The differences between a mobile business and a business operated out of an office or the home do not matter when it comes to business operation laws in Florida. The definition of a business entity depends on the services or products it sells in a monetary exchange. A mobile business owner must follow the legal requirements for opening a business in Florida. Specific local permits may apply depending on the type of mobile business you start.
Business License
You must register the mobile business in the state of Florida even if you operate as a sole-proprietorship. All businesses must register with the state's division of corporations. You can register for a general business license online using Florida's Sunbiz online filing system. At the time of publication, the initial registration costs $50 and is payable using credit cards or check.
Tax Considerations
If the business owner plans on operating the mobile business as a corporation or limited liability business, he must register his taxes as business taxes using the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, employer identification number, or EIN, procedures. This keeps his personal taxes filed through his Social Security number separate from the mobile business' taxes. The number is available immediately after completing the online application. The application is available on the IRS' website.
Local Permits
Since a mobile business does not have a single office building or place of operations, many local permits are irrelevant. However, if the business owner wants to use signs to promote or advertise the business in public locations, he must apply for a signage permit from the local planning and zoning department in the given county where he is operating the mobile business.
Food Service Licenses
Florida has very strict laws and regulations regarding mobile businesses that sell food, including mobile catering services. No business owner can drive around and sell food from a vehicle, including a catering vehicle. This includes all foods prepared in the home of the owner. However, Florida does allow mobile food dispending vehicles, also known as MFDVs, to sell foods given that they pass a list of requirements outlined in the Florida Administrative Code, such as food and health regulations. The owner does not require a permit or license to prepare a meal in a client's home, as this is the job of a personal chef.
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