Form a Corporation
Start a standard C corporation with attorney-designed documents and state filing handled from one dashboard, no professional-entity paperwork involved.
Updated 2026-09-01
Key Takeaways
- A standard C corporation is built to issue stock, which is why it's the default choice for founders planning to raise outside investment or offer employee stock options.
- CompanySage forms standard LLCs and C corporations only — not professional corporations (PCs), PLLCs, or PAs.
- Formation includes articles of incorporation, bylaws, organizational minutes, and a stock ledger; see plans and pricing for what's included at each tier.
- A C corporation can elect S corp tax treatment with the IRS, but that's a separate decision from choosing your legal structure — talk to a tax professional about what fits your situation.
Who a Corporation Is For
A standard C corporation generally fits founders who plan to raise outside investment, offer employee stock options, or reinvest profits back into the business rather than distribute them right away. Corporate shares are easier for investors and equity plans to work with than an LLC's membership interests, which is a large part of why venture-backed startups default to this structure.
An LLC is usually the simpler and less expensive starting point for a founder-funded business with no near-term plan to raise institutional capital. If you're still deciding between the two, see our LLC vs corporation comparison for a side-by-side breakdown, or our LLC vs S corp comparison if you're weighing an LLC against a corporation with an S corp election specifically.
What You Get
Forming a corporation with CompanySage covers the documents and filings a new corporation needs to open for business, prepared from attorney-designed templates rather than a generic fill-in-the-blank form.
- Articles of incorporation, filed with the state. The formation document that legally creates your corporation.
- Bylaws. The internal rulebook governing how your board and officers run the company.
- Organizational minutes and initial resolutions. The records documenting your first corporate actions, including appointing officers and authorizing stock issuance.
- A stock ledger. The record of who owns what, updated as shares are issued or transferred.
- EIN help. Support getting your federal tax ID — see our guide to getting an EIN.
- Registered agent service. Every state requires one; see our registered agent service page for what's included.
- Ongoing compliance, tracked in the platform. Annual report deadlines and other recurring filings tracked from your dashboard after formation — see the CompanySage platform.
Exact package contents and tiers vary — see plans and pricing for the current breakdown.
How It Works
Forming a corporation with CompanySage follows the same five-stage process as forming an LLC, with corporate documents in place of an operating agreement. See our full how CompanySage works page for more detail on each stage.
1. Answer a few questions
Tell us your state, your business name, and your entity structure. You provide basic ownership and officer information so we can prepare accurate filings the first time.
2. Attorney-designed documents are prepared
Your articles of incorporation, bylaws, and organizational minutes are generated from templates designed and vetted by attorneys, not a generic fill-in-the-blank form.
3. We file with the state within 24 hours, at no extra cost
Once your documents are ready, we submit your formation paperwork to the state, typically within 24 hours of receiving a complete order, with no rush fee for that turnaround.
4. The state reviews and approves your filing
This step happens on the state's timeline, not ours, and it varies widely by state and filing method. Some states approve within a day or two of receiving a filing; others can take longer, especially during busy filing periods.
5. We help you handle what comes next
Once your state approves your filing, your CompanySage dashboard walks you through post-formation essentials: getting your EIN, finalizing your bylaws and stock ledger, setting up (or keeping) your registered agent, and tracking ongoing compliance.
Corporation vs LLC at a Glance
Here's the short version of how the two structures compare. For the full breakdown, see our LLC vs corporation comparison.
| Corporation | LLC | |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | Shares of stock; built to add outside investors and issue employee equity | Membership interests; more involved to transfer or add new owners |
| Management | Formal — a board of directors oversees strategy, officers run daily operations | Flexible — member-managed or manager-managed, set by the operating agreement |
| Taxation | C corp: corporate-level tax, plus shareholder tax on dividends. Can elect S corp treatment instead | Pass-through by default; profits and losses flow to owners' personal returns |
| Best fit | Founders planning to raise venture capital, issue stock options, or reinvest profits | Founder-funded businesses with no near-term plan to raise institutional capital |
S Corp Election
A corporation can elect S corp tax treatment with the IRS instead of being taxed as a standard C corporation. The S corp election doesn't change your underlying legal structure — you're still a corporation, governed by the same bylaws and board — but it changes how profits and losses are taxed, similar to how an LLC's profits pass through to its owners' personal returns. Not every corporation qualifies, and the election comes with its own rules on shareholder count and type. See our LLC vs S corp comparison for how the S corp election works. This isn't tax advice — talk to a tax professional about whether an S corp election fits your situation.
Talk to a tax professional before you elect
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you form professional corporations?
No — CompanySage forms standard LLCs and C corporations only. We don't offer professional corporations (PCs), professional limited liability companies (PLLCs), or professional associations (PAs). If your occupation requires a licensed professional entity, check your state licensing board's rules on entity choice before you file.
Should I form my corporation in Delaware or my home state?
It depends on your plans, and there's no single right answer. Delaware is a common choice for startups planning to raise venture capital, because investors and their counsel are familiar with its corporate statute and court system. Forming at home is usually simpler and cheaper if you're not actively raising outside funding, since you avoid registering as a foreign corporation back in the state where you actually operate. Compare the two paths before you decide.
What is an EIN, and do I need one for my corporation?
An EIN (Employer Identification Number) is a federal tax ID the IRS issues to your business, similar to a Social Security number for a company. A corporation needs one to open a business bank account, hire employees, and file federal taxes. See our guide on how to get an EIN for the full process.
Can I convert my corporation to an LLC (or an LLC to a corporation) later?
Generally yes. Most states allow a formal conversion between entity types, though the exact process and paperwork vary by state. Converting later usually means paying formation costs again and re-papering agreements, cap tables, and contracts under the new entity, so it's worth thinking through your structure now if you can.
Do I need a registered agent for my corporation?
Yes. Every state requires a corporation to appoint a registered agent with a physical street address in the state of formation, available during business hours to accept service of process and official state mail. CompanySage offers registered agent service as part of its compliance plans.
Keep reading
Related guides from the CompanySage library.
Ready to form your corporation?
Answer a few questions and CompanySage prepares your articles of incorporation, bylaws, and organizational minutes, then files with the state.
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