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Incorporating: Setting Up a Corporation
Setting up a corporation or incorporating a business is easier than
you may think. We take a look.
Setting up a corporation or incorporating a business is easier than
you may think. We take a look.
In the past, incorporating a business has often been thought of as a complicated process, only to be
handled by qualified legal council. But, with the advent of the internet, it no longer has to be that way. Why
pay thousands to have a lawyer fill out forms that you can easily do yourself? If you’re a do it yourselfer
like myself you can find everything you need on the web and set up your corporation today.
The downside, of course, is that you won't be provided with live legal or financial advice. Most, if not all,
of your answers, however, can be found with a little bit of research online or via books. If you need legal
advice you should always consult an attorney. Chances are that you're perfectly capable of filling out the
online forms yourself, through one of the incorporating services featured online.
Some popular online business incorporating services:
MyCorporation, an Intuit Company
If you're looking for more detail, there are many good books available today
that can guide you through the entire incorporation process. Here are a few:
Whether you're setting up your corporation for a small or large business there
are three popular business structures. Depending on your specific business
needs, a C Corporation, S Corporation, or Limited Liability Company (LLC)
may be right for you. Below are some pros and cons of the different
corporation types:
C Corporation
Corporate fringe benefits: Offer the most fringe benefits of all the
structures. 100% deductions for health and disability insurance. Full
deduction for medical expenses that may exceed existing coverage.
Stock options offering capital gains, favorable life insurance, cafeteria
plans, pension plans, supper allowance, and more.
Increased workload and paperwork: Yearly stockholder meetings to
elect Board of Directors members. Yearly Board meetings to elect
officers and approve corporate issues. Additionally, you need to keep
corporate minutes.
Most expensive to operate: Must file two separate tax returns, one for
the corporation, and one for you, the individual. A few states, like California, have special corporate
taxes, which can significantly add to the tax costs. Double taxation is possible if plans aren't
structured well in advance, increasing costs.
S Corporation
No double taxation: Unlike the C corporation, income and losses flow through to the owners.
Social Security reductions: You can save up to 50% of your Social Security and Medicare
taxes. These benefits have made the S corporation a popular choice. The S corp is especially
beneficial if you're income is under the Social Security maximum of $102,000 (2008).
Limits on qualifying: Fewer than 75 stockholders, all stock must be U.S. owned, must be a
domestic corporation formed in the U.S., and only one class of stock.
Corporate bookkeeping: Much like the C corporation above, S corporations are classified as
corporations and must have annual meetings. Board of Directors meetings, corporate minutes,
stockholder meetings, along with a separate corporate bank account are required.
Limited Liability Company (LLC)
Cheaper to start and operate than corporations: One of the most popular choices for new and
small businesses. No Board of Directors meetings, corporate minutes, or stockholder meetings.
Typically provide more accounting flexibility than either C or S corporations.
Best asset protection: Limits liability for debts and other obligations much like a corporation. In
fact, limited liability corporations offer protection that may exceed that of a corporation.
Limited restrictions: Unlike the S corporation there are no limits to the numbers of members,
stockholders, or foreign investors.
Real Estate: The best entity to hold real estate of the three. The gains within the LLC are taxed at
the more favorable capital gains tax rate. All C corporation gains are taxed at the corporate tax
level, which can be quite high. S corporations have their disadvantages as well.
No Social Security Savings: Don't share this benefit with S corporations. Subject to Social
Security much like a sole proprietorship. Not a big deal for those who plan on making over the
$102,000 (2008) Social Security maximum.
Required paperwork: Must file articles of organization with the state the LLC was formed in. The
most simple of the three, however. Some states may require LLC specific taxes. This may prove
disadvantageous, depending on your state.
All the above come with their pros and cons. Based on your unique business situation one of the above
entities may make more sense than the other. If you value flexibility and ease of operation, an LLC may
be the right choice. If you want to take advantage of the social security savings, an S corporation might
be appropriate. A C corporation may be more suitable for larger companies, and so forth. Incorporating
your business, whether big or small, can have significant tax and liability protection advantages. Once
you decide on incorporating or forming an LLC, you can get started rather easily thanks to the large
number of online resources.
handled by qualified legal council. But, with the advent of the internet, it no longer has to be that way. Why
pay thousands to have a lawyer fill out forms that you can easily do yourself? If you’re a do it yourselfer
like myself you can find everything you need on the web and set up your corporation today.
The downside, of course, is that you won't be provided with live legal or financial advice. Most, if not all,
of your answers, however, can be found with a little bit of research online or via books. If you need legal
advice you should always consult an attorney. Chances are that you're perfectly capable of filling out the
online forms yourself, through one of the incorporating services featured online.
Some popular online business incorporating services:
MyCorporation, an Intuit Company
If you're looking for more detail, there are many good books available today
that can guide you through the entire incorporation process. Here are a few:
Whether you're setting up your corporation for a small or large business there
are three popular business structures. Depending on your specific business
needs, a C Corporation, S Corporation, or Limited Liability Company (LLC)
may be right for you. Below are some pros and cons of the different
corporation types:
C Corporation
Corporate fringe benefits: Offer the most fringe benefits of all the
structures. 100% deductions for health and disability insurance. Full
deduction for medical expenses that may exceed existing coverage.
Stock options offering capital gains, favorable life insurance, cafeteria
plans, pension plans, supper allowance, and more.
Increased workload and paperwork: Yearly stockholder meetings to
elect Board of Directors members. Yearly Board meetings to elect
officers and approve corporate issues. Additionally, you need to keep
corporate minutes.
Most expensive to operate: Must file two separate tax returns, one for
the corporation, and one for you, the individual. A few states, like California, have special corporate
taxes, which can significantly add to the tax costs. Double taxation is possible if plans aren't
structured well in advance, increasing costs.
S Corporation
No double taxation: Unlike the C corporation, income and losses flow through to the owners.
Social Security reductions: You can save up to 50% of your Social Security and Medicare
taxes. These benefits have made the S corporation a popular choice. The S corp is especially
beneficial if you're income is under the Social Security maximum of $102,000 (2008).
Limits on qualifying: Fewer than 75 stockholders, all stock must be U.S. owned, must be a
domestic corporation formed in the U.S., and only one class of stock.
Corporate bookkeeping: Much like the C corporation above, S corporations are classified as
corporations and must have annual meetings. Board of Directors meetings, corporate minutes,
stockholder meetings, along with a separate corporate bank account are required.
Limited Liability Company (LLC)
Cheaper to start and operate than corporations: One of the most popular choices for new and
small businesses. No Board of Directors meetings, corporate minutes, or stockholder meetings.
Typically provide more accounting flexibility than either C or S corporations.
Best asset protection: Limits liability for debts and other obligations much like a corporation. In
fact, limited liability corporations offer protection that may exceed that of a corporation.
Limited restrictions: Unlike the S corporation there are no limits to the numbers of members,
stockholders, or foreign investors.
Real Estate: The best entity to hold real estate of the three. The gains within the LLC are taxed at
the more favorable capital gains tax rate. All C corporation gains are taxed at the corporate tax
level, which can be quite high. S corporations have their disadvantages as well.
No Social Security Savings: Don't share this benefit with S corporations. Subject to Social
Security much like a sole proprietorship. Not a big deal for those who plan on making over the
$102,000 (2008) Social Security maximum.
Required paperwork: Must file articles of organization with the state the LLC was formed in. The
most simple of the three, however. Some states may require LLC specific taxes. This may prove
disadvantageous, depending on your state.
All the above come with their pros and cons. Based on your unique business situation one of the above
entities may make more sense than the other. If you value flexibility and ease of operation, an LLC may
be the right choice. If you want to take advantage of the social security savings, an S corporation might
be appropriate. A C corporation may be more suitable for larger companies, and so forth. Incorporating
your business, whether big or small, can have significant tax and liability protection advantages. Once
you decide on incorporating or forming an LLC, you can get started rather easily thanks to the large
number of online resources.
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Copyright © 2008 The Money Alert.com. All rights reserved.
Related: LLC vs S Corp vs C Corp Table Succession Plan Free Corporate Legal Forms
Business Plan Business Structures Small Business Insurance Forms of Business Ownership
Business Plan Business Structures Small Business Insurance Forms of Business Ownership
Robert Valentine, Ca. Insurance License# 0C23496, is a Registered Investment Advisor Representative with Crown Wealth Management, a Registered Investment Advisor and a registered
representative with Securities America, Inc., a Registered Broker Dealer. Securities offered through Securities America, Inc., Member NASD/SIPC. Crown Wealth Management and
Securities America are not affiliated. This site has been published for residents of AZ, CA, FL, IL, MI, MO, and TX. All information herein has been prepared solely for informational
purposes, and it is not an offer to buy or sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any security or instrument or to participate in any particular trading strategy. Crown Wealth
Management does not make any representations or warranties as to the accuracy, timeliness, suitability, completeness, or relevance of any information prepared by any unaffiliated third
party, whether linked to this web site or incorporated herein, and takes no responsibility. All such information is provided solely for convenience purposes only. Crown Wealth
Management and Securities America do not endorse, control, or receive compensation from any of the third party advertisers within this website. Neither Crown Wealth Management or
Securities America are affiliated with any of the firms or entities listed unless specifically stated.
representative with Securities America, Inc., a Registered Broker Dealer. Securities offered through Securities America, Inc., Member NASD/SIPC. Crown Wealth Management and
Securities America are not affiliated. This site has been published for residents of AZ, CA, FL, IL, MI, MO, and TX. All information herein has been prepared solely for informational
purposes, and it is not an offer to buy or sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any security or instrument or to participate in any particular trading strategy. Crown Wealth
Management does not make any representations or warranties as to the accuracy, timeliness, suitability, completeness, or relevance of any information prepared by any unaffiliated third
party, whether linked to this web site or incorporated herein, and takes no responsibility. All such information is provided solely for convenience purposes only. Crown Wealth
Management and Securities America do not endorse, control, or receive compensation from any of the third party advertisers within this website. Neither Crown Wealth Management or
Securities America are affiliated with any of the firms or entities listed unless specifically stated.
