116,811
U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 sub-county estimates (sub-est2024.csv), July 1, 2024
Pinellas CountyCity of Clearwater Business Tax (Planning & Development); no Pinellas County BTR
Clearwater business license: do you need a business tax receipt?
Clearwater has about 117,000 residents and is the county seat of Pinellas County, near Largo, Dunedin, Safety Harbor and St. Petersburg. Whether you form an LLC, a corporation or a PLLC, there's one local receipt to get. Pinellas County dropped its county occupational license in 1995, so the City of Clearwater Business Tax Receipt is the only one, and you need it before you open. First confirm your address is inside Clearwater city limits and that your business is permitted there. Then apply through the city's ePermitting site by choosing New and then Business Tax Application, which requires an account. Supporting documents depend on the business. Licensed professionals attach state licenses, contractors attach their certifications, and home-based businesses sign a home-business affidavit. Receipts must be renewed by September 30, and renewals can be searched by receipt number, address or parcel number.
Occupational license vs. business tax receipt in Clearwater
Clearwater has an estimated 116,811 residents (U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024), ranking #20 among Florida's incorporated places. It sits in Pinellas County, and businesses here file with the same state office as everywhere else in Florida: the Division of Corporations (Sunbiz).
How to start a business in Clearwater: LLC, corporation or PLLC
State filing fees are the same everywhere in Florida. See the full cost and steps in our Start a Business in Florida guide.
Clearwater business license FAQs
Do I need a Clearwater business license (business tax receipt)?
Yes, inside city limits you need a City of Clearwater Business Tax Receipt before opening. Pinellas County repealed its county receipt in 1995, so there isn't a county one.
Is a Clearwater occupational license the same as a business tax receipt?
Yes. Florida law renamed the old occupational license the local business tax in 2006, so a business tax receipt, an occupational license and a local business license all mean the same thing in Florida (Chapter 205, Florida Statutes).
How much does it cost to form a business in Clearwater?
Sunbiz state fees are the same anywhere in Florida: $125 for an LLC or PLLC and $70 for a corporation. Local business tax receipts are separate.
Which county is Clearwater in?
Pinellas County.
Should my Clearwater business be an LLC, a corporation or a PLLC?
Most small businesses choose an LLC for its simple management and pass-through taxes. A corporation suits owners who plan to issue stock or bring in investors. A PLLC is for state-licensed professionals such as doctors, lawyers and CPAs. All three file with Sunbiz: $125 for an LLC or PLLC and $70 for a corporation.