Why now is a good time to start
Clay County has been one of the fastest-growing parts of Northeast Florida for years, with new rooftops going up constantly in Fleming Island, Oakleaf, and along the 220 corridor. Every one of those homes eventually needs HVAC service, and Florida's overall AC demand is climbing right along with it: Florida's heating and air conditioning contractors take in somewhere around $9 billion a year, per IBISWorld, and the state runs second in the country for cooling degree days, behind only Hawaii.
If you're a technician in Clay County noticing more work than you can keep up with, that growth is exactly why. The rest of this guide covers what it actually takes to legally start the company.
Get your Florida HVAC contractor license
Before you can operate as a business (not just an employee), you need a state contractor license from the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB). There are two classes worth knowing:
- Class A (CAC): unlimited size and capacity of air conditioning, refrigeration, and heating equipment.
- Class B (CBC): limited to systems of 25 tons cooling and 500,000 BTU/hour heating or less, per unit, per system.
Experience requirements
You'll need to document at least four years of HVAC work experience at the journeyman level or higher, verified through employer affidavits. A construction-related college degree can count toward part of that requirement combined with proven field experience.
The exams
Two exams are required: a Trade Knowledge exam (Class A is 130 questions over 7.5 hours; Class B is 80 questions over 5 hours) and the Florida Business and Finance exam (120 questions, 70% to pass), which covers financial management, contract administration, Florida lien law, and payroll.
Background and eligibility
You must be at least 18 with a valid Social Security Number, and CILB runs a moral character review along with a mandatory FDLE/FBI Level 2 background check via Livescan fingerprinting.
EPA 608 refrigerant certification
Separate from the state license, federal law requires anyone who services, maintains, or disposes of equipment that could release refrigerant to hold EPA Section 608 certification. Most residential and commercial AC work falls under Type II. The exam is 25 multiple-choice questions per certification type, and once you pass, it doesn't expire or need renewal. If you're already working as a technician, there's a good chance you already have this - if not, get it before you're licensed, not after.
Form the business
Once you're eligible to hold the license, you'll need an actual legal entity to hold it under. Most technicians in this position form an LLC through Sunbiz, Florida's Division of Corporations. Filing Articles of Organization costs $125, you'll need a registered agent with a Florida street address (a P.O. Box doesn't qualify), and the LLC has to file an annual report by May 1 each year ($138.75) to stay active. If you plan to hire anyone, you'll also need an EIN from the IRS - the online application is free and issues the number immediately.
Insurance and bonding
Air conditioning falls under CILB's Division II, which carries lower insurance minimums than the Division I trades. You need at least $100,000 public liability and $25,000 property damage coverage, with the board named as certificate holder. You will see $300,000 and $50,000 quoted a lot online. Those are the Division I numbers, for general and building contractors, and they don't apply to you. Workers' compensation coverage is required once you have employees, unless you file an officer exemption within 30 days of forming the business.
Clay County registration
The state license lets you do the work; local registration is what lets you legally pull permits in Clay County. Once you're state licensed, you'll need to register separately with the Clay County Building Division before you can pull permits - it's a $35 registration fee plus a $25 administrative fee, and applications can be submitted in person or by email to permits@claycountygov.com.
2nd
Florida's rank among states for cooling degree days, behind only Hawaii. Air conditioning here isn't a seasonal trade. That is the demand this business is built on.
Getting your first jobs
Most new HVAC companies in Clay County start the same way: word of mouth from past customers and coworkers, a Google Business Profile so people can actually find and call you, and a simple website that makes it obvious what you do and how to reach you. None of that needs to be complicated on day one - it just needs to exist before your first slow week, because that's when you'll need it.
Once you're licensed and the business is formed, marketing is the next step: see my guide to HVAC marketing in Clay County for what that actually looks like.
Common questions
What license do I need to start an HVAC company in Florida?
A state contractor license from the Florida CILB, either Class A, which is unlimited, or Class B, capped at 25 tons cooling and 500,000 BTU/hour heating per unit. You'll need four years of documented journeyman-level experience, two exams, and a Level 2 background check via Livescan fingerprinting.
How much insurance does an HVAC contractor need in Florida?
Air conditioning falls under CILB's Division II, so you need at least $100,000 public liability and $25,000 property damage coverage, with the board named as certificate holder. You'll see $300,000 and $50,000 quoted a lot online, but those are Division I numbers and they don't apply to you.
Do I still need to register with Clay County after getting licensed?
Yes. The state license lets you do the work, but you register separately with the Clay County Building Division before you can pull permits. It's a $35 registration fee plus a $25 administrative fee, and that one registration covers Green Cove Springs, Orange Park, Middleburg, and Fleming Island.
What does it cost to form the LLC?
Filing Articles of Organization through Sunbiz costs $125, and the LLC has to file an annual report by May 1 each year at $138.75 to stay active. You'll need a registered agent with a Florida street address, and if you plan to hire, an EIN from the IRS is free.
