Like the Model Act pre-revision provisions, the WBCA allows a corporation to deviate from the plurality default rule by inserting another standard in the articles of incorporation. The plurality voting standard is imposed on Washington corporations only by default. RCW 23B.
How to Form a Corporation in Washington Choose a Corporate Name. Choose Directors to serve on the Board of Directors. Prepare and file the Articles of Incorporation. Apply for a Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) Write Corporate Bylaws. Create a Shareholder Agreement. Elect S Corporation status if desired.
Corporate bylaws are legally required in Washington State. Usually the board of directors will adopt initial bylaws at the first organizational meeting.
To form a corporation in Washington State, you must file Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State. This form legally incorporates your business. The following guide will walk you through the Articles of Incorporation. You can file this form by mail or—we suggest—online.
This governing document is not filed with the state, but it is a requirement for Washington corporations. Bylaws generally cover areas of internal management, including the roles of directors and officers and the holding of shareholders' and directors' meetings.
Corporate bylaws are a company's foundational governing document. They lay out how things should run day-to-day and the processes for making important decisions. They serve as a legal contract between the corporation and its shareholders, directors, and officers and set the protocol for how the organization operates.
When you're launching a corporation in the US, you must file articles of incorporation in advance. Doing so gives your business its official legal identity and access to liability protection, tax benefits, and more.
Washington State is actually a nice state to incorporate in. There is no personal income tax here, which is massive, but Washington levies a Business and Occupation tax of usually about 1.8% of your gross revenue. Some industries that are high-revenue, small-profit-margin industries have a lot smaller rate of tax.