florida right now are home services: cleaning, pressure washing, landscaping, handyman work, auto detailing, and moving all open for under $2,000 and need no state license. Licensed trades (plumbing, roofing, HVAC) cost more to start but pay far more per job. What decides which one fits you isn't the idea, it's how much you can invest and whether you're willing to get licensed.
Updated 2026-08-15
How to choose, in two questions
Almost everyone starts with the idea, and that's the part that matters least. The two questions that actually decide are how much money you can put in without going hungry, and whether you're willing to get a license.
In Florida there are trades you can start on Monday with what's already in your truck, and others that require a state exam, insurance, and documented years of experience. The first kind fills up with competition and you end up competing on price and speed. The second kind has fewer people inside, which is exactly why it pays better.
The numbers here are real startup ranges in South Florida as of mid-2026. Registration and license fees change: check sunbiz.org for the company and myfloridalicense.com for DBPR licenses before you spend anything.
Businesses you can open without a state license
None of these require a state exam. You need to register the company, get the local permit for the county or city you work in, and carry general liability insurance if you're going into other people's homes.
| Business | Startup | What it pays | What you need |
|---|---|---|---|
| House cleaning | $300 to $1,200 | $120 to $300 per house | Supplies, transport, insurance |
| Pressure washing | $800 to $2,500 | $150 to $600 per house | Machine, hose, water access |
| Landscaping | $1,500 to $5,000 | $80 to $200 monthly per house | Mower, trailer, blower |
| Handyman | $500 to $2,000 | $60 to $120 an hour | Tools and a truck |
| Auto detailing | $1,000 to $4,000 | $80 to $350 per car | Mobile rig, water, power |
| Moving | $3,000 to $15,000 | $90 to $150 an hour | Truck, insurance, registration |
| Catering | $1,000 to $6,000 | $25 to $60 per head | Permitted kitchen and ServSafe |
| Home baking | $500 to $2,000 | $60 to $400 per cake | Florida cottage food law |
| Personal training | $300 to $1,500 | $40 to $100 a session | Private certification, not state |
| Wedding photography | $2,000 to $8,000 | $1,200 to $4,000 per wedding | Camera, lenses, backup |
| DJing | $2,000 to $7,000 | $500 to $1,500 per party | Sound, lights, transport |
| Event decor | $800 to $3,000 | $300 to $2,500 per setup | Inventory and storage |
Cleaning is what most people start with because it's the cheapest door to walk through, which is also why it's the most crowded. The upside of this group is that you get paid in week one, without waiting on a license.
Licensed trades, which cost more and pay more
Here there's an exam, insurance, and in most cases documented experience. The barrier is real, and that barrier is exactly what keeps the money good: fewer people are inside it.
| Business | Startup | What it pays | License |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbing | $8,000 to $25,000 | $150 to $1,500 per job | State or county contractor |
| HVAC | $10,000 to $30,000 | $200 to $8,000 per job | Contractor plus EPA 608 |
| Roofing | $15,000 to $50,000 | $8,000 to $40,000 per roof | Roofing contractor |
| Remodeling | $10,000 to $40,000 | $5,000 to $80,000 per job | General or building contractor |
| Flooring | $3,000 to $12,000 | $3 to $12 a square foot | Local registration, by county |
| Pest control | $5,000 to $20,000 | $120 a month or $800 a treatment | Dept. of Agriculture license |
| Nails | $1,500 to $8,000 | $35 to $120 per service | DBPR nail specialist |
| Barbershop or salon | $3,000 to $30,000 | $25 to $150 per service | DBPR cosmetology or barbering |
| Facials and spa | $3,000 to $20,000 | $80 to $300 a session | DBPR facial specialist |
| Tax preparation | $500 to $3,000 | $150 to $900 per return | IRS PTIN, free |
| Mobile notary | $300 to $800 | $10 a signature plus travel | Florida notary commission |
| Home daycare | $3,000 to $15,000 | $150 to $300 per child weekly | DCF license |
Look at the gap: one roof can clear more than a full month of cleaning jobs. So if you already have experience in a licensed trade, getting the license is usually the best investment you'll make in the business.
The four pieces of paper you need, whatever the business
- The company. An LLC on sunbiz.org, about $125. You can start as a sole proprietor without registering anything, but then your house is on the line if something goes wrong. See how to register an LLC in Florida.
- The IRS EIN. It's free and takes ten minutes on irs.gov. Never pay for this: anyone charging you is charging to fill out a form.
- The local permit. In Miami-Dade it's called a Local Business Tax Receipt, from the county and also the city if you operate inside one. Usually $45 to $200 a year.
- General liability insurance. Between $40 and $90 a month for a small trade. Without it you won't get into a building, a managed property, or a contract.
With that you can invoice, take Zelle or card payments in the business name, and show up at any house without anyone asking for more.
What sinks most of them in year one
It isn't competition and it isn't pricing. It's that nobody can find them. People start out by posting the business on Instagram, telling family, and waiting. The first jobs come from people they know, and when that list runs out the phone stops.
- No Google profile. It's free and it's where people actually search. See how to get your business on Google.
- Nowhere to send the people who ask. An Instagram profile doesn't list prices, hours, or areas, and half of them won't ask twice.
- Pricing too low out of fear. Charge half and you attract the customer who leaves for whoever charges less next.
- Not asking for reviews. Three real reviews convince more than any ad, and they're free.
The order that works is simple: register the company, open the Google profile, get a page with your pricing and areas, and ask every customer for a review. None of it costs much, and it's the difference for whoever's still working in year two.
doubts
What people usually ask
What's the cheapest business to start in Florida?
House cleaning and pressure washing. With $300 to $1,200 in supplies and equipment you can bill your first job, and neither needs a state license. What you do need is the local county permit and insurance if you're entering other people's homes.
Which business pays the most per job?
The licensed ones. A roof pays $8,000 to $40,000, a remodel can beat that, and an HVAC system runs around $8,000. The catch is the contractor license, which means an exam, insurance, and documented experience.
Do I need an LLC to start?
Legally, no. You can operate as a sole proprietor under your own name and social security number. But without an LLC your personal assets are exposed in a lawsuit, and many commercial clients won't hire an unregistered business. It's $125 on sunbiz.org.
Can I work while I wait on the license?
In trades with no state license, yes, as long as you have the local permit. In contractor trades, no: unlicensed contracting is a crime in Florida, the fines are steep, and you can't legally collect on the work.
Do I need a website to start?
Not to start, but yes to last. Month one runs on people you know. When that list runs out, whoever has somewhere to send people keeps working and whoever doesn't stops. A full page costs $400 once and pays for itself on the first job that comes through it.