Incorporation in Florida

Find the right Business Incorporation attorney in St. Petersburg, FL

Florida law allows a business to incorporate and be recognized as its own legal entity. When an incorporated business acts, whether it is to buy and sell property, assent to contracts or exercise legal rights, the process is then attributable to the business itself and not its owners. The Florida Secretary of State receives and processes applications for incorporation, which must be submitted in compliance with local guidelines.

Benefits of Incorporation in Florida

Advantages of incorporation are many. The primary benefit is that the liabilities of the business can only be satisfied by the assets specifically invested into the company by the owners. Had the business instead remained a collection of the owners' personal assets, the personal property of the stakeholders could be liquidated to pay the liabilities of the business, if it runs into financial problems. A corporation may also find it easier to finance itself through loans, allowing creditors in the St. Petersburg area to evaluate their investment by assessing the corporation rather than the individual credit-worthiness of its owners. Finally, ownership of a corporation is divided into equal portions or "shares" of stock, which may be bought and sold much more easily than the ownership of an unincorporated business.

Costs of Incorporation

Incorporation can be costly. First, a modest filing fee may be charged in Florida for any business that wants to incorporate. Also, a corporation is taxed as its own entity. Disbursements to the owners of the corporation are also taxed as individual income, so this means earnings may be taxed twice. But this double taxation can be avoided with proper planning and help from a local St. Petersburg lawyer.

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Life in St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg, Florida is the fourth largest city in the state of Florida, and a popular vacation destination for both domestic and international tourists. St. Petersburg is the second largest city in the Tampa Bay area, and home to just under 250,000 residents. The sizeable city is located between the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay -- a location that makes St. Petersburg highly accessible. Nicknamed, "The Sunshine City"boasts 360 days of sunshine a year. Not surprisingly, St. Petersburg is also apopular retirement destination. The St. Petersburg Pier, Museum of Fine Arts, and the Salvador Dali Museum are just a couple of the more popular attractions in the sunny city. St. Petersburg is also home to three professional sports teams for football, baseball, and hockey as well as hosts to many amateursports teams. Professional athletes are not the only professionals that thrive in St. Petersburg. Doctors, lawyers, and accountants are also plentiful in the city. St. Petersburg lawyers have a range of skills and are available to help their clients with big or small legal problems. St. Petersburg lawyers are skilled in any issue a client may be dealing with. With the great weather and growing industries, it is no wonder that St. Petersburg also attracts so many fabulous attorneys.

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