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Guidelines For Incorporating Your Business In North Carolina - North Carolina
| Guidelines For Incorporating Your Business In North Carolina Form. This is a North Carolina form and can be used in Business Corporation Secretary Of State . |
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. Incorporating Your Business in North Carolina Elaine F. Marshall Secretary of State American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com A Message from The Secretary of State of North Carolina Over the past few decades, North Carolina has earned a reputation on the national and international scale as a desirable place to conduct business. Our state's laws on business corporations have helped build that reputation. We here at the Department of the Secretary of State are proud of our ability to make the state's business corporation law work smoothly for our customers. Incorporating is one of the biggest steps in setting up a business corporation. We want to do everything we can to make a swift, easy process for our customers. This guide, Incorporating Your Business Corporation in North Carolina, is designed to help you through the organization process. We have identified many of the most common questions customers ask and have provided detailed answers to them. At the same time, you should remember that this guide is not intended as legal advice or legal opinion. If you have any questions specifically regarding your business entity, we encourage you to consult an attorney. If you have a general question regarding business entities in North Carolina and you don't see it in this guide, please contact the Corporations Division. You can reach the Corporations Division at: Corporations Division N.C. Department of the Secretary of State PO Box 29622 Raleigh, NC 27626-0622 (919) 807-2225 (888) 246-7636 (919) 807-2039 (fax) corpinfo@sosnc.com www.sosnc.com On behalf of the staff here at the Department of the Secretary of State, I'd like to thank you for doing business in North Carolina. We look forward to making the incorporation process a pleasant one for you and your company. Elaine F. Marshall NC Secretary of State Incorporating Your Business in North Carolina ii American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com Introduction Business Corporations differ from limited liability companies in many respects. In determining if you wish to establish a business corporation, you will want to consider many factors, from management structure to tax codes. In making this decision, you may want to consult with an expert such as an attorney, who could help you determine which structure best suits your needs as well as Chapter 55 and 55D of the North Carolina General Statutes, the North Carolina Business Corporation Act and Filings, Names, and Registered Agents for Corporations, Nonprofit Corporations and Partnerships respectively. This publication is designed to provide guidance to those interested in setting up a business corporation and should not be used as a substitute for competent legal counsel. Incorporating Your Business in North Carolina iii American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com Table of Contents Introduction .................................................................................................................................... iii Corporate Names ............................................................................................................................ 1 Selecting a Name ........................................................................................................................ 1 Feasibility of a Name .................................................................................................................. 1 Statutory Prohibitions ................................................................................................................. 2 18 NCAC 04 .0502 Words Prohibited in Addition to Statutory Prohibitions ......................... 3 18 NCAC 04 .0503 Deceptively Similar and Distinguishable Names .................................... 3 Putting the Name in Use ............................................................................................................. 4 Articles of Incorporation ................................................................................................................. 4 Corporate Name .......................................................................................................................... 4 Registered Office and Agent....................................................................................................... 4 Incorporator ................................................................................................................................ 5 Principal Office ........................................................................................................................... 5 Optional Provisions..................................................................................................................... 5 Powers ......................................................................................................................................... 5 Period of Duration ...................................................................................................................... 6 Notarization Not Required .......................................................................................................... 6 Filing the Document ................................................................................................................... 6 Certificate of Authority ................................................................................................................... 6 Corporate Name .......................................................................................................................... 6 State of Incorporation and Period of Duration............................................................................ 6 Principal Office ........................................................................................................................... 7 Registered Office/Agent ............................................................................................................. 7 Officers ....................................................................................................................................... 7 Certificate of Existence ............................................................................................................... 7 Filing the Document ................................................................................................................... 7 Responsibilities of the Corporation ..................................................................
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