logo

Register a C Corporation in the USA in 7 Steps: Procedure, Requirements, Benefits & Drawbacks

This articlee will briefly discuss the procedure to register a C Corporation in the USA. Along with that, the article will also briefly describe the benefits, drawbacks, and the numerous things to take into account when forming a C corporation.

GET EXPERT
ASSISTANCE

    Note:This form is not for job seekers or salary employees. Thank you.

    Table of Contents

    Register a C Corporation in the USA

    One of the most important tasks for entrepreneurs, when they consider establishing a new business, is deciding the corporate structure of the firm. An entrepreneur can establish a partnership firm, a limited liability company, or even a sole proprietorship.

    register a c corporation in the usa

    However, in the United States, one of the best methods to expand a company while safeguarding personal belongings is to register a C corporation in the USA. C Corporations are the most prevalent form of corporate structure in the US and they ensure that the owners are protected from being found personally liable for company debts or enforcement proceedings.

    This article will briefly discuss the procedure to register a C Corporation in the USA. Along with that, the article will also briefly describe the benefits, drawbacks, and numerous things to take into account when forming a C corporation.

    Defining Corporation

    corporation is a business or group that operates as a single unit and has stockholders, directors, and executives that collaborate on business decisions. A corporation is a separate legal body from its stockholders, thus the liabilities of a company are not individually owned by stockholders. 

    There are several areas in which corporations are different from sole proprietorships, partnerships, and Limited Liability Companies. Corporations must adhere to a variety of regulatory and tax regulations that do not apply to other forms of enterprises.

    Meaning of C Corporation

    C corporations are generally publicly listed businesses that are controlled by stockholders. They are taxed differently from several other organizational forms.

    C-corps are legitimate companies where the proprietors, or stockholders, contribute their own taxes. 

    C-corps, the most common form of organization, must also pay taxes on their profits. Profits generated by the firms are taxed at the business as well as the personal levels which lead to the occurrence of double taxation.

    Pre-requisites of registering a C Corporation

    The pre-requisites of registering a C Corporation are:

    • Must have a minimum of one shareholder, who may be a US citizen or an international investor.
    • Must acquire the EIN.

    Procedure to register a C Corporation in the USA

    procedure of registering a c corporation

    If you wish to set up a C corporation in the USA, the first thing that you must do is register a C Corporation in the USA.

    The following steps must be followed in order to register a C Corporation in the USA.

    1. Pick a name for the business.
      • Selecting a name for the company is the initial stage to register a C corporation in the USA.
      • In order to set up a C corporation in the USA, you must choose a name that is original and different from any other registered businesses in the jurisdiction where the firm was formed.
      • Once the name has been selected, you have to check the availability of the name in the government’s database to ensure that the name has not already been taken by an existing enterprise. Our experts at Odint Consultancy can help you in checking the availability of a name.
    2. Employ a registered agent.
      • C-corps must employ a registered agent, who obtains legal notifications on behalf of the firm.
      • The registered agent can be either a person or a corporate body.
    3. Create the articles of incorporation.
      • The articles of incorporation are the formal record for incorporating the C corporation.
      • They provide essential details of the firm like the name, registered agent, and objective.
    4. Submit the articles of incorporation.
      • After creating the articles of incorporation, they must be submitted to the Secretary of State’s office.
      • While submitting the form, an application fee might be required.
      • Additionally, you might be asked to provide some general corporate details, including the name and registered agent of the firm.
    5. Elect directors and management for the company.
      • To set up a C corporation in the USA, it is crucial to elect the directors and management of the company.
      • These people will be in charge of administering the business and taking decisions on the company’s account.
      • The C corporation’s officials are in charge of managing the daily activities of the firm, and the director is in charge of supervising those activities.
      • It is crucial to select people that understand the concept of the firm, and are competent and educated about the industry.
    6. Organize a board meeting to create the regulations of the company.
      • The company must organize a meeting to create organizational bylaws and maintain minutes after being granted registration.
      • The guidelines that regulate the organization will be spelled out in the bylaws. They ought to provide details about the following:
      • The way the directors are appointed.
      • The way the revenue is allocated.
      • The way the meetings are organized.
      • Responsibilities of every member.
    7. Acquire the necessary licenses and permissions.
      • To conduct commercial operations, it is essential to obtain local and state licenses and permits.

    Benefits of setting up a C Corporation

    benefits of setting up a c corporation

    Individuals who wish to set up a C corporation in the USA may benefit in the following ways:

    1. Limited liability: If you set up a C Corporation in the USA, it would ensure limited liability of the organization. The directors, stockholders, workers, managers, and executives are protected from being found liable for the company’s liabilities or legal actions.
    2. Perpetual existence: Even though ownership transfers as a consequence of the selling of stock, C corporations can continue to exist indefinitely.
    3. Tax benefits: If you set up a C Corporation in the USA, one of the benefits you will acquire is that it helps take advantage of deductible business costs.
    4. Increased credibility: Obtain credibility with creditors and providers.
    5. Possibility for growth: The possibility for growth in the case of a C-Corp is huge.
    6. Reduced audit risk: C companies often undergo audits more rarely than sole proprietorships.
    7. No restriction on the number of shareholders: No restriction on the number of stockholders. The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, however, mandates that a firm must register a C Corporation in the USA with the SEC if it reaches $10 mn in resources and 500 stockholders.
    8. Helps raise capital: The ability to accommodate an infinite amount of stockholders gives C corporations an edge over other forms whenever it comes to collecting capital when necessary. If extra funds are required, a C corporation can merely issue additional shares of the business.

    Things to take into account when forming a C corporation

    When you register a C Corporation in the USA, you must take into account the following things:

    1. Firm’s structure & size
      • You may register a C Corporation in the USA if you wish to acquire more funds from your shareholders.
      • However, if you plan to run a modest, privately operated firm, like a family-owned corporation, if you do register a C Corporation in the USA, it may raise continuous expenditures and compliance costs which can prove to be quite stressful. For further details, you can consult our experts at Odint Consultancy.
    2. Tax preparation of the firm
      • C companies are liable for double taxation, this implies that the firm will be charged on its revenues, and in addition to that, the stockholders will also be charged on any dividends they obtain from the business.
      • If your degree of productivity is minimal, this might not be the right company structure for you.
    3. More time and expenses
      • When managing a C corp, one must adhere to strict reporting standards and business accountability, which indicates more time, & expense will be spent on documentation and reporting.
      • A C corporation might not have been the perfect choice for you if you are unwilling to take on some of these extra responsibilities.
    4. Exit strategy
      • If you register a C Corporation in the USA and intend to transfer your company in the future, the transferring process is considerably simpler and flexible.

    C Corporation vs S Corporation

    C and S corporations each provide a little amount of liability protection. Both need the submission of the Articles of Incorporation. Additionally, both have officials, directors, and stockholders. Although they have many similarities, the complicated areas of tax and corporate influence set them apart.

    C Corporations are liable for double taxation whereas S Corporations are pass-through tax companies and can prevent having taxed at the business level along with being taxed on stockholder’s personal income.

    C Corporations have higher growth prospects since business owners since do not have any ownership restrictions. S corporations, however, are not permitted to have greater than 100 stockholders.

    Drawbacks of establishing a C Corporation

    The drawbacks of establishing a C Corporation are:

    • Double taxation If you register a C Corporation in the USA the primary drawback is that its profits are taxed twice because both the firm and its stockholders are taxed on dividend payments.
    • Taxes in every state wherever they conduct commercial operations C corporations must pay corporate taxes in every state where they perform commercial operations. With C corporations, tax lawyers are a necessity, as is thorough documentation to show compliance with all relevant state and federal regulations.
    • Business losses are not deducted In the case of a c corporation, the stockholders cannot exclude losses from their individual tax returns, unlike an s corporation.
    • More procedures and regulations Because of its complicated tax regulations and the security they offer to proprietors from being held liable for debts, litigation, as well as other financial responsibilities, C corporations are subject to more state regulation than other types of businesses.

    Conclusion

    The above article briefly describes the benefits and drawbacks that an entrepreneur faces when they register a C Corporation in the USA. It also lays down the various steps to register a C Corporation in the USA.

    If you wish to set up a c corporation in the USA, you can consult our experts at Odint Consultancy. Our experts will guide you throughout the procedure for incorporating a C Corporation in the United States.

    FAQ’s

    C corporations are generally publicly listed businesses that are controlled by stockholders. They are taxed differently from several other organizational forms.

    • Limited liability.
    • Perpetual existence.
    • Increased credibility.
    • Higher growth prospects.
    • Helps raise capital
    • No restriction on the number of shareholders.
    • Double taxation.
    • Taxes in every state wherever they conduct commercial operations.
    • Business losses are not deducted.
    • More procedures and regulations.
    • C Corporations are liable for double taxation whereas S Corporations are pass-through tax companies and can prevent having taxed at the business level along with being taxed on stockholder’s personal income.
    • C Corporations have higher growth prospects with regard to business owners since they do not have any ownership restrictions. S corporations, however, are not permitted to have greater than 100 stockholders.
    • Pick a name for the business.
    • Employ a registered agent.
    • Create the articles of incorporation.
    • Submit the articles of incorporation with the state.
    • Elect directors and management for the company.
    • Organize a board meeting to create the regulations of the company.
    • Acquire the necessary licenses and permissions.