For the purpose of incorporating this business, the party listed here is deemed to be our client. All correspondence will be directed to this person. Information will not be released or discussed with anyone but the individual entered here.

The name of the corporation must be specified in the Articles of Incorporation.

We'll run a search to identify possible conflicts as a part of this service.

You can conduct a name search to determine if any conflicts exist with your corporation's name by visiting the California Secretary of State's Business Search page at this link.

Instructions for written Name Availability Inquiries and Reservations of Corporate names can be found at this page.

The principal executive office of a California corporation will usually be its primary business location, or where its administrative offices are located. Please do not enter a post office box address.

This location can be outside of California. This address is where the Secretary of State will send correspondence.

Any adult resident of California can be the registered agent. Their listed address needs to be a street address (not a post office or mail box).

The function of the registered agent is to receive service of process and legal notices for the corporation. A director, officer or shareholder may serve as the registered agent, provided their street address is located within California.

Most corporations will appoint an individual who is internally involved with the company.
The agent does not have to be (but can be) a corporate director, officer or shareholder.
Being appointed to the registered agent position does not give that party any ownership, management or legal rights to the corporation.

Unless the corporation is a professional corporation, or if it will be subject to the banking law or insurance code, the articles need to include the following, exact statement concerning its business activity:

"The purpose of the corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which a corporation may be organized under the GENERAL CORPORATION LAW of California other than the banking business, the trust company business or the practice of a profession permitted to be incorporated by the California Corporations Code." (This language cannot be changed).

To complete the Statement of Information we will need a brief description of the corporation's business activity. In the space below please write a short description of the intial business activity.

A Chief Executive Officer (President), Secretary and Chief Financial Officer (Treasurer) are all mandatory.

One person can fill more than one office.
Officers do not have to be California residents.
An officer can also be a director or shareholder.
Officers are appointed to and removed from office by directors.

Primary management of a corporation is vested in the board of directors. While officers manage day-to-day operations and shareholders have indirect management in that they appoint the directors, it is the directors who exercise overall management.

At least one director is required to incorporate in California. More Directors can be added after the company is incorporated, but to start you'll need at least one director.

California corporations with one shareholder may have one or more directors.
Corporations with two shareholders must have at least two directors.
If there are three or more shareholders, there must be at least three directors.
Directors do not have to reside inside California.

Please indicate the number of shares which are authorized to be issued and their par value (if any).

The Articles of Incorporation set forth the number of shares authorized to be issued and whether or not a "par value" to the shares has been set (100,000 at no par value is typical).

Par value is an arbitrary amount assigned to the shares of stock. It does not refer to the actual purchase price required for the shares, but shares cannot be sold at less than the stated par value.

Certain states (California excluded) use the par value concept to regulate issuance of stock and how monetary receipts for shares can be used by a corporation.

California does not follow the "par value" concept, although an incorporator is allowed to specify the par value of shares, if desired.

Unless it is anticipated the corporation will be domesticated to a another state using the par value concept (such as Nevada), most incorporators will choose no par value for the shares.
The value and number of shares can be changed even after the concern is incorporated.
Most jurisdictions following the par value concept base filing fees on the number and value of shares authorized. The higher the number and value, the higher the fee.

Please indicate if shares will be issued immediately after you incorporate, or if the matter will be undertaken by the directors at a later time.

Sale of shares and issuance of stock certificates at this juncture may not be desirable from an economic or strategic standpoint in some instances.

While the Articles must designate the number of authorized shares, it's not required that shares be issued or sold to legally incorporate.

List all parties who will contribute money or other property in exchange for shares of stock.

Section 409 of the California Corporations Code says shares to a Corporation can be issued for consideration "consisting of any or all of the following: money paid; labor done; services actually rendered to the corporation or for its benefit or in its formation or reorganization; debts or securities canceled; and tangible or intangible property actually received either by the issuing corporation or by a wholly owned subsidiary; but neither promissory notes of the purchaser (unless adequately secured by collateral other than the shares acquired or unless permitted by Section 408) nor future services shall constitute payment or part payment for shares of the corporation".

The contribution cannot be future services.
Usually, parties contribute start up capital for their shares in the corporation.
Shareholders do not have to reside in California.
A Shareholder can also be a director and officer.
Shareholders are empowered to appoint and remove directors with or without cause.
Unless the Corporation elects Subchapter S tax status, shareholders can be people, trusts, or other business entities.
If you intend to apply for Subchapter S tax treatment with the IRS, all shareholders must be natural persons, and need to be U.S. Citizens.

Please specify the end of the corporation's fiscal year.

A fiscal year is the 12-month period used by corporations for their accounting period.

Most corporations use December 31st for the end of fiscal year.
Subchapter S Corporations must use December 31st, unless special circumstances are demonstrated to the IRS.