Business Approval in the USA A Comprehensive Overview

Some states may require you to start your business in one state and then file for foreign qualification in other states where your business operates. This is if your LLC, corporation, partnership, or nonprofit corporation does business in more than one state.Every other state will see your business as foreign, but the state where you start your business will see it as an American one. Foreign licensing lets the state know that a business from another country is operating in that country.Many times, companies that are foreign qualified have to pay taxes and annual report fees in both the state where they were founded and the states where they are foreign qualified.

You must file a Certificate of Authority with the state in order to be foreign qualified

A Certificate of Good Standing from the state where you formed the business is also needed in many states. There is a reporting fee in every state, but the amount is different for each state and type of business.Talk to state offices to find out what foreign qualifications you need and how much they cost.Fill out the state forms and feesFees for registering your business rely on your state and the type of business you have. In most cases, the total cost will be less than $300.Usually, the information you'll need is:The paperwork you need and what goes in it will depend on your state and the way your business is set up.Structure of a businessDescription of the documentLLCThe rules for the groupArticles of organization are a simple paper that spells out the basics of your LLC. It lists things about the business, like the name, location, members, and registered agent of the company.LLCOperating deal for an LLCAn operating agreement spells out how your business will make choices about its finances and operations. It spells out how important business choices are made and what each member is supposed to do. Many people say you should make one to protect yourself and your business, even if your state doesn't require it.

One-person businessProof of being a limited companyThis simple paper explains how your limited partnership works

It tells the state that the partnership exists and has basic business details like the name of the company, its address, and the names of the partners. Not every state needs it, and some states have different names for it.One-person businessAgreement for a limited partnershipAll partners are legally bound by a limited partnership agreement, which spells out how business choices are made and what each partner's duties, powers, and responsibilities are. Many people say you should make one to protect yourself and your business, even if your state doesn't require it.Partnership with limited responsibilityCertificate of a partnership with limited responsibilityThis simple paper explains how your limited liability partnership works. It tells the state that the partnership exists and has basic business details like the name of the company, its address, and the names of the partners. Not every state needs it, and some states have different names for it.Partnership with limited responsibilityAgreement for a limited liability partnershipA limited liability partnership agreement is a document that all partners must agree to in order to do business together. It spells out how decisions are made and what each partner's tasks, powers, and responsibilities are. Many people say you should make one to protect yourself and your business, even if your state doesn't require it.Any kind of corporationForms of organizationArticles of incorporation, also called a certificate of incorporation, are a long formal document that describe the main points of your business. Every state needs you to have it when you organize. Most of the time, the name of the company, the reason for the business, the number of shares being given, the value of each share, the directors, and the officers are all included.

Any kind of corporationThe rules or decisionsBylaws

which are called resolutions for nonprofits, are the rules that govern how a company runs. They say what officers and shareholders are supposed to do and how important business choices are made. Many people say you should make one to protect yourself and your business, even if your state doesn't require it.In some states, you may also need to register your DBA, which is also known as a trade name or a made-up name. Talk to the state government office(Link is external) in your area to find out what you need to do.Sign up with area groupsMost of the time, you don't have to register your business with the county or city government.You may need to get licenses and permits from the county or city if your business is an LLC, corporation, partnership, or nonprofit organization.If you use a DBA, which is also known as a trade name or a made-up name, some counties and places also make you register it.If you want to know what you need to do for registration, licensing, and permits, go to the websites of your local officials.Make sure you know what you need to do to register.Depending on how your business is set up, some states require you to give reports soon after you register.It's possible that you need to send more proof to your state tax board or franchise tax board. Most of the time, you need to file these documents within 30 to 90 days of registering with the state. They are called Initial Reports or Tax Board registration. If this is true for you, check with your local tax office or franchise tax board.