Incorporation in Washington

Find the right Business Incorporation attorney in Edmonds, WA

By Washington law, a business that has incorporated is recognized thereafter as its own legal entity. This means that the business may buy or sell property, offer and accept contracts and exercise legal rights in its own name. The office of the Secretary of State is the agency that receives applications for incorporation in Washington, and they must be completed in conformity with specific guidelines.

Benefits of Incorporation in Washington

Certain benefits inure to a business in Washington 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 satisfy the liabilities of the business. A corporation may also find it easier to finance itself through loans, allowing creditors in the Edmonds area to evaluate their investment by assessing the corporation rather than the individual credit-worthiness of its owners. Finally, ownership of a corporation is divided into equal portions or "shares" of stock, which may be bought and sold much more easily than the ownership of an unincorporated business.

Costs of Incorporation

Incorporation can be costly. First, a modest filing fee may be charged in Washington for any business that wants to incorporate. Also, a corporation is taxed as its own 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 may avoid this disadvantage with proper planning and assistance from a local Edmonds lawyer.

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Life in Edmonds

Edmonds, Washington is a city in Snohomish County. It has a population of slightly over 40,000 people.

It is the oldest incorporated city in Snohomish County, Washington, having been founded in 1899 by a logger named George Brackett. It's not clear who or what the city of Edmonds, Washington is named after, but it is likely either then-U.S. Senator from Vermont George Franklin Edmunds, or nearby Point Edmund (later re-named to Point Edwards).

By 1900, regular ferry boat service to Seattle was available. Edmonds, Washington is an important regional center for the arts. It fetaures a well-known, privately-funded drama club, called the Driftwood Players. They do 4-5 major productions per season, interspersed with several more one-night plays.

It also has hosted a major art festival since 1957, which focuses on the visual arts such as painting and illustration, and collaborates with local schools, featuring several galleries exclusively displaying the artwork of local students, to help promote arts education. Edmonds, Washington also hosts a jazz festival every Memorial Day weekend, with professional, famous jazz performers playing, as well as music students from nearby schools.

Given its diverse, eclectic population and culture, it's no surprise that Edmonds, Washington has a diverse and well-rounded legal community. If you're facing a legal issue, and live in the area, it's almost certain that an Edmonds, Washington lawyer can help.

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