The agencies state $10,195 in initial fees across 3 of the 7 items; 2 are free; 2 are set by the city, the county or a provider. Rent, build-out and equipment come on top and depend on the space.
How much does it cost to open a florist in Pennsylvania?
$10,195 in state fees the agencies state, across 3 of the 7 licenses, permits and registrations; 2 are free; 2 are set by the city, the county or a provider. Rent, build-out and equipment come on top.
What the state publishes for a florist in Pennsylvania
Every row checked against its agency’s page; the latest on Oct 21, 2026.
- Stated state fees
- $10,195initial fees across 3 of 7 items
- Free items
- 2no fee as the agency publishes it
- Set elsewhere
- 2by the city, the county or a provider
- Items in all
- 7in the order to get them
Initial fees as each agency states them, summed; renewals are not included. Where a fee depends on size or sales the range is the lowest to the highest stated. Members see each row’s fee, its renewal and the official page.
Set up the business
Item Agency Fee Certificate of organization (LLC) and the annual report Pennsylvania Department of State Premium only Fictitious name registration (DBA) Pennsylvania Department of State Premium only Employer Identification Number (EIN) Internal Revenue Service Free Register for tax
Item Agency Fee Pennsylvania business tax registration (sales tax license, employer withholding) Pennsylvania Department of Revenue Free Local business license and local taxes Your municipality Premium only Approve the space
Item Agency Fee Zoning approval and certificate of occupancy (use and occupancy permit) Your municipality’s zoning and building office Premium only Before the first hire
Item Agency Fee Unemployment compensation account, new hire reporting and workers’ compensation Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry Premium only
What comes on top of the fees
The state publishes its fees; the space sets the rest. These work it out from your own numbers.
- Rent the business can carryMonthly sales, or seats and average check, to the base rent that fits a healthy occupancy share.Rent-to-sales calculator
- The real cost of a NNN leaseBase rent plus CAM, property taxes and insurance, each month.NNN lease calculator
- The steps in orderThe same items as a walk-through you tick off, with progress saved to your account.How to open
Fees are shown to members as published. Create an account.
Sources and dates
Department of State business filing pages and fee schedule; Act 122 of 2022; Department of State fictitious names page and form DSCB:54-311; IRS EIN page; Department of Revenue myPATH business tax registration pages (the service that replaced form PA-100 in 2022); City of Philadelphia commercial activity license page; municipal business privilege and mercantile tax ordinances; Municipal zoning ordinances; Philadelphia Licenses and Inspections; Department of Labor and Industry UC employer handbook (January 2026) and contribution rate pages; Bureau of Workers’ Compensation employer pages. Fees are as published by each agency on the date checked; cities and counties add their own.