Florida S Corporation Formation Attorneys & Lawyers

Where are you located?
Zip Code
FIND A LAWYER

How it Works

Request Proposals
Tell us about your legal need so attorneys can prepare custom proposals. It only takes a minute and your information is strictly confidential.
Review Quotes
Our algorithm matches you with attorneys qualified to handle your legal work. You can review their proposals and schedule consultations with no obligation.
Hire Your Lawyers
When you’re ready, hire the attorney that’s right for you. Use our platform to easily collaborate online and ensure your information stays safe and secure.
Steven S.

Steven Stark

583 reviews
For over 30 years, Steven Stark has offered counsel to non-profit organizations and private companies. He has a passion for helping small businesses in particular since he himself started several businesses of his own in New York and Florida. He understands the importance of small businesses having a reliable attorney to advise them about legal matters from their inception.
|
Get Proposal View Profile
Jake S.

Jake Siciliano

268 reviews
Jake graduated from Thomas Jefferson School of Law where he focused on international trademark and corporate law. As of 2022, he has obtained his L.L.M. in Financial Compli... read more
|
Get Proposal View Profile
Richard G.

Richard Gora

200 reviews
Looking for an attorney with experience? Richard Gora is the exact attorney you want. Having defended over 100 cases both in state and federal courts and working with clients from around the globe, Richard has an array of different experiences. His services are wide-ranging and include business litigation, securities litigations, employment litigation, and business counsel. Prior to founding Gora LLC, he worked for Finn, Dixon & Herling LLP for eight years.
|
Get Proposal View Profile
Michael W.

Michael Wieser

161 reviews
I am dedicated to working with startup entrepreneurs and early stage growth companies to provide legal stability and scalability for growing enterprises. What sets me apart... read more
|
Get Proposal View Profile
Brig R.

Brig Ricks

153 reviews
I am a senior executive and strategic legal adviser with 19 years of experience providing legal services in international environments. I am a general counsel who can advis... read more
|
Get Proposal View Profile
Grant M.

Grant Maynard

128 reviews
Grant represents high-growth companies in all aspects of formation, financing, and intellectual property issues. He has previously done general corporate, intellectual, and real estate work at Nebraska's oldest law firm before transitioning to a more virtual lifestyle. As an entrepreneur himself, he understands the need to balance legal and business interests.
|
Get Proposal View Profile
Terry B.

Terry Brennan

109 reviews
Terry has thirty eight years of experience and practiced for many years as an associate and a partner at prominent Wall Street and national law firms before starting the Brennan Legal Group Pllc. His practice focuses primarily on business formation, commercial matters, mergers and acquisitions, securities, technology transactions, intellectual property and entertainment matters. Terry's goal is to provide practical, cost-effective legal assistance to entrepreneurs, investors, emerging and mid-size businesses which are focused on commercializing innovation and rewarding capital risk. Terry graduated from Georgetown University Law Center, where he was an Editor of the Georgetown Law Journal
|
Get Proposal View Profile
Bob S.

Bob Schrader, Esq.

97 reviews
Bob Schrader is an attorney at law who has been practicing law for over three decades. He has been licensed to practice law in Florida. Bob received his J.D. in law from the Nova Southeastern University – Shepard Broad Law Center. He primarily specializes in assisting small businesses and startups with their legal matters. Bob also specializes in immigration law. He founded his own legal firm in June 2007.
|
Get Proposal View Profile
Jennifer N.

Jennifer Newton

1 review
Over a span of fifteen years, Jennifer Newton has served as a trusted advisor to clients and businesses of all types, ranging from burgeoning startups to established multin... read more
|
Get Proposal View Profile
Adam L.

Adam Lusthaus

With nearly two decades of experience navigating the complexities of real estate and business transactions Adam Lusthaus is a trusted legal advisor to a diverse range of cl... read more
|
Get Proposal View Profile
View All NEXT

Why use UpCounsel to hire a Florida S Corporation Formation Attorney?

Confused by complicated questionnaires and government forms? Want to get your questions answered by a real attorney? UpCounsel provides personalized legal services with experienced attorneys to help form your Florida S Corp the right way.
14 years

Average experience

You always get experienced professionals and high caliber work.

3x

Faster

Your work gets done quickly because professionals are always available.

60%

More cost effective

We use technology to cut traditional overhead and save you thousands.

UpCounsel has been talked about in:

Why use UpCounsel to form an S Corporation in Florida

Starting an S Corporation in Florida with a business startup attorney on UpCounsel is easy, informative, and cost-effective. In just three simple steps, our S Corporation attorneys will help you protect your business and personal assets, and help you organize your business for state and federal compliance for an S Corporation.

When forming an S Corporation in Florida with UpCounsel, the attorney you choose to help you will conduct a business name search for your Florida S Corporation and assist you in preparing your S Corporation Operating Agreement, along with providing other legal services based on your needs. Once your Articles of Incorporation have been prepared and successfully filed with the Florida Department of State, your Florida S Corporation has been formed and begins its existence as a corporate entity.

However, a corporation does not register as an S Corporation with the Department of State. It registers as a corporation with the state and then may file for S Corporation status with the IRS. S Corporation status is a taxation category which provides income tax advantages to small businesses.

Choosing a Company Name for Your S Corporation

One of the first steps in the process of forming your S Corporation is to choose your business name.

The business name that you choose must include the words "Corporation", "Incorporated", or "Company", or the applicable abbreviation "Corp.", "Inc.", or "Co." It must be distinguishable (not the same as or deceptively similar to) the name of an S Corp or foreign S Corporation reserved or registered.

Your S Corporation name may contain the name of one or more members.

By using UpCounsel, you can choose several business names in order of preference. Your attorney of choice can then conduct a name check for your Florida S Corp before filing to see which names are available. Once you have chosen an available name, your chosen S Corporation attorney can help you properly register your name with the State of Florida.

Requirements for Forming a Florida S Corporation

Articles of Incorporation: When forming an S Corporation in Florida, the Articles of Incorporation must be filed with the Florida Division of Corporations. Florida state law requires that certain information be included in your Articles of Incorporation when forming your Florida S Corporation.

This information must include:

  1. The S-Corp's name and address.
  2. The statutory agent's name and address as well as the agent's signature accepting the appointment.
  3. The S-Corp's purpose.
  4. The number of shares the S Corporation is authorized to issue.
  5. The names and addresses of initial officers or directors and the incorporator(s).

Additionally, a Florida S Corporation formation generally requires inclusion and/or consideration of the following:

S Corporation Qualification Requirements: For a corporation to qualify as a S Corporation for tax purposes, it must meet the following requirements:

  1. Must be a domestic corporation.
  2. Have only allowable shareholders including individual, certain trusts, and estates; and may not include partnerships, corporations or non-resident shareholders.
  3. Have only one class of stock
  4. Have no more than 100 shareholders
  5. Not be an ineligible corporation (i.e. certain financial institutions, insurance companies, and domestic international sales corporations).

Additionally, a Florida S Corporation formation generally requires inclusion and/or consideration of the following:

S Corporation Operating Agreement: Although the S Corporation Operating Agreement is not required with the Articles of Incorporation, it is a good idea for every S Corporation with more than one member to have one. The Articles of Incorporation may contain restrictions or prohibitions on the power of the members to adopt, amend, or repeal an operating agreement. Florida recognizes operating agreements as governing documents.

Membership: A S Corporation must have one or more members.

Eligibility Requirements: A natural person or an entity.

Procedure for Membership: The member may acquire an interest in the S Corporation directly from the S Corporation at the time of formation and, after formation, at the time provided in and upon compliance with the Articles of Incorporation or the operating agreement or, if not provided, only upon the vote of a majority in interest of the S Corporation members, excluding the vote of the person acquiring the membership interest, and only when the person becomes a party to the S-Corp's operating agreement.

Business Licenses: Business licenses and/or permits are required for most S-Corp's offering specific professional services. Contact the Florida State Corporations Commission for specific licenses.

Resident Agent needed for a Florida S Corporation

Remember every Florida S Corporation must have a registered agent in Florida, which is the person or office designated to receive official state correspondence and notice if the company is "served" with a lawsuit. The statutory agent may be a Florida resident or business entity authorized to do business in Florida. The registered agent must have a physical Florida street address.

Florida Department of State

Once you create an S Corporation in Florida, the Florida Department of State will require that certain recurring responsibilities and duties be fulfilled. The most important of these are explained below.

For further information, contact the Florida Department of State.

Recurring Responsibilities and Duties for Florida S Corporations

Annual Report: Each S Corporation shall provide an annual report to the Florida Department of State regarding its financial condition to each of its members. The first report is due in the year following your corporation's formation. The report must be filed online between January 1st and May 1st.

Records: Each Florida S Corporation must keep the following records open to inspection at its office:

  1. The names and addresses of members, managers, and managing members.
  2. A copy of the Articles of Incorporation and all amendments thereto, together with any powers of attorney pursuant to which the Articles of Incorporation or any amendments thereto were executed.
  3. Copies of the S-Corp's federal, state, and local income tax or information returns and reports, if any, for the three most recent taxable years.
  4. Copies of the S-Corp's financial statements and Operating Agreement, if any, for the three most recent fiscal years.
  5. A current list of each members' economic contribution and the share in profits as well as any times or occurrences of members' agreed to make additional contributions.
  6. A signed "Incorporator's Statement" showing the names and addresses of the initial directors who will serve on the board until the first annual meeting of shareholders.

Business Licenses: Business licenses and/or permits are required for most businesses. Contact the Florida Department of State for specific licenses.

Filing Fees for a Florida S Corporation

The processing fee for the Articles of Incorporation is generally about $70. These fees can change so it would be best to check with the Florida Department of State on what the latest fees are. You may pay these fees in many different forms including cash, check, money orders, or debit and credit cards.

Taxes for a Florida S Corporation

A Florida S Corporation is a special type of corporation created through an IRS tax election. An eligible corporation can avoid double taxation (once to the corporation and again to the shareholders) by a corporation with a Subchapter S designation by the IRS. A corporation must file a Form 2553 to elect "S" status within two months and 15 days after the beginning of the tax year.

Owners of the S Corporation report business losses or profits on their personal tax returns, and therefore the business itself is not taxed. Each shareholder is responsible for paying taxes on their pro rata share of the S corporation's items of income, deductions, and credits (through a Schedule K-1 form).

Florida state law follows federal law for income tax purposes. Therefore if a corporation is classified as an association taxable as a S Corporation for federal income tax purposes, so will it be taxable as a corporation for state tax purposes.

Federal Income Tax: An S Corporation does not pay federal income tax.

Florida State Income Tax: Florida S Corporations are exempt to the income tax to the extent that their income is not subject to federal income tax.

Federal Tax Identification Number: Your corporation will need to obtain a federal tax identification number, which is also known as an Employment Identification Number (EIN). You do not need to get a new EIN after the corporation choose to become a S Corporation. An EIN is similar to an individual's social security number. You will need an EIN for your S Corporation as long as there is one member, even if the S Corporation does not have employees. For certain tax filing requirements the attorney you choose on UpCounsel can help prepare your Federal Tax ID Application, if you have not done so already.

Start Your Business Off Right with an Affordable Attorney in Florida

What Our Customers Have to Say

"UpCounsel gives me access to big-firm lawyers minus the big-firm price tag. I work with several attorneys on the platform and there are never surprises...I always receive quality legal work at competitive rates that larger firms simply cannot match."

Scott Woods
SVP & General Counsel

"Every startup needs to know about UpCounsel. We found great attorneys at great prices and were able to focus our resources on improving our business instead of paying legal bills."

Sean Conway
Co-founder & CEO

"Before UpCounsel it was hard for us to find the right lawyer with the right expertise for our business. UpCounsel solves those problems by being more affordable and helping us find the right lawyer in no time."

Tristan Pollock
Co-founder & COO

This is the most recent 20 reviews out of 232 reviews for Business Formation attorneys in Florida

Matthew Roazen
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Consult on Corporate Restructure

Matthew Roazen

"Matt is a seasoned professional who does great work."

.
Oviedo, FL,

Steven Stark
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Consult on Corporate Restructure

Steven Stark

"Very quick service & turnaround time. Helpful consultation with clarification."

.
Orlando, FL,

Jennifer Newton
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Restructure Corporation

Jennifer Newton

"Jennifer was an absolute pleasure to work with! She was prompt in her replies and thorough in her responses. Highly recommend."

.
Estero, FL,

Jake Siciliano
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Assist with Other Business Formation Matter

Jake Siciliano

"Jake was easy to work with and finished my contract very quickly"

.
Green Cove Springs, FL,

Alisha Bond
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Review Buyout Agreement

Alisha Bond

"Alisha was wonderful to work with. I was extremely stressed and she remained calm and professional. I would recommend Alisha tackle all your legal needs"

.
Eustis, FL,

Michael Wieser
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Consult on Corporate Restructure

Michael Wieser

"Michael helped us with our corporate restructuring for a very fair price. Because he is so experienced in this realm, he was able to quickly do complex tasks (especially with all of the required documentation) and deliver at or above our expectations."

.
Orlando, FL,

Mario Milano
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Review Operating Agreement

Mario Milano

"Mario was very helpful and responsive to all of my questions. Definitely will utilize him again in the future. Highly recommend!!"

.
Fort Myers, FL,

Jonathan Savar
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Review Buyout Agreement

Jonathan Savar

"Jonathan went above and beyond to negotiate a buyout contract for exit in my former company. He used his wealth of knowledge to provide the fullest protection of my best interests and made himself available to me any day or night. I definitely would use Jonathan again for all my contract needs. He is a great lawyer and business advisor to have in your corner."

.
Buford, GA,

Ryan A. Woods
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Business Formation Consultation

Ryan A. Woods

"I had the pleasure of working with Attorney Ryan to establish my business, and I must say it was an exceptional experience. Attorney Ryan's extensive knowledge of the necessary documents for setting up a business was truly impressive. He went the extra mile by suggesting additional documents I had not considered. As a first-time entrepreneur, having Attorney Ryan's guidance was a true blessing. He was incredibly responsive and willingly made revisions whenever I requested updates. The quality of his work is outstanding, and I couldn't be happier with the results. Attorney Ryan's pricing is quite reasonable, making his services accessible to everyone. If you're seeking a top-notch attorney who offers quality work, quick turnaround times, effective communication, and affordability, I wholeheartedly recommend Attorney Ryan. You won't be disappointed!"

.
West Palm Beach, FL,

Mario Naim
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Assist with Other Business Formation Matter

Mario Naim

"Very quick response and clear legal counsel. Thank you Mario!"

.
Miami, FL,

Brandon Pittard
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Review Operating Agreement

Brandon Pittard

"Brandon was fast and efficient. Super easy to deal with."

.
North Fort Myers, FL,

Daniel Weberman
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Corporate Restructure Services

Daniel Weberman

"Very responsive and fast, was great working with Daniel."

.
Boynton Beach, FL,

Faryal Ayub
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Review Partnership Agreement

Faryal Ayub

"Attorney Ayub was very fair and easy to communicate my needs with."

.
Tampa, FL,

Bob Schrader, Esq.
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Assist with Other Business Formation Matter

Bob Schrader, Esq.

"Bob knows his business very well, was upfront and clear in all communications, and carefully listened to my needs instead of giving me a generic attendance. I am very happy with our interactions so far."

.
Miami, FL,

Katie Centolella
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Review Operating Agreement

Katie Centolella

"Great work and Thorough"

.
Tampa, FL,

Michael Perez
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Consult on Corporate Restructure

Michael Perez

"Michael has been great to work with. I will continue to utilize his services."

.
Marco Island, FL,

Chelsie Campbell
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Review Operating Agreement

Chelsie Campbell

"Chelsie replied to my questions quickly and made the process simple and easy!"

.
Fort Myers, FL,

Gary Rosser
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Consult on Corporate Restructure

Gary Rosser

"It was a pleasure to meet and work with Gary virtually. He was patient and professional. All of my questions were answered and I left our consultation with clear action steps on how to accomplish my goals. If I run into any hiccups, Gary will be the first person I call. Thank you Gary!"

.
Miami, FL,

Erin Hudson
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Review Partnership Agreement

Erin Hudson

"Erin provided exactly what we discussed within a quick timeframe. Would definitely recommend her."

.
Kissimmee, FL,

Marshall Harris
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

New Florida LLC

Marshall Harris

"We've used Marshall for a few LLC & Contract formation projects. We appreciate his knowledge in this area of practice, and that he responds / works in a professional and timely manner."

.
Boca Raton, FL,

Find the best lawyer for your legal needs

Find a lawyer