Question about limited Liability Company startup. Can you help?

Question

I'm in Florida. I want to start a limited liability company. I need to do four things:
a. Register the business ficticious name
b. Get a Federal Tax ID number
c. File the articles of Organization
d. Get a license to do business

In which order are these things done? Do fill the Articles of Organization first? But, the form is asking me for the business name. The form also asks for the primary headquarters address for the business. Does this mean I have to get office space before I even have a business created?

I'm confused.

I only want answers for sure. Please no guesses. I only give points to people from Florida who give me a reasoned, verifiable answer. Include your sources (URL), so I can go check. Thanks.

Answer 1

You can do them pretty much simultaneously. However, to be technically correct this is the order.

File articles of organization (until that occurs no such business exists for tax id, ficticious name or a license)

Second get a license to do business. There is no point in a Federal tax ID if you cannot use it.

Third, get your Federal Tax ID.

Fourth, register ficticious name. That is a public filing simply to put the public on notice and is not a primary document.

Nonetheless, you can do all the documentation at one time.

I don't have sources, I am at home but have done this for a long time. I recommend call or check out http://www.dos.state.fl.us/

All that said, there is no logical reason you cannot fill out the paper work in one sitting. In the case of a Federal tax Id you can apply online at the IRS site without doing anything. So, while that would be item #3, because you can do it online, it will in practice be the first thing completed unless the IRS disputes your application.