Ventura: 805-648-5540
Oxnard: 805-985-9588
Santa Barbara: 805-617-3261
Simi Valley / Thousand Oaks: 805-803-8046
San Fernando Valley: 818-518-1069
Other California Cities: 800-747-2780

CALIFORNIA CORPORATION

A People’s Choice can save you hundreds of dollars by preparing all necessary corporate formation documents instead of an expensive attorney!

Business Learning Center
Our online learning center provides quick access to valuable information contained in our web site, California and Federal Codes, Court web sites and other legal sources of information.

Incorporating offers several advantages and protects your company's name. Should you choose to incorporate or form a Limited Liability Company, your company will be registered with the state of California. No other company will be able to use the name you have chosen. Go to our Commonly Asked Questions and Answer Section for answers to basic questions regarding incorporating in California. Read about some of the advantages incorporating has to offer.

A People’s Choice can prepare all necessary documents
you will require to establish your corporation.
Call us today to get your business started now!

If you have decided to create a corporation for your business, there are several tasks that you must do:

1. Choose an available business name. Note that California statute sets forth specific requirements regarding acceptable (and unacceptable) names for Corporations and LLCs. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the acceptability of your chosen name, please refer to California statutes. Some of the restrictions involve the use of the words “cooperative”, "bank”, "trust", "trustee", "insurer" or "insurance company". Before selecting the name for your corporation, you may want to refer to the following statutes. These statutes may not be all-inclusive of the laws pertaining to your particular situation.
    

Regular Corporations - see Corporations Code Section 202
Limited Liability Companies - Corporations Code Section 17052
Professional Corporations - Corporations Code Section 13409
Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporations - Corporations Code Section 5122
Nonprofit Mutual Benefit Corporations - Corporations Code Section 7122
Cooperative Corporations - Corporations Code Section 12311

Quick Link to Corporations Code

2. Appoint the initial directors of your corporation. California permits the corporation to have just one director.
3. File your Articles of Incorporation with the California Secretary of State and pay the filing fee ($100).
4. Create corporate "bylaws," which are the written operating rules for your corporation. Typically, the bylaws are adopted by the corporation's directors at their first board meeting.
5. Hold the first meeting of the board of directors.
6. Issue stock certificates to the initial owners (shareholders) of the corporation. Issuing shares formally divides up ownership interests in the business and is a requirement of doing business as a corporation.
7. Obtain any licenses and permits that are required for your business. This would include, but may not be limited to, obtaining a business license, an employer identification number from the IRS and a seller's permit.

S Corporation Election: An S Corporation (Small Business Corporation) is an election made by a general corporation after its formation to change the way income is taxed through the IRS. This status allows the taxation of the company to be similar to a partnership or sole proprietor as opposed to paying taxes based on a corporate tax structure. The profits and losses of the business pass through to the corporation owner's personal income tax. Like a Limited Liability Company, the tax "pass through" allows you to avoid "double taxation.”

Deciding what type of business company structure is best for your small business can be a confusing exercise. If you have any questions as to whether you would benefit from an S Corporation election, you should seek advice from your accountant or an attorney.

A People’s Choice can save you hundreds of dollars by preparing all necessary corporate formation documents instead of an expensive attorney!

Our overall rating from
 our customers is:

Rated “A+”
the Better Business Bureau

Comments from our customers:

“A People’s Choice did such an amazing job with setting up our nonprofit. She was so helpful and got our application submitted quickly! Thanks so much!
Pulling For Paws, Ventura Co., CA

“It is a great alternative to hiring an attorney for lots of matters that you can easily do yourself. They provide information that you need to help yourself, and keep all of the paperwork straight.”
SM, CA

“I am very happy with the service I received. A People's Choice was prompt, professional, and very friendly. They had all the documents I asked for prepared very quickly, and very thoroughly, and exactly as I requested. Consider me a very satisfied customer.”
Havdog. CA

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A People’s Choice is a Registered Legal Document Assistant’s Office.
We are not attorneys and cannot select legal forms.
Reg. LDA #5, Ventura Co., Exp. 11/30/2014

Information provided through this site has been taken from self-help informational publications provided by the Court or other legal sources believed to be reliable. This information is general, published, factual information and should not be cited on or relied on as legal authority nor should it be considered legal advice. It is always recommended that you seek legal advice from an attorney before filing any legal proceedings. Many attorneys offer free consultations

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