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Incorporate Your Business in Washington Online! Washington Incorporation and LLC Formation in all States

. This website aim to help you understand some of the many things you need to think about when you are starting and running a business in the State of Washington. You can now form your Washington limited liability company online using our company registration agent, Coddan CPM - an online corporations and limited liability companies' formation agent in the State of Washington, New York, Delaware, Florida, California and Colorado.

Our company is designed to provide information and guidance in starting and developing foreign business within the United States of America. Allow us to help you establish your Washington company and get it running, to select the best business for incorporation, or to register your company with the Secretary of State. Company formations usually completed in 4-6 hours* (in Oregon, New York, Arkansas, Delaware, Colorado and Florida) using online company incorporation services. We supply expert advice in navigating USA legal and business systems helping you set up in Washington, Nevada, Delaware, Florida and New York. If you have an idea for a business, we can also assist you in start-up your new business directly in the USA from the ground up. In the United States, you must register your business, which we can do for you. Let us know how we can help.

Choose one of the following packages (or choose the appropriate link on the left-side of the page) that will best serve you:

To register in Washington this package price includes (most popular for USA residents):

Search name availability for Corporation in Washington

Includes one-time filing fee for Washington and our one-time service fee

Preparation and Filing of the Certificate of Incorporation

Formation within 24 hours of Receipt of Order with Payment

A Recorded Copy of the Certificate of Incorporation within 5-7 Business Days of Filing

The following documents will be posted to you (Note: these documents are sent to you through TNT Express Mail Service):

Original Certificate of Incorporation

The following documents will be e-mailed, which you need to print and sign:

A 20 page Corporation Bylaws ready for signature (MS Word)

Minutes of Consent Documentation of Organizational Meeting (MS Word)

Federal Tax ID Number and Subcharter S Election Forms (PDF)

Basic Package
£ 173.00No Renewal fees
Click here to see all packages
(click here for other packages)

Company Formation Home Page  >>  Incorporating in Delaware and Forming Delaware LLCs >>  Incorporate in Washington

INCORPORATE IN WASHINGTON ONLINE! OFFERING ASSISTANCE IN FORMING WASHINGTON CORPORATIONS, LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANIES

This section explains the procedure how to incorporate in Washington as well as post incorporation operations. There is a big difference between filing articles of incorporation and incorporating. The procedure formation of company in Washington is similar to the incorporation process in other states, but not identical. Listen, we are glad you inquired about our services regarding the formation and registration of a company in the State of Washington. In our experience, the most tax advantageous type of company for US-Non Residents of the United States is the Limited Liability Company (in some Countries this is referred to as "Sociedad de Responsablidad Limitada"). Similar to a Sub Chapter S Corporation for Citizens of the U.S., in a Limited Liability Company, the earnings flow directly to the owners, thereby eliminating Corporate Income Taxes.

A regular corporation would be subject to Federal Corporate Income Tax and State Corporate Income Tax. These combined rates can be as much as 40% of the Profits. Washington requires most businesses to obtain a license and pay a fee if operating in the state. Please check with the state to make sure your business is complying with the license requirements for your particular profession. Now you have more choices when deciding what state you want to incorporate in. Delaware used to be the best state for incorporating your business. Then along came Nevada. Joining these two is Washington state. Not only does Washington state have great tax benefits for corporations, it also has low minimums for all types of businesses including corporations, s-corporations, and LLCs. If you are located in Washington state and want to incorporate your business, you should incorporate in Washington state. It just makes sense. It also makes sense to use an incorporating service that is located in Washington state.
Incorporate in Washington Online:   Free Name Check For Your Washington LLC or Corporation | 

Our Service

Our company is specialized in business formation in Delaware, Nevada, New York, etc. Form a Corporation, Non-Profit or LLC Delaware or Nevada. We may help you to incorporate in Washington, Florida, California, Arkansas or Oregon. Coddan offers online USA companies incorporation services, including Delaware corporations and assists businesses incorporating in Nevada. Coddan provides rush filing options, name reservation and all incorporation filings needed to form your corporation or an LLC. If you would like to incorporate your business online or have questions about the benefits of online incorporation for your business, this site offers many additional resources for researching online incorporation. It is possible to retain nominee officers and directors for your Corporation or nominee members and nominee managers for LLC, who are then listed on the public records. Coddan offers corporate members and directors or nominees to ensure full service to clients. It is not necessary for the officers and directors to be USA residents, nor is it necessary for the officers to be directors of the company. Don't know which type of business entity to incorporate? Call one of our specialists for a FREE CONSULTATION today! Call 0-207-637-3802 or you can chat with one of our reps live online.
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With The Coddan, forming a Washington limited liability company is a fast, easy and affordable process. We can help you through every step of the incorporation process. From choosing the plan that best fits the needs of your company, to acting as your Registered Agent, The Coddan is there to make the formation of your Washington limited liability company as quick and simple as possible. This enables you to focus your time on what matters the most, your business. If you want to become familiar with the description and the contents of Washington LLC formation packages, offered by Coddan and to find above, what kind of service is included in this or that Washington companies incorporation package, to get an idea about the price of annual renewal of the service, and about the general legal requirements to the company incorporation within State of Washington, please, select the package you need from the list, situated below the banner. The information in the banner will be renewed according to the package you've chosen.

Please note » The prices payable for the items that you order are clearly set out in the web site. There will be no contract of any kind between you and us unless and until we receive payment from you. We are not able to guarantee that any such filing will be acceptable to Secretary of State, nor are there any contractual obligation upon us to do so. If Secretary of State rejects incorporation or other electronic filing, we will credit your account with a full refund and the contract between us will be made void. Secretary of State does not offer a cancellation facility for the incorporation of companies or the electronic filing of documents. We will be unable to cancel any such submission on your behalf and will not refund any payment you have made. All prices shown at Coddan Web Site are in Great British pounds. Credit cards are the preferred method of payment; we accept VISA, MasterCard and Delta. We can accept payment in UK Pounds Sterling, US Dollars, Euros, Australian Dollars and Canadian Dollars.

Live Help » Live Help is a real time "chat" feature which enables you to interact with a customer service representative without a phone call. Get answers to your questions while using our website. Clicking the "Live Help" button will start an on-line session with one of our representatives. Live Help is currently available during normal business hours. Outside of the above opening hours our business center will be closed. When you click on the button you will see an e-mail form that will allow you to send us a mail with your questions. Live Help is absolutely free! There are no hidden fees. We offer the service as a courtesy to our website visitors. Dear visitors, while having a chat session with a customer, we are frequently requested to give a piece of advice on tax planning or business structuring. We would like to inform you that it is against our principles to provide online advice pertaining to these issues. The points that may be covered during a session include service description, package or service price, navigation at our website, ways of making an order, methods of payment etc. Yet, if you wish us to provide you with advice on tax or business structuring, you should be aware that this service is chargeable.

WHY INCORPORATE IN WASHINGTON?

The main reasons to incorporate in Washington are lawsuit protection, credibility, tax savings, deductible employee benefits, anonymity, the ease of raising capital, creating a separate legal entity for personal protection, a Washington Corporation has a broad range of powers beyond that of a sole proprietorship, small claims court benefits, separate liability for corporate debts, and perpetual duration. When you incorporate in Washington you create a separate legal person. You are a shareholder. You can control the corporation. However, when the Washington business is sued you can be protected from being sued personally when you incorporate in Washington. When you incorporate in Washington with Coddan, we prepare and file your articles of incorporation with the Washington Secretary of State. To help you successfully incorporate in Washington, we also conduct a name search, assist you in the preparation of bylaws and provide other customized services corresponding to your needs. Once your articles of incorporation have been successfully filed, your Washington corporation begins its existence as a corporate entity.

You probably found this page because you're looking into the process of Washington corporation formation. While this is a complicated process, once you have a basic understanding of it, you can file for corporate status in under a week. There are a number of advantages to forming a Washington corporation. This is one of the best ways to protect individual members from financial liability in the event of a lawsuit or other complications. When you form a corporation, your business becomes a separate legal entity.

There are also tax incentives to Washington corporation formation. If you file for a standard, or C corporation, you can write off things like employee health and dental benefits. In some cases, this formation allows business owners to be treated as employees. This is advantageous for programs like profit sharing, benefits, health care, pension plans and disability insurance.

Washington corporation formation is a process that is reviewed by the Washington Secretary of State. This office reviews your corporate information and assesses your validity as a business entity in the state. In many cases you will also need to apply for a tax identification number with the Internal Revenue Service. This number is necessary to open most corporate bank accounts. If you are operating a corporation from another state you will also need to find a registered agent. This is a person or company that is responsible for receiving correspondence and other material on behalf of the corporation. There are other additional requirements for complying with state business regulations.


1. Minimum Number of Incorporators - One or more.
2. Eligibility Requirements - None.
3. Duties - Delivering articles of incorporation to the Secretary of State for filing.
4. Listing Requirements - The name and address of each incorporator.
5. Corporate Purpose: Washington allows a corporation to be formed for any lawful purpose(s).
6. Minimum Number of Directors - One or more.
7. Eligibility Requirements - The articles of incorporation or bylaws may list director qualifications. A director does not need to be a resident of this state or a shareholder of the corporation unless stated in the articles of incorporation or bylaws.
8. Listing Requirements - When incorporating in Washington, directors are not required to be listed in the Articles. Either the articles or the bylaws may specify the number of directors.
9. Officers are not required to be listed in the articles of incorporation.
10. The articles must list the number of shares the corporation is authorized to issue, including certain information on classes and the par value of each share.


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There are a number of different reasons to establish businesses in the State of Washington. You not only protect yourself from financial responsibility and legal liability, but you also receive several tax incentives as well. If you and your partners are in business together, Washington corporation filing can protect you from having your personal bank accounts subject to lawsuits and other judgments against you. Nothing is worse than living in fear of a lean on your property and other assets.

When you incorporate Washington businesses, you also protect yourself from your business partners' bad decisions. When you partners make mistakes in the name of the corporation, you are not held personally responsible for their errors. The corporation process is a way to create a separate entity for your business, and separates that entity from the members who make up the board of directors.

When you incorporate Washington businesses, you also receive several tax incentives. For one thing, you can write off the costs of providing your employees with medical or dental insurance, and other benefit packages. These services are considered business expenses that can be deducted from your operating costs come tax season. You will want to determine the type of corporation you want to set up. This is important because different types of corporations have different benefits. One consideration is the type of organizational structure you want to implement. Many times this consideration is dependent on the size of your business, and you goals for the future. You will also want to consider the type of stock options and investment opportunities you will want to present the general public and investment entities. If you're thinking about reorganizing your business, you might want to form a Washington LLC. You receive some of the benefits of Washington corporation filing without being hit by the double taxation common in S corporations. Many Washington corporations are subject to taxes on profits and additional taxes on dividends. This is not the case when you form a limited liability company. If you form a Washington LLC you will receive protection from personal liability for things like lawsuits ad other financial claims against the company. In an LLC, you do not issue stocks to raise funds, or revenue for capital investment. Instead, members are issued interest certificates that reflect the amount or share of their investment in the company. An LLC is run by the members, and the power vested in these members is determined by percentage of ownership.

You can form a Washington LLC by filing with the office of the Secretary of State. In most cases this process is simple, and takes as little as a couple of days to complete. It's a good idea to consult with an attorney or other financial adviser before filing for this status. You may want to weigh the alternatives to determine which business structure meets the needs of your business, your customers and your partners.

You can form a Washington LLC through the office of the Washington Secretary of State. This is a relatively recent way to structure a business that helps to protect individuals from financial liability. An LLC, or limited liability company, is structured in a similar manner to traditional corporations.

You can file for a Washington LLC in just a matter of a couple of days. There are a number of restrictions and bylaws which you must agree to adhere to in order for your business to be granted LLC status. You can find specific information about the process online by searching the official website of the Secretary of State.

Many times forming a Washington LLC allows you to receive some tax benefits that you cannot receive when you form a full-fledged corporation. It's important to weight the advantages and disadvantages with someone who you can trust. If you find the process overwhelming, you can hire a filing company to do the job for you. This is a great idea if you are filing out of state, or you find the process overwhelming.

If you live outside of the state of Washington, or outside of the country, and you're thinking about filing for corporate status, you will need to find a Washington registered agent. This is a person or company that is charged with accepting official documents and other correspondence on your behalf in your absence. You can personally employ someone to perform this task, or you can hire a filing company to do the job for you.

During the course of the fiscal year, the Washington Secretary of State may need to contact you regarding all kinds of different business concerns. You will not be granted corporate status until you provide the name and address of your Washington registered agent. This is a safety net required by the state to ensure that you run a responsible and ethical business in the state.

Many time business owners and board members choose to incorporate to protect their individual investments. If you're a business owner, you know how frightening it can be to face litigation from customers and business partners. When you form a corporation in Washington, you protect you bank accounts and personal property from loss. In exchange for this security, you must provide a Washington registered agent for the processing and servicing of all legal claims against the corporation. One of the best things you can do if you live outside the state of Washington is assign a non-partisan registered agent. This provides you with the additional protection you may need when it comes to defending your business practices in a court of law. Many Washington corporation filing companies offer this service for a nominal fee. This is a great way to take the worry out of official state business. Unlike a personal friend, or business partner, hired agents are paid to perform the simple task of receiving and forwarding all official business.

INCORPORATING IN WASHINGTON REDUCES PERSONAL LIABILITY

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All our Washington companies are general trading companies which include search name availability for your Washington Corporation. Preparation and filing of Certificate of Incorporation with state office. Our incorporation service and State filing fees. Certified Copy of the Certificate of Incorporation. Washington Resident Agent for 12 months. Registered Address in the State of Washington for 12 months.
Delivery Certified Copy of the Certificate of Incorporation is delivered as hard copy by post.
The following documents will be delivered via E-Mail: a professionally-prepared 20 page Washington Corporation By-laws ready-for-signature (Word. format). Minutes or Consents Documentation of Organizational Meeting.

THE FOLLOWING UPGRADES CAN BE ADDED TO THE ABOVE PACKAGE:

1. Nominee Director service for 12 months - £140.00
2. Nominee Shareholder service for 12 months - £94.00
3. Non-Standard Certificate of Incorporation (4-5 pages) - £60.00
4. Employer Identification Number (EIN) - £40.00
5. Domain Name Registration (.com or .us) for two years - £30.00
6. 888, 877, or 866 toll-free telephone numbers - £50.00
7. Apostilled Certificate of Good Standing - £125.00
8. Apostilled Certificate of Incorporation - £110.00
9. Corporate Kit (seal is included) - £38.00


Monday - Friday: 9:30am to 17:30pm

United Kingdom Contact +44 (0) 207.935.5171

Northern Ireland Contact +44 (0) 289.099.8744

E-Mail Contact info@ukincorp.co.uk

When you incorporate in Washington you form a separate person from the one or ones who own it. Therefore, when a Washington corporation is sued, there are provisions in the law to protect the owners (shareholders) and mangers (officers and directors) from personal liability. Once you do business with the public or have even one employee, you are wide open to legal liability. Year after year there are thousands of us who lose nearly everything we have due to personal liability with our unincorporated businesses. In addition, once you do incorporate it is important that your business follows certain, relatively simple, formalities so that it looks and acts like a corporation. It is reported that the United States has just five percent of the word's population and yet 70% of the world's lawyers. Legal experts agree that there are literally millions of lawsuits filed in the U.S. every year that would not be pursued overseas. Many of these lawsuits are filed by lawyers who must litigate just to survive. In addition to an overabundance of lawyers, the U.S. is one of the only civilized countries in the world that does not have a "loser pays" legal system. In other countries of the world, such as Canada and England, for example, the one who loses a lawsuit pays his or her own legal fees as well as those of the opponent. However, in the U.S. this scenario is much different. Even if a party to a lawsuit wins, he or she is still out his or her own legal expenses. What this means is that in the U.S. even if a defendant in a lawsuit wins he or she still loses. A Washington corporation can provide a legal shield between your business life and your personal life.

TAX ADVANTAGES

There are more tax deductions available to Washington corporations than to businesses that are not incorporated. A few examples of the benefits you can enjoy when you incorporate in Washington include medical expenses, pension plan, business trips and entertainment. It is reported the group with the highest percentage of tax audits is the one that includes the Schedule "C" form filed by the self-employed. The audit rate for Washington corporations is much lower than the Washington self-employed. You may own and be employed by your Washington corporation at time same time, thus, eliminating the Schedule "C" self-employment return from your list of filed IRS tax documents. The IRS seems to give preferential treatment to corporations with regard to tax deduction.

DEDUCTIBLE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

When you incorporate in Washington you can provide for a wide-array of tax deductions for you and your employees. Even a one-person Washington corporation can enjoy tremendous tax-deductible benefits such as health insurance deductions, travel deductions, automobile deductions, entertainment deductions, recreational facilities and many more. One of the most beneficial deductions is the pension plan or 401K. Money placed in a properly structured pension plan is tax deductible and the funds grow tax-free for retirement. These outstanding benefits alone can pay for a Washington corporation many times over.

ANONYMITY

Owning an asset in your own name, such as a business, an investment property or an automobile, provides an easy target for one performing an asset search. Before initiating a lawsuit, it is quite common for an attorney to perform an asset search. If no assets can be located in your name this may decrease the chance that litigation will be pursued. Placing assets in the name of a Washington Corporation or Washington limited liability company may provide a cloak of privacy between you and those contemplating legal action against you. This privacy is enhanced when "nominee" officers and directors are listed. With the Companies Incorporated Nominee Privacy Service, you retain ownership and control of your company. However, you elect Companies Incorporated representatives (who have no control or ownership of your Washington company) to be listed as officers and directors in the public records.

RAISING CAPITAL

There is a greater source of capital available to Washington corporations than to Washington partnerships or proprietorships. Because the Washington Corporation is separate from the owners, people tend to be more willing to invest money without accepting liability or responsibility for company business. The Forbes 400 list of wealthiest Americans are full of individuals who hold the highest percentage of their wealth through ownership of stock in corporations they or their family members started. Many sole-proprietorship or partnership businesses are sold for one to two times annual earnings. Whereas, many corporations are valued at between 12 to 25 times annual earnings or more.

SEPARATE LEGAL ENTITY STATUS

Because you and your Washington Corporation are two separate legal entities, lawsuits brought against your Washington Corporation do not need to affect you personally. When the Washington Corporation borrows money, there are measures such that you are not personally liable to repay the debt. A Washington corporation remains after the life of the owner(s). However, a sole proprietorship ceases to exist after the life of the owner.

SEPARATE LIABILITY FOR CORPORATE DEBTS

A Washington corporation is separate from those who own it. If the Washington Corporation loses a lawsuit or has a debt it cannot pay, the Washington Corporation itself is responsible. The Washington Corporation can provide a strong shield to protect the personal assets of the officers, directors and shareholders. In contrast, with a sole proprietorship or partnership, the owners can lose personal assets in a business lawsuit. If the officers and/or directors have personally guaranteed corporate debts, of course, they can be held liable. In addition, the Washington Corporation must be established and operated properly for the corporate shield to remain in place. For maximum protection, it is legally prudent to treat the Washington Corporation as a separate legal entity. For example, it is important to pay corporate expenses with corporate money (or be sure the corporation promptly reimburses you for business expenses if you have paid them personally). Conversely, you would not pay your personal electric bill with corporate money. Instead, the corporation pays you a salary from the corporate checking account (which is a tax-deduction for the corporation). You deposit your salary check in to your personal checking account and use those funds to pay your personal electrical bill.
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All our Washington LLCs are general trading companies which include search name availability for your Washington LLC. Preparation and filing of Certificate of Formation with state office. Our incorporation service and State filing fees. Certified Copy of the Certificate of Organization. Washington Resident Agent for 12 months. Registered Address in the State of Washington for 12 months.
Delivery Certified Copy of the Certificate of Formation is delivered as hard copy by post.
The following documents will be delivered via E-Mail: a professionally-prepared 20 page Washington LLC Operating Agreement ready-for-signature (Word. format). Minutes or Consents Documentation of Organizational Meeting.

THE FOLLOWING UPGRADES CAN BE ADDED TO THE ABOVE PACKAGE:

1. Nominee LLC Member for 12 months - £140.00
2. Nominee Operating Manger for 12 months - £140.00
3. Non-Standard Certificate of Organization (4-5 pages) - £60.00
4. Employer Identification Number (EIN) - £40.00
5. Domain Name Registration (.com or .us) for two years - £30.00
6. 888, 877, or 866 toll-free telephone numbers - £50.00
7. Apostilled Certificate of Good Standing - £125.00
8. Apostilled Certificate of Incorporation - £110.00
9. LLC Kit (seal is included) - £38.00


Monday - Friday: 9:30am to 17:30pm

United Kingdom Contact +44 (0) 207.935.5171

United Kingdom Contact +44 (0) 800.081.1510

Northern Ireland Contact +44 (0) 289.099.8744

E-Mail Contact info@ukincorp.co.uk

PERPETUAL DURATION

A Washington Corporation continues its life after the death of the owners. Therefore, when you incorporate in Washington you are creating a legal entity that can exist long after you are gone.

DISADVANTAGES OF INCORPORATING

A Washington Corporation is formed when properly drafted documents are filed in the jurisdiction of incorporation. There are simple formalities that are followed (see below).

CHOOSING THE STRUCTURE OF YOUR BUSINESS OR ORGANIZATION

You may operate your business or organization under any one of several organizational structures. Each type of structure has certain advantages and disadvantages that should be considered. You should contact an attorney, accountant, financial advisor, banker, or other business or legal advisors to determine which form is most suitable for your business or organization.

A Sole Proprietorship is one individual or married couple in business alone. Sole proprietorships are the most common form of business structure. This type of business is simple to form and operate, and may enjoy greater flexibility of management and fewer legal controls. However, the business owner is personally liable for all debts incurred by the business.

A General Partnership is composed of two or more persons (usually not a married couple) who agree to contribute money, labor, an/or skill to a business. Each partner shares the profits, losses, and management of the business, and each partner is personally and equally liable for debts of the partnership. Formal terms of the partnership are usually contained in a written partnership agreement.

A Limited Partnership is composed of one or more general partners and one or more limited partners. The general partners manage the business and share full in its profits and losses. Limited partners share in the profits of the business, but their losses are limited to the extent of their investment. Limited partners are usually not involved in the day-to-day operations of the business.

A Limited Liability Partnership is similar to a General Partnership except that normally a partner does not have personal liability for the negligence of another partner. This business structure is used most commonly by professionals such as accountants and lawyers.

A Corporation is a more complex business structure. As a chartered legal entity, a corporation has certain rights, privileges, and liabilities beyond those of an individual. Doing business as a corporation may yield tax or financial benefits, but these can be offset by other considerations, such as increased licensing fees or decreased personal control. Corporations may be formed for profit or nonprofit purposes.

Corporate Formalities. Washington Corporations have shareholders, officers and directors. One person can hold all positions in most states. A Washington corporation is also required to hold annual shareholders and directors meetings. Personal and corporate funds should not be commingled in the same account. If corporate formalities are not followed (e.g.. the corporation is not treated like a separate person from the owners), many states allow the owners, officers or directors to be held liable debts of the corporation. Corporate formalities, while necessary, are typically quite simple. So, when you incorporate in Washington, be sure to follow the simple procedures to keep your corporation in good standing. Companies Incorporated provides a list of corporate formalities for clients who utilize our service to incorporate in Washington.

Director Information: Minimum Number - One or more. Residence Requirements - No provision. Age Requirements - None. Directors are not required to be listed in the articles of incorporation.

Officer Information: Officers are not required to be listed in the articles of incorporation.

Stock Information: an increase in shares or par value does not affect initial filing fees.

Corporate Records. Articles of incorporation, bylaws, minutes of shareholders' meetings, financial statements for the past three years, all written communications to shareholders within the past three years, a list of names and addresses of current directors and officers, and the most recent annual report delivered to the Secretary of State must be kept at the principal office of the corporation.

Washington Limited Liability Company (LLC) and the Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)* are the newest forms of business structure in Washington. An LLC or LLP is formed by one or more individuals or entities through a special written agreement. The agreement details the organization of the LLC or LLP, including: provisions for management, assignability of interests, and distribution of profits or losses. Limited liability companies and limited liability partnerships are permitted to engage in any lawful, for profit business or activity other than banking or insurance.

Asset Protection. A lawsuit typically comes from one of two directions: business or personal. When your business is sued - someone slipping and falling in your place of business, getting into an automobile accident during working hours, for example - there are provisions in the law so that either a Washington LLC or a Washington corporation can protect you from being sued personally.

However, when you are sued personally - getting into an automobile accident during non-working hours and getting sued for more than your insurance coverage, for example, the LLC may provide better protection. A Washington LLC has members. A Washington corporation has shareholders. Corporate law allows your stock to be confiscated in a personal lawsuit. In contrast, there are provisions in the law such that when you are sued personally, your membership in your LLC may be protected from being taken away from you. This is one reason why the LLC has become the most popular choice for owing assets such as real estate.

DURATION OF AN LLC COMPARED TO A CORPORATION

Unless the operating agreement says otherwise, the life of a Washington limited liability company (Washington LLC) may be limited upon the death, withdrawal or bankruptcy of a member. The laws of many states allow a limited liability company to have perpetual (continual) existence.

DISADVANTAGES OF ORGANIZING AN LLC

A Washington LLC is formed when properly drafted documents are filed in the jurisdiction of incorporation. There are very simple formalities that are followed (see below).

SUMMARY OF REGISTRATION AND RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS

This is a summary of registration and renewal requirements for Corporations, Limited Partnerships, Limited Liability Partnerships and Limited Liability Companies. Please remember, state law holds the corporation or other business entity responsible for the timely completion of all paperwork. You can avoid delinquency notices and costly penalty fees by completing all reports by the required deadlines.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

Domestic organizations (those formed in Washington) must file organizing documents with the Corporations Division at the Secretary of State's Office for review and approval before legal existence can begin. Two copies of the organizing documents (one with original signature) and fees should be sent directly to the Corporations Division.

Foreign organizations (those formed in a state other than Washington or in a foreign country) must submit two completed copies of an application for a Certificate of Authority to do Business in Washington. The application must be accompanied by proof of good standing issued by the state or other jurisdiction where the organization was originally formed.

A nonprofit corporation, such as a religious, social, charitable, or educational organization, must file two sets of Articles of Incorporation with the Corporations Division.

Limited partnerships beginning business in Washington must file a Certificate of Limited Partnership with the Corporations Division. Previous corporate and partnership certificates issued by county clerk's offices throughout the state have been transferred to the Secretary of State for centralized filing and access.

REGISTERED AGENT

All corporations and limited liability companies, and out of state limited liability partnerships doing business in Washington must have a registered agent with a Washington State address. The registered agent may be an individual or any other organization registered by the Corporations Division to do business in Washington. The registered agent receives license renewals and other notices and forwards them to the organization. The agent also accepts legal papers served on the business entity. The organizing documents or application to do business in Washington must contain or be accompanied by a statement signed by the registered agent indicating consent to serve.

LICENSING, RENEWALS AND FEES

The majority of organizations registered with the Secretary of State must annually pay an annual report fee and/or submit a list of officers and directors to the Corporations Division. For corporations that are for profit, the annual corporate license renewal/annual report fee is $50 plus a handling fee of $9. For nonprofit corporations, there is no annual corporate license renewal fee, but there is an annual report fee of $10. Limited liability companies must annually pay a license fee and file a list of members and managers. Limited liability partnerships must annually pay a license fee of $50.
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Limited company formation and small business start-up advice - we are offering companies registrations in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, USA and offshore jurisdictions. Our simple and cost-effective business starting-up service has various packages available to suit all needs. Expert advice and cost efficient business registration services to assist companies with their statutory obligations, including business administration, bookkeeping, accounting and annual accounting and annual return preparation. We can also help you to introduce and arrange a business bank account in the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Cyprus, Gibraltar and in many other offshore countries.

All content within this site, including, but not limited to text, software, graphics, logos, icons and images are the property of the Coddan CPM Ltd. Except as provided herein, no portion of the materials on these pages may be reprinted or republished in any form without the express written permission of Coddan CPM Ltd. Permission is granted to print copies of informational articles for your own use and review, provided that source attributions and copyright notices are maintained. All of the information contained on this web site is not meant to be advice, nor should it be followed. The information on this site pertains to UK law only and is offered as a public service. It is not intended to give legal advice about a specific legal problem, nor does it create an attorney-client relationship. Due to the importance of the individual facts of every case, the generalizations we make may not necessarily be applicable to any particular case. Changes in the law could at any time make parts of this web site obsolete. Coddan does not represent nor warrant the accuracy of any of the information contained herein, nor should it be relied upon.

Due to the introduction of the Anti Money Laundering Regulations 2007 it is now a legal requirement that all trusts and company service providers are MLR registered. Coddan CPM Limited has been granted an MLR Registration Number 12298927. This means that we have passed the fit and proper test and successfully applied for and received confirmation from HM Customs and Excise. Please be aware that any formation agent operating without being MLR registered is not complying with the Law. We would strongly advise you to ask for an MLR number prior to processing a formation through any agent.

In the event of Companies House rejecting an application or submission you will have three days to re-submit the application with appropriate corrections at no extra charge. We reserve the right to cancel the contract between us if one or more of the goods or services that you ordered were listed at an incorrect price due to a typographical error or an error in the pricing information received by us from our supplier. If we do cancel your order for this reason, we will notify you by email and will credit your account with any sum deducted by us from your credit card as soon as possible but in any event within 30 days of your order. We will not be obliged to offer any additional compensation for disappointment suffered. Products are delivered using Royal Mail recorded delivery post, or e-mail (as appropriate), unless otherwise stated. Where you request an alternative method of delivery, you must meet those costs. Services are provided using reasonable skill and care. Products and services will be provided in accordance with the timescales set out in the Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000 unless otherwise agreed with you. Website Last Updated: 5/21/2013