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Business Formation
& Incorporation
Structuring your business correctly from day one — entity selection, formation documents, and the legal foundation your venture needs to grow.
The Right Structure Changes Everything
How you form your business is one of the most consequential legal decisions you will make as an entrepreneur. The entity type you choose — LLC, C-Corp, S-Corp, or otherwise — determines your liability exposure, your tax treatment, your ability to raise capital, and the governance structure that will guide your company for years to come.
Online formation services can file your articles of incorporation. What they cannot do is advise you on which entity to choose, draft an operating agreement that actually reflects how your business will operate, or flag the issues that will become expensive problems later. That is what attorney-guided formation provides.
The Law Office of Carl G. Hawkins, PLLC offers three clearly defined incorporation packages — Essential, Professional, and Enterprise — each designed for a different stage of business complexity. All packages include direct attorney involvement. No paralegals, no outsourcing, no assembly-line formation work.
Why Attorney-Guided Formation
- Entity selection affects taxes for the life of the business
- Operating agreements prevent member disputes
- Boilerplate bylaws create governance gaps
- Incorrect EIN setup causes IRS complications
- Missing formalities can pierce the liability veil
- Multi-member structures require careful drafting
View Packages
Choosing the Right Entity
Each entity type carries distinct legal, tax, and operational characteristics. The right choice depends on your business model, ownership structure, growth plans, and risk profile.
Limited Liability Company (LLC)
- Pass-through taxation by default
- Flexible management structure
- No restrictions on number or type of members
- Simpler formalities than corporations
The most common choice for small businesses and professional practices. Highly flexible but requires a well-drafted operating agreement to function properly.
C-Corporation
- Preferred structure for venture capital investment
- No restrictions on classes of stock
- Can have unlimited shareholders
- Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS) benefits
Subject to double taxation on dividends but offers the most flexibility for equity compensation and outside investment. The standard choice for startups seeking institutional funding.
S-Corporation
- Pass-through taxation
- Potential payroll tax savings
- Separate legal entity with liability protection
- Established credibility with lenders
Restricted to 100 shareholders, one class of stock, and U.S. citizen/resident shareholders. Requires careful attention to reasonable compensation requirements to capture tax benefits.
Professional LLC / PLLC
- Required for licensed professionals in many states
- Pass-through taxation
- Liability protection for non-professional negligence
- Flexible management
Florida requires licensed professionals (attorneys, physicians, CPAs, etc.) to form a PLLC or PA rather than a standard LLC. The firm is itself organized as a PLLC.
Notice Regarding Tax Matters
The formation of a business entity has significant tax implications, including but not limited to the choice of tax classification, the treatment of contributions and distributions, and the availability of certain deductions. The firm provides legal counsel on entity structure and formation but does not provide tax advice, tax planning, tax return preparation, or representation before the IRS or any state tax authority. Clients are strongly encouraged to consult a qualified CPA or enrolled agent regarding the tax consequences of any formation decision. This is particularly important when considering S-Corp elections, which involve specific IRS filing deadlines and ongoing compliance obligations.
Formation Services
Business Name Availability Search
Before filing, the firm conducts a thorough name availability search across the state business registry, federal trademark database, and common law sources to identify potential conflicts.
Articles of Incorporation / Organization
The firm drafts and files the foundational formation document — Articles of Incorporation for corporations, Articles of Organization for LLCs — with the applicable state agency.
Operating Agreement or Bylaws
The governing document of your entity — drafted to reflect your actual business structure, ownership percentages, management rights, voting procedures, and distribution policies. Not a template.
EIN Registration
The firm coordinates Employer Identification Number registration with the IRS, which is required to open business bank accounts, hire employees, and file business tax returns.
Registered Agent Services Coordination
Florida requires every business entity to maintain a registered agent. The firm assists in designating a registered agent and advises on the ongoing registered agent obligations.
Post-Formation Compliance Guidance
Formation is the beginning, not the end. The firm advises on initial organizational meetings, banking resolutions, and the ongoing formalities required to maintain your liability protection.
Essential
$2,000
For entrepreneurs launching their first venture
- Initial 50-minute consultation
- Business name availability search
- Articles of Incorporation or Organization
- Operating Agreement or Bylaws
- EIN registration with IRS
- State filing coordination
Professional
$4,000
For growing businesses with complex needs
- Everything in Essential
- Multi-member operating agreement
- Buy-sell agreement provisions
- Initial organizational resolutions
- Banking resolution letter
- 90-day post-formation support
Enterprise
$8,000
For complex structures and investor-ready entities
- Everything in Professional
- Stockholder / LLC interest agreements
- Equity incentive plan framework
- Investor-ready cap table setup
- Founders' agreements
- Engagement letter for ongoing counsel
All fees are flat-rate and agreed upon in advance. No hourly billing surprises. Additional state filing fees may apply.
Licensed In
Florida · D.C.
Carl G. Hawkins
Carl G. Hawkins has guided entrepreneurs and business owners through the formation process since 2017. His approach is direct: understand the client's business, advise on the structure that best serves their goals, and execute the formation with precision.
The firm's flat-fee packages reflect a commitment to transparency. Clients know the cost before they engage, and the work is done personally by Mr. Hawkins — not delegated to support staff or processed through an automated system.
Full BiographyReady to Form Your Business?
Select a package and start the process online, or book a consultation to discuss which structure is right for your venture.