Incorporate Your Business
Why Should I Incorporate?
Incorporation:
- Establishes a Separate Legal Identity for your Business
- Provides Liability Protection
- Clarifies Tax Status
- Helps to Raise Capital
How Do I Incorporate?
- File the appropriate formation document at the Secretary of State’s office for the type of entity you have chosen. In Tennessee, you would file a charter to form a corporation and articles of organization to form a limited liability company.
- At the Secretary of State’s office, file an application for registration of the name under which you wish to incorporate.
- Register your formation document within the county clerk’s office of the county where your business will be based.
- Adopt a set of organizing resolutions to complete the organization of your company by electing officers and directors, adopting bylaws, and completing other organizational actions.
Choice of Entity
Although there are multiple forms of corporations, most start-up companies file as one of the following three:
- Limited Liability Company (LLC)
- C Corporation
- S Corporation
Download a more comprehensive list of corporation types with a discussion of the relevant advantages and disadvantages of each.
