Florida's minimum wage hits $15 per hour on September 30, 2026. That date is closer than it looks. If you run a business in Florida and haven't touched your payroll yet, this post is for you.
This Is the Last Scheduled Increase. But It's Not the Last One Ever.
Florida voters approved this increase back in 2020 through Amendment 2 to the state constitution. The wage has been climbing $1 per year since 2021. September 30 is the final step in that schedule. After that, the Florida Department of Commerce will adjust the wage annually for inflation, with changes announced by October 15 and taking effect on January 1 of the following year. So while $15 is the finish line for the amendment, it is not the end of wage increases. Plan accordingly.
The Rate Applies to Every Florida Employer. No Size Exceptions.
This is the part that catches small business owners off guard. Florida law does not exempt small businesses from the state minimum wage. It doesn't matter if you have two employees or two hundred. If your workers are covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act, you're required to pay the new rate on September 30. Not October 1. September 30.
Tipped Employees Have a Different Number. And It Matters.
If you run a restaurant, bar, or any business with tipped employees, the rate going up on September 30 is $11.98 per hour in direct cash wages. That's up from $10.98. The tip credit in Florida is $3.02 per hour, which is a fixed amount and does not change with the minimum wage increase. Here's the part most owners miss: if your employee's tips don't bring their total hourly pay up to the full $15 minimum, you're legally required to cover the gap. No exceptions and no workarounds. And before you apply the tip credit at all, you are required to notify your tipped employees of their direct cash wage, the tip credit amount, and that they keep all their tips outside of valid tip pooling arrangements. Skip that notice and you lose the right to claim the tip credit entirely under federal law.
Three Things You Need to Do Before September 30
You don't need an HR department to get ready for this. You need three things on your calendar.
First, update your payroll system. If you use a payroll platform, check whether it will apply the new rate automatically or whether you have to trigger the change manually. Do not assume it happens on its own.
Second, get your updated minimum wage poster up before September 30. Florida law requires you to post the current minimum wage in a location all employees can see. The Florida Department of Commerce typically releases the updated poster in November or December before the rate change. That means the $15 poster should already be available. Get it posted before the deadline, not on it.
Third, notify your tipped employees in writing before the rate changes. Spell out their new direct cash wage, the tip credit amount, and their rights around tips. Keep a copy. You will want it if a question ever comes up.
Do Not Wait Until the Last Week
Payroll changes that go wrong cost real money. An underpayment discovered after the fact can mean back wages, penalties, and a complaint filed with the Florida Department of Commerce. None of those are how you want to spend your fall.
Pull up your payroll settings this week. Confirm the new rates are loaded and ready. If your tipped wage calculations are handled manually, double-check your math now.
September 30 is a hard deadline. Your employees will know the rate changed. Make sure your payroll does too.
Want help navigating Florida's minimum wage changes in your business? Schedule a free 30-minute discovery call with Ricky Baez at baezco.com/contact-us.