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Corporation Builder

Set up your company the right way, step by step, so lenders see a real, fundable business.

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Your company setup, in 10 phases

Phase 1

Choose your structure

Sole proprietor vs company, LLC vs corporation, S corporation election, and which state to form in.

  1. 1.1Sole proprietor vs company
  2. 1.2LLC vs corporation
  3. 1.3S corporation election (optional)
  4. 1.4Which state to form in
  5. 1.5Avoid shortcuts that hurt you

This guide is for general information and education only. It is not legal, tax or accounting advice, and using it does not create an attorney client or accountant client relationship. Laws, fees and deadlines change. Confirm every step with official sources and talk with your own attorney or tax advisor before you file or make a tax election. CrediFund.Loans is not a law firm or CPA firm.

Phase 2

Name and brand

Naming best practices, name search, domain, name reservation, DBA, brand kit and optional federal trademark.

  1. 2.0Naming best practices
  2. 2.1Search your name
  3. 2.2Secure the domain at the same time
  4. 2.3Optional name reservation
  5. 2.4DBA (fictitious business name) if you trade under a different name
  6. 2.5Brand kit
  7. 2.6Federal trademark (optional)

This guide is for general information and education only. It is not legal, tax or accounting advice, and using it does not create an attorney client or accountant client relationship. Laws, fees and deadlines change. Confirm every step with official sources and talk with your own attorney or tax advisor before you file or make a tax election. CrediFund.Loans is not a law firm or CPA firm.

Phase 3

Address, agent and phone

Business address, registered agent, business phone and business email.

  1. 3.1Business address
  2. 3.2Registered agent
  3. 3.3Business phone
  4. 3.4Business email

This guide is for general information and education only. It is not legal, tax or accounting advice, and using it does not create an attorney client or accountant client relationship. Laws, fees and deadlines change. Confirm every step with official sources and talk with your own attorney or tax advisor before you file or make a tax election. CrediFund.Loans is not a law firm or CPA firm.

Phase 4

File your company

Formation documents, EIN, Statement of Information and beneficial ownership.

  1. 4.1File formation documents
  2. 4.2Get your EIN from the IRS
  3. 4.3Statement of Information
  4. 4.4Beneficial ownership (BOI)

This guide is for general information and education only. It is not legal, tax or accounting advice, and using it does not create an attorney client or accountant client relationship. Laws, fees and deadlines change. Confirm every step with official sources and talk with your own attorney or tax advisor before you file or make a tax election. CrediFund.Loans is not a law firm or CPA firm.

Phase 5

Corporate records

Bylaws or operating agreement, minutes, ownership records and a company records binder.

  1. 5.1Bylaws (corporation) or operating agreement (LLC)
  2. 5.2Organizational minutes and first board resolutions
  3. 5.3Issue stock or membership units
  4. 5.4Keep a company records binder

This guide is for general information and education only. It is not legal, tax or accounting advice, and using it does not create an attorney client or accountant client relationship. Laws, fees and deadlines change. Confirm every step with official sources and talk with your own attorney or tax advisor before you file or make a tax election. CrediFund.Loans is not a law firm or CPA firm.

Phase 6

Licenses and registrations

Business licenses, DBA, seller’s permit, employer requirements and professional licenses.

  1. 6.1City business license or business tax certificate
  2. 6.2County fictitious business name if using a DBA
  3. 6.3California seller’s permit from CDTFA if you sell taxable goods
  4. 6.4EDD employer account and workers’ compensation insurance before you hire your first employee
  5. 6.5Professional or trade licenses

This guide is for general information and education only. It is not legal, tax or accounting advice, and using it does not create an attorney client or accountant client relationship. Laws, fees and deadlines change. Confirm every step with official sources and talk with your own attorney or tax advisor before you file or make a tax election. CrediFund.Loans is not a law firm or CPA firm.

Phase 7

Banking

Open business checking, keep money separate and build healthy statements.

  1. 7.1Open a business checking account
  2. 7.2Keep personal and business money separate
  3. 7.3Build healthy statements

This guide is for general information and education only. It is not legal, tax or accounting advice, and using it does not create an attorney client or accountant client relationship. Laws, fees and deadlines change. Confirm every step with official sources and talk with your own attorney or tax advisor before you file or make a tax election. CrediFund.Loans is not a law firm or CPA firm.

Phase 8

Online presence

Domain, professional email, website, Google Business Profile and social accounts.

  1. 8.1Domain and professional email (if not done in Phase 2)
  2. 8.2Website
  3. 8.3Google Business Profile
  4. 8.4Social media
  5. 8.5Get it done for you

This guide is for general information and education only. It is not legal, tax or accounting advice, and using it does not create an attorney client or accountant client relationship. Laws, fees and deadlines change. Confirm every step with official sources and talk with your own attorney or tax advisor before you file or make a tax election. CrediFund.Loans is not a law firm or CPA firm.

Phase 9

Business credit foundation

Industry code, D-U-N-S number, business credit files, starter vendors and monitoring.

  1. 9.1Choose your industry and NAICS code
  2. 9.2Get a free D-U-N-S number
  3. 9.3Check that Experian Business and Equifax Business files exist for your company
  4. 9.4Open starter vendor accounts that report to business bureaus (net 30 accounts) and pay early
  5. 9.5Monitor your business credit and keep your info consistent

This guide is for general information and education only. It is not legal, tax or accounting advice, and using it does not create an attorney client or accountant client relationship. Laws, fees and deadlines change. Confirm every step with official sources and talk with your own attorney or tax advisor before you file or make a tax election. CrediFund.Loans is not a law firm or CPA firm.

Phase 10

Stay compliant

California minimum tax, Statement of Information renewals, meetings, licenses and tax filings.

  1. 10.1California $800 minimum tax
  2. 10.2Statement of Information renewals (corporation every year, LLC every 2 years)
  3. 10.3Annual meeting, minutes and license renewals
  4. 10.4Tax returns and payroll filings with your tax advisor

This guide is for general information and education only. It is not legal, tax or accounting advice, and using it does not create an attorney client or accountant client relationship. Laws, fees and deadlines change. Confirm every step with official sources and talk with your own attorney or tax advisor before you file or make a tax election. CrediFund.Loans is not a law firm or CPA firm.

LLC vs corporation

LLC vs corporation
EntityLLCC corporationS corporation, a tax election
OwnersMembersShareholdersUp to 100 US shareholders, one class of stock
Federal taxPass through by default21% corporate tax, then tax on dividendsPass through, owner takes reasonable salary
California tax$800 annual tax plus LLC fee if CA income is $250,000 or more8.84% of net income, $800 minimum1.5% of net income, $800 minimum
PaperworkLighterBylaws, board, minutes, stockSame as corporation or LLC plus payroll
Best forSimple small businesses, real estateRaising investors, reinvesting profits, QSBSProfitable owner operators wanting payroll tax savings

Example progress

2 of 5 steps complete
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Questions about company setup

LLC vs corporation: which should I choose?

LLC vs C corporation vs S corporation, a tax election. Lighter paperwork for an LLC. Lenders fund LLCs and corporations equally. Pick based on taxes and goals, then keep it clean.

Should I form in Nevada or Delaware?

If you live and operate in California, you must register in California either way. Forming in Nevada, Delaware or Wyoming and then doing business in California means you also register in California as a foreign entity, pay the California $800 minimum, and pay two sets of state fees and a registered agent. When another state makes sense: Delaware for companies raising venture capital. Nevada, Wyoming, Texas, Florida and South Dakota have no state income tax, which only helps if the business truly operates there.

Do I need a business address?

Best: A real commercial office or executive suite with a street address and suite number. Good: A virtual office that provides a real street address and mail handling. Allowed but not recommended: Your home address. It is public on state records and some lenders and listing services treat residential addresses as lower credibility.

What NAICS code should I pick?

Choose the code that truly matches what you do. If you do several things, use the activity that brings in the most revenue.

Want it done for you?

WebSEO.pro can set up your business phone line, domain, professional email, website, Google Business Profile and social accounts so everything matches.

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