Hiring Employees in Florida LLC – Wages, Laws, Compliance Guide


Steve Goldstein
Steve Goldstein
Business Formation Expert
Steve Goldstein runs LLCBuddy, helping entrepreneurs set up their LLCs easily. He offers clear guides, articles, and FAQs to simplify the process. His team keeps everything accurate and current, focusing on state rules, registered agents, and compliance. Steve’s passion for helping businesses grow makes LLCBuddy a go-to resource for starting and managing an LLC.

All Posts by Steve Goldstein →
Business Formation Expert  |   Fact Checked by Editorial Staff
Last updated: 
LLCBuddy™ offers informative content for educational purposes only, not as a substitute for professional legal or tax advice. We may earn commissions if you use the services we recommend on this site.
At LLCBuddy, we don't just offer information; we provide a curated experience backed by extensive research and expertise. Led by Steve Goldstein, a seasoned expert in the LLC formation sector, our platform is built on years of hands-on experience and a deep understanding of the nuances involved in establishing and running an LLC. We've navigated the intricacies of the industry, sifted through the complexities, and packaged our knowledge into a comprehensive, user-friendly guide. Our commitment is to empower you with reliable, up-to-date, and actionable insights, ensuring you make informed decisions. With LLCBuddy, you're not just getting a tutorial; you're gaining a trustworthy partner for your entrepreneurial journey.
florida_state_seal

Any business structure or corporation stands firm on its foundation laid by the employees. An LLC is no exception to this rule. Hiring employees in your LLC comes with some rules, regulations. Before understanding the rules of hiring employees in Florida LLC, we must understand what an LLC means.

A Limited Liability Company is a business structure that protects the owners from any personal responsibility of the debts or liabilities arising out of the LLC. If an employee action succeeds to liabilities, the owners get the protection against it. LLCs are a combination of the characteristics of a partnership firm & a sole proprietorship.

Hiring Employees in Florida

In order to hire employees in Florida LLC, there are many requirements that a business has to fulfill. One should keep these points in mind while hiring employees in an LLC. These requirements include:

1. Federal & State Employment Posters in Florida

The employers in Florida are required to show both Federal & State Employment posters mentioned in Equal Employment Opportunities Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Fair Labour Standards Act (FLSA), etc. You should seek professional help to fulfill all the norms or requirements.

2. Federal & State Required Forms

Hiring employees is a lengthier process that involves the filing of different forms & applications. Suppose you wish to hire employees in Florida. In that case, you must ask your employees to submit the Employment Eligibility Form, the Federal Tax withholding form, the W-4 Form, Workers Compensation Claim Form, Disability Self- Identification Form, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Form, etc. These Legal forms are easy and free to download.

3. Requirements of Florida New Hire Reporting program

Employers of Business owners are bound by Florida’s New Hire Reporting Program, under which they have to submit a report consisting:

  • Company Name
  • Company Address
  • Company federal tax ID number
  • Employee’s Name
  • Employee’s Social Security Number
  • Employee’s Address
  • First Day of paid Work

In addition to the forms mentioned above, payments, taxes, tax forms, & requirements, there may be some additional compliance for hiring in Florida; you must adhere to those norms as well.

Can an LLC Hire Employees?

An LLC or a Limited Liability Company can be regarded as a corporation, partnership, or sole owner business. The owners of the LLC are often referred to as members. Individuals, Corporations &, in some cases, other LLCs can form an LLC as members.

The members form LLCs because of their limited or no liability provided to the owners or members. In the event of liabilities arising out of an employee’s action, the members of the LLC are not personally liable- the LLC is liable for the actionable claim.

Any LLC (even one with a single owner) can hire unlimited employees on wages or salary. (The single-member owner LLC may have different rules and regulations). In addition to the salaried employees, the LLC can appoint Independent contractors for certain tasks on a contract basis.

Rules to Hire Employees in an LLC in Florida?

Just like any other business corporation, an LLC is also not immune from certain procedures & rules of hiring. An LLC files many documents & pays a number of taxes to various Government Agencies while hiring employees. Some of the essential rules or steps to hire employees in an LLC are:

  • Federal Employer Identification Number – Every LLC must obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service. EIN helps report taxes & a few other documents to the IRS.
  • Employee Eligibility Form – It is mandatory for an LLC owner to check if the employee is eligible for employment in the U.S. An LLC has to ask the employees to submit the I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification Form to verify the identity of the employee & to authorize the employment. the I-9 form is a mandatory requirement while hiring an employee.
  • Employee’s Social Security Number – The employee has to have a valid Social Security Number (SSN) to work. LLCs have to ask the new employees to submit their SSN before employment. The SSN is helpful in payment & tax purposes.
  • Setting up a process for collection & payment of the appropriate taxes – There has to be a due process for the employees’ future collection & payment of taxes. This process needs to be set up by the employer (in this case, the LLC)
  • Employee handbook – In the hiring process, one of the crucial elements of hiring paperwork is an Employee Handbook. Although it is not essential in Florida, it is usually needed as one of the legal documents in many other states. An Employee Handbook consists of a complete list of all the basic rules & policies of the company.
  • Florida payroll Taxes – An LLC that is running a business with employees or businesses with employees has to pay many federal taxes & state Taxes. Following the rules on payroll taxes is also an essential requirement. After hiring employees, an LLC is subject to the State Unemployment Compensation Act. Under the said Act, an LLC will have to pay Unemployment tax to the state & to do that; the LLC must register itself with the Florida Workforce Commission. The process involves simple steps & can be completed in 20 minutes.
    Payroll taxes also include Federal Income Tax withholding, an employer can withhold money from the employee’s account for the income tax.
  • Workers’ Compensation Insurance An LLC operating in the state of Florida has to carry workers’ compensation insurance & has to display relevant posters.
  • New Hire Report or Report of the New Employee – An LLC has to
    • Report about hiring the new employees in the form of “Report of New Employee(s)” to the Florida Workforce Commission within 20 days from the date of hire.
    • Deposit and report federal employment taxes as per the IRS procedures for payroll reporting & payment.

Laws Relating to Wages of Employees

Wages, allowances, employee perks supplied by the LLC, and many other employee regulations are largely governed by the Labour Laws. The Minimum Wages Act establishes a set of minimum wages.

  1. The current minimum wage in the State of Florida is $10.00 per hour as prescribed under the Florida Minimum Wage Act.
  2. The Federal Minimum Wage Rate is determined in line with the Fair Labor Standards Act. All companies and employees are governed by the Fair Labor Standards Act.
  3. Businesses are required to display an approved Minimum Wage Poster and other labour law posters, as allowed by law, for informational purposes under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
  4. When an employee’s employment in Florida comes to an end, the employer must follow all relevant compensation and reference obligations.
  5. An LLC must comply with all other obligations imposed by labour laws, including the payment of minimum wages.

Structure of The Wages of The Employees in Florida

Wage and hour legislation in Florida refers to the norms and criteria that companies must follow when it comes to minimum wage, overtime pay, and other aspects of employee compensation. Understanding Florida’s wage and hour rules are critical for providing the greatest working conditions for your employees while also being legal as an employer.

Florida Minimum wage

Employers must pay non-exempt employees a minimum wage of $10.00 per hour under the Florida Minimum Wage Act. Every year from 2026, there will be mandated increases. The minimum wage will be increased for inflation beginning January 1, 2028, and every January 1 afterward. There is a different minimum pay rate for tipped employees, and the state minimum wage rate has exceptions.

  • For overtime compensation, the federal regulations become the guiding regulation. The workers who have worked for more than 40 hours in a particular week shall be compensated at the rate of 1.5 times the regular pay rate.
  • For tipped employees, the minimum wage is set at $6.98 per hour. The employers are allowed to take a tip credit of $3.02 per hour towards their minimum wage obligations of their employees.

Minor Employees

In Florida, child labor regulations limit the kind of jobs that minors can do, as well as the number of hours and times they can work. Working in dangerous jobs, which are specifically defined by law for those 17 and under and those 15 and under, is illegal for all children. Minors under the age of ten are not permitted to work as newspaper distributors. Minors who work for more than four hours in a row are entitled to a 30-minute food break.

Florida Employee Rights

In Florida, employees; rights are no different than the other neighboring states. LLC or any other business structure in Florida should know about these rights while hiring employees.

Right to Earn Minimum Wage

Any employee working under an employer in the State of Florida has the right to earn a basic minimum wage during their employment. No person shall be compensated below the levels set under the Federal legislation.

Right to Medical Leave

The Family and Medical Leave Act entitle the employees to take 12-week long unpaid leave for medical and family reasons. This is a job-protected leave and no employer shall remove the employee from their position when they take the time off due to medical reasons.

Right against Discrimination and Harassment at Workplace

The Civil Rights Act overviews the employer-employee relationship at a workplace. Employers are prohibited from exercising any discriminatory acts between the employees based on factors like gender, sex, religion, origin, color, race, disability, etc. The employer is also responsible to ensure that there occur no incidents of harassment against any employee at their organization.

Safe Workplace Environment

The Occupational Health and Safety Act mandates employers to ensure a safe and secure workplace for employees and to avoid any kind of risk and injury to everyone. Any injuries sustained by the employees at their workplace allow them to bring an action against their employers seeking compensation for the losses suffered by them.

In addition, the whistleblower laws in the State protect the employees from any kind of hostile behavior or retaliation from their employers in case they make a complaint concerning workplace health and safety.

Unemployment Benefits

If an employee loses their jobs due to no fault of their own, they become eligible to receive unemployment benefits from their organization unless they become employed again. Such benefits can include receiving a percentage of their previous salary for up to 23 weeks.

Wrongful Termination

If an employee is fired from their jobs due to wrong reasons, such as based on discrimination or retaliation, such an act shall constitute wrongful termination. The affected employee can bring legal action against the employer.

FAQs

What Is an LLC?

An LLC is a business entity that can be treated as either a corporation, a partnership, or a sole owner business.

Is the LLC liable for damages caused by employees?

The owners of the company are not personally liable for the actions of the employees, the LLC is liable for any such actions.

What is the IRS Form I-9?

Before hiring an employee, under federal law, the business has to verify an employee’s eligibility to work in the United States with the (IRS Form I-9). The business owner also has to make sure the employee has a valid SSN or Social Security Number.

What is LLC self-employment?

LLC members, or LLC owners, are self-employed according to the IRS because they pay themselves through the earnings of LLC.

How to Hire Employees Fast in Your Florida LLC

To hire employees for your Florida LLC you need to verify if the person is eligible to work in the US and then report him/her as ‘new hires’ to the state.

To hire employees fast in your Florida LLC, it is crucial to have a clear understanding of the positions you are looking to fill and the qualifications and skills required for each role. This will help you create targeted job descriptions that will attract the right candidates and streamline the screening process.

One of the key steps in hiring employees quickly is to utilize multiple recruitment channels. Posting job listings on popular job boards, industry-specific websites, social media platforms, and local community boards can help you reach a wider pool of candidates and attract more qualified applicants. Additionally, networking with other business owners, industry professionals, and local colleges and universities can also lead to potential candidate referrals.

When it comes to screening candidates, it is important to be efficient and thorough. Implementing pre-screening assessments, phone interviews, and video interviews can help you quickly narrow down the pool of applicants and identify top candidates for in-person interviews. It is also important to be transparent about the hiring process timeline and communicate with candidates promptly to keep them engaged throughout the process.

Once you have identified the top candidates for the position, it is crucial to move quickly to make an offer. Delaying the offer can result in candidates accepting other job offers, prolonging the hiring process, and potentially losing out on top talent. Make sure to have clear communication with the candidate about the job offer, salary, benefits, and start date, and be prepared to negotiate if necessary.

In addition to moving quickly with job offers, it is also important to have a streamlined onboarding process in place to ensure that new hires can start their roles seamlessly and effectively. Providing new employees with all necessary paperwork, training materials, and access to company systems ahead of time can help them hit the ground running on their first day and feel welcomed and supported in their new role.

Overall, hiring employees quickly for your Florida LLC requires a proactive and strategic approach. By understanding your hiring needs, utilizing multiple recruitment channels, being efficient in screening candidates, moving quickly with job offers, and providing thorough onboarding support, you can attract top talent and fill positions promptly to drive your business forward.

In Conclusion

All the LLCs with employees are bound by many rules and regulations with reference to wages. It is always advisable to register a registered agent service to understand the laws better. Feel free to share your feedback with us in the comment section below.

Leave a Comment