127,744
U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 sub-county estimates (sub-est2024.csv), July 1, 2024
Palm Beach CountyCity of West Palm Beach Development Services, Business Tax + Palm Beach County Tax Collector
West Palm Beach business license: do you need a business tax receipt?
West Palm Beach has about 128,000 residents and is the county seat of Palm Beach County, next to Riviera Beach, Lake Worth Beach and Palm Beach. Whether you form an LLC, a corporation or a PLLC, the city's Development Services Business Tax office wants a few things ready first. Register your company and any DBA on Sunbiz, and look up the 17-digit parcel control number (PCN) for your address. Then send the Business Tax Application by email to businesstax@wpb.org, by fax, or in person at 401 Clematis Street. Include your SSN, FEIN or ITIN, your Florida business name registration, and any state license. Zoning approval and any required inspections must pass before the receipt is issued. Expect 5 to 10 business days before the city sends your account number and payment instructions. The Palm Beach County Tax Collector requires city zoning approval before it issues the county receipt.
Occupational license vs. business tax receipt in West Palm Beach
West Palm Beach has an estimated 127,744 residents (U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024), ranking #17 among Florida's incorporated places. It sits in Palm Beach 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 West Palm Beach: 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.
West Palm Beach business license FAQs
Do I need a West Palm Beach business license (business tax receipt)?
Yes. You need a City of West Palm Beach Business Tax Receipt. The city does the zoning approval, which Palm Beach County requires before it issues the county receipt.
Is a West Palm Beach 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 West Palm Beach?
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 West Palm Beach in?
Palm Beach County.
Should my West Palm Beach 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.