Home
>
Small Business
>
Deciding Which State To Incorporate Your Small Business In

Deciding Which State To Incorporate Your Small Business In

Once you've decided to incorporate your small business the next step is deciding which state to incorporate in. A common misconception is that businesses must incorporate in their state of operation. You can, in fact, incorporate in any one of the 50 states and the District of Columbia regardless of where your business currently operates.

It is perfectly acceptable to incorporate in a state other than your current area of operation, but it is not always a good idea to do so. If your company chooses to incorporate in a state outside its area of operation life becomes a little more complicated. Your business becomes a "foreign corporation" in any state outside of the state it is incorporated in. If a corporation is "transacting business" in a state other than where it is incorporated, it must register for a certificate of authority to transact business in the other state or possibly lose access to that state's courts and face fines.

Registering for a certificate of authority, of course, costs money and is only one step in the process of qualifying to do business as a "foreign corporation" in another state.

There are advantages to incorporating in different states with regard to corporate laws and tax structure. Delaware is by far the most popular state for incorporation. Most of the fortune 500 companies are incorporated in Delaware.

Some of the most attractive features of incorporating in Delaware include:

1. Lack of corporate income tax for corporations incorporated in Delaware but not transacting business in the state.

2. Delaware has a separate corporate law system that uses judges appointed for their knowledge of corporate law as opposed to juries, whose knowledge of corporate law is limited at best.

3. Shares of stock owned by persons outside of Delaware are not subject to Delaware taxes.

For a small business deciding weather or not to incorporate in Delaware it is necessary to measure the cost of qualifying as a "foreign corporation" in the state of operation versus the amount that will be saved by incorporating a small business in Delaware. Typically it is not advantageous for small businesses to incorporate outside of their home state as even small businesses are usually required to pay corporate taxes in both the state of foreign operation and the state of incorporation. If you're not sure where to incorporate, visit www.small-business-assistance.com. We can help you decide if the cost of local incorporation will be less than incorporating in another state.

Jacob Wren operates Small Business Assistance ( www.small-business-assistance.com ) - a resource site for entrepreneurs that offers advice on incorporating and an array of other small business topics.

Batchtown Chicago prom limo .. Lockport Chicago limo O’Hare

In The News:

A virtual private network can help ensure your information remains security and your privacy remains intact. Kurt the CyberGuy explains.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Artificial intelligence-based cameras are giving air defense operators unprecedented capabilities in monitoring and protecting airspace.

Apple's iOS 18.1 Inactivity Reboot automatically reboots your iPhone if it hasn't been used or unlocked for more than three days, providing better data protection.

An inventor designed rooftop solar panels for a Tesla that draws solar energy while the car is parked, adding travel mileage without plugging in.

There are currently no laws governing what artificial intelligence can and cannot do with the information it gathers; here are 10 things to avoid telling AI chatbots to keep yourself safe.

A credit union with over 240,000 members recently revealed it was targeted by cybercriminals, resulting in a data breach that was part of a two-month attack by hackers.

Scammers have become skilled at creating convincing fake websites that can easily fool unsuspecting users. The CyberGuy offers tips to protect yourself.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

CAPTCHAs, which are used by websites to confirm whether users are people or bots, are harmless, but hackers are using them to infect PCs with malware.

Hackers recently leaked personal information of about 500,000 Americans and stole patient medical records that included lab results and insurance details.

The holiday season sees a rise in mobile shopping scams. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson helps you learn how to stay safe.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says a VPN enhances online banking security by encrypting data and protecting privacy.

Beware of these six sneaky holiday scams. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson gives you tips to avoid falling victim.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reveals how to securely back up and factory reset your Android to protect your privacy and data.

Artificial intelligence is making life easier for cybercriminals, allowing them to create elaborate scams to trick people. Kurt the Cyberguy explains how to protect yourself.

Cut through all the digital clutter and delete multiple emails from your Android simultaneously. Kurt the CyberGuy explains how it's done.

Tips to prevent your holiday decorations from being stolen

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson lays out the immediate steps you should take if your phone has been hacked and your personal information becomes vulnerable.

Fraudsters are sending people bogus invoices through PayPal as part of a sneaky scam that is going around; here's how to protect yourself from being fooled.

A former Colgate-Palmolive employee was shocked to discover $750,000 had been drained from her 401(k) account. "CyberGuy" offers tips on how to prevent identity theft.

Electric vehicle maker Harbinger recently showed its electric delivery truck can handle icy roads with agility and stability in winter.

To make the busiest time of year more manageable, here are some tricks for tracking your packages, taking quality family photos and curating the perfect Christmas playlist.

Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson explains how to keep your online Amazon gift purchases a secret from loved ones or friends this holiday season.