How to Register a Company
Posted on June 18th, 2009 by Paul
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A company, before it becomes legit, must be registered to the state. Even if you came up with an appealing company name, others can use it if they were able to register first. In addition, a registered company is legally acknowledged by the country, while an unregistered one is ordered to close down, for the lack of a business permit. So, how do you register your company?
Secure a Registration Form
Before you can register your business, you must secure registration form from the county clerk’s office or from the secretary of state, based on where your company is situated. Check if your preferred company name is already taken. You must decide on a new one if it is already listed on the company database, so better have more than one possible names ready.
Fill Up the Form Carefully
Your company will be recognized by the world, based on the information you placed on the registration form. Fill up the form with caution, as a single error may force you to later correct the form and pay unnecessary fees. Read each item carefully before filling it with info, especially the one where you need to indicate the type of company you’re running (proprietorship, limited partnership, etc.).
Submit the Form
Once you complete the form, gather supporting documents that ascertain the company’s existence. They will be filed by the county clerk’s office or the secretary of state. Supply only photocopies of the documents, since you may need them for future purposes. Just give the original copies only when asked. Some states don’t require you to affix your signature, so you can submit the form online through a legal documentation website like Legal Zoom (www.legalzoom.com). Ideally, the forms should be submitted within a month of the company’s initial transaction or earlier. Pay the necessary fees upon submission.
Check for State Provisions
After submitting the form, check if your state has certain provisions, before your company is officially registered. Some states require you to publish your intent to do business on a broadsheet for one entire month. Others states may contain different quirks. Make sure you follow your state’s provision, otherwise the registration will be nullified.
Know the Procedures by Heart
The company registration process is a bit tedious at first, but once you get accustomed to the requirements, it’s actually easy. The procedures should be familiarized with early. You’ll encounter them again, when you decide to put up another business.
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