Incorporation in Washington

Find the right Business Incorporation attorney in Vancouver, WA

By Washington law, a business that has incorporated is identified thereafter 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. 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

Benefits of incorporation are many. The primary benefit is that the liabilities of the business can only be satisfied by the assets specifically invested into the company by the owners. Had the business instead remained a collection of the owners' personal assets, the personal property of the stakeholders could be liquidated to pay the liabilities of the business, if it runs into financial issues. A corporation might also find it easier to finance itself through loans, allowing creditors in the Vancouver area to evaluate their investment by assessing the corporation rather than the individual credit-worthiness of its owners. Finally, a corporations charter requires that ownership be divided into stakes or "shares" of stock, all of equal size. This makes the process of transferring control much more practical.

Costs of Incorporation

There are costs associated with incorporation, both short and long term. First, businesses in Washington might be charged a fee to incorporate. Also, a corporation is taxed as its own entity. The individual incomes of the owners are still taxed also, and this can mean the same income is taxed twice, known as double taxation. With proper planning and assistance from a local Vancouver lawyer, you can avoid this disadvantage.

Talk to a Business Law Attorney now!

Life in Vancouver

Vancouver, WA is a city in Clark County, Washington. It has a population of about 162,000 people, making it the 4th largest city in the state of Washington.

Vancouver, Washington was founded in the early 1800s as a fishing, logging, and fur-trading center. Obviously, the economy of the region, including Vancouver, WA has evolved over the decades. Now, Vancouver's economy largely parallels that of the rest of the region: it is now a center of the American high-tech industry. The Hewlett-Packard computer company is one of the largest employers in Vancouver, WA. The economy is also heavily based on services, including retail, medicine, and legal services and attorneys.

Because of its diverse and service-based economy, Vancouver, WA attorneys are skilled in a large number of different practice areas, because they have to be in order to stay competitive.

So, if you are facing a legal issue in the Vancouver area, you're going to want to consult a Vancouver, WA attorney as soon as possible.

Clients Rate LegalMatch Attorneys
(click to read reviews)

Howard B.
Howard B.

Business - Litigation

Rye Brook, NY

Mark B.
Mark B.

Business - Litigation

Roseland, NJ

David A.
David A.

Business - Litigation

Walnut Creek, CA