How to File Articles of Incorporation in Vermont

Launching a corporation might seem like a daunting task. Our useful point-by-point guide is designed to help you navigate this unfamiliar territory and file your Vermont Articles of Incorporation with ease.

A vital step in the corporation start-up process is filing Articles of Incorporation. This is a formal document outlining your business structure, shares, and legal entity name. It’s filed with the Vermont Secretary of State’s corporation division and will be part of the public record.

How to Complete the Articles of Incorporation Form

When you download the form from the Secretary of State’s business service center, you’ll notice a few key pieces of information are required. We’ve discussed these sections in the bulleted list below.

• Company name: You’ll need to decide on a company name that adheres to Vermont’s corporation naming conventions. But first, you’ll need to confirm if your desired business name is available. You can confirm and reserve your name online with ZenBusiness. The name must include the word “Corporation,” “Incorporated,” “Company,” or “Limited” or one of the following abbreviations: “Corp.,” “Inc.,” “Co.,” or “Ltd.”
• Fiscal year-end: Stipulate your fiscal year-end. If you don’t, the default will be December. Your Vermont annual report needs to be filed within 2.5 months following the fiscal year-end.
• Business purpose: Supply a brief overview of your primary services.
• Business contact details and where the corporation will operate.
• Details of your registered agent: Your agent needs to have a physical address within the state and be available during standard business hours. We can help with securing the services of a Vermont registered agent.
• Capital stock: You need to decide how much stock your company will issue, and the division of that stock among shareholders.
• Incorporator and director details: Supply the names, addresses, and signatures of all directors and incorporators.

Foreign (out-of-state) corporations need to apply for a Certificate of Authority before conducting business in the state. The forms require the same details mentioned above, but additional documents will need to be attached.

Once completed, you can either mail the forms or upload them online.

Include supplemental form(s)

If you’re registering a professional corporation, you’ll need to attach your professional license. Foreign corporations need to attach a Certificate of Good Standing that is no older than 30 days.

How to Submit the Form

Ensure you have the necessary filing fees ready. The fees need to be paid during the filing process. Filing online is quicker and takes one business day to process, while if you choose to mail documents, it can take anywhere from seven to 10 business days.

Once you submit your Articles of Incorporation, you’ll have to make sure you keep up to date with all filings and keep track of documents so you stay in good standing. To put your mind at ease and free your time to do other things, try our Worry-Free Compliance service.

Conclusion

If you want to Incorporate in Vermont, then the most important document to file is your Articles of Incorporation. We can help you; simply sign-up for one of our business formation plans, and we’ll help you hit the ground running.