CORPORATION FORMATION

Form Your Corporation

The Structure for Growth and Investment

A Corporation is a separate legal entity that can issue stock, attract investors, and exist independently of its owners. Choose between C-Corp and S-Corp taxation to fit your business goals. We file your Articles of Incorporation with the state.

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All 50 States

Form your business in any U.S. state, regardless of where you live.

Quick Turnaround

Your documents are prepared and filed in as little as one business day.

No Hidden Fees

The price at checkout is the price you pay. Service fee + state fee, that's it.

Money-Back Guarantee

If we file your formation incorrectly, you get your money back.

WHY INCORPORATE

Built for Growth

The corporation is the gold standard for businesses seeking outside investment, planning to go public, or needing the strongest liability protection.

Strongest Liability Protection

A corporation is a fully separate legal entity, offering the strongest form of personal asset protection under U.S. law.

Raise Outside Investment

Issue stock to investors, offer stock options to employees, and structure equity for venture capital or angel funding.

Perpetual Existence

The corporation continues to exist regardless of changes in ownership. Shares can be bought and sold without disrupting operations.

Professional Credibility

"Inc." signals stability and permanence to partners, clients, and financial institutions. Required for IPOs.

Best for

Businesses seeking venture capital or angel investment
Companies planning to go public (IPO)
Businesses with multiple investors or complex ownership
Professional service firms (in some states)
UNDERSTANDING CORPORATIONS

What Is a Corporation?

A Corporation is a legal entity that exists separately from its owners (shareholders). It can enter contracts, own property, sue and be sued, and incur debt, all independently of the people who own it. This separation provides the strongest form of personal liability protection available under U.S. law.

Corporations are governed by a board of directors elected by shareholders. The board appoints officers (CEO, CFO, Secretary) who handle day-to-day operations. This formal governance structure makes corporations particularly attractive to outside investors, who can buy and sell shares without disrupting business operations.

LLC or Corporation? If you don't plan to raise venture capital, issue stock options, or go public, an LLC is simpler to form and maintain with similar liability protection. Corporations are purpose-built for raising investment and scaling with formal governance.

C-Corp vs. S-Corp Taxation

All corporations start as C-Corps by default. A C-Corporation pays corporate income tax (currently 21% federal) on its profits. When the company distributes dividends to shareholders, those dividends are taxed again on the shareholders' personal returns. This is known as "double taxation." Despite this, C-Corps are preferred by venture capitalists and for companies planning to go public.

An S-Corporation is not a different type of entity. It's a tax election made with the IRS (Form 2553) that allows corporate profits to pass through to shareholders' personal tax returns, avoiding double taxation. S-Corps are limited to 100 U.S. resident shareholders and one class of stock. CrowSmart offers S-Corp election filing as an add-on during formation.

C-Corp vs. S-Corp

C-Corporation
  • 21% corporate tax rate + dividend taxation
  • Unlimited shareholders, any nationality
  • Multiple classes of stock allowed
  • Required for VC funding and IPOs
  • Can retain earnings in the company
S-Corporation
  • Pass-through taxation (no double tax)
  • Limited to 100 U.S. resident shareholders
  • One class of stock only
  • Savings on self-employment tax
  • Must distribute profits to shareholders

Corporate Governance

Corporations must observe formal governance requirements: annual shareholder and director meetings, written meeting minutes, corporate bylaws, stock issuance records, and a clear separation between corporate and personal finances. Failing to maintain these formalities can result in "piercing the corporate veil," where a court holds shareholders personally liable for corporate debts.

For small corporations, the same person can serve as the sole director, officer, and shareholder. CrowSmart includes customized Corporate Bylaws with every incorporation that establish your governance framework from day one.

Key Takeaway

Choose a Corporation when you need to raise outside investment, plan to issue stock options, or want the strongest liability protection. For most small businesses that don't need these features, an LLC is simpler and more cost-effective.

YOUR DOCUMENTS

What Gets Filed

When you incorporate through CrowSmart, we prepare and file these documents on your behalf:

Articles of Incorporation

Filed with the state

Creates your corporation with the Secretary of State. Establishes your corporate name, registered agent, number of authorized shares, and incorporator information.

Corporate NameRegistered AgentAuthorized Shares

Corporate Bylaws

Internal governance

Defines board composition, officer roles, meeting requirements, voting procedures, stock issuance rules, and amendment processes. Essential for corporate formalities.

Board RulesOfficer RolesVoting Procedures

S-Corp Election

Optional - $49

IRS Form 2553 to elect S-Corporation tax treatment. Must be filed within 75 days of incorporation or by March 15 of the desired tax year.

Form 2553Pass-through Tax75-Day Deadline

Corporation Formation Pricing

$199+ state fees

S-Corp election add-on: $49

Form Your Corporation
NATIONWIDE COVERAGE

Your Registered Agent in All 50 States

Select your state for specific requirements and pricing

ALAlabamaAKAlaskaAZArizonaARArkansasCACaliforniaCOColoradoCTConnecticutDEDelawareFLFloridaGAGeorgiaHIHawaiiIDIdahoILIllinoisINIndianaIAIowaKSKansasKYKentuckyLALouisianaMEMaineMDMarylandMAMassachusettsMIMichiganMNMinnesotaMSMississippiMOMissouriALAlabamaAKAlaskaAZArizonaARArkansasCACaliforniaCOColoradoCTConnecticutDEDelawareFLFloridaGAGeorgiaHIHawaiiIDIdahoILIllinoisINIndianaIAIowaKSKansasKYKentuckyLALouisianaMEMaineMDMarylandMAMassachusettsMIMichiganMNMinnesotaMSMississippiMOMissouri
MTMontanaNENebraskaNVNevadaNHNew HampshireNJNew JerseyNMNew MexicoNYNew YorkNCNorth CarolinaNDNorth DakotaOHOhioOKOklahomaOROregonPAPennsylvaniaRIRhode IslandSCSouth CarolinaSDSouth DakotaTNTennesseeTXTexasUTUtahVTVermontVAVirginiaWAWashingtonWVWest VirginiaWIWisconsinWYWyomingMTMontanaNENebraskaNVNevadaNHNew HampshireNJNew JerseyNMNew MexicoNYNew YorkNCNorth CarolinaNDNorth DakotaOHOhioOKOklahomaOROregonPAPennsylvaniaRIRhode IslandSCSouth CarolinaSDSouth DakotaTNTennesseeTXTexasUTUtahVTVermontVAVirginiaWAWashingtonWVWest VirginiaWIWisconsinWYWyoming
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FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Got questions? We've got answers. Find everything you need to know about our Business Formation service.

A C-Corp is the default corporate tax classification. It pays corporate income tax, and shareholders pay personal tax on dividends. This is often called 'double taxation.' An S-Corp is a tax election (not a separate entity type) that allows profits to pass through to shareholders' personal returns, avoiding double taxation. S-Corps have restrictions: no more than 100 shareholders, only one class of stock, and shareholders must be US citizens or residents.

Ready when you are

Ready to Incorporate?

Filed in as little as one business day, all 50 states. Starting at $199 + state fees.

Form Your CorporationCompare Entity Types