Florida Noncompete Agreement: What's Included and Enforceability
Quick Facts — Noncompete Agreement Lawyers (Florida)
- Avg cost to review a Non-Compete Agreement: $280.00
- Lawyers available: 71 Florida employment lawyers
- Clients helped: 45 recent noncompete agreement projects in Florida
- Avg lawyer rating: 4.98 (15 reviews)
Is a Non-Compete Agreement Enforceable in Florida?
Yes. Non-compete agreements are enforceable in Florida as long as the contract adheres to the requirements laid out in the Florida Statutes governing non-compete agreements.
Under these laws, non-compete agreements will be enforced if the agreement protects a legitimate business interest. Some business interests covered by the statute include:
- Trade secrets. Trade secrets are information like formulas, patterns, programs, methods, or techniques that have economic value or potential value. To be considered “secret” the employer must take reasonable efforts to maintain its secrecy.
- Confidential information. Valuable business information that does not fall into the trade secret category but is still maintained as confidential.
- Relationships. Relationships with customers or clients.
- Goodwill. The value derived from the company brand like trademark, trade dress, or a specific location.
- Specialized training. Any training that can be considered extraordinary or specialized.
The rules that govern the Florida bar prohibit non-compete agreements for attorneys.
How Long Does a Florida Non-Compete Agreement Last?
The length of a reasonable non-compete agreement depends on the purpose of the agreement.
- Noncompete agreements for employees, independent contracts, and partners in a business entity : 6 months to two years
- Noncompete agreements for distributors, dealers, franchisee, or licensee of a trademark: One year to three years
- Sale of a business: Three years to seven years
When determining whether the length of a non-compete agreement is reasonable, courts will consider the type of work, specialized training, and the unfair advantage posed by working in a similar or same business.
How Do You Get Around a Non-Compete Agreement in Florida?
Once a non-compete agreement is executed, it is a legally binding contract. However, there are some ways to get around this contract if a person is unreasonably restricted by the terms.
Florida law recognizes certain hardships that may be used to terminate a non-compete agreement. Recognized hardships include:
- The business doesn’t operate in the jurisdiction covered by the non-compete.
- The enforcement of the non-compete effects the public health, safety, or welfare.
- Any other legal and equitable defenses.
Florida laws do not recognize the economic effect that the non-compete agreement has on the employee as a “hardship” so to defeat a non-compete, the employee will need to prove that a recognized hardship exists as a result of the contract.
In Florida, the practice of blue penciling is permitted under Florida laws. This means that if a non-compete agreement is overly broad or unreasonable, the court has the power to modify the contract to make it enforceable. This can be a disadvantage to employees who are attempting to get around a non-compete agreement.
What Happens if You Violate a Non-Compete in Florida?
If an employee is struggling to beat a non-compete agreement, it may be tempting to breach the contract. However, in Florida, violating a non-compete agreement can result in legal consequences including:
- Injunction: A court may order you to stop working for a competing company or running your business.
- Damages: You may be required to pay damages to your former employer for any harm suffered as a result of the violation.
- Legal Fees: You may also be responsible for your former employer's legal fees incurred in enforcing the non-compete agreement.
If you are struggling to overcome a non-compete agreement, it is recommended that you consult with a knowledgeable lawyer for guidance.
What Voids a Florida Non-Compete Agreement?
Florida non-compete agreements must be in writing and must be signed by the employee. A verbal non-compete or a contract that is not signed will not be enforced and will be considered void.
Frequently Asked Questions
See Noncompete Agreement by State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
See Real Non-Compete Agreement Projects
California Review non-compete and proprietary invention agreement Review
- California
- 7 lawyer bids
- $495 - $1,500
California Review non-compete clauses for Blockchain Startup Offer Letter Review
- California
- 6 lawyer bids
- $150 - $400
Florida Review Employment Contract Non-Compete Clause for Chiropractor Review
- Florida
- 4 lawyer bids
- $150 - $399
Illinois confidentiality and non-compete agreement review Review
- Illinois
- 6 lawyer bids
- $599 - $850
See all Non-Compete Agreement projects in Florida
ContractsCounsel is not a law firm, and this post should not be considered and does not contain legal advice. To ensure the information and advice in this post are correct, sufficient, and appropriate for your situation, please consult a licensed attorney. Also, using or accessing ContractsCounsel's site does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and ContractsCounsel.
Need help with a Noncompete Agreement?
Meet some of our Florida Noncompete Agreement Lawyers
January 3, 2024
Zenaida R.
I am an active member of The Florida Bar, having successfully passed the Florida Bar Examination in September 2023. My legal career spans over seven years, beginning with extensive experience as a law clerk, where I supported attorneys and developed a strong foundation in client-focused legal work. I focus my own practice on business and estate planning matters, including entity formation, corporate governance and compliance, commercial transactions, and long-term planning for individuals, families, and business owners. My estate planning practice focuses on helping individuals and families protect their assets, plan for incapacity, and ensure their wishes are carried out with clarity and confidence. I regularly prepare wills, trusts, powers of attorney, health care directives, and related planning documents, and I take a personalized, practical approach to each plan—ensuring it reflects the client’s goals, family dynamics, and long-term needs while remaining fully compliant with Florida law.
October 5, 2025
Alexander H.
I have been licensed to practice law in Florida since 1999. My work has centered on a wide range of family‑court matters, including divorce, child support, custody, paternity cases, and prenuptial agreements. I also handle broader family‑law services such as Last Will & Testaments, Powers of Attorney, and property‑related issues such as Quit Claim Deeds. In addition to family law, I have extensive experience in consumer bankruptcy law, such as Chapter 7 bankruptcy, and advising clients on issues such as wage garnishments, bank levies, foreclosure defense, repossessions, judgment enforcement, credit card lawsuits, and debt defense tactics. I regularly guide individuals on qualifying for bankruptcy, means‑testing, exemption planning, and strategies to protect assets in divorce and bankruptcy. I developed the Family Law and Bankruptcy Law courses for a law school, and I am the author of Consumer Bankruptcy Law for paralegals and legal professionals, published by Routledge. I also teach business law, economics of law, and bankruptcy in both English and Spanish for an international university.
February 12, 2024
Lissette E.
Lissette's legal career, spanning over a decade, is distinguished by her significant achievements in civil litigation and her versatile practice in immigration and corporate law. She has demonstrated a formidable presence in the courtroom, securing a verdict of over two million dollars for a client and settling claims totaling more than three million dollars against insurance companies. She is proficient in complex litigation and corporate matters, assisting corporations with entity formation and regulatory compliance. Her work ensures that businesses not only start on a solid legal foundation but also maintain adherence to legal standards as they grow and evolve. Lissette's tenure at the Department of Justice has also been particularly influential. Working directly with immigration judges, she has developed a nuanced understanding of immigration policies and law, enabling her to craft winning strategies that address the unique challenges faced by her clients. Her career is further enriched by her previous teaching engagements at the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University, where she shared her comprehensive knowledge and experience with aspiring lawyers. Lissette's multifaceted expertise underscores her deep-rooted commitment to legal advocacy and excellence, making her a valued counselor and advocate. Known for her tailored client solutions, Lissette achieves successful outcomes across various legal domains.
Expert Legal Chat
Instantly connect with a verified lawyer to get professional answers.
ContractsCounsel made it very easy to find a lawyer to help our company with its legal questions.
August 15, 2024
Gisselle O.
Family law attorney licensed in the State of Florida with 5+ years of experience in litigating family law matter including dissolutions of marriage and paternity/child custody cases. Drafting pleadings, including petitions, motions, and responses Preparing discovery requests and responses Organizing and maintain case files and pleadings Communicating with clients to provide case updates and gather information Conducting legal research and draft legal memoranda Attending court hearings, trials, depositions, mediation, etc. Preparing prenuptial and postnuptial agreement
Davy K.
I am a Swiss-American lawyer based in Florida and specialize in business, investments, and other civil matters. I have won many cases in both state and federal litigation, and arbitration. Before litigation or arbitration, however, I like to prevent these legal disputes by ensuring my clients base their business on strong concrete contracts that will protect them even decades down the road. My clients are my top priority, which is why they get my personal cell and can reach me anytime. My firm is also established on the extremely high standards of professionalism, transparent itemized billing, fast turnaround times and more. For more information, visit: https://www.transnationalmatters.com/
May 14, 2024
Marlene G.
Highly skilled Real Estate Counsel delivering favorable outcomes for clients in real estate transactional matters. Extremely effective negotiator, detail oriented and a licensed real estate broker. Served as In-House counsel for an international real estate development company for more than 10 years.
June 5, 2024
Robert C.
I have been a lawyer for over 30 years practicing insurance defense, personal injury, commercial litigation and commercial transactions
Find the best lawyer for your project
Browse Lawyers NowLawyer Reviews for Florida Noncompete Agreement Projects
Review Noncompete Agreement
"Great concise and helped me review documents"
Review Noncompete Agreement
"Valerie was professional, quick, and precise. Will reach out to her for any future matters. Thank you."
Reply From Valerie I.
It was a pleasure serving you! Looking forward to helping you in the future.
View MoreReview Non-Solicitation Clause and Draft Preventative Letter in NYC
"Zack was a pleasure to work with. He was thorough, responsive, and provided clear, practical guidance for my situation."
Review Non-Compete Agreement in Colorado for New Business Start-Up
"Was able to answer questions and provide guidance in an effective manner, thanks Patrick!"
Review Noncompete Agreement
"Helped with everything I needed and very responsive!"
Business Contracts
Noncompete Agreement
Florida
Noncompete agreement for consultants?
I am a consultant who is looking to take on a new client, but the client requires me to sign a Noncompete Agreement. I want to make sure that I am not signing away my rights, and that the agreement is fair and reasonable. I am also interested in understanding how this agreement would affect my ability to work with other clients.
Venus C.
Hello. I appreciate your concerns about signing a Noncompete Agreement. It's essential to protect your rights and ensure the agreement is fair and reasonable given that a noncompete typically restricts competing activities during or after the term of engagement. Without knowing more about the business relationship and reviewing the actual terms, whether the non-compete is fair, reasonable, or even enforceable remains an open-ended question. Bearing this in mind, if the noncompete is preventing you from taking on other clients during or after the end of your relationship (or both), the scope of this restriction must be reasonable in terms of time, geographic area, and the specific activities it seeks to prevent. For example, does the noncompete specify the types of clients, industries, or geographic areas that are off-limits? What is the duration of the noncompete? If the client breaches your main agreement, will that render your noncompete void and unenforceable? These are just a few general questions that require a thorough review and analysis against Florida non-compete laws. Overall, the ultimate goal is to carefully review the terms to understand how they might impact your ability to take on new clients. If you don’t understand or are unsure about the contractual terms and their legal implications, it's highly recommended you consult with an attorney who can review the noncompete and provide you with personalized legal advice before you sign.
Employment
Noncompete Agreement
New York
Noncompete agreement and industry restrictions?
I recently signed a Noncompete Agreement with my current employer. I am looking to explore other opportunities in my industry and want to know what restrictions my noncompete agreement might have on me. I am interested in understanding the limitations of the agreement and if there are any potential implications of taking a job in the same industry.
Danielle G.
In order to ascertain the limitations and implications, you would need to review the specific language of the agreement. If the non-compete is very broad, it's possible it would not be enforceable. In New York, for a non-compete agreement to be enforceable, it must be for a reasonable period of time and limited geographic scope. It also must protect the employer's legitimate interest. For example, the restrictions must protect confidential information or specialized skills you gained while on the job, or some other legitimate interest. If the agreement goes beyond those limitations, a court could find the non-complete to be unreasonable and unenforceable, in whole or in part. As to what restrictions your specific non-compete imposes (and the reasonableness of those restrictions), you would need to look at the specific language in the agreement. If you are unsure about the limitations, you should seek advice of counsel to help decipher the extent it would apply to your industry in general, and the likelihood it would be enforceable in court.
Employee Rights
Noncompete Agreement
Florida
Noncompete agreement geographic scope?
I recently left my job of five years and have been offered a new position with a competitor. The new employer has asked me to sign a noncompete agreement. I am concerned about the geographic scope of the agreement and need to understand what areas it would cover, and if it would prevent me from taking a position with a competitor in another state or country.
Daniel D.
The Courts use a reasonableness standard determine if a non-compete is reasonable in time and geographic scope. It would be necessary to see the non-compete to tell you what it says, the areas it would cover and if it would prevent you from taking another position.
Employment
Noncompete Agreement
New York
Noncompete agreement breach consequences?
I recently left my job as an employee at a company that I had worked for for over a year. I was asked to sign a noncompete agreement when I began the job, which I did. I have since started a new job in the same industry as my former employer, which is in violation of the noncompete agreement. I am now wondering what the consequences of this breach of contract may be and am seeking legal advice.
Gregory F.
I would be happy to schedule a paid telephone consultation with you to review the non-compete agreement, advise you on its scope and enforceability, and answer your questions. Please contact me via email at greg@fidlonlegal.com to discuss.
Employee Rights
Noncompete Agreement
Texas
Noncompete agreement and moonlighting?
I am an employee at a company that has recently asked me to sign a noncompete agreement. I am considering doing so, but I am concerned about whether or not the agreement would prevent me from taking on additional freelance work outside of my normal job. I am interested in moonlighting and need to know if a noncompete agreement would limit my ability to do so.
Curt L.
If you moonlighting work is in the same business and same market, it is almost certainly prohibited by a noncompete agreement.
Quick, user friendly and one of the better ways I've come across to get ahold of lawyers willing to take new clients.
View Trustpilot ReviewNeed help with a Noncompete Agreement?
Employment lawyers by top cities
- Austin Employment Lawyers
- Boston Employment Lawyers
- Chicago Employment Lawyers
- Dallas Employment Lawyers
- Denver Employment Lawyers
- Houston Employment Lawyers
- Los Angeles Employment Lawyers
- New York Employment Lawyers
- Phoenix Employment Lawyers
- San Diego Employment Lawyers
- Tampa Employment Lawyers
Florida Noncompete Agreement lawyers by city
- Boca Raton Noncompete Agreement Lawyers
- Cape Coral Noncompete Agreement Lawyers
- Clearwater Noncompete Agreement Lawyers
- Coral Springs Noncompete Agreement Lawyers
- Davie Noncompete Agreement Lawyers
- Deltona Noncompete Agreement Lawyers
- Fort Lauderdale Noncompete Agreement Lawyers
- Fort Myers Noncompete Agreement Lawyers
- Gainesville Noncompete Agreement Lawyers
- Hialeah Noncompete Agreement Lawyers
- Hollywood Noncompete Agreement Lawyers
- Jacksonville Noncompete Agreement Lawyers
- Lakeland Noncompete Agreement Lawyers
- Miami Noncompete Agreement Lawyers
- Miami Gardens Noncompete Agreement Lawyers
- Miramar Noncompete Agreement Lawyers
- Orlando Noncompete Agreement Lawyers
- Palm Bay Noncompete Agreement Lawyers
- Pembroke Pines Noncompete Agreement Lawyers
- Pompano Beach Noncompete Agreement Lawyers
- Port St. Lucie Noncompete Agreement Lawyers
- Saint Petersburg Noncompete Agreement Lawyers
- Tallahassee Noncompete Agreement Lawyers
- Tampa Noncompete Agreement Lawyers
- West Palm Beach Noncompete Agreement Lawyers
ContractsCounsel User
Review non-compete and proprietary invention agreement
Location: California
Turnaround: Less than a week
Service: Contract Review
Doc Type: Non-Compete Agreement
Page Count: 15
Number of Bids: 7
Bid Range: $495 - $1,500
User Feedback:
ContractsCounsel User