How to open a company in Miami
Miami is a city in Florida — opening a company in Miami follows the same Florida state registration process, handled through the state's Division of Corporations. There is no separate company registration system for the city of Miami itself. This page explains what's actually specific to operating a business in the Miami region within that single statewide process.
Why Miami specifically
Miami stands out within Florida for a few practical reasons: it's one of the main gateways for trade between the United States and Latin America, with the Port of Miami and its international airport among the busiest in the country for cargo and passengers coming from the region. The city also has a large ecosystem of companies in foreign trade, logistics, tourism, finance and professional services geared toward an international clientele.
For Brazilians, Miami adds to this an established Brazilian community — meaning more accountants, attorneys, banks and service providers accustomed to serving people coming from Brazil or still living there.
The process (the same Florida state process)
Since registration happens at the state level, the steps are identical to any company registered in Florida: choosing the company type, registering with the Division of Corporations, appointing a registered agent, obtaining the EIN and opening a bank account. For the full step-by-step, see the state guide.
See the full process for opening a company in Florida →
Considerations specific to operating in Miami
If the operation will have a physical or commercial presence in Miami — an office, a storefront, a local team — it's worth considering zoning and municipal licensing, which vary across the metro area (Miami, Miami Beach, Doral, Coral Gables and others each have their own commercial licensing rules). For fully remote operations run from Brazil, this typically doesn't apply, and a virtual address is usually enough.
See how a virtual address in the US works →
Miami or Orlando?
Both cities are in Florida and follow the same registration process — the difference is in the regional economic profile. Miami tends to make more sense for businesses focused on international trade, import/export and financial services; Orlando tends to have lower operating costs and an economy more focused on tourism, hospitality and entertainment.
Compare with Orlando
See the business profile and specific considerations for Orlando.
After opening your company
After registration, every company in Florida needs to keep its accounting up to date and meet ongoing obligations, such as the state Annual Report.
See how accounting works for Brazilians in the US →