Unless you reserve a corporate name, the first step to filing a corporation is to file articles of incorporation with the Corporate Filing Office of your state. Most state websites have a standard form of articles of incorporation online, and you can just fill it in and print it off.
There is a basic sample form for articles of incorporation in the forms section of this e-book. In most states, the corporation’s effective or starting date is when incorporation articles are received and stamped by the Corporate Filing Office. Some states will expedite this process for a fee; at other times, it may take a while.
The fastest way to get your articles of incorporation filed is usually by hand carrying the document to the Corporate Filing Office and paying the required filing fee. In most cases, your corporation will be stamped effective while you wait. Some states now have online filing or filing by fax. Check the Corporate Filing Office website for details.