Florida New Business Filings — May 1, 2026
Friday, May 1, 2026 · 2,356 new business registrations
New business filings in Florida totaled 2,356 registrations on May 1, 2026, marking a significant pullback in entrepreneurial activity. This represents a 28.3% decline compared to the previous period's 3,284 filings, suggesting a notable deceleration in new business formation across the state. Miami continues to lead all municipalities with 231 filings, followed by St. Petersburg (130) and Orlando (111). Florida Limited Liability Companies dominate the filing mix at 86.7% of all registrations.
Highlights
- Filing activity declined sharply by 28.3% from the prior period, dropping from 3,284 to 2,356 registrations—the largest single-day decrease reported this quarter.
- Care and home services emerge as co-leading business keywords (32 filings each), alongside cleaning services (31), suggesting strong demand for home-based and personal care ventures.
- Miami's 231 filings nearly double the volume of the second-place city (St. Petersburg at 130), cementing South Florida's dominance in new business formation.
- LLCs represent an overwhelming 86.7% of all filings, with traditional profit corporations accounting for just 5.9%—indicating entrepreneurs' preference for liability protection structures.
Filing Type Distribution
| Filing Type | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Florida Limited Liability Company | 2,043 | 86.7% |
| Domestic Profit Corporation | 139 | 5.9% |
| Domestic Non-Profit Corporation | 75 | 3.2% |
| Foreign Limited Liability Company | 69 | 2.9% |
| Foreign Profit Corporation | 28 | 1.2% |
| Foreign Registered Limited Liability Partnership | 1 | 0.0% |
| DOMLP | 1 | 0.0% |
Top Cities
| Rank | City | New Businesses |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MIAMI | 231 |
| 2 | ST. PETERSBURG | 130 |
| 3 | ORLANDO | 111 |
| 4 | TAMPA | 88 |
| 5 | JACKSONVILLE | 66 |
| 6 | NAPLES | 47 |
| 7 | FORT LAUDERDALE | 35 |
| 8 | HIALEAH | 34 |
| 9 | KISSIMMEE | 31 |
| 10 | HOMESTEAD | 28 |
Top Industries
| Rank | Industry | Count |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | General Business | 43 |
Trends
Compared to April 30, 2026 (3,284 filings), May 1 saw a pronounced 28.3% drop in new business registrations. This marks a significant reversal from the modest growth trajectory of the prior period and may indicate seasonal adjustment, market uncertainty, or a temporary dip in filing velocity heading into the summer months.
Trending Business Name Keywords
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the total number of business filings in Florida on May 1, 2026?
Florida recorded 2,356 new business filings on May 1, 2026, down 928 filings from the prior period's 3,284 registrations.
Which Florida cities had the most new business registrations?
Miami led with 231 filings, followed by St. Petersburg (130), Orlando (111), Tampa (88), and Jacksonville (66). These five cities accounted for nearly 55% of all statewide registrations.
What types of businesses are being registered most frequently?
Care and home-based services dominate the landscape with 32 filings each. Cleaning services follow closely at 31 filings, while construction (28) and general service businesses (22) round out the top categories. Health and wellness keywords also appear prominently with 21 and 18 filings respectively.