Ways To Help Forming A Corporation

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By Thomas Markley

Forming a corporation can be a daunting prospect for a new business owner, but it is fundamentally an easy process. You can choose to go it alone, using tutorials and self-help guides; or you can opt to ask the professionals to help you with the process.

The first step in forming a corporation is to pick a company name. Conducting a detailed search on the internet will give you an idea of names that are already taken. The name must also end with words such as "Corporation" and "Limited". Once you have picked a name you are then ready to move on to the next step.

The next part of the process involves you electing directors and members of the board. They are appointed to make sure the company is run correctly; the area where you are registering the company may ask you to have one or more directors. These places must be filled before you can consider filling in any of the forms.

Papers can be collected from the corporate filing office and you need to input the information correctly. It will ask you to clarify things such as the company name, the address and the names of the directors or board members. It is likely that you will be asked to appoint a registered agent and provide their details too. A registered agent is someone who the public can contact in the event of a legal query.

Next in the forming a corporation process, is the formation of corporate bylaws. This document outlines the rules that will ensure the smooth running of the business and details items such as planned annual shareholder's meetings. This is usually followed by a board meeting where board members and the director finalize any outstanding issues.

This then leaves the final stages of forming a corporation which are the issuing the stocks of shares and obtaining an EIN (Employee Identification Number). Once this is complete you are more or less ready to start trading as a corporation.

If this all seems a bit too much, there is the option of purchasing ready made companies. There are providers out there who have already registered companies and are willing to sell them to you for a reasonable price. The price that you will pay for ready made companies is usually determined by the age and name of that company.

Forming a corporation can be worth the hassle as you can take advantage of lower tax rates and limited liability. This means that creditors cannot chase shareholders for debts owed by the company. As long as you abide by the laws governing incorporation, you will be covered for most eventualities.

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