Form the business entity
Register the entity with your state and receive the approved formation document.
About 60 min · moderate · cost varies
Do these first
You can read this step now, but it will not work until those are done.
Why this matters
Until the entity exists, nothing can be opened in the business name.
What we'd use
Working out what fits your situation…
Doing it
Step by step
Check the name is available
Search your state business registry for the exact name before paying anything.
Choose how to file
Direct with the state costs the state fee only. A paid service costs more and handles the form for you. Both produce the same entity.
File and save the approval
Download the approved formation document and store it with your business records - the bank will ask for it.
Official help
- Open official page
Official page to start a flat-fee entity filing.
- Open official page
What the registered agent address covers and what it costs each year.
- Open official page
Official page to start a guided entity filing.
Get your AI to help
Hand this to your AI
File the business entity
Get the owner from a chosen structure to a submitted, correctly named state filing.
How should it behave?
It stops and asks you before going further: Stop before submitting or paying anything. The owner submits the filing themselves.
Legal, tax and financial rules differ by state and change. This is process guidance, not legal, tax or financial advice - for a binding answer, use the official agency source or a licensed professional in your state. Any tool named is a suggestion to evaluate, not a requirement.
Rules where you are
Registration rules and fees are set by your state, not nationally.
You're done when
You hold a state-issued formation confirmation (articles of organization or incorporation) with your entity name on it.
- Not yet
You hold a confirmation or certificate from the state
Upload location or reference number for your filing confirmation.
- Not yet
A registered agent is on file (optional)
Either yourself, if allowed, or a paid service.
Check it worked: Search your state business registry for the name and confirm it shows as active.
Almost there
Still to confirm: You hold a confirmation or certificate from the state.
If it goes wrong
Name rejected? It is usually too similar to an existing registered name - adjust and refile. Approval times vary widely by state.