Florida Articles of Incorporation
Florida articles of incorporation are filed to create a corporation.
Preparing and filing your articles of incorporation is the first step in starting your business corporation. Approval of this document secures your corporate name and creates the legal entity of the corporation. Only after this approval can the corporation apply for tax IDs, obtain business licenses, sign contracts, and otherwise conduct business.
Benefits
Incorporating provides many important benefits:
- Limits the liability of directors, officers, and shareholders
- Fulfills statutory requirements to register your business name
- Provides governance and adds credibility
Fast Facts
For Domestic Corporations:
| Agency: | Florida Department of State - Division of Corporations |
| Form: | |
| Filing Method: | Mail or online |
| Agency Fee: | $70 |
| Turnaround: | ~1-3 days online. ~8-17 days by mail |
| Law: | |
| Notes: | When filing by mail, provide the state-prescribed cover letter, the original articles, and a copy of the articles. |
Other Helpful Florida Facts
As you are preparing to incorporate, keep in mind the following requirements specific to Florida.
Florida Directors
- Number: One or more required.
- Qualifications: Natural person, eighteen years of age or older.
- Quorum: Majority of directors, unless bylaws fix a different number. No less than one third.
Florida Officers
- As stated in the bylaws. One person may hold multiple offices. One officer is required to be responsible for maintaining corporate records.
Florida Bylaws
- Required: Yes.
Florida Annual Shareholder Meeting
- Required: Yes.
- Action by written consent: Allowed if enough shareholders consent to equal the number required to take action by vote.
Florida Shareholders
- Qualifications: N/A
- Stock Certificate: Not required.
- Voting Trusts Allowed: Yes.
