How to Make a Certificate of Incorporation

Each state has different requirements for a certificate of incorporation.

If you are thinking about starting a company or corporation, you need to file a certificate of incorporation with your secretary of state's office. A certificate of incorporation, also known as articles of incorporation, is a document that states the organization's purpose and sets forth guidelines by which it will be managed. The certificate is the first step in a process to legitimize your business.

Instructions

1. Reserve a name for your organization from your secretary of state's website, which will have a database of names for every company or corporation in the state. You will be required to state the name of the corporation in the first article of the certificate.

2. Download the necessary certificate of incorporation forms from the secretary of state's website. Each state has slightly different requirements for the document. These hinge on upon whether you are staring a nonprofit organization, a C-corporation or a limited liability corporation. The state requires different information for each.

3. Write the mission statement for your corporation, which needs to describe the purpose of your organization. For nonprofit organizations, the mission statement is particularly crucial. Nonprofits must be very specific in their mission statement, as the description of the organization will determine if you can obtain 501(c)(3) status under the federal tax law.

4. Fill in all of the necessary information onto the form, including the names of the directors and an indemnification statement. The certificate of incorporation must address the basic rules by which the organization will be managed. It is not necessary to describe the selection process for directors or the manner by which decisions will be made. These issues will be covered your corporation's constitution, which is written after the certificate of incorporation is filed with the state.

5. Write all of the articles, or rules, in an organized manner so that your certificate appears as professional as possible. Contact an attorney or accountant to check your document before you file it with the secretary of state. The name of your organization should be written at the top of the document and you are required to sign and date it.

Tips & Warnings

• Confirm the filing fee for the certificate of incorporation.

• Be as specific as possible when describing your organization and writing the rules that govern it. Being too vague will make your organization appear less professional and raise a red flag about its legitimacy.

References

• Free Management Library: Sample Articles of Incorporation
• Articles of Incorporation Facts: Articles of Incorporation: An Introduction