Florida paths at a glance
| Path | Current official signal | Verify before filing |
|---|---|---|
| Seller of travel | $300 nonrefundable annual registration listed by FDACS | Entity details, bond, branches, agents, and advertising disclosures |
| Independent sales agent | $50 annual filing listed by FDACS | Written contract, who receives consideration, and document authority |
| Vacation certificates | Additional filing and higher assurance requirements | Document submission, contract content, and bond amount |
| Claimed exemption | A letter of exemption may be required | Exact statutory basis and supporting documents |
Check coverage before price
FDACS says the law applies to a seller or promoter of travel-related services with a Florida business location or one that offers services in Florida, unless exempt. That is broader than asking where your laptop sits.
Describe who sells, who receives the traveler’s money, whose documents are issued, and how the business is advertised before choosing a form.
Treat the bond as a compliance item, not a fee line
FDACS requires many sellers to provide financial assurance. The page describes a bond amount up to $25,000 for sellers that do not offer vacation certificates and up to $50,000 for those that do.
The face amount is not the same as the premium you may pay a surety. Verify the required form, signatures, power of attorney, renewal, and any waiver path directly with FDACS and the surety.
Registration changes what appears in public
Florida lists required registration language for contracts and a registration-number disclosure for advertisements. Operational compliance therefore touches templates, websites, social profiles, proposals, and branch locations—not just the application.
Build disclosure checks into the publishing workflow and calendar the renewal of both registration and financial assurance.
Your action plan
- Match your role to the official definition.
- Confirm the current form, fee, and financial-assurance requirement.
- Add the required wording to contracts and advertising.
- Calendar registration and bond renewal together.