How much does it cost to file articles of incorporation?

Filing fees vary widely by state, ranging from approximately $50 (Kentucky, Iowa) to $500+ (Massachusetts). Some states also charge fees based on the number of authorized shares. Check your state Secretary of State's website for current fee schedules.

Can I file articles of incorporation myself or do I need a lawyer?

You can file articles of incorporation yourself in most states. The form is available on your state's Secretary of State website. However, consulting a business attorney ensures your articles meet your specific needs and comply with state requirements, especially for multi-owner corporations or complex capital structures.

What is a registered agent and do I need one?

A registered agent is required in all states. This is the person or company designated to receive legal documents (lawsuits, government notices) on behalf of the corporation. You can serve as your own registered agent if you have a physical street address in the state, or you can hire a registered agent service (typically $50–$300/year).

How many directors do I need?

Most states allow a corporation to have as few as one director. Some states require a minimum of three directors. Check your state's specific requirements. For a closely held corporation with one owner, a single-director structure is common.

Free Articles of Incorporation Template — Fill Out & Download Instantly

Free — No Sign-Up RequiredPDF & WordUpdated April 5, 2026

⚠️ Legal Disclaimer: This template is attorney-reviewed and built to US legal standards. It does not substitute for professional legal advice. For complex situations, we recommend consulting a licensed attorney.

Document Completeness0%

State of Incorporation*

Corporation Name (including Inc./Corp./etc.)*

Corporate Purpose*

Principal Office Address*

Registered Agent Name*

Registered Agent Address (street address in state)*

Total Authorized Shares*

Par Value Per Share*

Incorporator Full Name*

Incorporator Address*

Initial Director Full Name*

Initial Director Address*

Date of Filing*

MM/DD/YYYY

State of Incorporation*

Corporation Name (including Inc./Corp./etc.)*

Corporate Purpose*

Principal Office Address*

Registered Agent Name*

Registered Agent Address (street address in state)*

Total Authorized Shares*

Par Value Per Share*

Incorporator Full Name*

Incorporator Address*

Initial Director Full Name*

Initial Director Address*

Date of Filing*

MM/DD/YYYY

State of Incorporation*

Corporation Name (including Inc./Corp./etc.)*

Corporate Purpose*

Principal Office Address*

Registered Agent Name*

Registered Agent Address (street address in state)*

Total Authorized Shares*

Par Value Per Share*

Incorporator Full Name*

Incorporator Address*

Initial Director Full Name*

Initial Director Address*

Date of Filing*

MM/DD/YYYY

State of Incorporation*

Corporation Name (including Inc./Corp./etc.)*

Corporate Purpose*

Principal Office Address*

Registered Agent Name*

Registered Agent Address (street address in state)*

Total Authorized Shares*

Par Value Per Share*

Incorporator Full Name*

Incorporator Address*

Initial Director Full Name*

Initial Director Address*

Date of Filing*

MM/DD/YYYY

State of Incorporation*

Corporation Name (including Inc./Corp./etc.)*

Corporate Purpose*

Principal Office Address*

Registered Agent Name*

Registered Agent Address (street address in state)*

Total Authorized Shares*

Par Value Per Share*

Incorporator Full Name*

Incorporator Address*

Initial Director Full Name*

Initial Director Address*

Date of Filing*

MM/DD/YYYY

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ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

[Corporation Name (including Inc./Corp./etc.)]

The undersigned incorporator, desiring to form a corporation under the laws of the State of [State of Incorporation], hereby adopts the following Articles of Incorporation:

ARTICLE I — NAME

The name of this corporation is [Corporation Name (including Inc./Corp./etc.)].

ARTICLE II — PURPOSE

The purpose of the corporation is [Corporate Purpose]. The corporation is authorized to engage in any and all lawful activities and to exercise any and all powers permitted to corporations organized under the laws of the State of [State of Incorporation].

ARTICLE III — PRINCIPAL OFFICE

The principal office and place of business of this corporation is located at:

[Principal Office Address]

ARTICLE IV — REGISTERED AGENT

The name and address of this corporation's registered agent for service of process in the State of [State of Incorporation] is:

Name: [Registered Agent Name]

Address: [Registered Agent Address (street address in state)]

The registered agent is authorized to accept service of process on behalf of this corporation.

ARTICLE V — AUTHORIZED CAPITAL

The total number of shares of stock that this corporation is authorized to issue is [Total Authorized Shares] shares of common stock, with a par value of [Par Value Per Share] per share (or no par value, as applicable).

All shares shall be of one class with equal voting rights, equal rights to dividends, and equal rights to distributions upon dissolution, unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VI — BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The business and affairs of the corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors. The number of directors constituting the initial Board of Directors is one (1). The name and address of the person(s) who are to serve as directors until the first annual meeting of shareholders or until their successors are elected and qualified is:

Name: [Initial Director Full Name]

Address: [Initial Director Address]

ARTICLE VII — LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS

To the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of [State of Incorporation], no director of this corporation shall be personally liable to the corporation or its shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for:

(a) any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the corporation or its shareholders;

(b) acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or knowing violation of law;

(d) any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

ARTICLE VIII — INDEMNIFICATION

The corporation shall indemnify its directors, officers, employees, and agents to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of [State of Incorporation] and may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any such persons against any liability asserted against or incurred by them in such capacity.

ARTICLE IX — INCORPORATOR

The name and address of the incorporator of this corporation is:

Name: [Incorporator Full Name]

Address: [Incorporator Address]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I, the undersigned incorporator, have executed these Articles of Incorporation on [Date of Filing].

_______________________________

[Incorporator Full Name], Incorporator

NOTE: These Articles of Incorporation must be filed with the [State of Incorporation] Secretary of State (or equivalent filing authority), along with the applicable filing fee. Filing requirements and fees vary by state. Contact your state's business filing office or consult an attorney for specific filing instructions.

Document Completeness0%

State of Incorporation*

Corporation Name (including Inc./Corp./etc.)*

Corporate Purpose*

Principal Office Address*

Registered Agent Name*

Registered Agent Address (street address in state)*

Total Authorized Shares*

Par Value Per Share*

Incorporator Full Name*

Incorporator Address*

Initial Director Full Name*

Initial Director Address*

Date of Filing*

MM/DD/YYYY

State of Incorporation*

Corporation Name (including Inc./Corp./etc.)*

Corporate Purpose*

Principal Office Address*

Registered Agent Name*

Registered Agent Address (street address in state)*

Total Authorized Shares*

Par Value Per Share*

Incorporator Full Name*

Incorporator Address*

Initial Director Full Name*

Initial Director Address*

Date of Filing*

MM/DD/YYYY

State of Incorporation*

Corporation Name (including Inc./Corp./etc.)*

Corporate Purpose*

Principal Office Address*

Registered Agent Name*

Registered Agent Address (street address in state)*

Total Authorized Shares*

Par Value Per Share*

Incorporator Full Name*

Incorporator Address*

Initial Director Full Name*

Initial Director Address*

Date of Filing*

MM/DD/YYYY

State of Incorporation*

Corporation Name (including Inc./Corp./etc.)*

Corporate Purpose*

Principal Office Address*

Registered Agent Name*

Registered Agent Address (street address in state)*

Total Authorized Shares*

Par Value Per Share*

Incorporator Full Name*

Incorporator Address*

Initial Director Full Name*

Initial Director Address*

Date of Filing*

MM/DD/YYYY

State of Incorporation*

Corporation Name (including Inc./Corp./etc.)*

Corporate Purpose*

Principal Office Address*

Registered Agent Name*

Registered Agent Address (street address in state)*

Total Authorized Shares*

Par Value Per Share*

Incorporator Full Name*

Incorporator Address*

Initial Director Full Name*

Initial Director Address*

Date of Filing*

MM/DD/YYYY

What Is a Articles of Incorporation?

Articles of incorporation (also called a certificate of incorporation or corporate charter in some states) is the foundational legal document that formally creates a corporation under state law. Filed with the Secretary of State or equivalent state agency, the articles establish the corporation's legal existence and specify key information including the corporation's name, purpose, registered agent, authorized capital structure, and initial directors or incorporators. Once filed and approved, the corporation gains the right to conduct business, enter contracts, issue stock, and enjoy the limited liability protection that shields shareholders from personal liability for corporate debts.

When Do You Need It?

Articles of incorporation are needed whenever you are forming a for-profit or nonprofit corporation. You file them before you begin business operations, open a corporate bank account, issue stock, or hire employees. They are also required before you can adopt corporate bylaws, hold an organizational meeting of the board, or obtain certain business licenses.

What's Included in This Template

Corporation legal name
State of incorporation
Corporate purpose statement
Principal business address
Registered agent name and address
Authorized capital structure (number of shares and par value)
Initial director name and address
Incorporator name, address, and signature
Date of incorporation

How to Fill It Out

Choose the State of Incorporation — Select the state where you are filing. Most small businesses incorporate in the state where they operate. Delaware and Nevada are popular for larger companies due to favorable corporate laws, but come with additional fees if you operate in another state.

Enter the Corporation Name — Provide the full legal name of the corporation including its required designator (e.g., Inc., Corp., Corporation, Incorporated, or Ltd. — requirements vary by state). Verify the name is available using your state's business name search tool before filing.

State the Corporate Purpose — Most states accept a broad general purpose statement such as 'to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the laws of this state.' Some states require a specific purpose.

Name the Registered Agent — A registered agent is a person or company authorized to receive legal documents on behalf of the corporation. The registered agent must have a physical street address (not a P.O. Box) in the state of incorporation and must be available during business hours.

Set Authorized Shares — Specify the total number of shares the corporation is authorized to issue and the par value per share (if any). Many states allow no-par-value shares. A common starting point is 1,000–10,000,000 authorized shares. More authorized shares may increase filing fees in some states.

Name the Initial Director and Incorporator — Provide the name and address of at least one initial director. The incorporator is the person who signs and files the articles — this is often a lawyer, the business owner, or a registered agent service.

Legal Requirements & Notes

Articles of incorporation must be filed with your state's Secretary of State or equivalent agency. Filing fees, specific required provisions, and formatting requirements vary significantly by state. This template is a general-purpose document and may not include all provisions required by your specific state. Always verify your state's current requirements before filing. Nonprofit corporations have different requirements and should use articles of incorporation specifically designed for nonprofit entities. This template is for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Articles of incorporation create a corporation (Inc., Corp.). An LLC operating agreement governs an LLC (Limited Liability Company). These are two different business entity types with different tax treatment, governance structures, and legal requirements. Corporations issue stock and have shareholders; LLCs have members and ownership interests.

Free Articles of Incorporation Template — Fill Out & Download Instantly

ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

ARTICLE I — NAME

ARTICLE II — PURPOSE

ARTICLE III — PRINCIPAL OFFICE

ARTICLE IV — REGISTERED AGENT

ARTICLE V — AUTHORIZED CAPITAL

ARTICLE VI — BOARD OF DIRECTORS

ARTICLE VII — LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS

ARTICLE VIII — INDEMNIFICATION

ARTICLE IX — INCORPORATOR

What Is a Articles of Incorporation?

When Do You Need It?

What's Included in This Template

How to Fill It Out

Legal Requirements & Notes

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Templates

Corporate Bylaws

LLC Operating Agreement

Shareholder Agreement Template