How Much Does It Cost to Start a Accounting Firm in Florida?

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Starting a Accounting Firm in Florida typically costs between $7,840 and $51,520, with a median estimate of $22,400. Florida’s cost of living runs 3% above the national average, which increases commercial rent and labor costs. LLC formation in Florida costs $125 to file. Most accounting firm businesses take 1-4 months to launch.

Last updated: May 2026

Accounting Firm startup costs illustration — typical equipment and setup

How Much Does It Cost to Start a Accounting Firm in Florida?

Low

$7,840

Medium

$22,400

High

$51,520

National average: $7,000 – $46,000

Interactive Startup Cost Calculator

Startup Cost Calculator

Accounting Firm in Florida

Budget:

CPA Licensing & Registration

$1,680

Professional Liability Insurance

$2,240

Tax Software & Subscriptions

$2,800

Bookkeeping Software Licenses

$1,344

Office Space & Setup

$6,720

Business Formation & Registration

$672

Cybersecurity & Data Protection

$1,680

Marketing & Client Acquisition

$2,800

Continuing Education

$896

Options

Include 3 months working capital (+$16,800)

Employees:Just Me1–34–10

Startup Costs

$20,832

Monthly Costs

$5,600

First Year Total

$88,032

Full Cost Breakdown

Cost Category	Low	Medium	High	Notes
CPA Licensing & Registration	$560	$1,680	$4,480	CPA exam fees are a low four-figure cost in aggregate (https://nasba.org/exams/cpaexam/); state licensing requirements and renewal fees vary.
Professional Liability Insurance	$896	$2,240	$6,720	Annual premium; critical for tax prep and audit services.
Tax Software & Subscriptions	$896	$2,800	$6,720	Per-return pricing vs. unlimited plans depending on volume.
Bookkeeping Software Licenses	$448	$1,344	$3,360	QuickBooks ProAdvisor certification adds credibility.
Business Formation & Registration	$224	$672	$1,680	Many states require specific entity types for CPA firms.
Cybersecurity & Data Protection	$560	$1,680	$4,480	IRS requires written data security plan for tax preparers.
Continuing Education	$336	$896	$2,240	Ethics CPE required in most states.
Office Space & Setup (optional)	$2,240	$6,720	$16,800	Home office viable for solo practitioners.
Marketing & Client Acquisition (optional)	$560	$2,800	$8,960	Referrals from attorneys and financial advisors are high-value channels.
Total Startup Cost	$3,920	$11,312	$29,680	Required costs only

Licenses & Permits in Florida

General Business License

Florida requires most businesses to obtain an Annual Resale Certificate and register for sales tax with the Florida Department of Revenue. Many professions require licenses through the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). Additionally, Florida counties and cities may require local business tax receipts (formerly called occupational licenses), which carry state-set annual fees that vary depending on business type and location.

Industry-Specific Licenses

Food Service Establishment License — Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation — Division of Hotels and Restaurants
Cost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Annual
Certified Contractor License — Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation — Contractors
Cost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Biennial
Cosmetology Salon License — Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation — Cosmetology
Cost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Biennial
Real Estate Broker License — Florida Real Estate Commission
Cost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Biennial
Child Care Facility License — Florida Department of Children and Families
Cost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Annual
Beverage License — Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco
Cost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Annual
Vacation Rental License — Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation
Cost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Biennial
Home Health Agency License — Florida Agency for Health Care Administration
Cost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Annual

Home-Based Business Rules

Florida municipalities and counties regulate home-based businesses through local zoning ordinances. Florida law (F.S. 559.955) prohibits local governments from banning home-based businesses entirely, but allows reasonable regulations regarding customer visits, signage, and storage. Many Florida counties have updated their home occupation ordinances to allow more types of businesses while limiting impact on neighbors.

Resources

Monthly Operating Costs

After launch, plan for these ongoing monthly expenses for your Accounting Firm:

Low

$2,000/mo

Medium

$5,000/mo

High

$12,000/mo

Revenue Potential

Annual Revenue Range

$50,000 – $400,000 (annual)

Profit Margins

35-60%

Break-Even Timeline

4-12 months

How Florida Compares to Neighboring States

Florida is close to the national average for Accounting Firm startup costs, with a cost-of-living index of 103.1. Compared to neighboring Georgia ($18,800 median startup cost), Florida has higher costs for a Accounting Firm.

State	Est. Cost	LLC Fee
Florida (current)	$22,400	$125
Georgia	$18,800	$100
Alabama	$16,200	$200

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1
Underpricing services vs. national averages
2
No engagement letters exposing you to scope creep
3
Ignoring the IRS data-security requirements applicable to paid tax preparers (https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/data-theft-information-for-tax-professionals)
4
Taking on too many low-value tax prep clients
5
No recurring revenue model (retainer clients)

Next Steps to Launch Your Accounting Firm

1
Form your business entity in Florida — CPAs typically use a PLLC or PC structure (filing fee: $125)
2
Obtain your CPA license in Florida — requires passing all 4 CPA exam sections and meeting Florida experience requirements
3
Register with the Florida Board of Accountancy and pay annual license renewal fees
4
Obtain professional liability (E&O) insurance — typically a low-to-mid four-figure annual premium; protects against client claims of negligence
5
Register for your IRS Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) if offering tax services — free at IRS.gov
6
Set up accounting practice software — QuickBooks Accountant, Xero, or Thomson Reuters Practice CS for client bookkeeping
7
Join the AICPA and Florida CPA Society for continuing education, ethics compliance, and client referrals
8
Establish an engagement letter template and professional services agreement before taking on any clients

Frequently Asked Questions

Starting an accounting firm typically requires a low-to-mid five-figure investment, covering CPA licensing, professional liability insurance, tax software, and initial marketing. Home-based practices can launch at the lower end of that range.

You don't need a CPA license to offer bookkeeping services, but you must be a licensed CPA to offer auditing services or sign tax returns as a paid preparer. Using 'CPA' in your firm name typically requires a licensed CPA as the majority owner.

Drake Tax (https://www.drakesoftware.com/products/drake-tax/) is popular for solo practices, billed as an annual subscription scaled to feature tier. Lacerte and ProSeries are preferred by larger firms. UltraTax is common at mid-size firms. All handle individual and business returns.

A solo CPA charging a healthy three-figure hourly rate can be profitable with a few dozen regular business clients or roughly 100-150 individual tax clients. The key is mix — monthly bookkeeping retainers provide predictable revenue, while tax season creates seasonal peaks.

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Start a Accounting Firm in Other States

See the national overview for Accounting Firm or browse all businesses you can start in Florida.