Shop owner taking notes on a notepad in her small clothing shop

For owners, partners & small teams · Licensed in 30+ U.S. states

Health insurance for
small business
owners in Florida.

Coverage for you, your family, and, when you are ready, your team, whether you run a shop, a crew, or a small office.

Private & Secure
Fast Response
No Spam Calls

Top photo: Pexels photo 5717846 by Karolina Grabowska, used under the Pexels License. Cropped, resized, and converted to WebP. Modified from the original.

Owner first

Cover yourself.
Then your team.

The right path depends on who is on payroll. Three questions owners ask:

It is just me and my spouse.

If no one else is on payroll, a group plan is usually not an option. A personal or family plan is the usual path, and premiums may be deductible on IRS Form 7206.

I have a few W-2 employees.

Florida law treats businesses with 1 to 50 employees as small employers for group health plans. Carriers set their own participation and contribution rules.

Do I have to offer a plan?

The federal employer rule applies only at 50 or more full-time employees, counting full-time equivalents. Many smaller owners still choose to offer a plan.

Shop owner in an apron standing with folded arms at her shop entrance — Photo: Pexels photo 3933017 by Andrea Piacquadio, used under the Pexels License. Cropped, resized, and converted to WebP. Modified from the original.

Owner or group

Who is on payroll decides.

Group plans and personal plans follow different rules.

Owner only, or owner and spouse: look at personal and family plans first.
One or more eligible W-2 employees who are not owners: a small-group plan may be possible.
Hiring soon? Cover yourself now and revisit a group plan when the team grows.

Three common paths

How Florida owners cover themselves and staff.

Personal or family plan

For owners with no non-owner employees. Marketplace plans may come with tax credits. Private plans often take applications year-round, but some ask health questions and approval is not guaranteed.

Small-group plan

For businesses with eligible W-2 employees. The business picks the plan and pays part of the cost. Under Florida law, a carrier can't turn down an eligible small group because of employees' health.

Small business tax credit

An IRS credit for some employers with fewer than 25 full-time equivalent employees. It normally requires a SHOP plan. As of October 20, 2026, CMS 2026 plan data list no SHOP medical plans in Florida. See the FAQ below.

Florida small business in numbers

Small businesses employ
millions of Floridians.

475,814

Florida businesses with 1 to 19 employees (2022).

3.8 million

people work for Florida small businesses.

39.6%

of Florida employees work at a small business.

Source: SBA Office of Advocacy, 2025 Small Business Profile: Florida (Census Statistics of U.S. Businesses, 2022). In SBA data, a small business generally means fewer than 500 employees.

Paul DanielsLicensed health advisor · NPN 20986580

Working with Paul

Help for the owner
and the business.

Paul Daniels runs Daniels Health Advisors, an independent brokerage licensed in 30+ U.S. states. Florida shop owners, contractors with crews, and small office owners come to us to sort out their own coverage first, then their team's. For an owner buying a personal plan, the Marketplace and its tax credits come first, and we can also show private PPO options. Some private plans ask health questions, and approval is not guaranteed. Some may not cover care for health problems you had before you enrolled.

Thinking about a group plan? Our guide on how to offer health insurance to employees walks through the options.

Clear answers for busy owners
Licensed in 30+ U.S. states · Paul Daniels, NPN 20986580 · FL license G065122
You do not pay us for our help. We are paid by the insurance companies when you enroll. Your price for a plan is the same whether you use us or sign up on your own. Commissions can differ by company.

Your first call

Small business coverage in three steps.

Tell us who is on payroll

Owners, spouses, W-2 staff, and any 1099 help, plus ages and zip codes.

We map your paths

Owner-only plans, a possible small-group plan, and any tax credit you might claim.

Choose a starting point

Cover yourself now, and set a date to revisit a group plan as you grow.

Book a 15-minute call

Recommended on Facebook

What people say
about working with us.

“I’ve know Paul for years and definitely trust him in the health advisor dept! Working with small business owners he has been a great partner with explain options and provide solutions!”

Sandra D.
Facebook recommendation

“Paul was very helpful in my search for business group insurance. He was able to explain my options and answer all the questions I had before signing up. Highly recommend working with him!”

Adil J.
Facebook recommendation

Before you add a group plan

A plan that grows
with the business.

Group rules, tax credits, and owner deductions each have their own fine print. We lay them out in simple terms before you choose. You will leave with:

A clear answer on whether a group plan is possible now
Owner and family options compared side by side
A note on the small business tax credit for your tax pro
Doctors for you and key staff checked against each plan's network list

A checklist for

Owners weighing a group plan.

Count W-2 employees, full-time and part-time, who are not owners.
Decide how much of the premium the business could pay.
Ask your tax pro about IRS Forms 7206 and 8941.
Protect the business too: see our key person and buy-sell life insurance guides.

Small business questions

Small business health insurance FAQ.

Can a business with one employee get a group plan in Florida?

Often yes, if that employee is not an owner or an owner's spouse. Under current law, Florida law counts businesses with at least 1 employee as small employers. Carrier rules vary.

Do 1099 contractors count toward a group plan?

Usually not. Group plans are built around W-2 employees, and contractors usually buy their own coverage. See our 1099 health insurance page.

What is the small business health care tax credit?

It is an IRS credit for small employers. You may qualify with fewer than 25 full-time equivalent employees, average wages under an IRS limit, and at least half of employee-only premiums paid. It normally requires a SHOP plan. As of October 20, 2026, CMS 2026 plan data list no SHOP medical plans in Florida. A limited IRS exception may let employers in counties with no SHOP plan use other small-group coverage. It can be up to 50% of premiums paid, for two years in a row. For tax questions, talk with a tax professional. See our small business tax credit guide.

I own an S-corp. Does that change anything?

Yes. Owners with more than 2% of an S-corp follow special IRS rules. See our S-corp owner guide and ask your tax pro.

When can my business start a group plan?

Under current law, federal rules let an employer buy a small-group plan any time of year. Carriers may set minimum rules for how many employees enroll and how much the business pays. A group that can't meet them may be limited to a yearly window from November 15 to December 15. Ask us how this works for your team.

Do I have to wait for open enrollment?

For a private plan (not from the Marketplace), you can often apply any time of year. Some private plans ask health questions, and approval is not guaranteed. Some may not cover care for health problems you had before you enrolled. Marketplace plans, and other plans that follow ACA rules, work differently. As of October 20, 2026, under current law, open enrollment for 2027 plans runs from November 1, 2026, to January 15, 2027. As of October 20, 2026, a federal appeal about these dates is pending (City of Columbus v. Kennedy, 4th Cir. No. 26-1938), with oral argument set for October 30, 2026. Confirm the dates before you enroll. To start coverage January 1, pick a plan by December 15 (the deadline under current law). Outside those dates, you may need a special enrollment period. Losing job-based coverage is one example.

Get the owner covered,
then the team.

Book a free 15-minute call or start a quote online.

Book a 15-minute call Get a quote online

By Paul Daniels, licensed insurance agent (NPN 20986580).

Disclaimer

Daniels Health Advisors LLC is an independent brokerage, not a carrier, HealthCare.gov, or CMS. Agent: Paul Daniels, NPN 20986580, Florida license G065122. This page is about health insurance for business owners, their families, and small-group plans. It is not business liability or workers' comp insurance. Tax credits, plans, networks, and prices depend on your state, zip code, income, and household. We never guarantee approval, a doctor, or a price. Not medical, legal, or tax advice.

Health insurance forsmall businessowners in Florida.

Cover yourself.Then your team.