79,077
2020 Census CDP count (approximate; verify)
Sumter CountyUnincorporated: county receipt rules applyThe Villages business license: do you need a business tax receipt?
The Villages has about 79,000 residents in its main Census-designated place, and the wider community spreads across Sumter, Lake and Marion counties near Wildwood, Lady Lake, Leesburg and Ocala. It's not an incorporated city, so there's no city business license or occupational license. For homes and businesses in unincorporated Sumter County, the county's own FAQ says no business license is required. Some neighborhoods sit inside the City of Wildwood or in Lake County, though, so check which government covers your address. Whether you form an LLC, a corporation or a PLLC, your main steps are the Sunbiz filing, any state license and sales tax registration if you sell goods. Deed restrictions and community rules in The Villages can limit home-based businesses, such as signs, customer traffic or storage, so check those before you start.
Occupational license vs. business tax receipt in The Villages
The Villages is an unincorporated community in Sumter County, so there is no The Villages city government or city business license; the county rules below apply.
How to start a business in The Villages: 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.
The Villages business license FAQs
Do I need a The Villages business license (business tax receipt)?
The Villages isn't a city, so there's no city business license. Sumter County says its unincorporated areas don't require a business license. A business in a Wildwood or Lake County section should check with those governments.
Is a The Villages 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 The Villages?
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 The Villages in?
Sumter County. Parts of The Villages also extend into Lake and Marion counties.
Should my The Villages 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.