An interactive orientation tool comparing Florida entity structures based on general business circumstances.
Interactive tool
Florida Business Structure Selector
The Florida entity structures commonly associated with your ownership, capital and operating profile, with the governance documents each implies.
Step 1 of 4
Please do not enter confidential or sensitive information.
What this tool does
The business structure selector asks general questions about ownership, anticipated investors, industry and tax preferences and surfaces the entity structures commonly used in comparable situations.
It is meant to frame the decision, not finalize it. Entity choice interacts with tax elections, immigration plans and industry-specific licensing in ways that require individualized review.
How to use the result
- 1
Compare the suggested structures
Review the general tradeoffs the tool presents between LLC, corporation and other structures relevant to your inputs.
- 2
Flag any immigration dependency
If an immigration filing depends on the entity, note this so formation counsel can align the two from the outset.
- 3
Consider tax election questions separately
Entity type and tax election (such as S-corp treatment) are related but distinct decisions that a tax advisor should weigh in on.
- 4
Bring the output to a formation consultation
Use the general result as a starting point for a specific formation and governance conversation.
What the tool does not do
It does not provide tax advice, does not account for industry-specific licensing constraints on entity type and does not draft or review any formation or governance documents.
The output is general orientation only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by using it.
Why entity choice matters early
Converting an entity type after formation, or after investors or an immigration filing are already in motion, is possible but adds cost, delay and complexity. Considering the tradeoffs before filing formation documents with the Florida Division of Corporations avoids much of that friction.
Common structures the tool may surface
- Florida LLC: flexible management and taxation, often preferred by founders not raising institutional capital.
- Florida or Delaware corporation: preferred where preferred stock and venture investment are anticipated.
- Partnership structures: used in certain joint venture and professional-services contexts.
- Holding-and-operating structures: used to separate real estate, intellectual property, or liability-sensitive operations.
Answers
Frequently asked questions
- Will this tool tell me exactly which entity to form?
- It surfaces general options and considerations based on your inputs. A final decision should be made with an attorney and, where relevant, a tax advisor reviewing your specific circumstances.
- Does this tool replace a formation consultation?
- No. It is intended to prepare you for a more focused formation consultation, not to replace it.
Official sources
Consult the official sources above for current rules and procedures.