How to Start a Business (Main State Page)
Example Pages: Alaska & Alabama
Title: How to Start a Business in “State” | “State 2 Letter Acronym (Upper Case)” “State Office”
- Example: How to Start a Business in Alaska | AK Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing
Permalink: Always make the State 2 Letter Acronym (lower case)
- Example: ak
(H2) Start an Entity: This will be in Heading 2 and you will want to list in bullet form below all the entities available in the State.
(H2) Search For a Name: All of these will be in Heading H2. The purpose of this section is to link to an article that shows how to search for a business name in the State. Just give a brief overview of how the search works and the different options there are to search a business.
(H2) How to Register with the State: This will be the longest part of the page and you will probably want to complete when you have already done all the entity creation pages so you know how each entity is formed. Try to write in a Step-by-Step format that is like the Example here.
(H2) Filing Fees: List each type of entities filing fees.
(H2) Name Reservation – In every State you can file to reserve a business name before actually creating the entity. This is usually good from anywhere between 30 to 180 days depending on the State.
(H2) Certificate of Good Standing – In every State there is a form called the Certificate of Good Standing which certifies that an entity is valid in the State.
(H2) Renewal – This is usually called an “Annual Report” That every entity must file every year to stay valid.
(H2) Agreements – There are 3 agreements for every State that sometimes required and sometimes recommended to have. They are the Corporate Bylaws, LLC Operating Agreement, and Partnership Agreement.
(H2) EIN – I have made an article here you will be using for all 50 States that describes how to get an EIN. I know I sometimes write EIN Number which is wrong and should just be EIN which is a number given by the IRS to businesses (much like a social security number is for someone’s personal IRS matters).
How to Start an LLC State Page
Example Pages – https://startabusiness.org/ak/llc/ & https://startabusiness.org/al/llc/
Title: How to Start an LLC in “State” | “State 2 Letter Acronym (Upper Case)” “State Office”
- Example: How to Start an LLC in Alaska | AK Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing
Permalink: llc
- Example: https://startabusiness.org/ak/llc/
Parent Page:Make the Parent Page be the Main Start a Business Page for that State. . See on the hand-side (I know its kind of a mess trying to find a plugin that is collapsible and easier.
Intro: List the laws where the LLC laws are located at the State and list all the different types of LLC’s you can create. There is usually just a Domestic (in-State) and Foreign (out-of-State).
(H2) How to Form – Give a full description of how to form an LLC according to These Examples (Alabama & Alaska)
(H2) Tips – This is where it may feel like Cardreviews again. We must recommend to all users after creating any type of entity that they should get an EIN (Employer Identification Number) and an Agreement (Operating Agreement for LLC’s).
So in bullet form, like these examples (Alaska & Alabama) you will have to write a unique 2 sentence description that links to these pages.
How to Start a Domestic LLC Page
Example Pages – https://startabusiness.org/ak/llc/domestic/ & https://startabusiness.org/al/llc/domestic/
Title: How to Start a Domestic LLC in “State” | “Form Name”
- Example: How to Start a Domestic LLC in Alaska | Articles of Organization (Form 08-484)
Permalink: domestic
- Example: https://startabusiness.org/ak/llc/domestic/
Parent Page: Parent page will be the main State LLC Page.
Intro – List the State Statute (usually titled “Formation” at the State) and list the different ways a person can file briefly. About half the States have an online filing method.
(H2) How to Form (Online) – If there is an online forming method list both ways to form the LLC (Paper through the Mail and Online). Also remember to include the link to the online formation in the bottom URL field.
(H2) How to Form (“State Form Name”) – List the steps to file the Adobe PDF application and how exactly to fill-in the form. Also remember to include the PDF form in the bottom URL field.
(H2) Tips – Write description for EIN Number and Articles of Organization while linking to them.
How to Start a Foreign LLC Page
Example Pages – https://startabusiness.org/ak/llc/foreign/ & https://startabusiness.org/al/llc/foreign/
Title: How to Start a Foreign LLC in “State” | “Form Name”
- Example:How to Start a Foreign LLC in Alaska | Certificate of Registration (Form 08-497)
Permalink: foreign
- Example: https://startabusiness.org/ak/llc/foreign/
Parent Page: Parent page will be the main State LLC Page.
Intro – List the State Statute (usually titled “Certificate of authority” at the State) and list the different ways a person can file briefly. Again, about half the States have an online filing method and some have only online filing for domestic entities and not Foreign ones.
(H2) How to Form (Online) – If there is an online forming method list both ways to form the LLC (Paper through the Mail and Online). Also remember to include the link to the online formation in the bottom URL field.
(H2) How to Form (“State Form Name”) – List the steps to file the Adobe PDF application and how exactly to fill-in the form. Also remember to include the PDF form in the bottom URL field.
(H2) Tips – Write description for EIN Number and Articles of Organization while linking to them.
Free LLC Operating Agreement State Page
Example Pages – https://startabusiness.org/ak/llc/operating-agreement/ & https://startabusiness.org/al/llc/operating-agreement/
Title: Free “State” LLC Operating Agreement Template – PDF – Word
Example: Free Alaska LLC Operating Agreement Template – PDF – Word
Permalink: operating-agreement
- Example: https://startabusiness.org/ak/llc/operating-agreement/
Parent Page: Parent page will be the main State LLC Page.
Intro – List the State Statutes if any related to Operating Agreements along with any definitions located at the State. Only needs to be around a 100 word description.
Upload Form – Needs to be uploaded in fillable PDF and Microsoft Word. You will need Adobe Acrobat DC (Download here). Have you ever made a PDF fillable? Super easy I have formatted these so that Adobe recognizes all the blank fields and is literally a click of a button.
You will need to download the form in Microsoft Word. Click Command + F to pull a search field. Replace all the words “Alaska” with the State you are on. Then you will turn the form into Adobe PDF and make fillable by clicking the PREPARE button on the right hand side. Save the document as “state”-llc-operating-agreement-form.pdf (do the same for word) and upload to the site. For the screenshot image you will need to take a snapshot of just the first page of the Form and upload that as well and place below the Intro.
In the Caption area of the image you want to write Adobe PDF | Microsoft Word and link the uploaded documents. Also on the very very bottom of the webpage there are blank fields were you will place the Adobe PDF and Microsoft Word files.
How to Start a Corporation State Page
Example Pages – https://startabusiness.org/ak/corporation/ & https://startabusiness.org/al/corporation/
Title: How to Start a Corporation in “State” | “State 2 Letter Acronym (Upper Case)” “State Office”
- Example: How to Start a Corporation in Alaska | AK Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing
Permalink: corporation
- Example: https://startabusiness.org/ak/corporation/
Parent Page: Make the Parent Page be the Main Start a Business Page for that State.
Intro: List the laws where the corporation laws are located at the State and list all the different types of corporations you can create. Some States (like California) have like 8 different types but mostly it will only be profit domestic, profit foreign, non-profit domestic, and non-profit foreign.
(H2) How to Incorporate – Give a full description of how to incorporate according to These Examples (Alabama & Alaska)
(H2) Tips – Write a brief description about how to get an EIN Number, Corporate Bylaws, and how to renew the corporation. To renew, much like LLC’s the form is known as an Annual Report.
How to Start a Domestic Corporation Page
Example Pages – https://startabusiness.org/al/corporation/domestic-profit/ – https://startabusiness.org/al/corporation/domestic-non-profit/ & https://startabusiness.org/ak/corporation/domestic/
Title: How to Start a Domestic Corporation in “State” | “Name of Form”
- Example: How to Start a Domestic Non-Profit Corporation in Alabama | Certificate of Formation
Permalink: domestic
*Note – If there is a different form for a domestic non-profit write domestic-non-profit such as the example in Alabama.
- Example: https://startabusiness.org/ak/llc/domestic/
Parent Page: Parent page will be the main State Corporation Page.
Intro – List the State Statute (usually titled “Incorporation” at the State) and list the different ways a person can file briefly. About half the States have an online filing method.
(H2) How to Incorporate (Online) – If there is an online forming method list both ways to form the LLC (Paper through the Mail and Online). Also remember to include the link to the online incorporation in the bottom URL field.
(H2) How to Incorporate (“State Form Name”) – List the steps to file the Adobe PDF application and how exactly to fill-in the form. Also remember to include the PDF form in the bottom URL field.
(H2) Tips – Write description for EIN Number and Corporate Bylaws while linking to them.
How to Start a Foreign Corporation Page
Example Pages – https://startabusiness.org/al/corporation/foreign/ – https://startabusiness.org/ak/corporation/foreign-profit/ – https://startabusiness.org/ak/corporation/non-profit/
Title: How to Start a Foreign Corporation in “State” | “Name of Form”
- Example: How to Start a Foreign Corporation in Alaska | Certificate of Authority
Permalink: foreign
*Note – If there is a different form for a foreign non-profit write foreign-non-profit
Parent Page: Parent page will be the main State Corporation Page.
Intro – List the State Statute (usually titled “Incorporation” at the State) and list the different ways a person can file briefly. About half the States have an online filing method.
(H2) How to Incorporate (Online) – If there is an online forming method list both ways to form the LLC (Paper through the Mail and Online). Also remember to include the link to the online incorporation in the bottom URL field.
(H2) How to Incorporate (“State Form Name”) – List the steps to file the Adobe PDF application and how exactly to fill-in the form. Also remember to include the PDF form in the bottom URL field.
(H2) Tips – Write description for EIN Number and Corporate Bylaws while linking to them.
State Corporate Bylaws Page
Example Pages – https://startabusiness.org/al/corporation/corporate-bylaws/ & https://startabusiness.org/ak/corporation/corporate-bylaws/
Title: Free “State” Corporate Bylaws Template | PDF | Word
Example: Free Alabama Corporate Bylaws Template | PDF | Word
Permalink: bylaws
- Example: https://startabusiness.org/ak/corporation/bylaws/
Parent Page: Parent page will be the main State Corporation Page.
Intro – List the State Statutes if any related to Corporate Bylaws along with any definitions located at the State. Only needs to be around a 100 word description.
Upload Form – Needs to be uploaded in fillable PDF and Microsoft Word.
Just like with the instructions for the Operating Agreement we will be using the same form just changing the wording from State to State.
How to Start a Partnership Page
Example Pages – https://startabusiness.org/ak/partnerships/ – https://startabusiness.org/al/partnerships/
Title: How to Start a Partnership (LP/LLP/LLLP) in “State” | “State Office”
Example: How to Start a Partnership (LP, LLP, LLLP) in Alabama | Secretary of State
Permalink: partnerships
- Example: https://startabusiness.org/ak/partnerships/
Parent Page: Parent page will be the main State Business Page.
Intro – List the all the types of partnerships that are available in the State and give a brief synopsis of the State Statute that covers partnerships (usually known as the Uniform Partnership Act or something like that).
(H2) How to Start a Limited Partnership – Show how to start a limited partnership
(H2) How to Start a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) – Show how to start a limited liaility partnership.
(H2) How to Start a Limited Liability Limited Partnership (LLLP) – Show how to start a limited liability limited partnership.
(H2) Any other types of Partnerships – If any others exist explain how to start.
(H2) Tips – List the usual EIN Number and Partnership Agreement.
State Partnership Agreement Page
Example Pages – https://startabusiness.org/al/partnerships/agreement/ & https://startabusiness.org/ak/partnerships/agreement/
Title: Free “State” Partnership Agreement Template – (Partnership, LP’s, and LLP’s)
Example: Free Alabama Partnership Agreement Template – (Partnership, LP’s, and LLP’s)
Permalink: agreement
- Example: https://startabusiness.org/ak/partnerships/agreement/
Parent Page: Parent page will be the main State Partnerships Page.
Intro – List the State Statutes if any related to the partnership agreement (Usuallys titled something like ‘Effect of partnership agreement’)
Upload Form – Needs to be uploaded in fillable PDF and Microsoft Word.
Just like with the instructions for the Operating Agreement and Bylaws we will be using the same form just changing the wording from State to State.
How to Reserve a Name State Page
Example Pages – https://startabusiness.org/ak/name-reservation/ & https://startabusiness.org/al/name-reservation/
Title: How to Reserve an Entity Name in “State” | Corporation | LLC | Partnership
- Example: How to Reserve an Entity Name in Alaska | Corporation | LLC | Partnership
Permalink: name-reservation
- Example: https://startabusiness.org/al/name-reservation/
Parent Page: Make the Parent Page be the Main Start a Business Page for that State.
Intro: Enter the different ways to apply for a name reservation, the period for which the name reservation is valid for, the State Statute, and the filing fee amount.
(H2) How to Reserve (Online) – Give a full description of to Reserve Online (if there is a way to reserve online)
(H2) How to Reserve (PDF Document) – Give a step-by-step guide on how to reserve using the PDF Document.
Certificate of Good Standing State Page
Example Pages – https://startabusiness.org/ak/certificate-of-compliance/ – https://startabusiness.org/al/certificate-of-good-standing/
Title: How to Get a Certificate of Compliance (Good Standing) in “State” | Online
- Example: How to Get a Certificate of Compliance (Good Standing) in Alaska | Online
Permalink: “name of the form” so most of the time it will be ‘certificate-of-good-standing’
- Example: https://startabusiness.org/al/certificate-of-good-standing/
Parent Page: Make the Parent Page be the Main Start a Business Page for that State.
Intro: Enter the different ways to apply for the Certificate of Good Standing, State Statute, and the filing fee amount.
(H2) How to File (Online) – Give a full description of to File Online (if there is a way to reserve online).
(H2) How to File (PDF Document) – Give a step-by-step guide on how to file using the PDF Document.
Certificate of Good Standing State Page
Example Pages – https://startabusiness.org/ak/certificate-of-compliance/ – https://startabusiness.org/al/certificate-of-good-standing/
Title: How to Get a Certificate of Compliance (Good Standing) in “State” | Online
- Example: How to Get a Certificate of Compliance (Good Standing) in Alaska | Online
Permalink: “name of the form” so most of the time it will be ‘certificate-of-good-standing’
- Example: https://startabusiness.org/al/certificate-of-good-standing/
Parent Page: Make the Parent Page be the Main Start a Business Page for that State.
Intro: Enter the different ways to apply for the Certificate of Good Standing, State Statute, and the filing fee amount.
(H2) How to File (Online) – Give a full description of to File Online (if there is a way to reserve online).
(H2) How to File (PDF Document) – Give a step-by-step guide on how to file using the PDF Document.
Business Search Page
Example Pages – https://startabusiness.org/ak/business-search/ – https://startabusiness.org/al/business-search/
Title: “State” Business Entity Search | Corporation | LLC | Partnership
- Example: Alaska Business Entity Search | Corporation | LLC | Partnership
Permalink: business-search
- Example: https://startabusiness.org/al/business-search/
Parent Page: Make the Parent Page be the Main Start a Business Page for that State.
Intro: Enter the different ways to search for an entity in the State using the State governments
(H2) Search by Name – Give a full description, with pictures between every step, on how to search by name.
(H2) Search by _________ – Give a quick tutorial on how to search by whatever options there are to search and list until complete.
Link Bottom – Always make sure to add the link to the main search page on the blank URL area on the bottom.