Incorporation in Pennsylvania

Find the right Business Incorporation attorney in Altoona, PA

Under Pennsylvania law, a business may incorporate. If it chooses to do so, it is thereafter identified as its own legal entity. This means that the business can buy or sell property, offer and accept contracts and exercise legal rights in its own name. A business looking to incorporate in Pennsylvania must file with the Secretary of State in accordance with established guidelines.

Benefits of Incorporation in Pennsylvania

Certain advantages inure to a business in Pennsylvania that has incorporated over one that has not. First, a corporation's liabilities can never go beyond the amount invested in the business by the owners. With unincorporated businesses, personal property of owners can be liquidated in order to fulfill the liabilities of the business. Furthermore, banks in the Altoona area prefer to evaluate the credit worthiness of a business as a whole rather than that of individual owners. This makes the process of getting corporate loans simpler. Lastly, the ownership of a corporation is divided into an abundance of equal portions or "shares" of stock. Without this mechanism, transferring ownership of a business would be impractical.

Costs of Incorporation

These benefits come at a price. First, incorporation in Pennsylvania may require a filing fee. Second, a corporation pays taxes just like any other entity. In other words, the profits a corporation makes are now taxed separately, while any disbursements to shareholders are taxed as individual income. This is called double taxation. However, a business might avoid this disadvantage with proper planning and assistance from a local Altoona lawyer.

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Life in Altoona

Altoona is located in Blair County, Pennsylvania. Per the 2010 census it has a population of 46,320 people.

Some popular attractions include the Altoona Symphony Orchestra, Horeshoe Curve, the Railroaders Memorial Museum, the Juniata Shops of the Altoona Works, Mishler Theatre, Jaffa Shrine Center and the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament.

Earlier, Altoona's economy was primarily dependent on the railroad industry. This changed with time as the city began to urbanize. Now, the city depends more on local businesses. In fact a top employer is Sheetz. Sheetz is a large convenience store and gas station chain that is present in many states such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Virginia. There are many Sheetz locations (approximately twenty) in Altoona. Therefore it is one of the city's top employers. To support Sheetz and other businesses, the legal force in Altoona is strong. It has many competent attorneys who practice law in various fields. Thus, they are able to help local businesses and residents with their legal needs.

Some famous residents of Altoona include Janet Blair, Brad Benson, Michael Behe, Rob Boston, Sam Cohn, Ripper Collins, Henry Kloss, Star Jones, Tommy Irwin, and Mike Luzzolino.

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