Incorporating in California

California has the highest amount of individuals filing self-employed income tax returns in the nation, it has the third highest population of Corporations and is number one when it comes to Limited Liability Companies formed. Incorporating in California can be completed in as little as 4 hours with Class A expedited services or you can choose to incorporate in California in 24 hours with Class B expedited filing. Please note that Companies Incorporated performs all of the necessary documentation and delivery for you as part of our service and extends all state expedited options to our customers.

Forming Corporations

You can incorporate domestic Stock (General For Profit), Professional, Non-profit and Foreign corporations in California. Some more information on Corporation Types. Companies Incorporated can prepare and file your documents with the state for any type of California Corporation, however our automated online process caters to domestic stock corporations, the most common form of corporation. To incorporate in California, forming a business corporation of any kind, Articles of Incorporation and minimum 2 copies of the articles are submitted to the appropriate state branch office. Both copies will be certified by the Secretary of State for no additional charge, additional copies should be submitted along with an $8 certified copy fee. The Sacramento branch office will file and record mailed in or hand delivered documents, otherwise your documents MUST BE hand delivered to any other branch office. Pre-clearance and special handing is only available in Sacramento, not the regional offices.

Companies Incorporated handles all of your document creation, delivery and filing with the state office for all of our customers. We will hand deliver your articles to the state with the filing fees and any additional state fees. Our system enables us to communicate directly to the state offices. We are the fastest and easiest way for incorporating in California.

Please note: When you form a California Corporation, it is subject to franchise tax requirements until it is formally dissolved. You can find more information regarding California Franchise Tax at the Franchise Tax Board website.

LLC — Limited Liability Company Formation

Forming a Limited Liability Company (LLC) is becoming increasingly popular, a relatively new business entity with outstanding flexibility. You can incorporate in California, forming an LLC or corporation in much the same manner. There are some different organizational matters for LLC's, as well as additional tax classifications available. If your LLC is not taxed as a corporation there are Franchise Tax Board obligations annually, the minimum being $800 and a fee based on the total yearly income of the company. More information on LLC Tax Classifications.

Resources to Incorporate in California

Some of these state and government offices maybe be useful if you are incorporating in California, depending on what type of entity you form, where you incorporated and the nature of your business.

• Franchise Tax Board - information regarding franchise tax requirements.
• Board of Equalization - information regarding sales tax and use tax liability.
• Department of Corporations - information regarding issuance and the sale of securities in California, Franchise Investment Legal Requirements, Personal Property Brokers Law and Escrow Law requirements.
• Department of Insurance - information regarding insurance provider and insurer requirements.
• Department of Financial Institutions - information regarding the organization of financial institutions, banks and corporate name style requirements.
• Department of Consumer Affairs - information regarding specific licensing requirements.
• Employment Development Department - information regarding disability and unemployment insurance tax.
• Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Worker's Compensation - information regarding corporate workman's compensation requirements.
• City and/or county clerk and/or recorder where the principal place of business is located - for information regarding business licenses, fictitious business names (if doing business under a name other than the corporate name), and for specific requirements regarding zoning, building permits, etc. based on the business activities of the California corporation.
• Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - information regarding FEIN, or Federal Employer Identification Numbers, Tax ID's for business entities.

California Expedited Filing Services

When you incorporate in California, you can choose standard processing which can be up to 4-6 weeks in just the state office turn around time. There is a simple expedite upgrade that can have the state turn around your filing in as little as 2 weeks. There are 2 additional methods to have your articles processed by the state in either 24 or 4 hours. Class A and B expedited service.

PLEASE NOTE: Class A requires a pre clearance approval with additional state fees and acceptance periods, so Companies Incorporated does not offer this class. Class B is for corporations only. There is no 24 hour for LLC's unless the incorporator submits a letter to the state as to reason for expediting. Where the state will either approve or deny the request based on their opinion.