Articles of Incorporation: How to Incorporate Your Business
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Articles of Incorporation: Otherwise known as a "certificate of incorporation", the Articles of
Incorporation are the rules that are set forth for the management of your company and filed with the state when
you orginate your corporation.
The state in which you incorporate does not need to be the same state where you live or the state where your
company does business. In fact, different states offer different benefits, charge different fees and have
different requirements, so you want to compare these factors before you make a decision.
In general, a company's articles of incorporation will include the corporation's name as well as the names
of the members on the board of directors. Also, the articles will state whether the business is a stock
corporation on non-stock corporation - and if non-stock, whether it is a profit or non-profit company.
The location of the corporation's registed office is also noted in these articles, and a registered agent
may be required if the corporation is formed in a different state than the business itself. A registered agent
is a person to whom legal papers can be served, if necessary.
Many states allow just one person to form a corporation, while others will require three people or more. The
articles of incorporation are usually 3-4 pages, and pretty straightforward.
You can hire an attorney to help you incorporate your business, use a lower-cost online incorporation service to help direct you, or
you can contact your state directly and complete the process yourself. In any case, you can save yourself money
on forms by using downloadable generic templates online that you can then customize to fit your business. This
way, you don't have to write them yourself. You can find sample articles of incorporation online which you can
download to view or use for your own corporation. You can see an "Articles of Incorporation" template here. If you want to find article of
incorporation forms for your particular state, use the State Guide.
Once you have written and signed your new company's articles of incorporation, you are ready to file the
articles with your state's Secretary of State office. There is a filing fee, which will vary by state. The fee
may also vary for non-profit corporations versus profit corporations. If you have any questions, it's good idea
to contact an experienced business attorney before your file. Another way you can get help, but still save
money, is by using the services of volunteer lawyers to assist you in writing your articles of incorporation.
Although you must file annual reports to your state every year regarding your corporation, the articles of
incorporation are only filed one time. This applies to LLCs (limited liability companies) in addition to
traditional corporations, s-corporations and non-profit corporations.
How to Incorporate a Business
