Guide for Florida contractors

How to register as a vendor in Florida

Updated October 2026

Florida's public bids come from the state, the federal government and each city, county and school district. Each keeps its own vendor list, so register with the ones you want to work for before their next bid is posted.

1. Gather these first

   • Your federal employer identification number (FEIN).
   • An active registration with the Florida Division of Corporations.
   • E-Verify: contractors on public contracts must register with it and use it for new hires (section 448.095, Florida Statutes). The state asks its vendors to keep their E-Verify status on file.
   • A certificate of insurance, usually general liability and workers' comp.
   • The licenses your trade needs, and a local business tax receipt where your city or county requires one.

2. Register with the state: MyFloridaMarketPlace

   State agencies buy through MyFloridaMarketPlace. Register your business in its Vendor Information Portal at vendor.myfloridamarketplace.com.

   You enter your FEIN, your contact and payment addresses, and the commodity codes for what you sell. The state charges no registration cost.

3. Get paid by the state: the Florida W-9

   The state asks every vendor to keep a current Florida Substitute Form W-9 on file with the Department of Financial Services. You file it online at flvendor.myfloridacfo.com.

   Register on that site first, then sign on with the user ID it emails you and fill in the form from the menu.

4. Register for federal work: SAM.gov

   Federal offices with a Florida work site, like VA hospitals and military bases, post their bids on SAM.gov. A registration there lets you bid on federal contracts and gives your business a Unique Entity ID.

   You sign in through Login.gov and start at sam.gov. You don't need to pay a third party to register.

5. Register with each city, county and school district

   Each city, county and school district keeps its own vendor list on its own bid site. Register before the bid you want is posted, because the documents and addenda often need an account.

   Start with the buyers in the counties you work in. Our county pages name every one we check.

   Every Florida bid site, by county

6. Certifications that can help

   Florida-based small businesses owned by women, veterans or minorities can be certified by the state's Office of Supplier Development, part of the Department of Management Services. The certification is free, and the state refers certified firms first when its agencies look for diverse suppliers.

   A certification lasts two years, and you renew it in MyFloridaMarketPlace.

   Who qualifies for state certification

7. Keep it current

   • SAM.gov: renew every 365 days to keep your registration active.
   • MyFloridaMarketPlace: keep your contact details up to date, above all your email address.
   • State certification: recertify at least two weeks before it expires.
   • Your W-9, insurance certificate and licenses: update each one when it changes or renews.