Condign a Sole Proprietor in Florida

Here is an outline of the steps you should follow to get started as a sole proprietor in Florida. You should likewise read the general section for data that is applicable in any state.

1. Choose a business proper noun for your sole proprietorship and bank check for availability.

  • Please see our section on choosing and checking the availability of a name for your small business, as well as our section on the trademark law aspects of choosing a proper name.

2. Register the concern name with local, state, and/or federal authorities.

  • If you will be operating your sole proprietorship under a name that is unlike from your own name, then you will need to apply for permission to use a "fictitious business name" with the Department of State. Yous can file a Fictitious Proper noun Registration Form by mail, or y'all tin can submit it online. There is a $50 fee to file.
  • Although y'all are not required to exercise and then, you should consider registering your business proper noun equally a federal and/or land trademark. Please see the Trademark for Business Naming section for details.

3. Obtain whatever required local licenses.

  • Please see the general section for details.

4. Determine what tax and other regulatory obligations your sole proprietorship has, and take care of any necessary registrations.

  • If you accept an employee or employees, y'all need to use for an Employment Identification Number from the IRS. You can use for an EIN online. Y'all may use for an EIN even if y'all have no employees. Doing then may make information technology easier to open a banking company account and reduce your chance of identity theft. There is no filing fee.
  • Annals for Florida business organization taxes online using the Florida Department of Acquirement Online Registration service. The State has compiled a Start-Up Kit for New Business organization Owners that includes tax forms and brochures for each type of taxation for which you will exist responsible.
  • Whenever you rent an employee in Florida, you must inform both the IRS and the State of Florida. Yous can find details of all the necessary steps including verifying work eligibility and withholding allowances on the Hiring Employees section of the IRS website. You can notice state-level information about reporting new hires at the Florida New Hire Reporting Center.
  • If you accept four or more employees in Florida, you must carry workers' compensation insurance.
  • As a small business possessor or employer, at that place may exist other informational returns that you accept to file annually or semi-annually with the IRS. For more information, take a look at the IRS Guide To Information Returns.

5. Open a banking company account for your business.

  • It is a practiced idea to go along your business'south finances separate from your personal accounts. A skillful way to do this early on on is by opening a banking company business relationship for your business organization. The bank will probably require your Social Security Number or EIN and a copy of your business organisation name filing, although you may not need any documentation if your business organization's proper noun includes your surname. (Hither is an example of what banks may require.)

Jurisdiction:

  • Florida

Subject field:

  • Business concern Formation