Forming the entity
We file the articles of incorporation or organization with the Florida Division of Corporations, secure the EIN from the IRS, make the S-election where it fits, and open the sales tax account if the business needs one.
- LLC or corporation formation (Florida or other states)
- IRS EIN application
- Form 2553 S-corporation election with late-relief filings when needed
- Initial operating agreement or bylaws review
Florida-specific filings
Florida businesses have a handful of state-specific requirements that out-of-state formation services usually miss: fictitious name (DBA) registration requires newspaper publication, corporate officers and LLC members can file for worker's comp exemption every two years, and sales tax accounts must be opened before the first taxable sale.
Annual compliance
Once the business is running, we track the annual report filing, worker's comp exemption renewals, sales tax filings, and payroll quarterly filings. One office, one invoice, one set of reminder emails.
The order of operations
Formation goes smoother in the right sequence: entity first, EIN second, then the tax elections, bank account, and registrations that all hang off the EIN. Doing it out of order is how businesses end up with two EINs, a rejected S-election, or a sales tax account under the wrong name. We run the sequence and hand over one organized packet at the end.
Formation plus the first tax year
The entity you form in January gets tested by the return you file the following spring. Because the same office handles both, the choices made at formation (entity type, election timing, accounting method) are made with the first return already in mind, and nothing gets discovered in March that should have been decided in January.
Common questions
- Should I form an LLC or an S-corporation?
- Most small businesses form an LLC and then elect S-corp tax treatment once net income clears roughly $45,000. The LLC gives you legal structure; the S-election saves self-employment tax. We model the break-even point for your numbers.
- Do I need a Florida business if I live in another state?
- Not necessarily. If you're physically operating in another state, forming there usually makes more sense. If you're a Florida resident with an online or remote business, Florida is often the right home state.
- What's worker's comp exemption and do I need one?
- Florida corporate officers and LLC members can elect out of mandatory worker's comp insurance coverage. The election lasts two years and has to be renewed. We file it and track the renewal.
Services in this area
Florida Business Incorporation
We form the entity with the Florida Division of Corporations, file the S-election where appropriate, and register for the EIN and sales tax account.
Learn moreDBA / Fictitious Name Registration
A DBA lets you do business under a name other than your legal entity name.
Learn moreWorker's Compensation Exemption
Corporate officers and LLC members can file for exemption from Florida worker's compensation coverage.
Learn moreBusiness Setup
Starting a business means entity registration, an EIN, county licensing where applicable, sales tax registration, and a clear tax plan from day one.
Learn moreRelated
Business Tax Services
Corporation, partnership, and S-corp tax preparation with quarterly planning. Forms 1120, 1120-S, and 1065 plus owner K-1s, with multi-state filings handled.
Bookkeeping & Payroll
Monthly, quarterly, and annual bookkeeping plus quarterly payroll filings (940, 941, UCT-6, W-2, 1099) for small and mid-sized businesses. Reports each month.