Business Formation

Hire us to form your LLC, corporation, or nonprofit and we’ll include a year of Registered Agent Service and domain name registration for free. You’ll also get a website, phone number, and up to ten business email addresses free for the first 90 days.

Skip ahead:

• What is a business entity?
• Benefits of Business Formation
• How our Business Formation Service Works
• FAQs

What Is a Business Entity?

A business entity is an organization (like an LLC or corporation) with separate legal existence from its owners. This separation is known as limited liability, and it’s the main perk of forming a formal business entity with the state.

If you don’t form a business entity and you’re selling something, you’re operating as a sole proprietor (or a general partnership, if you have partners). Sole proprietors and general partnerships do not have limited liability. This means that any debts owed by the business are also owed by the owner. The business and the individuals who own it are one and the same. Limited liability protects business owners from being held personally responsible for paying business debts.

To form a business entity, you need to:

• Get a registered agent
• Come up with a business name that complies with your state’s rules
• File formation documents with the state

Common Entity Types

Business entities are formed at the state level. This means that the structure is defined in state statutes rather than federal law, and that to form an entity, you’ll pay a fee and file paperwork with your state’s Secretary of State or equivalent commercial regulatory agency. While statutes differ in every state, the basics are the same. Here are the main entity types:

Limited Liability Company (LLC)

LLCs are known for strong liability protection and operational flexibility. What does this mean? Compared to a corporation, LLCs have very few requirements for they can be managed, owned, and operated. For example, LLCs don’t need to hold regular board meetings, keep extensive records, or adhere to a mandated management structure. An LLC can have a single owner (member) or many. The owners can be individuals or business entities. When it comes to taxes, LLCs are taxed as “pass-through” entities by default, which means members simply report profits on their personal tax returns. But LLCs can also elect to be taxed as a corporation if it works better for the business. Despite its loosely defined structure, an LLC offers the same strong liability protection a corporation does.

Corporation

Like an LLC, a corporation has limited liability, which shields business owners from being held responsible business debt. Unlike an LLC, a corporation has an ownership structure prescribed by state statutes, wherein shareholders elect a board of directors. Corporations are also required to hold regular board meetings and keep records. Corporations pay the federal corporate income tax on profits, and shareholders must also pay taxes on any dividends received. Transferring ownership of a corporation is easier than transferring LLC ownership, as shares of the corporation can be bought, sold, and transferred with relative ease.

Nonprofit Corporation

A nonprofit corporation is a type of corporation organized to pursue a mission that benefits the public or a group with shared interests. Unlike in a corporation, where profits are distributed to shareholders, nonprofit income is reinvested in pursuit of advancing the charitable, educational, scientific or religious mission. A board of directors or trustees oversee the nonprofit, appointing officers to carry out daily operations. Nonprofit corporations don’t automatically receive tax-exempt status. For that, a nonprofit needs to meet certain requirements and apply with the IRS.

Benefits of Business Formation

When you hire a professional registered agent to form your business, you get more than an LLC or corporation. You’ll get tools to set up and maintain your business properly.

How Our Business Formation Service Works

As a Registered Agent company, we form businesses everyday. Here’s how it works.

1. You tell us a little bit about your business. What kind of entity are you forming? Where will you be doing business? Do you have a business name in mind? We’ll ask the questions and gather the needed info for your paperwork.
2. Add on any branding tools you need to launch your business. We provide a free domain name with your business for one year, and you can try out our business email address, phone number, and secure website service free for 90 days.
3. Submit your order! We charge $100 plus state fees to form your business. This includes one free year of registered agent service. While the state is processing your documents, you’ll get access to your secure account. From there, you can manage services and access every state form you could ever need.

Frequently Asked Questions