Form a corporation in Texas.

$49 + State Fee & 1st Year FREE Registered Agent

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Choosing a Corporation Name

The name chosen for your corporation must not be the same as or confusingly similar to the name of any other registered or reserved Texas business entity, and it may not state or imply that it is organized for some purpose other than permitted by state law or as stated in its certificate of formation. It must also contain one of the following words or an abbreviation thereof: “Incorporated,” “Corporation,” “Company,” or “Limited.”

Articles of Incorporation

Texas state law contains guidance for forming a domestic (formed in the state) entity in Texas, which first of all requires a certificate of formation, the equivalent of articles of incorporation in other states. The certificate of formation must specify which kind of corporation is being formed—for-profit, professional, or nonprofit.

The certificate of formation must also include information on the organizers and directors, the registered agent, the corporation’s business purpose, and the number of shares the corporation is authorized to issue.

The certificate of formation may also prescribe qualifications or prerequisites for organizers and directors, or those qualifications may be listed in the corporate bylaws.

State law also allows the certificate of formation to include language that formalizes additional requirements, such as rules for managing the business or otherwise regulating the corporation’s procedures.

Registered Agent and Office

Texas corporations must have a registered agent in Texas who is designated to receive official state administrative and legal correspondence. The agent must have the same business office address as the registered office and be either an individual living in the state or a business entity authorized to conduct business in Texas. The registered office has to be more than just a mailbox or an answering service, but it does not have to be an actual corporation place of business.

Bylaws

A corporation is required to keep a copy of its bylaws at its main executive office, but is not required to file them with the state. At its initial meeting, the board of directors should adopt corporate bylaws, and then keep them updated as time goes on. Bylaws describe the corporation’s basic managerial and legal operating principles, including information on:

  • Shareholders and directors meetings
  • The authority, number, and tenure of directors
  • Voting procedures
  • The duties, responsibilities, and tenure of officers
  • How stock is issued
  • How and when annual financial information is provided to shareholders

Directors

Requiment Reports

Texas corporations must file a report annually by May 16 with the Texas Comptroller, except for the year of initial incorporation. The report must include the name and address of the corporation’s agent, officers, and directors, as well as its financial and ownership information for franchise tax calculation.

Taxes

Since Texas does not collect personal or corporate income tax, the corporation franchise tax is calculated based on either the company’s taxable capital or taxable earned surplus, whichever way yields the larger tax amount.

Learn more about incorporating in Texas

Filing Time & Price

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Select the package that works best for you.

silver

$49

+ $300 (state fee)

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The Basics To Get You Started Preliminary company name clearance and filing of Articles of Organization.

FREE Registered Agent for 1st Year Registered Agent service includes 1 full
year not the typical 6 months that some
of our competitors advertise.

Lifetime Customer Support You get lifetime customer support and our 100% satisfaction guarantee.

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Gold

$149

+ $300 (state fee)

everything from silver+

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EIN / Tax ID Number Providing an EIN is required to open a
business bank account and is required to
file business tax returns.

Personalized Operating Agreement Includes most common provisions to protect members from liability

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Platinum

$299

+ $300 (state fee)

everything from
silver & gold+

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Expedited Filing Expedited processing speeds the turn- around time for your order.

Customized LLC Kit Personalized slip binder and embossed seal with your company name and date of fomation.

FedEx Delivery Faster mailing option that includes a track number.

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Commonly Asked Questions For Starting a Texas Corporation

How is a Corporation Taxed?
Unlike many other business entities in which the profits pass through to the owners' personal tax return (e.g. LLCs, S Corporations, etc.), the C Corporation is a completely separate taxable entity. The C Corporation pays federal taxes on the net profits (after all expenses, including salaries and bonuses) of the business by filing the 1120 form with the IRS. The after tax profits can be paid out to the owners (shareholders) in the form of dividends, or retained for reinvestment of the business. The first $50,000 of net income is only federally taxed at 15% rate, and the next $25,000 is taxed at a 25% rate. Different states have different rules on how they tax corporations.
What is the Management Structure of an Corporation?
An LLC is typically managed by its members/owners (referred to as member-managed). In that respect an LLC is unlike a corporation, which has a much more rigid and defined management structure, including directors and officers. All owners of the LLC are typically referred to as members, and they can have control and voting interest proportional to their ownership interest, or in proportions different from their ownership interest; however the members agree.
Are Non-U.S. Residents Allowed to Own a Corporation or LLC?
There are no citizenship or residence requirements for ownership of a C Corporation or an LLC. The S Corporation however does not allow nonresident aliens to be shareholders (owner), but any US citizen or resident alien may be a shareholder (owner). You would, of course, require an in state street address for the state to forward official legal and tax correspondence including service of process, known as the registered agent address, but neither residency nor citizenship is required for ownership of a C Corporation or an LLC.
Can I form an Corporation with just one member?
There was a time when almost every state required the LLC to have two or more members, but that is no longer the case. This important change came in response to revised IRS regulations that clearly permitted single-member LLCs. As a result, in most states, if you plan to be the sole owner of a business and you wish to limit your personal liability, you can choose between forming a corporation or an LLC.
What is an Operating Agreement?
The operating agreement is akin to a partnership agreement for a General Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership (LLP). It is an internal contract amongst the members/owners of the LLC, and it lays out such things as ownership interest, member responsibilities, accounting method, adding or removing members, terms for concluding the LLC, etc. It is generally not required by a given state for forming an LLC (with the exception of New York), although it is certainly recommended. When dealing with private companies for financing issues (loans, mortgages, etc.) it may be required by that company. A customizable operating agreement is included with the LLC/Corp Kit.
Can another business entity be a member of an Corporation?

In the majority of states, The members of an LLC can be individuals, corporations, or other LLCs. These members of the LLC can be out of state residents or even foreign nationals. Furthermore there is no limit to the amount of members that an LLC can have.

The flexibility of an LLC in contrast to an S Corporation is stark considering the S corporations are limited to 75 shareholders who must either be United States citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents.

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