Florida Corporations

Florida is a great place to start a business. A combination of a rich culture, beautiful cities like Miami, Orlando or Tampa Bay, and access to the world’s transport networks makes the state home to some of the biggest businesses in the U.S. Headquarters of companies like Publix, Tupperware, Burger King and more are proud to call Florida home. One of the world’s largest entertainment companies, Disney, is famous for its Disney World theme park in Orlando. The lack of a state tax can also make it financially advantageous to start a business there.

What Type of Florida Corporation Should You Choose?

When it comes to incorporating a business in Florida, you have a few options for the type of corporation you want to create. This is known as your “legal business entity,” and it defines how your Florida business will be treated by the FL Division of Corporations, the law, the IRS and other official bodies.

Most new entrepreneurs have a choice of several FL business types: sole proprietorship, partnership, Limited Liability Company (LLC), S Corporation or C Corporation.

Here’s a quick overview of each type of business entity.

Florida Sole Proprietorships and Partnerships

These are the simplest type of business and will be the “default” type of FL business you have if you do not choose to form a separate business entity. These types of businesses do not provide you with any special protections or benefits and can leave your personal assets vulnerable. We do not recommend them.

Florida Limited Liability Companies (LLCs)

LLCs are a great option for smaller FL businesses. LLCs are quick and easy to create, inexpensive to administer, light on regulations and have simple taxation and rules. You can learn how to create an LLC in Florida here.

Florida S Corporations

You might choose to form a Florida S Corporation because it’s a good compromise between the simplicity of the LLC and the complexity of the C Corporation. Note that FL S Corporations are subject to more rules and regulations than a FL LLC, but they can mean that you pay less tax.

Learn about forming an S Corporation.

Florida C Corporations

Florida C Corporations are the most complex type of business. They are best suited to larger businesses and are necessary if shares in the business will be traded on public stock markets. C Corporations have much more significant regulation, compliance and legal rules, and they are not as tax efficient as S Corporations or LLCs.

Learn about forming a C Corporation.

There are some other business entity structures like nonprofits, Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) and B Corporations, but they will not be relevant for the majority of entrepreneurs.

Start Your S Corp with Incfile      Start Your C Corp with Incfile

Advantages of Forming a Florida Corporation

Florida corporations have several benefits for business owners.

• Florida corporations provide the strongest form of liability protection possible. They insulate your personal assets and finances from those of your business.

• This means that any liabilities created by your corporation (debts, obligations, damages, bankruptcy or other liabilities) should not impact your personal money, property or assets — they are considered completely separate from a legal perspective.

The Advantages of a Florida Corporation Versus an LLC

There are several reasons an entrepreneur might choose to form a FL corporation instead of a Florida LLC.

Taxation Benefits of a Florida S Corporation Over an LLC

A Florida S Corporation will often pay less self-employment tax on owner earnings than an LLC. Note that a FL LLC can choose to be treated as an S Corporation for tax purposes by filing Form 2553 with the IRS, which removes this restriction. Florida C Corporations do not have this advantage over an LLC.

Learn about the tax benefits of S Corporations.

File Form 2553 with the IRS via Incfile

Florida S Corporations and C Corporations Make It Much Easier to Transfer Stock and Ownership

If you want to easily transfer ownership through buying and selling stock, you will need a FL C Corporation or an S Corporation. C Corporations have much more flexibility than S Corporations, and both are better than LLCs for stock and ownership transfers.

Florida C Corporations Provide the Main Advantages for Buying and Selling Stock

C Corporations provide certain benefits when it comes to buying, selling and transferring stock. Here are the rules for both S Corps and C Corps:

• If you want up to 100 shareholders who are U.S. citizens or residents and want to issue one type of stock, you can be an S Corporation or a C Corporation.

• If you want more than 100 shareholders, want to issue more than one type of stock or have international shareholders, you will need a C Corporation.

• If you want to allow the public to buy and sell shares in your company after an Initial Public Offering (IPO), you will need a C Corporation.

Learn more about the differences between business entities.

Advantages of Opening an S Corporation in Florida

In addition to the general benefits above, FL S Corporations provide several other advantages:

• Florida S Corporations can have up to 100 shareholders.

• Running an S Corporation in Florida is simpler than running a C Corporation.

• It is easy to transfer ownership in an S Corporation by selling your stock.

• In some cases, part of the income from an S Corporation can be paid as a “distribution” rather than “salary,” so it would not be subject to self-employment tax. Find out how this can save you money using our S Corporation Tax Calculator.

• LLCs can choose to be taxed as S Corporations to take advantage of this.

Learn more about the advantages of forming an S Corporation.

Advantages of Opening a C Corporation in Florida

In addition to the general benefits above, Florida C Corporations provide several other advantages.

• Ownership in a Florida C Corporation is very fluid and determined by who owns stock in the business.

• Florida C Corporations can list their shares on a public stock exchange. This stock can be bought and sold by anyone.

• Florida C Corporations can sell stock to investors inside and outside the U.S.

• Florida C Corporations can issue more than one type of stock.

• Florida C Corporations can raise more funds by issuing more stock.

Important Points About How to Start a Corporation in the State of Florida

Here are some areas to be aware of when you’re creating a corporation in Florida.

First, FL corporations are formed on the state level by filing Articles of Incorporation with the Florida Division of Corporations. Incfile specializes in helping entrepreneurs form Florida S Corporations and C Corporations and can collect the information and file this form on your behalf.

When you incorporate a business as a corporation, the Florida Division of Corporations will treat your business as a C Corporation by default. A C Corporation will become an S Corporation when all shareholders wish to change the corporation’s status to an S Corporation with the IRS. You can make this choice when you first form your Florida corporation or at any time after you incorporate.

There are some similarities and some differences between S Corps and C Corps:

• Similarities: Florida S Corporations and C Corporations have similar rules and regulations for liability, governance, management and ownership

• Differences: Key differences are taxation and the ease of buying, selling and transferring stock

Learn what you need to do to create a Florida S Corporation or C Corporation

Your State of Florida Corporation Must Follow Certain Rules and Regulations

• All FL corporations must issue stock to shareholders.

• All FL corporations must hold Annual General Meetings (AGMs).

• All FL corporations must have an elected Board of Directors.

• All FL corporations must appoint officers.

All Florida corporations must follow stringent compliance rules and regulations. These include financial reports, bylaws, corporate formalities, taxes, fees, business licenses and the like. You can find links to these below.

Learn about Florida corporation requirements.

Learn about Florida corporation taxes and fees.

Are you ready to start your Florida corporation? If so, we can help. We provide comprehensive corporation formation services for both S Corporations and C Corporations in Florida.

Start Your S Corp with Incfile      Start Your C Corp with Incfile

Detailed Information for Your Florida Corporation

You’ll find plenty more insight and guidance on the other pages of this guide, including:

Forming Your State of Florida Corporation

The six steps you need to take to start a Florida S Corporation or C Corporation.

Naming Your State of Florida Corporation

How to search the Florida business registry of the FL Division of Corporations and find the right name. Includes information on naming rules, fictitious names, reserving a Florida corporation name and more.

Florida Registered Agents for Your Corporation

How to appoint a Florida Registered Agent to your new corporation or change to a different Registered Agent. Includes information on Registered Agent rules and searching for Florida Registered Agents.

Fees and Requirements for Your Florida Corporation

How to understand the various fees you’ll need to pay and the requirements you’ll need to meet for both federal and Florida rules. Includes details of Employee Identification Numbers (EINs), Florida and federal business licenses, Florida annual reports and more.

Federal, State, Sales and Other Taxes for Your Florida Corporation

How to understand the various taxes you will need to pay to the federal and Florida government. Includes details of federal taxes like income and self-employment, and Florida taxes like sales tax and income tax.