Florida Health Studio Bond Overview
- Purpose: To financially protect prepaid members if a studio fails to fulfill contracts
- Who Needs It: Health studio owners in Florida
- Regulating Body: The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services — Division of Consumer Services
- Bond Amount: $10,000 or $25,000 based on value of membership contracts
- Premium Price: $120 or $300
What Is a Florida Health Studio Bond?
Florida health studio bonds ensure studio owners fulfill contracts and follow state laws. This bond protects paying health studio members if contract terms are broken by holding studio owners financially liable.
Who Needs a Health Studio Bond?
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) sometimes requires health studio owners in Florida to post a $25,000 or $10,000 surety bond.
If a health studio collects fees more than 30 days in advance through a third party, they must be bonded for five years. Alternatively, studio owners can provide an irrevocable letter of credit or certificate of deposit instead of the bond. Learn more about the differences between surety bonds and letters of credit here.
What Is a Health Studio?
Florida defines a health studio as any business that sells the following services:
- Instruction, training or assistance in a physical exercise program
- Access to and use of equipment or facilities for physical exercise programs
Note: Individual personal trainers are not considered health studios.
Bond Coverage Requirements
You’ll either need a $10,000 or $25,000 surety bond to become a certified health studio in Florida. The coverage is determined by the value of prepaid membership contracts.
Most studio owners need a $25,000 bond unless the value of prepaid contracts is less than $5,000. In that case, you just need a $10,000 bond amount.
Note: You must provide the FDACS with an annual membership report to qualify for the $10,000 bond amount.
How Much Do Health Studio Bonds Cost in Florida?
You can get your health studio bond instantly online today! Both bond amounts have a fixed rate, meaning all applicants qualify for the same price.
A $10,000 Florida health studio costs $120, while the $25,000 bond costs $300. Get your bond in minutes!
SuretyBonds.com offers the lowest available rates from our nationwide provider network with no added fees.
How Does a Florida Health Studio Bond Work?
When you purchase a health studio bond, you enter a legal agreement with three parties.
| Bond Party | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Principal | You, the health studio owner |
| 2. Obligee | The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services |
| 3. Surety | The issuing surety provider |
If you fail to meet contractual obligations, the surety will pay affected members and you must reimburse the surety later on.
How Do I Get My Bond?
You can get your Florida health studio bond within minutes! Follow these simple steps to get bonded:
- Provide required information
- Pay for your bond
- File with the FDACS
You’ll find your bond form in your email inbox within minutes of purchasing your bond. File your bond by mailing it to following address:
FDACS
Health Studio Program
P.O. Box 6700
Tallahassee, FL 32314-6700
How Do I Renew My Health Studio Bond?
Florida health studio bonds expire annually and can be renewed online or over the phone. We’ll send you reminders during the expiration period. Just pay the invoice to keep your bond active for another year.
How Do I Update My Bond Information?
If you need to update information on your bond form, email [email protected] with the details.
We can issue a bond rider for small updates like name and address. However, larger changes may require a new bond form.
How to Register a Health Studio in Florida
Use the FDACS licensing portal to complete your health studio registration. You’ll need to complete the following steps:
- Sign in or create a FDACS account
- Complete the application
- Provide a copy of the membership contract
- Purchase a surety bond, if applicable
- Pay the registration fee for each location
- Submit all documents and materials
Learn more about How to Register a Florida Health Studio.
