Business Law

Entities

Florida recognizes multiple forms of business entities. The most common is an LLC, which stands for limited liability company. Today there are almost two million LLCs registered in Florida. The second most common entity is a corporation, and today there are about one million corporations registered in Florida.

LLCs and corporations are formed by filing articles with the Florida Division of Corporations. The state allows this to be done online, but the forms provided by the state do not include all of the forms that an LLC or corporation should have. For example, the state does not provide an operating agreement for an LLC or the bylaws and stock certificates for a corporation. So, forming an LLC or corporation in Florida is best left to lawyers rather than doing it yourself.

Business Team

In addition to a lawyer, your business team should include an accountant to assist in setting up the accounting system and tax filings and an insurance agent to advise on insurance coverages available for the entity and its owners and employees.

Contracts

Most business relationships include contracts. They might be called customer agreements, order forms, employment agreements, license agreements, buy-sell agreements, etc. All of them are contracts and are governed by contract law. Lawyers provide legal advice regarding contracts, as well as drafting contracts. 

Free Business Formation Ebooks

St. Petersburg real estate attorney Jim Martin has written three new books on forming Florida legal entities. The books, “How To Form a Florida LLC or Limited Liability Company”, “How To Form a Florida Business Corporation”, and “How To Form a Florida Nonprofit Corporation”, are available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble as ebooks and printed paperbacks. They are also available as free ebooks.

Articles on Contract Drafting

Jim has also written articles on drafting contracts.

Florida Business Law Blogs

The Florida Lawyer Jim Martin Blog has many tips and comments regarding Florida business law and Florida legal entities. They are found under the topic Business, and can be further refined by clicking on a Tag. All blog entries can be seen in the Archives.

Business Client Questionnaire

The forms page includes the Business Client Questionnaire for clients to complete and send to Jim Martin with information regarding their business legal matters.