If you’re looking to establish a legal corporate entity in Florida and are savvy enough to file this yourself, here is a checklist to use so you don’t miss a step.

Before getting started, you will need to have a current copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. You can obtain a FREE AND SAFE download at this website: http://get.adobe.com/reader – Once you have downloaded and installed Reader, then you can begin.

Begin by going to http://www.sunbiz.org. Be sure to stipulate whether or not you are filing for a Non-Profit entity, or a For-Profit entity; and then whether or not you’re filing for a Corporation or for a Limited Liability Company (LLC). You can file your own FOR PROFIT corporation for $70. You can file for a LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY for $125. YOU MUST HAVE A CREDIT CARD TO USE THIS SITE.

Here is the specific order in which things need to be done:

1. First thing you need to do is find out whether your choice for a name is available. You can search the name out at www.sunbiz.org/corinam.html.

2. At the same time, you might want to also check the domain name availability on the internet. My source is www.godaddy.com and the usual fee for this is generally under $10 per domain name. Privacy is provided at an extra charge. The internet is NOT going away, so it is important for your ongoing business success that you purchase a domain name that is as close as possible to your corporate name. We highly recommend the .com for the domain name extension.

3. If the name is available, then you need to file the paperwork for the new corporation on this specific page: WWW.SUNBIZ.ORG – You can pay with your credit card. Florida will require an email address as they no longer communicate via snail mail. Be sure you have a valid email address as your point of contact.

4. Once Florida has let you know (via email) they have accepted your corporation, you will need to obtain a Federal I.D. Number (free of charge) at https://sa1.www4.irs.gov/modiein/individual/index.jsp . Have all your legal information available. If any spaces are left empty, the form will not go through and the EIN number will not be made available to you.

When filling out this form, DO NOT USE ANY PUNCTUATION WHATSOEVER OR THE FORM WILL NOT GO THROUGH. – The FEI will come back to you instantaneously – BE SURE YOU PRINT IT OUT. IF YOU DO NOT PRINT IT OUT AT THE TIME IT IS PROVIDED TO YOU, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET IT LATER, EXCEPT BY WRITTEN INQUIRY TO THE IRS.

5. Having completed that step, now return to www.sunbiz.org and locate the public record for your newly-formed corporation. Save the image of the public record filing to your computer for future reference.

Once you have completed these steps, you can then go to any local banking institution and open a small business checking account. You will need clear copies of these forms to take with you. Do not be upset if your bank insists on pulling up the public records for themselves…this is a Homeland Security requirement and has nothing to do with anything you have done.

6. Should you elect elect to be treated as an S-Corp to avoid double taxation; you will need to file form 2553 with the IRS. You can obtain form 2553 from this site: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f2553.pdf and instructions can be found at http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i2553.pdf . It is imperative that this form is filled in correctly and mailed within the proper time frame, otherwise your corporation or LLC will be deemed invalid for S-Corp status.

7. There is one more form that you will need as a business owner, and that is a W-9 form. This can also be obtained from www.irs.gov. Save the form to your desktop and fill in as needed. Should you be asked to supply your legal information (as a vendor seeking new business), this is the form you need to give.

8. If you need a sales tax number with the State of Florida, go to this site and file for free online: http://tinyurl.com/ccrqp9 – click on Start a New Registration. If you are selling a PRODUCT within the state of Florida, you will owe sales tax…this IS NOT DISCRETIONARY.

It is our best suggestion that you print out everything and put into a folder or binder that can be safely tucked away.

All of these things need to be done in this specific order. Otherwise your corporation might be deemed invalid by the IRS.

We can do all of this for you.

We will setup your S-Corp for $350 or $450 for your LLC. – all included

Our completed package will be emailed to you, with everything done and ready for you to open up your doors for business.

We Accept  MasterCard, Visa or AmEx and Paypal.

Feel Free to eMail or Phone Us:

DreamWeb Office
info@formingfloridacorporations.com
(813) 988-7772

**Please Note: We are not attorneys and will never offer legal advice, but an attorney is not needed (and would cost an unnecessary fortune) to create a Florida corporation, only the principals, or representatives. We are offering to act in that capacity and do the grunge work for you.**