A new or separate bank account is generally required when you form a new entity. This is true because the new entity is considered a legal entity separate and apart from the individuals who operate it. This legal separation of…

You can now obtain an employer identification number (EIN) online at the IRS website. You will see a copy of form SS-4, the application form for a new EIN. You can fill out and submit the form online. You should…

Each new entity, such as a corporation or limited liability company (LLC), is required to have a new employer identification number (EIN) for federal tax purposes (this is not the same as astate tax number). This is true because the…

You may want to act as your registered agent if you have an office with a street address in the state where you are incorporated. This will save you some money. However, if you need a different registered agent, most…

Every state requires a registered agent for any corporation, LLC, or other entity. A registered agent is a person or entity that has a street address (cannot be a post office box) in the state of filing who can accept…

Articles of Incorporation This document, which is also sometimes referred to as the Corporate Charter or Certificate of Incorporation, is the official document filed with the Corporate Filing Office (usually the Secretary of State’s office). It sets out the essential organization…

Your step-by-step procedure to complete the corporate organization process: File Articles of Incorporation. The initial step in incorporating a business is to file articles of incorporation in the state Corporate Filing Office, which is usually the secretary of state’s office.…

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…

It is unnecessary to reserve a corporate name in advance if you have checked the name, found it available, and are ready to file your corporation.  Reserving a name in advance means you pay an extra fee. However, it would…

A corporation can have an assumed business name (ABN) (also sometimes referred to as a dba, which stands for “doing business as”) just as an individual can. For example, your corporation name might be XYZ Landscaping, Inc., but you want…