How to Form a C-corporation for Shipping and Travel

Introduction

If you’re looking to start a company, forming a C corporation is one of the most straightforward ways to do it. But if you’re new to this process, it can seem overwhelming and confusing. In this article, we’ll walk through everything you need to know about how to form a C-corporation for shipping and travel.

Step 1: Pick a name for your business

The first step is to make sure that you have not already used the name of your company in the past, as this will create confusion and could lead to misunderstandings.

You should also avoid using the name of an existing business or other organization if it could cause confusion with customers or potential investors.

Additionally, it’s important not to use any names that are too similar or confusingly similar to another existing entity; this can lead to legal issues down the road.

Step 2: File the Articles of Incorporation

This article is a legal document that outlines the purpose, rules, and regulations of your company, and establishes its initial capital. Once submitted with the appropriate filing fee, it will be registered by your state government office. They will then send you an official copy of your Certificate of Incorporation that shows all pertinent information about your new business such as its name, address, tax identification number (EIN), etc… It’s important to note that these articles must be filed within a certain period of time depending on where they’re being filed (usually within 30 days).

Step 3: Create a shareholder’s agreement

It specifies how the company will be run, and what each shareholder’s rights are. A shareholders agreement can specify how much each shareholder has invested, how much they will receive if they sell their shares (if it’s an LLC or S-Corp), and other details such as when meetings take place.

Step 4: Hold the first board of directors meeting

The board of directors is responsible for the business, so it’s important that you have a qualified board in place as soon as possible. The first meeting should be held within 90 days after incorporation, though it can be up to one year later if necessary. You’ll want to appoint officers and adopt bylaws at this meeting.

It’s also important that your board meets regularly—at least once a year in most cases—and keeps minutes of its proceedings, which can help protect you against future lawsuits or liability claims if an accident occurs on-site at one of your locations.

Step 5: Issue stock certificates

Stock certificates are ownership in a company, but they’re not required by law. Instead, they’re considered helpful for investors who want to know who owns the company — that way they can make sure their money is going directly to them and not just into some general fund that makes decisions on behalf of everyone.

Stock certificates also help with keeping track of assets: if someone wants to sell their stock back to you at some point in the future (for example), then having an official document showing how many shares you have will be useful for verifying that this person does indeed have enough shares for them to sell!

Step 6: Get an employer identification number (EIN)

If you have never had one before, you can use Form SS-4 available on the IRS website to apply. You will need to provide your personal information and details about your business such as its legal name, physical address, and mailing address.

Step 7: Open a business bank account & credit card

Once your company is formed, you will need a business bank account and a credit card. This may seem like a lot of paperwork to set up, but it will make your life easier in the long run. Having an online billing and payment system lets you track expenses and make tax deductions more easily.

Step 8: Set up business accounting software

• Managed services: This is the most expensive option, but you don’t need to buy anything. A third-party company handles all aspects of your finances.
• Cloud-based software: This means your data is stored online, not locally on your computer or in a physical server at an office building. It’s convenient for sharing information with others and accessing it from anywhere, but there may be some security risks involved if you have sensitive information that could be vulnerable if someone gains access to the cloud service provider’s system.
• On-premises solution: This type involves purchasing software and installing it on your own network so it’s accessible only by authorized individuals within your organization. You’ll need IT to support setting up this kind of system and keep it running smoothly.

Conclusion

If you’re thinking of starting your own shipping and travel business, then it’s important to know the steps needed to form a C-corporation. The first step is choosing a name for your company. Once you have chosen a name, then you need to file articles of incorporation with the state where you plan on doing business. Next up is creating shareholders’ agreements as well as holding a board meeting before issuing stock certificates. After that comes getting an employer identification number (EIN) before opening up an account at one or more banks so that customers can pay for services using credit cards or checks made out directly from their bank accounts instead of cash payments directly from individuals without credit cards or checks from other banks where they may not be able.