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The Incorporation Process

Contact your local Small Business Development Center office. They provide a variety of resources, which will help you with the incorporation process. The following is a website that has a listing for all SBDC's in the U.S.

If you plan to incorporate your business, contact either the Secretary of State, Information Department, Tallahassee, Florida, Phone (850)-488-9000 or the Bureau of Corporate Records, Phone: (850)-487-6058.

This site has online access to digital images and documents.

Sunbiz is the Florida Division of Corporations' online information, research, and electronic processing service center. Here you can directly access the Division's business entity, lien information, and image databases. You can also download and print copies of filed documents and forms to use when filing.

You will need to get a general business license, which is basically, a permit to operate a business locally. Check with the local planning department for building and zoning permits. Contact your local city and county government to determine the need for special licenses. Certain occupations require a special license, such as day care providers and general contractors. Getting through the maze of government regulations can be intimidating but it is important to do so because noncompliance can result in costly penalties.