Washington C-Corp Formation Guide

Taxation: Subject to "double taxation." The corporation pays taxes on its profits at the corporate level. Then, when profits are distributed to shareholders as dividends, shareholders pay personal income tax on those dividends.
Liability: Provides strong liability protection. The personal assets of owners (shareholders) are separate from the business's debts and liabilities.
Ownership: Can have an unlimited number of shareholders. Ownership is easily transferable through the sale of stock, making it ideal for raising capital.
Best For: Businesses planning to seek venture capital, go public, or have many owners.

The Formation Roadmap

This roadmap outlines the essential steps from preparation to post-filing compliance. Click on each step to view detailed instructions and requirements.

Is a C-Corp Right for You?

Before proceeding, it's crucial to understand how a C-Corporation compares to other common business structures. Click on an entity type to see its key characteristics regarding taxation, liability, and ownership.

C-Corporation

S-Corporation

LLC

Estimated Costs

This visualization breaks down the typical one-time filing and setup fees. Hover over the chart segments for more details on each cost. Note that these are estimates and can vary.