How to fill out Articles of Incorporation

Most states have easy to fill out articles of incorporation online so any business owners wanting to incorporate in those states can just download or print off the articles of incorporation form from the internet, fill it out and send it to the secretary of the state he or she wishes to incorporate in.

Name of the corporation

Put the name of the corporation you want to incorporate in. You should already have reserved the name of the corporation.

Name and address of registered agent

Put the name and address of your registered agent on the form. The address of the registered agent must be in the state in which the business owner incorporates. Some articles of incorporation have optional mailing address for use in case the business owner has a post office box or a mail forwarding service.

Number of shares authorized

The articles of incorporation also ask about the number of shares the business or corporation authorized. The number of shares authorized is NOT the number of shares the business owner or business owners will issue. The articles of incorporation also ask about how many shares the business owners want and whether the business owners want the shares to have a par value or no par value.

Names and addresses of directors of the corporation

The names and address of the directors are also on the articles of incorporation. The term directors apply to profit corporations. When dealing with non profit corporations, the word trustee applies instead.

Purpose of corporation

When the articles of incorporation asks about the purpose of the corporation, the business owners incorporating his or her business should be as broad as possible. In this rapidly changing economy, businesses often diversify so whichever business the business owner starts off with is most likely going to change soon. Some states do not require the purpose of the business or corporation to be on the articles of incorporation. Florida and Wyoming do not whereas Nevada does.

How to word the purpose of the corporation? A business owner can word the purpose of the corporation as something like "to engage in all lawful business except those professions regulated by other state agencies."