How to Start a Security Company in Florida: Class D, G and B Licenses

Starting a security company in Florida takes at least two kinds of licensing: an individual license for each officer who works a post, and an agency license for the business that employs them. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Division of Licensing, regulates both under Chapter 493 of the Florida Statutes. This guide covers the steps to get a Florida security license, from the Class D officer license through the Class B agency license, with the state fees and training hours the agency lists.

If you only plan to work as a guard, you need a Class D license. If you want to carry a firearm on duty, you add a Class G. If you want to own a company that hires guards for clients, you need a Class B agency license, and the person running the agency needs a manager license. Most people start with the Class D because it is the foundation for everything else.

Which Florida Security Licenses You Need

Florida issues no general statewide business license. A Florida security license is a regulatory license for a specific activity under Chapter 493. The local business tax receipt under Chapter 205 is a different thing: it is a tax, not a competency license, and not every county or city levies one. Check with the city or county where your business will operate.

License	Who needs it	State fee	Training or requirements
Class D security officer	Individuals who perform guard work	$45	40 hours of training
Class G statewide firearm	Licensed officers who carry a firearm on duty	$112	28 hours of range and classroom training
Class B security agency	Businesses that offer security services for hire	$50 application plus $450 license	At least $300,000 commercial general liability insurance (s. 493.6110)
Class MB manager	The person who manages a Class B agency	$50 application plus $75 license	Confirm the requirements with FDACS

What to Have Ready Before You Apply

Gather these items before you pay for training or file anything. Missing paperwork is the most common reason an application stalls.

• Identification and personal information that the FDACS application asks for, in the exact form the application requires.
• Fingerprint payment: $42 for processing plus $10.75 for retention.
• A training schedule with a provider that offers the Class D course. Confirm the provider is recognized for the course before you enroll.
• A business name and entity plan. If you form an LLC, the name must end with Limited Liability Company, LLC or L.L.C.
• A registered agent with a physical street address in Florida. A P.O. Box does not qualify.
• An insurance quote for at least $300,000 in commercial general liability coverage.

Step-by-Step: Getting Your Florida Security License

Step 1: Confirm your eligibility and plan for fingerprinting

Before you spend money on training, confirm your eligibility on the FDACS Division of Licensing pages. Applicants go through a background check that includes fingerprints, so the fingerprint fee is part of the process. Florida lists $42 for fingerprint processing plus $10.75 for retention. Ask FDACS which applications trigger these fees, since you may not need to pay them more than once for the same person.

Step 2: Complete the 40-hour Class D training

The Class D license requires 40 hours of training. The state sets the hours, but the training school sets the tuition, so the cost varies. Get written quotes from at least two providers and confirm that each one is recognized for the course. Keep your training certificate. You will submit it with your application, and you will want a copy for your own records.

Step 3: Submit the Class D application and pay $45

Submit your application to FDACS with the $45 license fee, your training documentation and your fingerprint results. FDACS does not publish a turnaround time in the source material for this brief, so check the agency's current processing information before you set a start date for your first post. Do not accept paid guard work until your license is issued.

Step 4 (optional): Add the Class G firearm license

The Class G statewide firearm license costs $112 and requires 28 hours of range and classroom training. Add it only if your posts require armed officers, because it adds training time and cost. Class G is generally held on top of a Class D license. Confirm the prerequisites and the order in which you must apply with FDACS before you enroll in the firearm course.

Step 5: Form your business entity and register it

Your Class B agency license goes to a legal business, so form the entity before you file the agency application. You can form a Florida LLC or corporation through Sunbiz eFile.

• LLC: The required total to file Articles of Organization is $125, including the $25 registered agent designation. The annual report is $138.75 and is due each year between January 1 and May 1. A $400 late fee applies after May 1, for a total of $538.75.
• Corporation: The required total to file Articles of Incorporation for a Florida profit corporation is $70, including the $35 registered agent designation. The Profit Annual Report is $150, due between January 1 and May 1, with a $400 late fee after May 1, for a total of $550.
• Registered agent: The designation costs $25 for an LLC and $35 for a corporation. The agent must be a person or company with a Florida street address. An entity cannot serve as its own registered agent.
• Name reservation (optional): A name reservation costs $25 for an LLC or $35 for a corporation and lasts 120 days. Do not assume a name is approved until you receive a filing acknowledgment.

If you do not file the annual report by the third Friday in September, the Division of Corporations can administratively dissolve the entity. Put the May 1 deadline on your calendar the day you file.

Step 6: Buy the required insurance

A Class B agency must carry at least $300,000 in commercial general liability coverage under s. 493.6110. That is a minimum. Client contracts often require more, so ask brokers to quote the state minimum and a higher limit so you can compare the cost. Have the insurer confirm that the policy meets the requirement, and keep a copy of the certificate for your records.

Step 7: Designate a manager and apply for the Class B agency license

The Class B agency application costs $50, and the agency license costs $450. Florida's agency rules require a qualified manager to run the agency, and the Class MB manager license is the one that fits that role, at $50 for the application and $75 for the license. Confirm with FDACS whether the manager must also hold a Class D or other license, and what documents each person must submit. Plan for the manager's own fingerprints and background check.

Step 8: Handle local and tax registrations

Before you begin business, check three items:

• Local business tax receipt: Contact the city or county where you operate. Some places levy one under Chapter 205, and some do not. Confirm the rules locally.
• Sales and use tax: If you sell taxable goods or services, you must register with the Florida Department of Revenue before you start. Florida's state sales tax rate is 6%. Confirm with the Department whether your security services or equipment sales are taxable.
• Corporate income tax: Florida has no personal income tax. An LLC classified as a corporation for federal tax purposes pays the 5.5% Florida corporate income/franchise tax. Ask a CPA how your entity is classified.

Cost Summary

The table below totals the state fees for one owner who holds a Class D license, an LLC, and a Class B agency with one Class MB manager. It counts one set of fingerprint fees. It does not include training tuition, insurance, local business tax receipts, or the Class G license.

Item	Amount
Class D officer license	$45.00
Fingerprint processing ($42) and retention ($10.75)	$52.75
LLC Articles of Organization (includes the $25 registered agent designation)	$125.00
Class B agency application ($50) and license ($450)	$500.00
Class MB manager application ($50) and license ($75)	$125.00
Subtotal of listed state fees	$847.75

Add the costs the state does not set: Class D training tuition, the Class G license if you need it ($112 plus range training), the first-year annual report ($138.75 for an LLC), the insurance premium, and any local business tax receipt. Your total will be higher than the subtotal.

Tips for a Smoother Application

• Follow the order. Complete the Class D first, then form the entity, buy insurance, and file the Class B application last.
• Get training quotes in writing. Tuition is not set by the state, so compare schools before you pay.
• Match names across documents. The legal name on your entity, insurance policy, and agency application should be identical.
• Use the registered agent you intend to keep. Changing the agent later costs the same $25 for an LLC or $35 for a corporation.
• Keep copies of every license and certificate in one folder so you can respond quickly when a client or FDACS asks for proof.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Assuming an individual license lets a business offer services for hire. A business that sells guard services generally needs the Class B agency license. Confirm this with FDACS before you take a client.
• Using a P.O. Box for the registered agent. The agent needs a physical Florida street address.
• Assuming your name is approved. Wait for the filing acknowledgment from the Division of Corporations.
• Buying insurance below $300,000. The state minimum for a Class B agency is $300,000 in commercial general liability.
• Missing the May 1 annual report deadline. A late filing adds a $400 fee, and an unfiled report can lead to administrative dissolution.
• Assuming no local license is needed. Some cities and counties levy a local business tax receipt, so check before you open.
• Working posts before the license is issued. Operating without the required license creates regulatory and contract problems that are hard to undo.

What to Expect

A complete, well-organized package usually moves through the process more smoothly than one that needs corrections. Training, fingerprinting, entity formation, insurance, and the agency application can overlap, so plan them as one project rather than as separate tasks. The fees and timelines above are the figures listed for this guide. Processing times can change, so confirm the current timelines with FDACS and the Florida Department of State before you commit to a start date or a client contract.

Official Florida Resources

• FDACS Division of Licensing (security licensing under Chapter 493): fdacs.gov
• Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations (Sunbiz): dos.fl.gov/sunbiz
• Sunbiz eFile for a Florida LLC: Sunbiz eFile LLC filing
• Sunbiz name search: search.sunbiz.org
• Florida Department of Revenue: floridarevenue.com
• Sales tax registration: Department of Revenue registration
• Florida SBDC Network (free business advising): floridasbdc.org

Disclaimer: This article is informational only. It is not legal, tax, or insurance advice. Licensing rules, fees, and deadlines change, so confirm every figure with FDACS, the Florida Department of State, or the Florida Department of Revenue before you file. Consult a Florida attorney and a CPA for complex ownership, liability, or tax situations.