57,764
U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 sub-county estimates (sub-est2024.csv), July 1, 2024
Sarasota CountySarasota business license: do you need a business tax receipt?
Sarasota has about 58,000 residents and is the county seat of Sarasota County, near Bradenton, Siesta Key, Lakewood Ranch, Osprey and Venice. The Sarasota business license is simpler than it used to be. Sarasota County repealed its county business tax on July 9, 2024, so a business inside city limits needs only the City of Sarasota local business tax receipt, and one in unincorporated Sarasota County needs none. Whether you form an LLC, a corporation or a PLLC, the city's Business Tax Division asks for your Sunbiz registration, any state license, and confirmation that the address is inside city limits and zoned for the use. Home-based businesses add Addendum 1, and the 2026 home-occupation fee is $68.43. New applicants can contact the division at 941-263-6469 or LocalBusinessTax@sarasotafl.gov. Many Sarasota mailing addresses are outside the city, so check yours first.
Occupational license vs. business tax receipt in Sarasota
Sarasota is an incorporated city in Sarasota County with about 57,764 residents (U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024).
How to start a business in Sarasota: 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.
Sarasota business license FAQs
Do I need a Sarasota business license (business tax receipt)?
Yes, inside city limits. The City of Sarasota issues a local business tax receipt, with a 2026 home-based fee of $68.43. Sarasota County repealed its county business tax in July 2024, so there's no county receipt.
Is a Sarasota 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 Sarasota?
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 Sarasota in?
Sarasota County.
Should my Sarasota 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.