Incorporate in Alaska

How to Form an Alaska Corporation

Incorporating in Alaska begins by submitting Articles of Incorporation. Afterwards, your corporation needs to file an initial report, get a business license and EIN, and hold an organizational meeting. You may also want to open a corporate bank account. Below are the typical steps for incorporating in Alaska:

1. File Articles of Incorporation and pay the $250 fee
2. File an Initial Report
3. Apply for an Alaska Business License
4. Get an EIN (federal tax ID)
5. Hold your corporation’s organizational meeting
6. Open an Alaska corporate bank account

With our no-hassle formation service package, we’ll not only file your Alaska Articles of Incorporation—we’ll also give you everything you need to start your new corporation. We provide bylaws, initial resolutions, a year of registered agent service and more! We even give you an online platform including a custom domain, site, and email address at no additional upfront cost. Our low price of $399 includes your Alaska state filing fees and everything you’ll need to launch your Alaska business today!

What are Alaska Corporation Articles of Incorporation?

Alaska Articles of Incorporation are submitted in order to legally create an Alaska corporation. The Articles of Incorporation, available from Alaska’s Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, require key information about the corporation. The form is organized into six sections:

• Article 1: Name of Corporation
  Your corporation’s name should include the word “Corporation,” “Company,” “Incorporated,” “Limited” or an abbreviation of one of these words. It can’t include words like “City,” “Borough,” or “Village,” which could imply that the corporation is a municipality. A corporate name must also be “distinguishable,” meaning it must be different from names already in use. You can use Alaska’s Search Corporations Database to search for existing corporations.

• Article 2: Disclosure of Corporate Purposes
  This section requests a six-digit North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code. These codes classify business activity. Alaska NAICS Codes can be found on Alaska’s Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing website. Find the code that matches your business type, and write a brief description of what your business does under “Purpose.”

• Article 3: Registered Agent
  Per Alaska Statute §10.06.150, every corporation must have and maintain a registered agent. A registered agent is responsible for receiving and forwarding service of process, notices, or demands for your Alaska corporation, such as annual reports and summons to appear in court. The agent must have a physical and mailing address in Alaska. An Alaska corporation may not act as its own registered agent.Hiring a commercial registered agent (like us) can give you added privacy by keeping your address out of public records. We can also save you the hassle of mining through the junk mail that comes with having a public address. You can select our registered agent service for $49 a year.
• Article 4: Alien Affiliate
  An alien affiliate is a person or company from outside the United States that is affiliated with your corporation. You are required to list the name and address of each alien affiliate. If you do not have any, write “none.”

• Article 5: Shares
  You must provide the maximum number of shares that your corporation will be legally permitted to issue. This number must be at least one. When you provide this number, you are authorizing the shares but not issuing them to shareholders. You can issue shares at your organizational meeting.

• Article 6: Optional Provisions
  If you would like to add additional articles or provisions to your Articles of Incorporation, you can attach a page to the form. For example, you could designate specific qualifications to be a shareholder or you could limit the existence of the corporation. The possibilities for additional articles or provisions are numerous.

How Do I Submit Articles of Incorporation?

Both online and paper forms are available from Alaska’s Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing website. Online submissions are payable by Visa or MasterCard. Paper submissions can be paid in cash (in person only), check (in person or by mail), or credit card (in person, by mail or by fax).

How Long Does it Take?

Online submissions are processed immediately, while paper submissions can take more than two weeks to process.

What is the Filing Fee for Alaska Corporations?

The fee is $250.

Alaska Corporation Formation Services

Forming corporations in Alaska is what we do—we are a filing service, and we would love to form your Alaska corporation. We work fast and have a processing time of just one day!

How Our Process Works

Answer a few questions about your business, and we’ll create and file the Articles of Incorporation needed to form your Alaska corporation!

What are the Costs to Form an Alaska Corporation?

To form your Alaska corporation, our fee is just $100. State filing fees are $250. We also provide one year of registered agent service for $49. Total price = $399.

What Do You Get With Our Services?

• 1-Day Processing
• A Year of Registered Agent Service (Renewals at Same Low Price!)
• Instant Access to Services Through Our Secure Online Portal
• Company Privacy and Security (List Our Address–Not Yours)
• Instant Online Platform for Your Business
• Reminders for Alaska Reporting Requirements
• Expert Customer Service Support
• All the Documents Needed to Incorporate and Open a Corporate Bank Account: Bylaws, Initial Resolutions, and More!
• Option to add Trade Name Service ($125 plus state fees) after purchasing one of our other services. Just add “Trade Name Service” inside your client portal.

What to Do After Incorporating in Alaska?

Congratulations–your business has been incorporated! But there is still work to do. Alaska regulations require you submit an initial report. Most businesses also need a business license. Federal regulations require obtaining an EIN. You must also have an organizational meeting.

SUBMIT YOUR INITIAL REPORT

• What is an Initial Report?

In Alaska, new corporations are required to file an initial report with the state. This report is simply a statement of your corporation’s contact and ownership information that you then update yearly. The report requires general information about your corporation, such as your corporation’s address and registered agent.

• How do I submit my report?

An electronic form is available on Alaska’s Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing website.

On the electronic form, there is the option to file online or to print and then fax or mail the form. Online forms are processed immediately. Paper submissions can take more than two weeks to process.

• How much does the Initial Report cost?

There is no filing fee for this report.

APPLY FOR A BUSINESS LICENSE

• What is an Alaska Business License?

An Alaska Business License grants permission to engage in business within the State of Alaska. An Alaska Business License is necessary for most corporations before engaging in any business in the state.

• Does everyone need an Alaska Business License?

If your business activities are limited solely to the one of the following activities, you are not required to have a business license but must have another specialized license: liquor sales, fishing, mining, and insurance.

You also do not need a business license for investment clubs, supplying services as an employee, or furnishing goods or services if you do not represent yourself as regularly engaged in furnishing goods or services.

• How can I apply?

Both online and paper application forms are available from Alaska’s Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing website.

Online applications are processed immediately, and you can print your Business License certificate directly after filing. Paper applications, on the other hand, may take over two weeks to process, and certificates are sent via mail. If you have also applied for any professional licenses, you must submit a paper application.

• What is the fee for an Alaskan Business License?

A business license is $50 per year and expires at the end of the filing year. There’s an option to buy a one-year license for $50 or a two-year license for $100.

For online applications, fees are payable by Visa or MasterCard. For paper applications, fees are payable by check, money order, Visa or MasterCard.

OBTAIN AN EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (EIN)

• What is an EIN?
  

An Employer Identification Number is your unique tax identification number from the IRS. The IRS requires corporations to obtain an EIN. You’ll need it for federal filings, and if you have employees or intend to open a corporate bank account. Your EIN is also used when filing your Alaska Corporation Net Income Tax Return, which is required each year.

• How do I get an EIN?

You can apply through the IRS website. Online applications are processed immediately. There is no fee for an EIN.

HOLD AN ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING

• What is an organizational meeting?
  

This is the first official meeting of your corporation, where attendees can elect directors and officers if needed, issues shares of stock and adopt bylaws.

We include corporate bylaws as part of our formation services package.

• Do I have to hold the meeting in Alaska?

No, the meeting does not have to take place in Alaska. However, all attendees must be given at least 20 days notice of the meeting and its location by mail.

GET YOUR BUSINESS ONLINE

• Does My Business Need a Website?

Yes, more than likely. It’s a crucial part of building your brand and staying connected with clients and customers. To make sure you start off on the right foot, we include in our incorporation package a free year of your own custom domain name. We also give you your own pre-built, easy-to-customize website, SSL site security (your data is never sold), email address matching your business domain, and a local Alaska phone number free for 90 days.

Get started building your company’s professional business presence at no additional upfront cost and with the option to cancel any time.

Alaska Corporation Benefits

Your Alaska corporation’s limited liability protects the personal assets of your shareholders. The fluidity of stocks offers financial flexibility, which can also attract investors to your Alaska corporation.

Limited Liability

Limited liability means that your corporation’s assets and liabilities are separate from your own. If your corporation has a debt, your personal assets–like your house and car–are protected from creditors.

Fundraising

Raising capital is essential for any business to grow. Because they authorize and issue stock, corporations have more options for fundraising. Your Alaska corporation can sell stock to raise additional funds when needed.

Investor Appeal

Investing in a corporation is often considered easier than investing in an LLC. For example, transferring membership in an LLC can be more complicated than selling off corporate stock. Also, corporations can offer investing advantages that LLCs can’t, like guaranteed dividends. Instead of getting paid only when the company makes a profit, shareholders with guaranteed dividends can count on consistent distributions.

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Want to lighten the load? Let us help you incorporate! We can create and file your formation paperwork, serve as your registered agent, provide you with pre-filled forms, and more!