| When you start a corporation in Florida, you need to | | | | business or a non-profit organization. You are also |
| file for Articles of Incorporation (this is also known as | | | | required to specify the number of shares of stock that |
| Charter, Certificate of Incorporation or Letter Patent). | | | | your corporation is authorized to have. The names, |
| When you file for this document in Florida, check with | | | | address and titles of the directors and officers are |
| the state corporate filing office either through the | | | | optional, though you may be required to apply for |
| Secretary of State of Florida or the Corporations | | | | license, open a bank account, etc. Specify the name |
| Commissioner of Florida, and federal and state | | | | and the Florida street address of the initial registered |
| trademark offices for availability of the name you | | | | agent. A post office box is not acceptable for an |
| want to incorporate. | | | | address. |
| The name of the corporation you include in your | | | | The registered agent must sign in the space provided |
| Articles of Incorporation must include a name and a | | | | and type or print the name, indicating acceptance of |
| corporate suffix. The name you want to give your | | | | the designation. The name and address of the |
| corporation has to be distinct and descriptive, with a | | | | Incorporator needs to be specified as well. The |
| legal ending. The legal ending of the name indicates | | | | incorporator too needs to sign in the space provided |
| that your company is a legal corporation and not just a | | | | and type or print his/her name below the signature. |
| business registration of partnership. The legal endings | | | | Attach a separate article to specify the date of |
| you can choose from are Incorporated (Inc.), Limited | | | | application. This is optional, though. If this page is not |
| (Ltd.), and Corporation (Corp.). | | | | attached then the date of the receipt will serve as the |
| In your Articles of Incorporation, you have to state the | | | | date of filing. |
| specific purpose of the corporation, whether it is a | | | | |