Setting Up A Corporation

I'm often asked if it's necessary to hire an attorney to set up a new corporation.  Just as it is a waste of money to hire a tax preparer to just fill in forms without working his/her magic to save you taxes, it's a waste to pay an attorney $500 to $1,000 to fill in a couple of forms. You should consult with an attorney for legal advice.

To set up a corporation, I'm a big fan of the do it yourself books. The grand-daddy of do it yourself legal resources has long been Nolo Press out of Berkeley, California.  I have been using their books and software for well over 20 years.  I often used to stop by their shop when I was in or passing through Berkeley to see what new titles they had.  Nowadays, I still buy their products via their very handy website.

There are also a growing number of online services that let you set up corporations and LLCs quickly and at a much less cost than using an attorney. 

Many states have made their incorporation forms available online, usually under their Secretary of State's website.  Some states even allow the forms to be submitted via the Internet.

This page was updated on:
Sunday, January 29, 2012