The Corporation is a business structure that provides personal liability protection by separating the owner’s personal assets from the assets of the business. Thus, a corporation is liable for the actions and finances of the business, while the owners (known as shareholders) are not.

Corporation Pros

• Corporations provide liability protection for the shareholders
• A corporation can raise non-debt financing by selling shares of the business
• Taxation may be lower than a sole proprietorship or partnership

Corporation Cons

• Corporations are more complex and expensive to set up than sole proprietorships, partnerships, and Limited Liability Companies (LLC)
• At a minimum, corporations are required to hold an annual board of directors meeting, shareholders meeting, take minutes at the meetings, issue shares, etc., to maintain the entity’s liability protection.

Related: Guide to starting a business in New York

Generally, Corporations are chosen over a Limited Liability Company when a significant amount of funding is being raised from investors.  However, due to the cost and complexity of the Corporation, most small businesses are better off forming an LLC.

Related: How to form an LLC in New York

The following steps are to create a domestic Corporation, which is the most common type for businesses. The other types of Corporations in New York state include a foreign Corporation (an out-of-state Corporation wanting approval to physically operate in the state), a professional Corporation (designated for Corporations offering professional services), or a non-profit Corporation.

Steps to Forming a Corporation in New York

Step 1: Choose a Name

The first step in forming a Corporation in New York is selecting a name.

The name of the Corporation has to be different from other entity names in the state of New York.  Check Corporation name availability in New York.

The name of the Corporation must include one of the following designators at the end of the business name:

• Incorporated
• Limited
• Corporation
• Or an abbreviation of one of those words – Inc., Ltd., or Corp.

A comma may be used after the business name and before the designator.  For example, “Common Grounds Coffee Inc.” and “Common Grounds Coffee, Inc.” are both acceptable.

If there is a name you want but are not ready to register the Corporation, you can file the Application for Reservation of Name (Form DOS-0234-f) with the New York Department of State. The name reservation will hold a name for up to 60 days at the cost of $20.

Before selecting a name, you may also want to see if the domain name is also available.

While a Corporation has to select a unique name that another New York Corporation isn’t using, that doesn’t guarantee that the name isn’t currently used by someone else.  Before registering a Corporation name, be sure to do a trademark search to verify it is available for you to use.

Step 2: File the New York Certificate of Incorporation

Next, you can start filing the Certificate of Incorporation (called the Articles of Incorporation in many other states) with the New York Department of State. The Certificate of Incorporation can be filed on the Department of State’s website or with Form DOS-1239-f.

The information requested includes:

• The name of the Corporation, which must contain the word “Incorporated,” “Limited,” “Corporation,” or an abbreviation.
• The purpose of why the Corporation is being organized. In most cases, a Corporation will use the general business purpose statement, ” The purpose of the corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which a corporation may be organized under the Business Corporation Law. The corporation is not formed to engage in any act or activity requiring the consent or approval of any state official, department, board, agency or other body without such consent or approval first being obtained.”
• The county where the Corporation’s office will be located.
• Information regarding the shares of the Corporation.  The form allows for the authorization of 200 shares with no par value. If additional shares are needed, a new certificate will need to be created.
• Address where the Department of State can send service of process.        New York is unique in that it acts as the Registered Agent for the Corporation.

The New York Certificate of Incorporation can be filed online or submitted by mail.  The mailing address is:

New York Department of State
Division of Corporations, State Records, and Uniform Commercial Code
One Commerce Plaza
99 Washington Ave.
Albany, NY 12231-0001

Step 3: Create Corporate Bylaws

Bylaws are the general guiding principles and procedures of the operations of the business. For example, the bylaws may include the name of the officers of the Corporation, responsibilities of the board members, terms of office, procedures for removing or adding a new director or shareholder, policies for authorizing new shares, when shareholder, and director meetings will be held, and more.

Step 4: Hold the Initial Board of Directors Meeting

During the first organizational meeting, the board of directors will, at a minimum, elect the officers of the Corporation (the President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary). They will also typically review and approve corporate bylaws, choose a bank, issue stock, and decide whether the Corporation will be taxed as a C corporation or S corporation.

It’s critical to remember that taking meeting minutes at all meetings is necessary to protect the shareholders from lawsuits and court actions. The minutes provide a record of all decisions and actions taken during the meeting. Minutes aren’t filed with the state, however, they need to be stored with other Corporate documents.

Step 5: Issue Shares of Stock

In exchange for money or services, the Corporation can exchange shares of stock. The number of shares of stock issued cannot be more than the number of authorized shares listed in the Certificate of Incorporation.

Alternatively, an inexpensive Corporate Kit can be purchased from Amazon, which has a corporate records book, blank stock certificates, initial meeting minutes template, a corporate seal, and more.

Step 6: Obtain an EIN

The EIN or Employer Identification Number (also called a Federal Employer Identification Number, FEIN, or Tax ID Number) is a unique 9-digit tax identification number assigned to a business by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Similar to a social security number for an individual, the EIN identifies the Corporation for tax purposes. The EIN will be needed to hire employees, open a bank account, register for business licenses and permits, file tax returns, and more.

There is no cost for the EIN when registering through the IRS. The number is available immediately when applying through the IRS website; however, you can also register by phone, fax, or mailing IRS Form SS-4.

Related: How to Apply for an EIN

Step 7: Elect the Corporation’s Form of Federal Income Taxation

By default, a new corporation will be taxed by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) like a C-Corporation.  C-Corporations pay corporate taxes on their profits, and the owners pay personal income taxes on their dividends.

A Corporation can elect to be taxed as an S-Corporation. S-Corporations are taxed as “pass-through entities,” which means the Corporation itself does not file corporate taxes. Instead, the profits (or losses) “pass through” to the shareholders, who then report this income on their individual taxes.

For most small businesses, the S-Corporation tax election is the most beneficial because it eliminates the double taxation of the C-Corporation. This tax election can be changed; however, it is highly recommended to talk with an accountant before making this decision.

Step 8: Open a Bank Account

Opening a bank account for your Corporation is important for liability protection as the bank account separates the business’s funds from the member’s personal funds.
Several documents will be needed to open a business bank account, such as:

• A banking resolution is a document that authorizes the members to open a business bank account on behalf of the LLC.
• Copies of the original Certificate of Incorporation showing the creation of the Corporation in addition to the bylaws.
• Driver’s licenses of the members.
• Depending on the age of the Corporation, a New York Certificate of Good Standing may be needed to prove the business entity is active and in good standing with the state.

Related: How to Open a Business Bank Account 

Step 9: Apply for Business Licenses and Permits

Depending on what your business does and where it is located, various business licenses and permits will likely be needed before starting your business. Some common registrations include:

Business Licenses – The state of New York doesn’t have a general business license; however, many cities require a business license to operate.

Sales Tax Certificate of Authority – Businesses selling products and certain services will need to register for a Sales Tax Certificate of Authority with the New York Department of Taxation and Finance.

Professional Licensing – Some professions such as cosmetologists, barbers, athletic trainers, and home inspectors require occupational licensing in New York before offering their services. While this isn’t a license on the business, licensing is required in order to operate.

Related: What business licenses and permits are needed in New York?

Step 10: File Biennial Statement

Corporations are required to submit a biennial statement with the New York Department of State.  The biennial statement is due every other year, prior to the calendar month the Corporation was formed.  For example, if the LLC were created on November 5th, 2021, the first biennial statement would be due October 1st, 2023.

The filing fee for the biennial statement in New York is $9.