How to Start a Domestic Corporation in California | Articles of Incorporation

HOW TO FILE A GENERAL STOCK CORPORATION

Step 1- Start by downloading the Articles of Incorporation of a General Stock Corporation.

Step 2- To complete this form the following data will be required:

  • 1-Corporation name. Our firm provides name reservation services.
  • 2-Intended business purpose
  • 3-Service of process agent’s name and address. Our firm provides registered agent services.
  • 4-Corporate address and mailing address (if different)
  • 5-Shares to be issued
  • Incorporator name/signature

Step 3- Once your business information has been supplied you will need to complete the “Mail Submission Cover Sheet” (page 2 of the application). The information required on this document includes the name and phone number of the contact person, basic entity information and return delivery instructions.

Step 4- Lastly, attach to your completed documents a check made payable to the Secretary of State and forward all items to the appropriate address below.

  • By Mail ($100): Secretary of State Business Entities, P.O. Box 944260 Sacramento, CA 94244-2600
  • In Person ($100 + $15): Secretary of State 1500 11th Street, 3rd Floor Sacramento, CA 95814.  Our firm provides Secretary of State Filing Service.  Click "Get It Filed" for more information.

HOW TO FILE A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION

Step 1- Filers looking to form a domestic professional corporation will need to first download the Articles of Incorporation of a Professional Corporation.

Step 2- To complete this form the following data will be required:

  • 1-Corporation name. Our firm provides name reservation services.
  • 2-Intended business purpose
  • 3-Service of process agent’s name and address.  Our firm provides registered agent services.
  • 4-Corporate address and mailing address (if different)
  • 5-Shares to be issued
  • Incorporator name/signature

Step 3- Continue by completing the second page of the application titled “Mail Submission Cover Sheet”. The information required on this document includes the contact person’s name and phone number, basic entity information and return delivery instructions.

Step 4- Once all forms have been completed you will need to attach a check made payable to the Secretary of State and forward your filing package to the appropriate address below.

  • By Mail ($100): Secretary of State Business Entities, P.O. Box 944260 Sacramento, CA 94244-2600
  • In Person ($100 + $15): Secretary of State 1500 11th Street, 3rd Floor Sacramento, CA 95814.
  • Our firm provides Secretary of State Filing Service.  Click "Get It Filed" for more information.

HOW TO FILE A CLOSE CORPORATION

Step 1- Begin by downloading the PDF of the Articles of Incorporation of a Close Corporation.

Step 2- The information required on this document is as follows:

  • 1-Corporation name. Our firm provides name reservation services.
  • 3-Service of process agent’s name and address. Our firm provides registered agent services
  • 4-Corporate address and mailing address (if different)
  • 5-Shares to be issued
  • 6-Number of shareholders (cannot exceed 35 persons)
  • Incorporator name/signature

Articles of Incorporation - Close

HOW TO FILE A NON-PROFIT RELIGIOUS CORPORATION

Step 1- Filers must first download the Articles of Incorporation of a Non-Profit Religious Corporation.

Step 2- To complete this form the following data will be required:

  • 1-Corporation name. Our firm provides name reservation services.
  • 3-Service of process agent’s name and address. Our firm provides registered agent services
  • 4-Corporate address and mailing address (if different)
  • 5-Specific purpose of corporation
  • Incorporator name/signature

Articles of Incorporation - Nonprofit Religious

Step 3- With the first page of the application completed you will now need to provide the contact person’s name and phone number, some basic entity information and return delivery instructions using the “Mail Submission Cover Sheet” (page 2).

Step 4- Lastly, attach a check made payable to the Secretary of State and forward your filing package to the appropriate address below.

  • By Mail ($100): Secretary of State Business Entities, P.O. Box 944260 Sacramento, CA 94244-2600
  • In Person ($100 + $15): Secretary of State 1500 11th Street, 3rd Floor Sacramento, CA 95814.  Our firm provides Secretary of State Filing Service.  Click "Get It Filed" for more information.

HOW TO FILE A NON-PROFIT PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION

Step 1- The filing process begins with the downloading of the PDF application.

Step 2- To complete this form you must submit the following information:

  • 1-Corporation name. Our firm provides name reservation services.
  • 2-Intended business purpose
  • 2-Corporate beneficiary (choose one) and the intended business purpose
  • 3-Service of process agent’s name and address. Our firm provides registered agent services
  • 4-Corporate address and mailing address (if different)
  • 5-Additional statements
  • Incorporator name/signature

Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation

Step 3- You must now complete the second page of the application titled “Mail Submission Cover Sheet”. This document will be used to detail the contact person’s name and phone number, return delivery instructions and some basic entity information.

Step 4- Before submitting your filings you will need to attach a check made payable to the Secretary of State. Gather all articles and forward them to the appropriate address below.

  • By Mail ($100): Secretary of State Business Entities, P.O. Box 944260 Sacramento, CA 94244-2600
  • In Person ($100 + $15): Secretary of State 1500 11th Street, 3rd Floor Sacramento, CA 95814. Our firm provides Secretary of State Filing Service.  Click "Get It Filed" for more information.

HOW TO FILE A NON-PROFIT MUTUAL BENEFIT CORPORATION

Step 1- In order to register a non-profit mutual benefit corporation you will need to first download this PDF application.

Step 2- Once the form has been downloaded you may continue by providing the following information:

  • 1-Corporation name. Our firm provides name reservation services.
  • 2-Intended business purpose
  • 3-Service of process agent’s name and address. Our firm provides registered agent services
  • 4-Corporate address and mailing address (if different)
  • 5-Purpose of corporation
  • Incorporator name/signature

Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation

Step 3- Continue by completing the second page of the application titled “Mail Submission Cover Sheet”. This document will ask you to provide the contact person’s name and phone number, some basic entity information and the return delivery instructions.

Step 4- Lastly, attach to your completed documents a check made payable to the Secretary of State and forward all items to the appropriate address below.

  • By Mail ($100): Secretary of State Business Entities, P.O. Box 944260 Sacramento, CA 94244-2600
  • In Person ($100 + $15): Secretary of State 1500 11th Street, 3rd Floor Sacramento, CA 95814. Our firm provides Secretary of State Filing Service.  Click "Get It Filed" for more information.

HOW TO FILE A COMMON INTEREST DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION

Step 1- You will need to first download this PDF application.

Step 2- The information required on this document is as follows:

  • 1-Corporation name.  Our firm provides name reservation services.
  • 2-State code incorporated under (choose one)
  • 3-Service of process agent’s name and address. Our firm provides registered agent services
  • 4-Corporate address, mailing address (if different), common interest development address (if applicable) and front street and nearest cross street for common interest development (if not on site)
  • 5-Managing agent’s name and address
  • 6-Specific purpose of corporation
  • Incorporator name/signature

Articles of Incorporation - Common Interest Development

Agreements

Here are some sample agreements that I found online.  You may be able to use these to form your entity.

  • Corporate Bylaw
  • LLC Operating Agreement
  • Partnership Agreement