Steps to Forming a Washington Corporation

Information We Need From You to Start Your Corporation

1: Select a Name: Your company name must include one of the following corporate designations: Corporation, Incorporated, Limited, Company, Corp., Inc., Ltd., or Co.

2: Authorize Shares: A corporation is owned by its shareholders, who own shares of stock in the company. Washington requires you to indicate the number of initial shares you intend to authorize, as well as the class of stock. Most often, a corporation will authorize only a small number of shares (say, 100). At the first stockholders meeting, you would then issue 51% of those shares to yourself, giving you control of the company. Generally, corporations authorize only one class of stock: common stock.

3: Choose Management: Corporations are managed by their Directors, who are responsible for setting major company policy, establishing salaries and bonuses, issuing additional stock, and appointing the corporate officers. Typically, you would appoint yourself the sole Director and take on the various roles of the corporate officers (President, Treasurer, Secretary).

4: Remaining Info Needed to File:

  • Effective date: if you want the legal formation date of your corporation to be later than your filing date, you can select a future day (no more than 90 days after filing).

  • Tenure: if you want your corporation to be dissolved at a specific time in the future, you can indicate a termination date, otherwise your corporation’s tenure will be considered perpetual.

  • Registered Agent: legal registered agents must have a physical street address within the state of Washington. This is known as a registered office, and it cannot be a PO box. All of our Speedy filings come with one free year of Washington registered agent service by Northwest Registered Agent. This service keeps your private home and office addresses off the public record and fulfills your registered agent, mailing and principal office requirements.

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Steps to Forming a Washington LLC

Information We Need From You to Start Your LLC

1: Select a Name: Your company name must contain one of the following designations: Limited Liability Company, Limited Liability Co, L.L.C. or LLC. If you want to find out if your company name is currently available, you can conduct a Washington business name search.

2: Membership: LLCs are owned by their members. Unlike corporations, LLCs do not issue shares of stock. Instead, every member receives an ownership percentage. An ownership percentage is usually—though not always—in direct proportion to the amount each member has invested into the company.

3: Choose Management: Most LLCs are managed by their members. Members are responsible for setting the major company policy and partaking in the day to day operations. However, an LLC can also elect to appoint a manager to oversee the business. Managers can be either members or outside parties.

4: Remaining Info Needed to File:

  • Principal place of business: the physical street address of the business office where your financial books and company records are kept.

  • Effective date: if you want your LLC’s legal date of formation to be later than your filing date, you can indicate a future day (not to be more than 90 days after filing).

  • Tenure: if you want your LLC to dissolve on a specific date in the future, you can select a particular day, otherwise your company’s tenure is considered perpetual.

  • Management: whether your LLC is managed by its members or by managers.

  • Registered Agent: legal registered agents must maintain a physical street address in Washington. This is known as a registered office (cannot be a PO box). All of our Speedy filings come with one free year of Washington registered agent service. This free service keeps your private home and office addresses out of the public record and fulfills your registered agent, mailing and principal address requirements.

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Testimonials

Wow. I got the package today and I can’t believe it. I am thrilled. It has been great working with you. I would highly recommend your site to anyone. Thanks a million. ” – Andrew D., Seattle, Washington

You guys did my incorporation filing just as quickly as you promised and your corporate kit rocks. Glad to know I made the right choice.” – Marcus P., Spokane, Washington

I do alot of my business work shop online, and you have by far one of the better business sites around. Very professional and with real people in America to help me. Thank you! ” – Chris T., Tacoma, Washington