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Advertising

Florida Attorney General's Office
The Attorney General's Office enforces Florida's Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, which is meant to protect individual consumers and legitimate businesses from various types of illegal conduct, including false or misleading advertising.

Florida Attorney General Complaint Forms

How To Advertise Without Getting Into Trouble (Nolo.com)

Deceptive Advertisements (Federal Trade Commission) 
Rules & Regulations against such.

Stopping Other Companies From False Advertising
Find out where companies advertise and contact their advertisers to put a stop to their false claims. This site offers a free 7 day trial membership where you can find information such as types of advertising media used, advertising agencies employed by the company, approximate dollars spent in each type of advertising medium, a breakdown of the products handled by each agency employed by the company, and e-mail addresses for key personnel.  

The Applicability of FTC Law to Internet Advertising

Information On US & International Companies
Find the company behind the brand name, where they're located, their financial info, their officers, subsidiaries, who they advertise with, what media they use, and more.

Thomas' Food Industry Register can tell a company's name, address and phone number, the products it produces and the government agencies that regulate both the products and the company itself.

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Dealing With Other Businesses
Can The Business Be Trusted?
Complaints & Help Agencies
Money Matters
Scams
Forms

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Money Matters

Worthless Bank Checks How To Not Get Stuck With A Bad Checks (Florida)

Firms Going Out of Business (Florida)
Tips on how to protect yourself from losing money, deposits or merchandize when a company goes out of business.

Demand Letter For Payment Of Debt
Generic fill in the blank form for demanding payment on an outstanding debt.

Collecting A Debt-Legal Ways To Locate Someone's Bank Account If They're Hiding Money From You

Business Forms (Consumer-SOS)
State specific and general business forms for all occasions.

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Scams

Unordered Merchandise (Florida)
Your rights and obligations when you receive merchandise through the mail that you did not order.

Scam Proofing Your Business (BBB)

Scams Against Businesses (The Most Common)

See Also Scams & Cons

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Forms

Florida Business Forms
Corporate, partnership and judgment forms.

Publications & Forms for Records Managers (Florida)

Florida Attorney General Complaint Forms

Free Business Forms A-Z

Business Sample Form Letters on 40 subjects

General Forms For All Occasions (The 'Lectric Law Library)
Scroll down their forms page for forms on general business matters, living wills, power of attorney, promissory notes, employment and contracting.

Small Business Tax Information & Forms (National)

General & State Specific Forms (Consumer-SOS/Lawyers)

See Money Matters

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Checking If They're Legitimate Or Trustworthy

Can The Business Be Trusted? (Consumer-SOS)
Don't get swindled! Learn how to do background checks on a business or business before you get scammed.

Business Opportunities (Florida)
How to scope out the legit ones.

Find Out Where A Business Is Incorporated (All 50 States)
Want to sue a business or just see if it's legit? Then you'll need to know it's registered agent and where it's incorporated. 
Every Inc., Corp. or CO. must have a state of incorporation. To find such, first check the Secretary of State where you know the company is doing business.  Next try The Secretary of State in Delaware, which is a very popular place to incorporate. Beware of any "Inc.", "Corp." or "Co." that has not incorporated.  Chances are they're frauds.

Obtaining Corporate Records (On Specific Companies)
Comb through Securities & Exchange Commission fillings, trademark applications, and pending patents. Register here and the free site will stakeout up to ten companies of your choice and send you the information via email.

Resources On How To Profile Businesses
Whether it's researching their track record or looking for sanctions, this is the place.

Finding The Company's Headquarters (Large List Of Addresses & Links)


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Salesman & Solicitations
Dealing With Salesmen/Spotting The Legitimate Offer
Things To Watch Out For When Signing Sales Agreements
Determining The Legitimate Business Opportunity (Includes Franchises)

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Starting Your Own Business
Where To Begin
Loans & Business Development Centers
Corporations, Partnerships & LLCs
Your Business Name/Protecting Your Intellectual Property
Salesman & Solicitations & Franchises
Other Legal Matters

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Where To Begin

Starting A Business In Florida
Florida Division of Corporations tips forms and resources.

Frequently Requested Phone #s (Florida)

Electronic filings & Certifications (Florida)
See also Filing Fee Schedules

Florida Small Business Guide for Entrepreneurs & Emerging Companies

SCORE-Service Corps Of Retired Executives (All 50 States & DC)
Ex CEOs give free or low cost advice on how to start and run  your business.

Business Forms (Consumer-SOS)
State specific and general business forms for all occasions.

Articles & Brochures From The U.S. Small Business Administration 
Everything you need to know about starting and running a business.

Writing A Business Plan (Google)

Search Engine For Starting And Running A Business
Articles and Tips on What You Need To Know.

Steps to Starting Your Own Business (BBB)

Find Your Secretary Of State (All 50 States)
Your Secretary Of State often has information on corporations, stated trademarks and licensing boards.

Internet Non-Profit Center
Frequently Asked Questions & Answers on Non-Profits.

Starting A Business, Business Plans & Marketing
Click here for samples from A to Z.

Fact Sheet on Record Keeping Requirements Under the FLSA
Under the the Fair Labor Standards Act, employers must keep  detailed records on the wages they pay, the ages of their workers and the hours they work. 

Employment Laws Assistance for Workers and Small Businesses 
This is an interactive system designed to help employers and employees understand and comply with numerous employment laws enforced by The  Department Of Labor. Each elaws Advisor gives advice and provides information on a specific law or regulation based on the user's particular situation.

Handy Reference Guide to the Fair Labor Standards Act
Includes Employer guidelines for record keeping.

Why It's Good To Moonlight (Article)
(Don't quit your day job when starting a business.)

For More Resources & Great Tips, Check Out Nolo.com

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Articles & Brochures From The U.S. Small Business Administration 

Starting Up Your Business (SBA)
Has good general explanations of all you need to know plus helpful links to state & federal agencies as well as SBA programs.

Checklist For Going Into Business (SBA)

Starting Your Business-Most Frequently asked Questions (SBA)

Selecting The Legal Structure Of Your Business (SBA)

Online Brochures on over 100 Business Issues (SBA)

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Loans & Business Development Centers

Florida Small Business Guide for Entrepreneurs & Emerging Companies

State of Florida Agency For Workforce Innovation (Florida DOL)

Loans & Start Up Assistance (National Links/Phone#s)

The Facts About SBA Business Development Centers

Micro-Enterprise FAQs

Micro-Enterprise Dev Programs (50 States & DC)

SBA Borrower's Guide (The Ins & Outs Of Small Business Loans by The SBA)

Micro-loans (Small Loans From Lenders in All 50 States & DC)

Articles & Brochures From The U.S. Small Business Administration  
Everything you need to know about starting and running a business.

Find The SBA Office Nearest You (All 50 States & DC)

For More Resources & Great Tips, Check Out  Nolo.com

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Your Business Name/Protecting Your Intellectual Property

Corporations, Partnerships & LLCs

FAQs on Florida Corporations, Partnerships and Limited Liability Companies

Electronic filings & Certifications (Florida)
See also Filing Fee Schedules

Selecting The Legal Structure Of Your Business (Excellent!)

Profit and NonProfit Annual Report Help (Florida)
Fees and filing requirements.

Business Forms (Consumer-SOS)
State specific and general business forms for all occasions.

Florida Small Business Guide for Entrepreneurs & Emerging Companies