A Palm Beach County business forms its LLC or corporation on Sunbiz, gets zoning approval and a receipt from its city, such as West Palm Beach or Boca Raton, then a county receipt from the Constitutional Tax Collector. Business disputes are heard in the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit. We meet West Palm Beach and Boca Raton clients in Fort Lauderdale or by video.
Palm Beach County stretches from Boca Raton to Jupiter, with dozens of cities in between, each with its own zoning rules. For a business owner, the practical result is a two step local process: the city approves the location and issues its receipt, and the county issues its own receipt after that. Above both sits Florida law, which governs how the company is formed, named and run. This page explains each step for West Palm Beach, Boca Raton and the rest of the county.
Communities we serve in Palm Beach County
- West Palm Beach
- Boca Raton
- Delray Beach
- Palm Beach Gardens
- Jupiter
- Boynton Beach and Wellington
Forming your company on Sunbiz
LLCs and corporations are formed statewide with the Florida Division of Corporations through Sunbiz. The filing names a registered agent with a Florida street address who will receive legal papers for the company. Our guide to starting an LLC in Florida explains the filing, and our registered agent guide covers that role.
Every active company must file an annual report between January 1 and May 1 each year. A company that falls out of active status can lose the ability to close a loan or a sale on schedule, so the deadline matters. Our annual report guide covers what is filed, and our business formation page explains how we help choose and structure the entity.
Business tax receipts in Palm Beach County
Chapter 205 lets counties and cities levy a local business tax. Palm Beach County's ordinance requires anyone selling merchandise or services in the county to hold a local business tax receipt from the Constitutional Tax Collector, in addition to any license required by a city. Businesses inside city limits first submit their application to the city for zoning approval, while unincorporated commercial locations get zoning approval from the county's Planning, Zoning and Building department.
| Where the business is | City step | County step |
|---|---|---|
| West Palm Beach | City receipt from Development Services, with a Certificate of Use where required; city staff sign off the county application | Constitutional Tax Collector |
| Boca Raton | Apply to the city and obtain approval first | Constitutional Tax Collector |
| Unincorporated areas | Zoning approval from county Planning, Zoning and Building | Constitutional Tax Collector |
Both the county and the two largest cities renew receipts from July 1 to September 30, and Boca Raton states that all city and county receipts expire on September 30. Unpaid county receipts become delinquent on October 1. A typical sequence is:
- Form the entity and register any fictitious name, which the Tax Collector lists among its requirements.
- Gather state or county licenses your trade requires.
- Get city approval and the city receipt, or county zoning approval if you are unincorporated.
- Submit a complete county application to the Tax Collector. Incomplete applications are rejected.
Our Florida business license guide explains how these receipts fit with state licenses.
Fictitious names
If a Boca Raton company does business under a trade name, section 865.09 requires it to register that name with the Division of Corporations before using it. The registrant certifies that the name was advertised at least once in a newspaper in the county of the principal place of business. A registration lasts through December 31 of the fifth calendar year. Until a required registration is filed, the business cannot bring a lawsuit in a Florida court, though its contracts still stand.
Contracts, partnership and operating agreements
Many Palm Beach County companies are family businesses or partnerships between longtime associates, and those are the relationships most strained when expectations were never written down. We prepare operating agreements, partnership agreements and shareholder agreements that address contributions, profit sharing, decision making, succession and buyouts. We also draft and review customer, vendor, distribution and influencer agreements, as our business contracts page explains.
Trademarks
A trade name on file with the state is not the same as owning the brand. Trademark registration in Florida or with the federal government, after a search to confirm the name is clear, gives a business stronger rights to stop others using a confusingly similar name. Our intellectual property page covers that work.
Commercial leases
Because city zoning approval comes before any receipt, the location you lease decides whether you can open at all. We review leases for permitted use, rent increases, operating costs, repair duties, personal guaranties and renewal rights. Our commercial real estate page covers leasing, and our Palm Beach County real estate law page covers property matters in the county.
Business disputes in the Fifteenth Circuit
Palm Beach County is the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, which serves this county alone. Business cases are heard in its circuit civil divisions. We did not find a dedicated business court division on the circuit's website. Under the circuit's Administrative Order 3.110 on civil case management, parties may ask the court to designate a case complex under rule 1.201, which places it on a complex track scheduled for disposition within 30 months. Contracts often require mediation or arbitration before suit, and many disputes end there. Our business litigation page explains how we approach disputes.
Buying or selling a Palm Beach County business
Buyers should confirm that the company is active on Sunbiz with current annual reports, that its fictitious names are registered, that its city and county receipts are in order, and that its lease and key contracts can be assigned. Sellers should decide early whether to sell the company or its assets. Our mergers and acquisitions page explains the process from letter of intent to closing. A sale is also a good moment to update your Palm Beach County estate plan.
How we work with Palm Beach County clients
Palm Beach County business owners can meet with an attorney at our Fort Lauderdale office or by phone or video. Your first consultation is free. We form companies, prepare governing documents, review contracts and leases, protect brands and represent owners in disputes. Because the firm limits its caseload, you work directly with an attorney. See our corporate law overview, or contact us to get started.
More help in Palm Beach County
We also help Palm Beach County clients with:
