142,023
U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 sub-county estimates (sub-est2024.csv), July 1, 2024
Brevard CountyPalm Bay business license: do you need a business tax receipt?
Palm Bay has about 142,000 residents and is the largest city in Brevard County on the Space Coast, just south of Melbourne and West Melbourne. Whether you form an LLC, a corporation or a PLLC, the City of Palm Bay's Business Tax Receipt is handled entirely online through the city's iMS portal. You create an account, then follow the city's step-by-step guide to applying for a receipt in iMS. Upload any state or county license or certification your work requires, plus your fictitious name registration if you trade under a name other than your legal or company name. Fees can be paid by credit card, debit card or electronic check. The city asks you to allow 10 to 14 business days for processing, so apply well before your opening date. The Brevard County Tax Collector handles the county side separately.
Occupational license vs. business tax receipt in Palm Bay
Palm Bay has an estimated 142,023 residents (U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024), ranking #15 among Florida's incorporated places. It sits in Brevard 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 Palm Bay: 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.
Palm Bay business license FAQs
Do I need a Palm Bay business license (business tax receipt)?
Yes. Businesses in Palm Bay need a City of Palm Bay Business Tax Receipt, applied for through the city's iMS portal. Check the Brevard County Tax Collector's requirements too.
Is a Palm Bay 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 Palm Bay?
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 Palm Bay in?
Brevard County.
Should my Palm Bay 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.