658,447
U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024 (co-est2024-alldata.csv), July 1, 2024 estimate
Titusville
Palm Bay · Melbourne · Titusville · Rockledge
Brevard County business license: do you need a business tax receipt?
Brevard County has about 658,000 residents on the Space Coast. Titusville is the county seat, and Palm Bay, Melbourne, Cocoa and Cocoa Beach are among its cities. Whether you form an LLC, a corporation or a PLLC, the Brevard County Tax Collector issues a county Business Tax Receipt, with a separate receipt for each location. Regulated professions show their state license. Inside a municipality you also need that city's receipt and must meet city zoning. In unincorporated Brevard, get county zoning approval first, with proof that you own the property or have the owner's permission. Home occupations are generally allowed in residential zones if the home still looks residential, the work happens indoors, and it doesn't add nuisance or extra traffic. You can schedule an appointment online, and renewals are online with no extra fee by e-check.
Occupational license vs. business tax receipt in Brevard County
Brevard County has an estimated 658,447 residents (U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024), making it Florida's 11th most populous of 67 counties, and it has grown about 8.5% since the 2020 Census base. The county seat is Titusville, and its largest incorporated communities include Palm Bay, Melbourne, Titusville. Wherever you are in the county, your LLC or corporation is formed at the state level, so the entity itself is the same as one formed in Miami or Tallahassee.
How to start a business in Brevard County: LLC, corporation or PLLC
Florida's Division of Corporations (Sunbiz) charges $125 to file Articles of Organization for an LLC ($100 filing plus $25 registered agent designation) and $70 for Articles of Incorporation ($35 plus $35). Florida requires every entity to keep a registered agent with a physical Florida street address, and an annual report is due to Sunbiz between January 1 and May 1 each year ($138.75 for an LLC, $150 for a corporation, with a $400 late fee). Corp USA can file your Articles, serve as your registered agent and remind you of the annual report deadline. Your registered agent's address appears in the public Sunbiz record, so many owners who work from home use a registered agent service to keep their home address off that filing.
After the state filing, check local requirements. Florida counties and cities may levy a Local Business Tax under Chapter 205, Florida Statutes; in Brevard County, start with the Brevard County Tax Collector (https://www.brevardtaxcollector.com/), and if your business is inside a city such as Palm Bay, check that city's business tax office too. Add any state professional license and confirm zoning before you open.
Brevard County business license FAQs
Do I need a Brevard County business license (business tax receipt)?
Yes. Brevard County requires a county Business Tax Receipt for each location. Inside a city such as Melbourne or Palm Bay, you also need that city's receipt.
Is a Brevard County 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).
Can I form a Florida LLC if my business is based in Titusville?
Yes. Florida LLCs are formed statewide through Sunbiz for $125; your Titusville address can be the principal office, and you need a Florida registered agent.
Where is the Brevard County Tax Collector?
Its official site is https://www.brevardtaxcollector.com/.
Should my Brevard County 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.