Do you know the significance of your business address?

Regardless of how your business operates, it is required by law to register a business with an address that can receive mail and other official correspondence. A business cannot be registered without an address so establishing your business address is one of the first steps to setting up your business.

As you set up your business address, you should also keep in mind that certain banks and financial institutions require you to have a real address (a virtual address won’t count), and for many services a PO Box is not considered sufficient. Make sure to check with your financial institution and any other major service provider you may work with.

So what else is important about your business address? In Miami-Dade County, we have 13 County Districts, 34 incorporated municipalities (also known as cities), and a large portion of the county that is unincorporated. Having a business address is just the first step. Actually understanding the significance of it is equally important. 

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1. Determine if your business is located within a municipality or unincorporated Miami-Dade. 

Confused about what an unincorporated area of Miami-Dade could mean? Don’t worry, you aren’t alone. Simply put, unincorporated areas do not fall within a municipal boundary (city, village, town, etc). 

To figure out what type of area your business is registered in click here and search your address. If the folio number that appears starts with 30- it means the address that was searched is located in an unincorporated area. If it starts with any other number (for example 01) it is in an incorporated area. Scroll down to view a full list of the 34 municipalities and their folio numbers.

Now you know where your business is located. But, why is this even important? 

• If your business is located in unincorporated Miami-Dade, then you ONLY have to register, pay taxes to, and receive permits from Miami-Dade County. 
• If your business is located within a municipality, then you have to register, pay taxes to, and receive permits from BOTH the city you are located in and Miami-Dade County. The exact requirements will vary by municipality. 

Click here to learn more about the LBT (Local Business Tax) and why it is important to understand as a business owner. 

Ready for a fun fact? If the unincorporated area of Miami-Dade were declared a city, it would create the largest city in Florida with more than one million residents.  

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2. Figure out which County District your business is in.

As mentioned, Miami-Dade County is made up of 13 county districts. Unlike municipalities, every address falls within the boundaries of a County District. 

Click here and search your business address under Who Is My Commissioner? Once your address is found, your Commissioner along with the District number will populate. Every year, each County Commissioner receives funding to sponsor a Small Business Grant. The requirements vary by District but it's a great opportunity to get to know your Commissioner and apply for some funding. 

Similar to municipalities, each Commissioner offers different resources for their business owners but it's important to know who your Commissioner is and what resources the District Office might be able to provide. 

Questions? Don’t hesitate to reach out! Send us an email at info@axishelps.org or call 311 to learn more about what County resources are available for you. 

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Miami-Dade County’s Municipalities & Folio Numbers

01, MIAMI

02, MIAMI BEACH

03, CORAL GABLES

04, HIALEAH

05, MIAMI SPRINGS

06, NORTH MIAMI

07, NORTH MIAMI BEACH

08, OPA-LOCKA

09, SOUTH MIAMI

10, HOMESTEAD

11, MIAMI SHORES

12, BAL HARBOUR

13, BAY HARBOR ISLANDS

14, SURFSIDE

15, WEST MIAMI

16, FLORIDA CITY

17, BISCAYNE PARK

18, EL PORTAL

19, GOLDEN BEACH

20, PINECREST

21, INDIAN CREEK VILLAGE

22, MEDLEY

23, NORTH BAY VILLAGE

24, KEY BISCAYNE

25, SWEETWATER

26, VIRGINIA GARDENS

27, HIALEAH GARDENS

28, AVENTURA

30, UNINCORPORATED MIAMI-DADE

31, SUNNY ISLES BEACH

32, MIAMI LAKES

33, PALMETTO BAY

34, MIAMI GARDENS

35, DORAL

36, CUTLER BAY