Start your own company
Start your own finish carpentry company in Florida
Florida doesn't require a state license to run a finish carpentry business — non-structural trim and millwork isn't a licensed trade, so the distance between you and your own shop is paperwork, insurance, and a portfolio you build one clean install at a time. This guide covers the whole setup, honestly. And when the work is ready to scale past word of mouth, the Blue Trade Alliance is built to send booked jobs to owners like you.
What it takes
What it takes in Florida
Define your services — and know the legal line
Custom cabinets, built-ins and bookcases, crown molding and trim, wainscoting, fireplace mantels, coffered ceilings, one-off millwork — write down the lineup you can deliver flawlessly. Then know the hard line: finish carpentry is non-structural. Framing, load-bearing walls, and anything that holds the building up require a licensed contractor, and plumbing, electrical, and HVAC require the licensed trades — no exceptions, no "just this once." Keep every service you list on the finish-work side of that line.
Register your business with Sunbiz
File an LLC with the Florida Division of Corporations at sunbiz.org. It's an online filing, the fee is a bit over a hundred dollars, and approval usually comes back within a few business days. The LLC separates the business's risks from your personal savings — worth it from day one, even solo.
Get your EIN from the IRS
A federal Employer Identification Number is free and takes minutes on the IRS website. It lets you open a business bank account, and you'll need it the day you hire your first carpenter or helper.
Pick up your local business tax receipt
Most Florida counties and many cities require a business tax receipt (the old "occupational license") to operate there — in Tampa Bay, sometimes both. It's a short application and a modest annual fee. Check with your county tax collector and city hall for what a finish carpentry business needs where you'll work.
Carry general liability insurance
Not required by the state for finish carpentry — but treat it as non-negotiable. You're working inside finished homes with saws and finish materials, and the accident that scratches a hardwood floor or dings a cabinet comes out of your pocket without it. Many customers, and the alliance, will ask for proof.
Consider a surety bond and build a portfolio (optional but powerful)
A bond isn't required for finish carpentry in Florida, but it's an inexpensive trust signal that tells a customer there's money behind your promise to finish the job. The bigger trust signal in this trade is photographs: build a portfolio of your cleanest installs from day one, because in custom woodwork the pictures close the sale.
A BTA specialist walks you through every one of these steps, on the phone, in order — you never file anything alone.
Our specialists walk you through the steps and point you to the right agencies — they don't give legal, tax, or insurance advice. For decisions about your specific situation, talk to your own attorney or CPA.
Information reviewed July 2026
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