Central Florida Business Formation Lawyer

Offering Business Formation Services for Businesses of All Sizes in Central Florida

Forming a new business often requires complex plans and tough decisions. Chances are you’ll also encounter unanticipated obstacles and dilemmas. When you are ready to start a business, you need legal counsel and representation from someone who’s been there before and is willing to fight for you. The Daytona Beach-based business formation lawyers of Lankford Law Firm help company owners protect their interests by offering legal advice and completing or reviewing all legal documents required when forming a new company.

With the many risks involved in starting a business, you need the assistance of an experienced business attorney from a top law firm. Our honest attorneys will give you excellent legal advice regarding your business ideas and will guide you each step of the way, which is why we have earned such high reviews from our clients. With some of the best reviews among all the law firms in Florida, our lawyers are known for their aggressive and tenacious stance on business law.

Lankford Law Firm uses sound legal guidance and careful planning to help you avoid disputes and business litigation that could disrupt or seriously damage your company in future years. During and after the business formation process, our experienced business attorneys will act as your registered agent and reliable business partner for all your business-related legal needs.

If you’re considering a new business or commercial venture in Daytona Beach, FL, or have already launched the business development process, call the Daytona Beach-based business formation lawyers at Lankford Law Firm today for the advice and services every Florida business needs. We’ll discuss your unique needs and form a plan to help you minimize personal liability and see the success you want in your own business. Call 850-888-8992 to schedule a case review with our law firm today.

What Is the Process of Meeting with Your Business Formation Lawyers?

Business formation doesn’t work with a cookie-cutter technique. Forming a new business requires planning and attention to detail so your business structure matches your unique needs and goals. Our elite team of Florida business formation lawyers begins by assessing your particular business goals, needs, and resources. We consider risk, liability, and tax consequences and help you determine the business entity that best fits your goals and circumstances, such as a limited liability company, partnership, or corporation.

We can also review key documents or help you draft the legal documents you’ll need when opening a new business, including:

Articles of incorporation or articles of organization
Corporate bylaws
Operating agreements
Shareholder agreements
Employment agreements, contracts, and policies

When we meet with small business owners, we take the time to get to know the person’s style, wishes, and current situation. We often come to our clients’ places of profession to make the initial consultation easier and more comfortable. We promise to listen carefully to your goals and assess your situation thoroughly to help you design the structure you need for your new or growing business. Call today to schedule your case evaluation.

What Does a Registered Agent Do?

Florida law requires most business owners to designate a registered agent to act on their company’s behalf. When you are served with a summons, a lawsuit, or other official government documents, you must have a registered agent authorized to receive and sign these documents during regular business hours. It is of utmost importance to pick an entity that you can trust to handle your affairs with skill and dedication. Otherwise, you could put your reputation and business at unnecessary risk.

Serving and representing clients throughout Central Florida, our law firm’s business lawyer will act as your registered agent and provide the entire range of legal services that a small business routinely requires. When you’re forming a company, obtaining the services of an experienced business formation lawyer who can also act as your registered agent is one of the most important things you can do.

In addition, Lankford Law Firm can assist with other matters, such as writing business contracts, partnership agreements, and other business needs. Call our law office for excellent legal representation when it matters most.

Why Should I Form a Separate Legal Entity When Creating a New Business?

Starting a business can be thrilling and terrifying. You may have a new product or service that will benefit many people, help improve your community, and provide a lifestyle of wealth for you and your family. Many people put years of savings and work into starting a new business. With so much at stake, it is imperative that you do everything you can to protect your company legally.

One crucial step in preventing future legal issues is to choose the proper structure for your new or growing business. Business entities affect how the company is run, how you’ll pay in taxes, who makes the decisions, how selling the company would work, and other essential questions throughout the company’s entire life cycle. Without proper business formation, your name could be tied into your company’s legal entity, which puts your personal assets at risk.

The legal aspects of business entities can be complicated and overwhelming, so it’s not surprising that many small business owners skip this step. However, failing to organize their business legally risks can mean risking the company’s reputation and well-being in the future.

The good news is that with a business formation attorney, you can get answers about how various business entities operate and which one is suitable for your company. Please don’t go it alone when handling these critical legal matters. Call Lankford Law Firm for honest answers and excellent legal counsel based on years of experience.

What Are My Options When Forming a Business in Florida?

New business owners have several options when it comes to business structures. Picking the right entity type can greatly affect your business for years to come. It is important to understand your options to set yourself up for a lifetime of success.

Some business entities that owners in Florida often use include:

Sole proprietorship – Sole proprietors own the company completely and enjoy the most simple structure for their business. If the business is under an assumed name, the owner may need to file a “doing business as” form (DBA) to operate under the other name. The downside of a sole proprietorship is that the owner assumes all risks associated with the business, including debts and lawsuits
Limited liability company (LLC) – An LLC is one of the most popular options for new business owners. An LLC provides more protection for owners than a sole proprietorship, but it does not require the extensive structuring of a corporation. LLC owners also receive the benefit of pass-through taxation, which means taxes are paid on the salary the owner receives rather than on the profits earned by the business
Corporation – The corporation involves a great deal of structuring and is usually more complex than an LLC or partnership. The corporate documents required include shareholder agreements, a board of directors, and other forms. Taxes also work differently in a corporation, so it is essential to analyze whether this structure is right for you
Partnerships – Partnership structures include the general partnership, limited partnership, and limited liability partnership. Your choice depends on your willingness to assume risk for the other partner(s)

How Does a Limited Liability Company Work?

The limited liability company (LLC) is an ideal business entity for many individuals because of its simplicity. The owners do not need to raise money as they would to start a corporation. The LLC also avoids the complex structuring necessary for corporations. At the same time, an LLC offers the benefit of legal protection from debts and legal suits that a sole proprietorship and some partnerships lack.

Some of the steps of starting an LLC in Florida are:

Choose a name – Your business’s name will be how your product or service is recognized. You must ensure that the name is not currently used by anyone else in the state. You must also include an indication that the company is an LLC as part of the name
File a DBA – Since you are operating under an assumed name, you must submit a “doing business as” form. Your business formation attorney can help choose a name and file the proper forms
Choose a registered agent – Your registered agent is legally required in a Florida LLC. This person or entity receives mail on your behalf. You may represent yourself as a registered agent, but keep in mind that your address would go on the public record if you choose this route
File articles of organization – The State of Florida requires LLC owners to file an article of organization, which includes your LLC’s name and address, registered agent’s name and address, date of creation, and signatures from owners and authorized representatives
Pay required fees – Florida requires fees for the articles of organization and registered agent

Reach out to our experienced business formation lawyer for help navigating the business formation process for your LLC. We’ll walk you through each step and ensure everything is submitted legally and in a timely manner so you can avoid delays and any legal hassles in the future.

Can Your Attorneys Help My Current Business?

Our knowledgeable business formation lawyers are ready to help at every stage of the process. We have excellent skills and knowledge regarding business formation, but we can also assist with legal matters that arise while growing your existing business.

Some ways our business attorney assists current business owners are:

Review contract terms to ensure the documents meet your needs
Provide guidance on your rights and duties in business legal matters
Create new employment agreements, commercial leases, documents regarding stock certificates, and other critical legal documents
Resolve disputes among board members
Explain your legal options during a breach of contract
Provide legal representation to you during a dispute
Draft sale agreements

Whether you want to minimize individual liability by restructuring your business or get legal help during a dispute, we’ll be there to protect you. We will also meet your best interests by helping you create a business plan in the Sunshine State. Call Lankford Law Firm immediately to complete your filing requirements or get the counsel and representation you need for the future success you deserve.

Should You Hire Our Central Florida Business Formation Lawyer?

Building a business is a wonderful way to enjoy the lifestyle you’ve always wanted. However, starting a business can be extremely risky. One of the best ways to minimize your risk and get the legal protection you need is by choosing the proper business structure when forming your business. If you have an existing business, it’s not too late to reorganize and use the legal entity that best matches your current situation.

Our legal team is ready to help you understand the nuanced legal aspects of business formation in Florida. We will take the time to carefully analyze your goals and circumstances to choose a business entity that gets you to where you want to be. We understand that much of your future success depends on ensuring the legal aspects of your business are all in order. We’ll do everything possible to prepare your company for the success you’ve always dreamed of.

We will also be there for you if any legal issues arise in the future, such as breaches of contract or new required documentation. We will fight aggressively for your best interest during disputes or other problems.

Attorney Lankford provides a comfortable, friendly setting for clients and potential clients to discuss their business matters, commercial interests, and related legal needs by setting appointments around her clients’ schedules and coming to their offices for meetings. Contact the qualified business attorneys of Lankford Law Firm for a consultation today at 850-888-8992.