One of the best-known and most widely used business entity forms is the corporation. The main advantage of a corporation is the liability protection it provides the owners or shareholders of the business. Liability is limited because the corporation is a legal entity that is separate from its shareholder owners. Forming a corporation is more complicated and more expensive than forming a sole proprietorship or a simple partnership. However, the formation process is not that difficult.

Here are a few tips to think about when starting your corporation:

• Articles of incorporation must be filed with the Secretary of State's office in the state in which the corporation is being organized.
• Corporations must register as "foreign" corporations in any states they do business that are outside of the state in which they were organized.
• Outline corporate formalities -- issuing stock certificates to the shareholders, holding annual meetings, recording the minutes of the meetings in the corporate register, and electing directors or ratifying the status of existing directors are all important functions to outline and record.
• Elect the directors and appoint the corporate officers.
• Review the tax laws governing your area – tax laws are complex and should be discussed with your accountant or your business attorney.

If your corporation is a nonprofit, there are two extra steps you must take:

1. File nonprofit articles of incorporation with the proper state agency -- be sure to include the required clauses to ensure your nonprofit will qualify for tax-exempt status.
2. Apply for tax-exempt status with the IRS, completing Form 1023.