How Much Does an Accountant Cost in Miami?
Miami accounting pricing breaks into two tiers. A CPA for business tax prep typically charges $1,000–$5,000 for a small business return (S-Corp or partnership) and $300–$800 for an individual return with a Schedule C. Ongoing services are priced monthly: bookkeeping runs $300–$1,500/month, and full-service outsourced accounting (books, payroll, tax) runs $800–$3,000/month depending on transaction volume.
Hourly CPA rates in Miami run $150–$400/hour, with partners at top firms billing $400+. The bilingual, international-heavy Miami market adds a premium: CPAs who handle cross-border income, foreign-owned LLCs, and international compliance charge more because of the added complexity. A Miami e-commerce business doing $1.2M in annual revenue recently paid $1,800/month for full bookkeeping, payroll, and annual tax — a typical middle-market arrangement.
Florida's No State Income Tax: What It Does & Doesn't Mean
Florida has no personal state income tax, which is a major reason businesses and owners relocate to Miami. But that saving is often overstated — you still pay federal income tax (up to 37%), federal self-employment tax (15.3% on the first portion of income), and federal corporate tax if you're a C-Corp. The state simply doesn't add its own income tax on top, unlike New York, California, or Massachusetts.
What Miami business owners do pay: Florida's corporate income tax of 5.5% applies only to C-Corps and certain other entities (and only above a $50,000 exemption), Florida's 6% sales tax plus Miami-Dade's 1% surtax on many goods and services, and a reemployment (unemployment) tax on payroll. The smart play is understanding that "no state income tax" doesn't mean "no tax planning" — entity choice and federal deductions still drive most of your actual savings.
Miami's 7% Sales Tax & Compliance for Small Business
Miami-Dade County's combined sales tax is 7% — the state's 6% base plus a 1% county surtax — and it's a compliance trap for new businesses. If you sell taxable goods or certain services (including many digital products and short-term rentals), you must register with the Florida Department of Revenue, collect sales tax, and remit it monthly or quarterly. Miss a filing and Florida charges penalties plus interest, and the state is aggressive about collection.
Short-term rentals are the big Miami-specific issue. Airbnb and VRBO hosts must collect and remit both the state sales tax and Miami-Dade's tourist development tax (another 4–6% depending on the municipality), a requirement that catches thousands of new hosts every year. A Miami accountant handles the registration, the monthly filings, and the annual tangible personal property tax return — the local tax Miami business owners forget most often.
LLC vs S-Corp in Miami: Entity Choice Matters
The LLC-vs-S-Corp decision is where a good Miami accountant earns their fee. A single-member LLC is the default and simplest — profits flow to your personal return and you pay self-employment tax (15.3%) on all of it. Electing S-Corp status changes that: you pay yourself a reasonable salary (subject to payroll tax) and take the rest as distributions, which are not subject to self-employment tax.
The S-Corp election usually starts saving money around $60,000–$80,000 of net profit, because the payroll-tax savings must outweigh the added cost of running payroll and filing the 1120-S. A Miami freelancer netting $90,000 who elects S-Corp and pays a $50,000 salary can save $4,000–$6,000 a year in self-employment tax — but only if the salary is defensible, since the IRS scrutinizes unreasonably low salaries. Get this right at formation; changing later is messy and costly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a CPA or is a bookkeeper enough in Miami?
For day-to-day transactions, a bookkeeper is enough. For tax strategy, entity choice, and compliance, you need a CPA — especially in Miami's international and sales-tax-heavy market. Most businesses use a bookkeeper monthly and a CPA quarterly and at tax time.
Does Florida really have no state income tax?
Correct — Florida has no personal state income tax. But you still pay federal income and self-employment tax, plus Florida's 5.5% corporate tax (C-Corps only), 6–7% sales tax, and payroll taxes. "No state income tax" is a real saving, not a tax-free pass.
What's Miami-Dade's sales tax rate?
7% — the 6% state rate plus a 1% county surtax. Certain municipalities and services (like short-term rentals) add tourist development taxes of 4–6% on top. An accountant handles registration and monthly remittance.
Should my Miami business be an LLC or S-Corp?
LLC is simplest and best under roughly $60,000–$80,000 in net profit. Above that, an S-Corp election usually saves $4,000–$6,000+ a year in self-employment tax — provided you pay yourself a defensible salary. A CPA should model both before you choose.
How much does it cost to hire a Miami accountant for a small business?
Bookkeeping runs $300–$1,500/month, tax prep $1,000–$5,000 for a business return, and full outsourced accounting $800–$3,000/month. Hourly CPA rates run $150–$400. Most small businesses spend $5,000–$15,000/year all-in.