Start Your Corporation

You're 15 minutes away from starting your own corporation. Answer the following questions as best as you can.
What is the proposed name of the corporation?*
Please type it in EXACTLY as you want it to appear. Unless you specify otherwise, we will add ", Inc.” to the end of your business name.
If your requested name is not available, please list an alternate name.
Would you like us to obtain your S corporation status?*
NOTE: An S corporation is treated as a pass-through entity for tax purposes. This avoids double taxation and may simplify your taxes. The restrictions to an S corporation is that it cannot have any preferred stock – only common stock – and must have a fiscal year ending December 31.

The fee for S corporation obtainment is $25.

What is the corporation's principal business address?*
Does my business address have to be in the state where I'm incorporating? No. You can use any valid street address. However, it typically cannot be a P.O. Box.

Street Address Address Line 2 City State ZIP Code
Please complete the following information on the corporation's registered agent. This person must have a street address (not P.O.Box) in the state of Illinois
NOTE: You can be your own registered agent as long as you reside in Illinois.
Registered Agent Name*
First Last
Registered Agent Address*
Same as previous

Street Address Address Line 2 City State ZIP Code

The following questions ask about the stock your company will be able to issue.
How many shares of common stock will the corporation issue?*
This is the maximum number of shares your corporation can issue. Many corporations with one or just a few shareholders choose an easy round number, such as 1,000. You do not need to issue all of the shares immediately.
What is the par value of the shares?*
Par value is the nominal or stated value of the shares. The par value of the stock for most public corporations is $.01 or $.001. Stock cannot be sold at less than its par value, but it can always be sold at more than par value.

By default, we have inserted a par value of $.01. However, please feel free to change it.
What is the end of the corporation's fiscal year? (For most small corporations, and especially for S corporations, the end of the fiscal year is December 31.)
Month*
Day*

Maintaining Corporate Minutes
Would you like to include LegalTools.org Corporate Minutes Forms?*
Keeping yearly up-to-date corporate minutes is required to preserve your liability protection, tax advantages, and other corporate benefits.

LegalTools.org has easy to create professionally formatted, state-compliant corporate minutes. If purchased together with your incorporation, you'll pay just $25 for the compliance forms (normally $99.99).
Corporations are required to keep detailed records or "minutes" on specific company activities. Falling behind on this requirement could jeopardize your corporate standing and cost you your liability protection, tax advantages and other special benefits. Many business owners find it difficult to keep up with this time-consuming requirement. We created LelatTools.org Corporate Minutes Forms to make it quick and easy to produce professional corporate minutes. Select "yes" above to add LegalTools.org Corporate Minutes Forms to your incorporation order.

Who are the directors of the corporation?*
First Last
Add Another Director?
- Yes
- No
Other directors of the corporation?*
First Last
Add Another Director?
- Yes
- No
Other directors of the corporation?*
First Last
Add Another Director?
- Yes
- No
Who are the officers of the corporation?
President*
Each corporation must have a President, Treasurer and Secretary. Please note that one person may hold every office. If you have more than two shareholders, the President and the Secretary should be different people.
First Last
Treasurer*
First Last
Secretary*
First Last
Would you like us to help the corporation apply for a federal tax identification number?*
NOTE: Every corporation is required to have a federal tax identification number (also known as an EIN).

It is needed to open a bank account, obtain corporate credit, hire employees, report taxes and for other important matters.

The fee for EIN obtainment is $25.

If you are converting your sole proprietorship or partnership and already have a tax ID number for that business, the IRS still requires that you obtain a brand new tax ID number for your corporation.

Who are the initial stockholders of the corporation, and how many shares will they hold?

Each stockholder must have at least one (1) share. Please make sure that the total number of shares issued to all stockholders does not exceed the maximum you set on the previous page.

Capital contributions can be in the form of cash, services rendered, or property contributed to the corporation. This is what's paid to the corporation in exchange for shares. "Property" includes tangible personal property, real estate and intangible property.

Please Note: The par value you set on the previous page is the minimum price per share to be paid. For example, if the par value is $1.00 per share, and you have 100 shares, you must contribute at least $100. You could contribute more than $100, but not less.

All initial stockholders should pay the same price per share. Thereafter, the price per share can be changed by the corporation.
Stockholder #1
Name of Stockholder*
First Last
Number of Shares*
Capital Contribution (in $)*
Form of Contribution*
Street Address*
City, State, Zip Code*
Add Another Stockholder?
- No
- Yes
Stockholder #2
Name of Stockholder*
First Last
Number of Shares*
Capital Contribution (in $)*
Street Address*
City, State, Zip Code*
Add Another Stockholder?
- No
- Yes
Stockholder #3
Name of Stockholder*
First Last
Number of Shares*
Capital Contribution (in $)*
Street Address*
City, State, Zip Code*

What principal officer of the corporation may the IRS contact if additional information is needed?

This information is required for the S-corporation election and the application for the tax identification number.
Name of Officer*
First Last
Title of Officer*
(President, Treasurer, Secretary, etc...)
Social Security Number*
The IRS will need this officer's Social Security number to issue your tax ID number.
Daytime Phone Number*
Fax Number (if available)
Does the corporation anticipate hiring any employees in the next 12 months?*
When is the date the corporation will begin paying wages? (mm/dd/yyyy)*
Please estimate the maximum number of employees you will hire in the next 12 months in these categories. (If none, enter "0".)
Agricultural employees*
Agricultural employees include any person who works on a farm, ranch, nursery or greenhouse producing crops and/or raising livestock. Please note that forestry and lumbering are not farm work.
Household employees*
Household employees include any employee who does household work in and around your home.
Some examples of household employees are; Babysitters, nannies, au pairs, Housekeepers, Drivers, Private nurses, Gardeners.
(Note: This does not include independent contractors.)
Other employees*
Generally, anyone who performs services for you is your employee if you control their work and provide them with a W-2 form.

These questions are required to complete your Federal Tax ID application.
Do you expect to have $1,000 or less in employment tax liability for the calendar year? (If you expect to pay $4,000 or less in wages, you can select Yes.)*
Does your corporation own a vehicle with a taxable gross weight of 55,000 pounds or more? Only include vehicles that were designed to carry loads on the highway.*
The taxable gross weight of a vehicle (other than a bus) is its actual weight (unloaded) when it is ready to be used.
Will your corporation operate a casino, or does your corporation's business involve gambling or wagering?*
Does your corporation need to file Form 720 (Quarterly Federal Excise Tax Return)? Note: This is not common.*
Typically, you must file Form 720 and report federal excise taxes if your business sells the following: Gas and other fuel; Tractors; Air or ship transportation services; Insurance policies issued by foreign companies; Fishing equipment; Electric outdoor motors; or Bows and arrows.
For more information, visit http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f720.pdf.
Does your business make or sell alcohol, tobacco or firearms?*
Which of the following best describes the corporation's primary business activity?*

Would you like us to prepare your Illinois Business Registration Application? An additional $49 fee will apply.*
All companies that have employees or conduct business in Illinois must register with the Illinois Department of Revenue for state tax purposes.

This application will register your business and request your Illinois Business Tax number and Certificate of Registration. (An additional $25 fee will apply.)

You must register with the Illinois Department of Revenue before making any sales or hiring any employees. If the Department has additional requirements for your type of business, they will contact you after registration.

Once you complete the checkout, we will send you a questionnaire to complete your Illinois Business Registration.

After completing the questionnaire, you will receive an email with detailed instructions to complete your order. Make sure to add support@legaltools.org to your email address book to ensure delivery.

Your purchase price is tax deductible as a business expense, subject to IRS limitations.

You saved $591.00 with LegalTools.org!
Savings based on comparing the average lawyer price for an Incorporation, provided by AttorneyFee.com, to LegalTools.org. (LegalTools.org is not a law firm or a substitute for an attorney or law firm.)
Standard Incorporation
Price: $49.00
State Filing Fee - IL
Price: $281.25
Illinois Business Registration
Price: $25.00
S-Corporation Obtainment
Price: $25.00
EIN Obtainment
Price: $25.00
LegalTools.org Corporate Minutes Forms
Price: $25.00
Total
$0.00

Start Your Corporation

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