What Form Are Required To Register A Business In Florida

First an LLC in Florida or Class a Corporation At present with Ease

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12 Steps to Commencement an LLC in Florida or Form a Corporation

Things to Know Before You Commencement an LLC in Florida

Interesting Florida Business concern Facts

Also known as "The Sunshine State," Florida hosts one the largest US economies. Top industries include tourism and agriculture, contributing $1 trillion to the land'due south GDP as of 2018.

Florida is the third near populous state in the The states, surpassing New York with over 21.9 one thousand thousand people.

Florida is Headquarters for Many Large Companies

Among Zippia's list of 100 largest Florida companies in 2021, Publix is the largest employer, followed by the Darden Restaurants group, Jabil, and others like Bloomin' Brands, Majestic Caribbean Cruises, and Tyco Integrated Security.

The Sunshine State Has a Business-Friendly Startup Surround

Many startup businesses make Florida their home. According to the Design, Florida is #3 on the listing of top 10 states for new business startups in 2021. Inc. Magazine besides reported that entrepreneurs have been swarming to the Sunshine State considering information technology's like shooting fish in a barrel to kickoff an LLC in Florida. Currently, Florida is ranked 17 out of l for its overall pro-business organisation surroundings.

Step 1: Select Your Business Structure – Florida LLC, Corporation, or DBA

The three near common Florida business structure options are an LLC, a Corporation, or a Doing Business Every bit or DBA (also known as a Fictitious House Name or Trade Name). Click here to acquire more about these business structures.

Florida Limited Liability Company, or LLC

The pop Limited Liability Company is formed equally a split up entity, which provides limited liability protection to the owners, or members. A Florida LLC pays less in taxes and is less formal to maintain than a corporation, and you only demand one member, so it'due south the business organisation structure of choice for many startups.

Florida Corporation, Due south-Corp, or C-Corp

The Corporation, or Corp, is besides formed as a separate entity and offers the owner or owners liability protection. Instead of being endemic and managed past members, the Corporation is run by shareholders, directors, and officers. An Due south-Corporation means information technology carries the IRS Minor Business organisation designation which is more than favorable for revenue enhancement. C-Corporations are usually formed by companies that intend to go public or have more than 100 shareholders. C-Corps are taxed twice, at the corporate and shareholder levels.

Corporations are more circuitous than LLCs and DBAs, but they are the ideal business structure for for-profit companies. Some professions require you lot to form a "Professional person Corporation" or PC (doctors, lawyers, architects, etc.). Hither is a consummate listing of professions that are regulated in the land of Florida.

Florida DBA or Fictitious Name

A Doing Business As or Fictitious Name is frequently used as a simplified operating name, or to ready a business apart from others with similar names. Florida Fictitious Names are too used to manage multiple businesses under one LLC or Corporation.
Example: Florida Auctions LLC could annals a Fictitious Name like Orlando Auction House for its Orlando-based warehouse and Miami Sale Business firm for another warehouse without having to course two separate LLCs or Corporations.

Step 2: Choose a Unique Name for Your Florida Business

Information technology may not seem important to pick a business name that will gear up you apart from competitors, but it'southward essential to brand recognition. A unique business name besides prevents a lot of legal and business issues in the future. While y'all can change your company name, it's more efficient and cost-effective to use a name that will grow with your business. Earlier you search names in the Florida databases, we highly recommend taking the following steps:

Planning Your Concern Proper name

When you're gathering ideas for your business proper noun, call back of the blazon of industry you're in and what appeals to your customers. If you're selling car parts, you don't want to just add "Motors" to the proper name. Your business proper name should tell a customer the products or services you lot provide without having to think too difficult almost it. Charlie's Auto Parts tells us what the visitor sells, while a name similar but Charlie'due south might tell us who owns the business concern, but zilch almost what's for sale.

One time yous have found a proper name yous like, endeavor it out on family unit and friends. Say it out loud in a sample phone greeting. Write it downwards and read it. These are but a few ways to test your proper noun to make certain it represents your business.

Exercise a Spider web Search for Your Business Proper noun

Now that you lot have a proper noun, yous tin search Google, Bing, and other search engines to detect other businesses using that proper name, especially in your state or local jurisdiction. Ideally, you won't find anyone else using your name, but information technology is very important for a Nationwide or International company to have a unique concern proper noun, especially if the name is not trademarked. See below.

Run a Trademark Search on the Business organization Proper noun

Visit the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) visit to run a trademark search on the business organization name you accept chosen. Searching the USPTO for conflicts before you officially register your Florida business proper noun is the best mode to know if there is a potential conflict. If you're not confident about searching the trade name on your own, y'all tin hire a Trademark Specialist to help. Their services can be expensive, and in our feel, you lot tin usually clear a name yourself if you're able to search Google, Bing, Yahoo, and even the Florida State Business Name database.

Click here to contact a Trademark Specialist. Learn more nearly tips on business organisation identity, including logos and trademarks in our Business concern Identity Help Guide.

Step 3: Annals Your Business concern in Florida

Business concern registration requirements vary by land. Now that you lot have chosen a business structure and your concern name, here are the requirements to register your business in Florida.

How to Form Your LLC in Florida

File the correct paperwork with the Florida Department of State Division of Corporations.
Hire a professional Registered Amanuensis.
Hold an Organizational Coming together (yes, even for 1 person LLCs).
Optional: Elect your S-Corporation status with the IRS by filing IRS Form 2553. LLCs tin can choose to be taxed every bit Due south-Corporations, or fifty-fifty a C-Corporations.

TIP: Speak to a tax advisor about Business Structure and Southward-Corp election to prevent complicated business matters.

Notes About Incorporation and Forming an LLC in Florida

The Partition of Corporations processes concern filings in Florida. Online filing could take approximately 2-3 business days and mailed in filings accept about 3 to 5 days to process. Peak periods can extend these turnaround times.
A Registered Agent is required for every Florida Corporation and LLC. The Registered Agent must have a physical street address in Florida. You tin can serve as your own registered agent, merely your personal information will be fabricated visible to the public. A Commercial Registered Agent provides their address and forwards official government documents to you. Hiring a commercial registered agent is a convenient option for many startups, and all yous take to do is keep your accost updated for postal service forwarding.
An "Organizational Coming together" takes contributions from the members, issues Member Certificates, adopts the company Operating Agreement and more than. Many people simply do steps 1 and ii above only this leaves your company unorganized and possibly exposed to legal, tax, and compliance issues. Holding the initial meeting volition save lots of time, money, and hassle down the road.

How to File a DBA in Florida

Search your desired concern name in the sunbiz.org fictitious proper noun database.
Annals your proper noun with the Florida Department of State Partitioning of Corporations

Ready to Register a Business in Florida?

Our Florida LLC and Corporation formation packages include the post-obit to get you started.

Nosotros volition fix and submit your Florida Manufactures of Organization for you.
Our squad will personalize and complete your post-formation documents. All they will need is your signature.
The MyCompanyWorks Startup Wizard will guide you lot through the consummate startup process, from forming your Florida LLC, Corporation, or DBA to opening a banking concern account, designing your business logo, and more.

Step 4: Utilise for Your Federal Employer ID Number (FEIN)

A Federal Employer Identification Number is like your visitor's Social Security Number. Florida Corporations and LLCs, and DBAs with employees are all required to have a FEIN. If you are a DBA and don't obtain an EIN you will be forced to apply your Social Security Number on many documents, so many businesses obtain an EIN to preclude identity theft.

To obtain an EIN you tin apply online with the IRS or via IRS Class SS-4.

TIP: We volition obtain your EIN for you if we form your company.

Step five: Open Florida Business organization Banking company and Credit Accounts

You'll demand to keep business organization and personal finances separate by opening a business banking company and credit accounts. Learn more about how to build your business organisation credit profile. Corporations and LLCs are required to operate these types of accounts, just they position your company for favorable loans and lines of credit. Call your preferred bank and ask how to open a business depository financial institution account. Typically yous'll need a) your filed paperwork, b) your EIN, and c) a visitor resolution authorizing your company to open the account (signed past the owners, members, officers or directors, etc.).

TIP: Our concern formation service includes a free cyberbanking solution.

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Step 6: Fix Accounting and Tape Keeping Systems

Set up upwards your Bookkeeping and Tape-keeping system and acquire most the taxes your new visitor is responsible for paying.

The IRS recommends keeping fiscal records for up to seven years. Employment revenue enhancement records should be held for at least four years afterward whatever due taxes are paid. Most other records should be kept for three years, and all documents like leases, stock certificates, and vendor agreements should exist kept for the life of the business. Read our Accounting & Fiscal Direction Help Guide for help with setting up an bookkeeping and record-keeping organization.

The MyCompanyWorks Vendor Network Too Offers a List of Accountants, Accounting Software, and Bookkeepers to Help You Go Gear up.

Step seven: Obtain Licenses and Permits to Offset Your Florida Business organisation

At present that you've registered your business name, you may demand a Florida business license and/or permits to practise business concern in your city or county. At this bespeak, you may as well exist required to annals for state taxes as part of the licensing process. Check the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation website to see if your manufacture is required to be licensed to operate in Florida. Some industries also require special licensing, and you tin can check that list here.

Step 8: Hire Employees if Your Business concern Needs Them

Yous may have to register with advisable State Agencies or obtain Workers' Compensation Insurance or Unemployment Insurance (or both) if you lot're planning to pay yourself or others as employees. Hither is a smashing resource for everything yous need to know about being an employer in the Sunshine State. You tin as well review our Employees & Payroll Help Guide for aid with hiring employees and processing payroll.

Check Out the MyCompanyWorks Vendor Network for Recommended Payroll Providers.

Step 9: Fix Upwards Business concern Insurance

The Federal Government requires all United states of america businesses to acquit Workers' Compensation, Unemployment, and Disability insurance. Florida just requires Workers' Compensation insurance, but you may desire to enquiry insurance that covers the business concern. For a few hundred dollars a year, you tin can save yourself a lot of peace of mind with a General Liability or Owner'south policy. The SBA offers a comprehensive guide on which insurance is required for your business organization.

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Footstep 10: Organize a System to Automate Your Business organisation

It may seem similar a waste matter of time to set up up your business and so anyone could run it for you. Only if you set up a organisation past which your company can run, you'll be able to take vacations or extended time off and still operate. Setting upwardly a organization to manage all your processes, like fulfilling orders, paying bills, employees, and taxes, and maintaining permits, as well helps with preparation new employees. The more you tin can automate various business functions, the better the business organisation will run while you lot're working on growing your business organisation.

Visit our Manage Your Company page for assistance and ideas to systemize and automate your business organisation.

Footstep eleven: Make Your Company and Market place to Your Audience

Now that your company is set up upwardly for success, information technology'south time to allow customers know you're open for business. Creating a marketing plan will assistance to target your ideal customer. Our Marketing & Sales page is an excellent resource to assist you understand sales and marketing.

Check out Preferred Vendors for Logo/Concern Identity and Marketing.

Pace 12: Annual & Ongoing Florida Business concern Requirements

DBA:Your DBA or Fictitious Name is valid for five years and expires December 31st of the final year. Changes to the company name or address should exist reported on the renewal application.

LLC:Florida LLCs are required to file an annual report, due May 1 each year. The filing fee is approximately $139, and late filings will consequence in a $400 penalty.
Important: Annual reports that are not filed before the third Friday in September will cause your LLC to be dissolved in the State of Florida.

Corporation:All Florida Corporations are required to file an Almanac Report before May 1 each year. Currently, the cost is about $150 to file the report, and Florida Corporations tin e-file hither. Corporations are likewise penalized with a $400 late fee if the Annual Written report is not filed earlier the May 1 due date.

Franchise Taxes:Florida requires all Corporations, including non-profits, that are doing business in the Sunshine State to pay an annual Franchise Tax. Payments are due on the final day in April, June, September, and the last mean solar day of each tax year. Franchise revenue enhancement is calculated equally a per centum of the company's net income for that year. Find out hither if you lot're required to pay Florida Franchise Tax.

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Important Florida Business organisation Contacts

Florida Secretary of Country
R.A. Gray Building
500 S Bronough Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
Telephone: 850-245.6500
Electronic mail: [email protected]

Florida Land Taxation Departments

Florida Department of Fiscal Services

State of Florida Business organization & Professional Regulation

Florida Startup Resources

Florida Small Business Administration
SCORE Florida
Florida SCORE mentors are volunteers with pregnant experience in the buying, operation, and/or management of both pocket-sized and big businesses in many fields.
Florida Business Portal
Florida Small Business Development Network
Florida Task Link Employer Portal
Tax Information For Florida Businesses

Florida Legal Statutes

Florida Business Corporation Act
Florida State Limited Liability Companies – the specific deed that applies to Florida Land LLCs.
Florida Land Businesses and Professions – includes regulations on topics such equally business and professions codes.

Florida Chambers of Commerce

Florida Chambers of Commerce
U.S. Bedroom of Commerce

Florida Affections Investors

List of Angel Investors in Florida

Florida Concern News

Florida Tendency Concern News
South Florida Business Journal – Miami/Ft. Lauderdale Business News

Concern Planning and Economical Evolution

Florida Small Business Development Network
Florida Sustainable Initiatives Programs

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