If you have grown tired of putting in long hours and employing your years–or even decades–of professional experience on behalf of someone else’s bottom line, you should know that you have options. In the United States, the entrepreneurial spirit runs deep, and if you have a great idea for a business, you can devise a plan to get your product or service out to the market and chase the American Dream. Of course, launching your own business venture is not exactly an easy task. Even if you are running a relatively simple, one-person operation, you can expect to sign away your nights and weekends in order to properly get up and running. If your business needs are a bit more evolved than a simple home office setup, you may want to explore the idea of creating a limited liability company (LLC) or an S- or C-Corporation. By giving your business the proper legal structure, you may be able to better position yourself for success, and that all begins with learning how to start a corporation or LLC online using SSL-encrypted web forms.
If you are in the very early planning stages of starting your business, you may feel a bit overwhelmed with the sheer volume of choices you are faced with on a daily basis. This is understandable, as being the boss means taking accountability for just about everything. From the font on your business cards to the benefits package you will offer your employees, decisions both minor and major will need to be made a day in and day out. You may find, however, that assigning your business a legal structure can take some of the burdens off of your shoulders. Whether you wish to create a sole proprietorship, an LLC, or a limited partnership, by having a thorough understanding of the incentives and tradeoffs involved, you can make a better-informed decision on behalf of your organization. Read on to learn a bit more about how to start a corporation or LLC using our web forms.
Should You File Articles of Incorporation?
Smart business owners are always thinking ahead. Even if your enterprise is starting out in humble beginnings, such as out of your garage or home office, by anticipating future challenges, you can mitigate risk and be better poised for growth. But, you will want to consider, what does that growth look like for you? Does it mean creating a dynamic, multi-faceted marketing strategy? Will it mean hiring a larger team of employees? Do you have ambitions of expanding to other markets and locations? While these are all great and noble ideas, profits generated by your business alone may not pay for them. If your business will have an eye toward raising capital, forming an S- or C-Corporation may be right for you.
When you file articles of incorporation, you are separating your business–a corporation–as its own legal entity. That means your business can own property, hire and terminate employees, lend and borrow money, and pay taxes. It also allows you to issue fractional shares of ownership to investors, who then become shareholders. By doing this, you can raise the funds necessary to grow your business, while giving your shareholders the opportunity to share in your success.
To start your corporation online, simply locate your state from our side navigation menu. You will then be brought to a landing page that contains all of our offerings. The rules will vary a bit depending on the state in which you are incorporating your business, but you should be prepared to choose a unique name for your organization. You will also want to designate a registered agent, which is an individual in charge of receiving all legal correspondence on behalf of your enterprise.
Forming an LLC
In a limited liability company, you are also creating a legal entity for your business, and it is owned by the members of the LLC. This structure grants you “pass-through” status with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which means that profits and losses generated by the business can be passed through to the members of the LLC. You will also receive limited liability protection, meaning that the members of your LLC can shield their personal assets from any legal judgments against your business.
You can create your LLC by drafting what are called “articles of organization,” or, sometimes, a “certificate of formation.” LLCs are available in all 50 states, and they typically require you to select a name for your business that is not already registered with your Secretary of State’s office. Additionally, like with a corporation, you will want to appoint a registered agent for your business.
How to Start a Corporation or LLC: Work with Us!
Whether you want to launch a corporation or an LLC, we have the SSL-encrypted forms you need to process your documents online. Take a few minutes to explore the available forms we have for your state. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of our customer service representatives by email or phone today.
