introduction
This chapter provides an overview of the steps required to establish a for-profit corporation in the state of Washington. It is meant to provide only basic information, and you are encouraged to obtain legal advice from an expert in Washington state law prior to establishing a Washington corporation.
To supplement the information provided in this chapter, please also review the Washington Business Corporation Act, Chapter 23B of the Revised Code of Washington (the “RCW”) available online at http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?Cite=23B, for the laws pertaining to establishing a Washington corporation. The website of the Washington Secretary of State also contains helpful information, including relevant fees and forms, many of which can be filed online (http://www.sos.wa.gov/corps/). For an overview of Washington corporations, please begin at the Information Center page (http://www.sos.wa.gov/corps/all-services.aspx).
Incorporating a business in Washington is a fairly quick process; it can be completed in a matter of days, unlike the process in many other jurisdictions. As explained more thoroughly in this chapter, the process can be divided into three main steps: (1) selecting a name, (2) filing articles of incorporation, and (3) holding an organizational meeting. There are rules for each step that must be strictly followed for the formation to be effective, but those rules are relatively straightforward. As part of their other services to customize the corporate form for a particular business purpose, attorneys often perform these formalities for corporations to ensure compliance will applicable laws.
After a corporation has been established, there are several continuing obligations with which the corporation must comply at regular intervals to maintain its status as a corporation, such as holding regular meetings and keeping certain corporate records. Those continuing obligations will also be explained in this chapter, in addition to a brief discussion of how a corporation can later be terminated through the process of dissolution when it is no longer needed.
To supplement the information provided in this chapter, please also review the Washington Business Corporation Act, Chapter 23B of the Revised Code of Washington (the “RCW”) available online at http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?Cite=23B, for the laws pertaining to establishing a Washington corporation. The website of the Washington Secretary of State also contains helpful information, including relevant fees and forms, many of which can be filed online (http://www.sos.wa.gov/corps/). For an overview of Washington corporations, please begin at the Information Center page (http://www.sos.wa.gov/corps/all-services.aspx).
Incorporating a business in Washington is a fairly quick process; it can be completed in a matter of days, unlike the process in many other jurisdictions. As explained more thoroughly in this chapter, the process can be divided into three main steps: (1) selecting a name, (2) filing articles of incorporation, and (3) holding an organizational meeting. There are rules for each step that must be strictly followed for the formation to be effective, but those rules are relatively straightforward. As part of their other services to customize the corporate form for a particular business purpose, attorneys often perform these formalities for corporations to ensure compliance will applicable laws.
After a corporation has been established, there are several continuing obligations with which the corporation must comply at regular intervals to maintain its status as a corporation, such as holding regular meetings and keeping certain corporate records. Those continuing obligations will also be explained in this chapter, in addition to a brief discussion of how a corporation can later be terminated through the process of dissolution when it is no longer needed.