Should I Incorporate My Small Business?

If you are just starting a business or actively growing your existing small business, incorporation may be a topic on your mind. There is a lot that goes into the incorporation process, from deciding if it's something you even want to do, to taking the steps necessary to form a corporation.

I've written about incorporation before, and the feedback I've gotten is that there are still a lot of questions around the topic, especially for someone just getting started with the process. Here are a few links to small business incorporation articles that you can use as a cheat sheet as you explore if incorporation is right for you.

Let's start at the beginning with a refresher on the different forms of business. This article takes a quick look at the differences between a sole proprietorship, a partnership, an LLC and a corporation.

From limited liability to stock incentives to near immortality -- there are a lot of advantages if you incorporate your small business. This article walks you through six of the most common reasons small business owners decide to form a corporation.

Playing devil's advocate and considering the reasons not to do something should always be part of your research process. This article lists some of the reasons incorporation may be a bad move for your business, from the cost to the rigidity of the business structure.

Have you decided that incorporation is right for you? Then move on to this article and go step-by-step through the small business incorporation process.

If you have questions about incorporating your small business, please leave a comment here, or post your question in the Small Business Information Forum.

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