In this article, we went over how the Articles of Incorporation fit into the bigger picture of setting up a new corporation. We discussed the purposes and contents of the Articles of Incorporation, how it differs from other legal documents, and some the key terminology to keep in mind.
You can think of the Articles of Incorporation as the "birth certificate" for the corporation. Without the Articles of Incorporation there can be no corporation. Still, you’ll need an incorporator and have to properly complete and file the Articles with your state’s secretary of state (or other state agency). You’ll also need to pay the filing fee and fees associated with your incorporator and/or lawyer.
To find the proper form go to your state’s secretary of state within the business filings section. Or you can contact a local representative from the Small Business Administration, which can be found online at
http://www.sba.gov/. Or contact your local business attorney.
NEXT STEP: After you create the Articles of Incorporation, you'll have to create your corporation's bylaws which act as the "guts" of the company. Please read
"Bylaws of Corporations" for details on setting up a corporation's bylaws.