Starting a New Business

When starting a business, there are many important decisions to make and many rules and procedures that must be considered. While there is no single source of information for starting a business, the following steps have been developed to assist you in starting your business.

Business Plan

It is helpful to begin with a business plan. A business plan is a blueprint of every aspect of your business. Sales, marketing, finance, advertising, promotion and location are just some of the aspects to be considered when developing a business plan. To obtain financing for a new business, a comprehensive business plan with up to two years of financial projections will be required. Click on the links below to find assistance in developing your business plan.

Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of North Florida
SBA Small Business Planner

Choosing a Business (Ownership) Structure

A legal representative and accountant should be consulted before making a determination as to the type of business entity to form.

The primary ownership structures for businesses include the following:

• Sole Proprietorship
• Partnership
• Corporation
• Limited Liability Corporation (LLC)

Licensing and Taxing Information

Local Information

Duval County Local Business Tax
Duval County Property Tax

State Information

State of Florida Taxes
Florida Department of State Division of Corporations
Florida Business Licenses and Permits including Professional Licenses

Federal Information

Federal Taxes