How to Incorporate a Business in Massachusetts

By eHow Business Editor

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Corporations are one of the dominant business models in the nation. While it is time consuming to incorporate, corporations give owners and shareholders protection from personal legal liability and also allow for the possibility of stock options for employees. Here is how to incorporate in Massachusetts.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Step1

Log on to the Massachusetts Business Portal (see Resources, below) to find the forms needed for the incorporation process. You can also contact the Secretary of State's office directly by calling (617) 727-9640.

Step2

Search the Massachusetts Corporate Database to insure that any name you'd like to use is not currently in use. There is a nominal fee for all searches of the database.

Step3

Complete the Articles of Registration of Name in order to reserve the name of your corporation. The form can be found online and remitted to the office of the Secretary of State for a fee.

Step4

Submit your Articles of Organization to the Secretary of State's office with all required information. You'll be asked for the name of your corporation and the number of managing officers in the corporation.

Step5

Expect the incorporation process to take up to 8 weeks. Once the Articles of Organization are processed, you will receive a Certificate of Good Standing or a Certificate of Compliance along with a copy of the articles. Your Employer Identification Number (EIN) will also be provided at this time.

Tips & Warnings

Hire an attorney who specializes in business law for assistance in incorporating. This assistance is not cheap, but it can prove useful in expediting the incorporation process.
Be careful about using an online service to incorporate your business in Massachusetts. While they will often handle all of the details for you, some services can double the already very high cost of incorporating your business.
While incorporating can protect your personal assets, be aware that it does not eliminate liability. Assets equaling your investment in the business can still be seized.