How To Register Your Business

Your location and business structure determine how you will need to register your business. Determine those factors first, and registration becomes very straightforward.

For most small businesses, registering your business is as simple as registering your business name with state and local governments.

In some cases, you do not need to register at all. If you conduct business as yourself using your legal name, you will not need to register anywhere. But remember, if you do not register your business, you could miss out on personal liability protection, legal benefits, and tax benefits.

Register with federal agencies

Most businesses do not need to register with the federal government to become a legal entity, other than simply filing to get a federal tax ID. Small businesses sometimes register with the federal government for trademark protection or tax exempt status.

If you want to trademark your business, brand or product name, file with the United States Patent and Trademark office once you have formed your business.

If you want tax-exempt status for a nonprofit corporation, register your business as a tax-exempt entity with the IRS.

Register with state agencies

If your business is an LLC, corporation, partnership, or nonprofit corporation, you will probably need to register with any state where you conduct business activities.

Typically, you are considered to be conducting business activities in a state when:

Your business has a physical presence in the state
You often have in-person meetings with clients in the state
A significant portion of your company's revenue comes from the state
Any of your employees work in the state

Some states allow you to register online, and some states make you file paper documents in person or through the mail.

Most states require you to register with the Secretary of State's office, a Business Bureau, or a Business Agency.

Get a registered agent

If your business is an LLC, corporation, partnership, or nonprofit corporation, you will need a registered agent in your state before you file.

A registered agent receives official papers and legal documents on behalf of your company. The registered agent must be located in the state where you register.

Many business owners prefer to use a registered agent service rather than do this role themselves.

File for foreign qualification

If your LLC, corporation, partnership, or nonprofit corporation conducts business activities in more than one state, you might need to form your business in one state and then file for foreign qualification in other states where your business is active.

The state where you form your business will consider your business to be domestic, while every other state will view your business as foreign. Foreign qualification notifies the state that a foreign business is active there.

Foreign qualified businesses typically need to pay taxes and annual report fees in both their state of formation and states where they are foreign qualified.

To foreign qualify, file a Certificate of Authority with the state. Many states also require a Certificate of Good Standing from your state of formation. Each state charges a filing fee, but the amount varies by state and business structure.

Check with state offices to find out foreign qualification requirements and fees.

File state documents and fees

In most cases, the total cost to register your business will be less than $300, but fees vary depending on your state and business structure.

The information you will need typically includes:

Business name
Business location
Ownership, management structure, or directors
Registered agent information
Number and value of shares (if you are a corporation)

The documents you need — and what goes in them — will vary based on your state and business structure.

Business structure	Document	Description
LLC	Articles of organization	Articles of organization is a simple document that describes the basics of your LLC. It includes business information like the company name, address, member names, and the registered agent.
LLC	LLC operating agreement	An operating agreement describes the structure of your company's financial and functional decisions. It defines how key business decisions are made, as well as each member's duties, powers, and responsibilities. It is widely recommended to create one to protect yourself and your business, even if your state does not mandate it.
Limited partnership	Certificate of limited partnership	This simple document describes the basics of your limited partnership. It notifies the state of the partnership's existence and contains basic business information like the company name, address, and partner names. Not all states require it, and some states call it by a different name.
Limited partnership	Limited partnership agreement	A limited partnership agreement is an internally binding document between all partners that defines how business decisions get made, each partner's duties, powers, and responsibilities. It is widely recommended to create one to protect yourself and your business, even if your state does not mandate it.
Limited liability partnership	Certificate of limited liability partnership	This simple document describes the basics of your limited liability partnership. It notifies the state of the partnership's existence and contains basic business information like the company name, address, and partner names. Not all states require it, and some states call it by a different name.
Limited liability partnership	Limited liability partnership agreement	A limited liability partnership agreement is an internally binding document between all partners that defines how business decisions get made, each partner's duties, powers, and responsibilities. It is widely recommended to create one to protect yourself and your business, even if your state does not mandate it.
Corporation (any kind)	Articles of incorporation	The articles of incorporation — or a certificate of incorporation — is a comprehensive legal document that lays out the basic outline of your business. It is required by every state when you incorporate. The most common information included is the company name, business purpose, number of shares offered, value of shares, directors, and officers.
Corporation (any kind)	Bylaws or resolutions	Bylaws (called resolutions for nonprofits) are the internal governance documents of a corporation. They define how key business decisions are made, as well as officer and shareholders' duties, powers, and responsibilities. It is widely recommended to create one to protect yourself and your business, even if your state does not mandate it.

Register with local agencies

Typically, you do not need to register with county or city governments to actually form your business.

If your business is an LLC, corporation, partnership, or nonprofit corporation, you might need to file for licenses and permits from the county or city.

Some counties and cities also require you to register your DBA — a trade name or a fictitious name — if you use one.

Local governments determine registration, licensing, and permitting requirements, so visit local government websites to find out what you need to do.

Stay up to date with registration requirements

Some states require you to provide reports soon after registering depending on your business structure.

You may need to file additional documentation with your state tax board or franchise tax board. These filings are typically referred to as Initial Reports or Tax Board registration, and most often need to be filed within 30-90 days after you register with the state.

Check with your local tax office or franchise tax board, if it applies to you.