How do you incorporate a business?

Answer 1

In most U.S. states, a business corporation is started by one or more people, known as "incorporators", who craft a business idea and bylaws for an organization. Initial directors and officers are elected or appointed and official papers are prepared for filing with the Secretary of State in the state where the incorporators choose the corporation to be domiciled. Formalities vary from state to state, but typically require a unique name of the corporation, a statement of purpose (charter), identification of any authorized stock, initial board and officers, the fiscal year, the address of the office (or resident agent), and one or more signatures by authorized incorporators or their attorney. Once the papers are filed, with the necessary fees, and inspected and accepted for conformity with the local requirements, the new entity is created.

At the first directors meeting, shares (if any) are distributed, officers appointed, bylaws ratified, and capital investments acknowledged. The shareholders may then meet to elect a new board or change the bylaws, and the new board (or shareholders) may elect or appoint new officers in preparation for carrying out the purposes of the business. Other housekeeping issues involve obtaining a federal tax-ID and filing for any licenses or exemptions needed by the corporation.

Periodic meetings and filings are required to maintain any corporation in "good standing", typically every year or whenever anything important changes in the board, company mission, etc.

Incorporation is the process by which one or more persons may form a limited company. There are many reasons why you might want to incorporate a company in the US, but the four most common reasons include:

• To create a legal entity;
• To provide some protection for the name of the enterprise;
• To provide limited liability to its members;
• To provide perpetual existence

Individuals or groups wishing to operate as corporations in any state of the USA are required under State Company Acts to file the appropriate forms with their respective Secretary of State, Corporations Division.

Incorporation establishes your business as a distinct, legal entity, offering you a number of advantages including business name protection, transferability of business ownership, limited liability and possible tax advantages.

Registration Process

The following steps provide the procedures needed to incorporate a new company in the USA with the Secretary of State. To form a new corporation, you must provide a corporate name and address, describe the structure, identify the 'type' of corporation and provide director information. The following information is provided to assist you in this process.

In the USA, company incorporation is done by filing an Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State, Corporations Division.

Step One is the Name Search and Approval

If you are creating a company with a name, the first step in incorporation is to ensure the proposed name of your company is available. To check the availability of your name, you must obtain a name research and approval. If you are creating a numbered company the Corporations Division Office will assign it a number that it can use as a name. In that case, no Name Research and Approval is required.

A company's name must be unique in the State of Incorporation. To prove its uniqueness, you must obtain a name search and approval. This search is used to confirm that no one else has a business or registered trademark with a name as, or similar to, the one you have chosen. The name of an incorporated company must end with one of the following designations:

• Limited
• Incorporated
• Corporation

The following abbreviations of the above are also acceptable:

• Ltd.
• Inc.
• Corp.

Step two Articles of Incorporation are completed

Articles of Incorporation are legal documents that establish your business, and must be approved by the government before you do business under that business name.

Once your name has been approved the next step is to complete the Articles of Incorporation and submit it to the Secretary of State, Corporations Division, with the appropriate fees. All documents received are placed in the order they were received and checked to see if they have been completed properly and that they do not violate any provision of the Companies Act.

If your application is approved the Corporations Division Office will register your company by filing a copy of the articles in the register and issue you a certificate if incorporation as proof that registration has ocurred.

The third step is the payment of the necessary fees to file your application for incorporation.

AnswerYou may want to call your local county building and find list your business name.Then go to your "State web sit"and type up under search"Limited Liability Company" and "Corporation"Then read and even call them if you have any Questions.By opening a business you will have a lot more advantages to recover any expenses that you incure, fuel, lodging, food,Items and lots more.It is very easy to do this your self, You do not have to pay an Attorney Tons of money to just fill out papers.Once you have established a Company name, and placed it with the state you live in, your now a company.Review your options on whether to just be "Limited Liability Company"If you do not have any employees or few employees this is probley your best bet.By being a "Limited Liability Company" like me. "WHPLSH.LLC"I have protected myself from my personal life finances and bank accounts. My company is a separate entity from my personal finances.Good Luck CliffRememmber to read as much as posable and do not be affraid.