Incorporation in Wisconsin

Find the right Business Incorporation attorney in Waukesha, WI

By Wisconsin law, a business that has incorporated is identified thereafter as its own legal entity. As a separate entity from the owners, the business is then considered to be operating on its own when it buys and sells property, assents to contracts and exercises legal rights. The Wisconsin Secretary of State receives and processes applications for incorporation, which must be submitted in compliance with local guidelines.

Benefits of Incorporation in Wisconsin

An incorporated business enjoys certain advantages, the most important being a limit of liability for the shareholders. The most shareholders can lose is the amount they invest in the business. If the business had remained a personal asset of the owners, they could run the risk of losing their personal property to pay for the company's financial liabilities in case of default. Also, creditors in the Waukesha area usually prefer to deal with corporations, since a loan is an investment more easily evaluated when the credit-worthiness of various owners is not an issue. 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

Incorporation comes at a price. First, Wisconsin might charge a filing fee to process applications for incorporation. Also, the corporation will pay taxes 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 might avoid this disadvantage with proper planning and assistance from a local Waukesha lawyer.

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Life in Waukesha

With a population of just under 65,000, Waukesha is a very popular Wisconsin city to live and work in. In fact, it was ranked 36th on the Top 100 places to live, and one of the 100 best communities for young people to live in as well. The city is located just eighteen miles from Milwaukee. With all that recognition, it is no wonder that there are so many great lawyers in Waukesha. Whether at the beginning or the end of their legal career, there is a Waukesha lawyer skilled in whatever legal issue you may be dealing with. In addition to lawyers and a great professional community, Waukesha is also home to many great colleges and universities, including: Carroll University, University of Wisconsin-Waukesha, and the New Tribes Bible Institute.

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