How to Choose a Bookkeeper in Florida (2026)

To choose a bookkeeper in Florida, check the firm on the state's own records, confirm any CPA claim on the Florida Board of Accountancy lookup, and get the fee and the monthly close date in writing. Plan to ask about price: only 32 of the 329 Florida firms we list publish one.

What a Florida bookkeeper keeps track of

These are the state filings your books feed in Florida. Which ones apply depends on your entity type, what you sell, whether you have employees and the schedule each agency assigns. It's general information, not tax advice. The bookkeeper keeps the records; you, or whoever your engagement letter names, file.

• Sales and use tax. Most new businesses start on a quarterly schedule, and your frequency can change with the tax you collect each year: over $1,000 means monthly, $501 to $1,000 quarterly, $101 to $500 semiannual, and $100 or less annual. Returns and payments are due on the 1st and late after the 20th of the month after each period. You file even when no tax is due. Source: Florida Department of Revenue, checked September 26, 2026.
• No personal income tax. Florida doesn't impose a personal income tax, so individuals have no state income tax return to file. Businesses still carry their own Florida filing requirements. Source: Florida Department of Revenue, checked September 26, 2026.
• Reemployment tax reports. Florida's unemployment tax is called reemployment tax, and the Department of Revenue collects it. Your Employer's Quarterly Report (RT-6) is due by the end of the month after each quarter: April 30, July 31, October 31 and January 31. It's due even in a quarter with no employees or wages. Source: Florida Department of Revenue, checked September 26, 2026.
• Corporate income tax. Corporations, and LLCs classified as corporations, file Florida Form F-1120 every year even when no tax is due. It's generally due the 1st day of the 5th month after the tax year closes (the 4th month for June 30 year ends), or 15 days after the related federal return's due date if that's later. Source: Florida Department of Revenue, checked September 26, 2026.
• Annual report. Profit corporations, LLCs and limited partnerships file an annual report with the Division of Corporations by May 1 to avoid a late fee. Listed fees are $138.75 for an LLC and $150 for a profit corporation. Entities still unfiled after the third Friday in September are administratively dissolved or revoked. Source: Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations, checked September 26, 2026.
• CPA title. Under Florida law, only someone with an active Florida license or practice privileges may use the titles "certified public accountant" or "public accountant" or the abbreviation "C.P.A." The same statute says people who aren't CPAs may still prepare tax returns and financial statements that carry no opinion. Source: The Florida Legislature, checked September 26, 2026.

How to check a Florida firm yourself

Any firm that calls itself a CPA practice should show up on the Florida Board of Accountancy lookup. The Florida business entity search shows whether the firm's legal entity exists and its status. A sole proprietor may not appear, which isn't a warning sign on its own. Florida publishes these records as open data, so our lists already carry the checks: we matched an active CPA license or permit for 71 firms and a registration for 202 of the 329 Florida firms we list. Matched CPA records include Florida Accounting Associates, JM Rankin CPA, Capital Professional Accounting Solutions, Paul A. Posey & Co., P.A. and James M Wesolowski, CPA, P.A.

What Florida firms put in writing

281 of the 329 firms we list in Florida say nothing about fees on their websites, and 32 publish a price or a starting price, 10%, the same share as nationally. 72 of 329 say how often reports arrive (22%, against 21% nationally), 51 describe onboarding and 33 offer catch-up or cleanup work. QuickBooks is the software named most, by 35% of Florida firms.

Where to start in Florida

• Metro pages: Miami-Fort Lauderdale (132 firms, ranked), Tampa-St. Petersburg (58 firms, ranked), Cape Coral-Fort Myers (21 firms, ranked), Orlando-Kissimmee (19 firms, ranked), Deltona-Daytona Beach (16 firms, ranked) and North Port-Bradenton (16 firms, ranked).
• Firms that publish a price or a starting price: Less Taxing Services, Strategic Tax Accountants, Universal Accounting & Bookkeeping LLC, Ring Tax Accounting & Advisory, Mosier Bookkeeping, Sky Tax & Accounting and 26 others.
• Firms that say they take on catch-up work: Tax Problems Expert (EX-IRS Agent), Nexus One, GiaVic Consulting, LLC, Marc Mansfield CPA, Strategic Tax Accountants, Universal Accounting & Bookkeeping LLC and 27 others.
• Highest Evidence Scores in the state: Sanjay Gupta & Associates, LLC (70), SMAART Company (69) and PTN Accounting (69).

Questions for the first call

• What is the monthly fee, how many transactions does it assume, and what costs extra?
• When do I get last month's numbers, and in what form?
• Who files the sales and use tax return, you or me, and is it inside the fee?
• How do you keep the records for reemployment tax reports ready before each due date?
• Can you clean up past months first, and what does that cost?
• Which accounting software do you work in, and who owns the file if we part ways?