Kentucky Articles of Incorporation
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What Are Kentucky Articles of Incorporation?
Preparing and filing your articles of incorporation is the first step in starting your business corporation. Approval of this document secures your corporate name and creates the legal entity of the corporation. Only after this approval can the corporation apply for tax IDs, obtain business licenses, sign contracts, and otherwise conduct business.
Incorporating provides many important benefits:
- Limits the liability of directors, officers, and shareholders
- Fulfills statutory requirements to register your business name
- Provides governance and adds credibility
Fast Facts
For Domestic Corporations:
| Agency: | Kentucky Secretary of State |
| Form: | |
| Instructions: | Mail, in-person, or online |
| Agency Fee: | $50 for 1,000 authorized shares or less. There is no fee for veteran-owned corporations. |
| Turnaround: | ~3-5 business days by mail or online. While you wait if you file in-person. |
| Law: | |
| Notes: |
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For Domestic Professional Corporations:
| Agency: | Kentucky Secretary of State |
| Form: | |
| Agency Fee: | $40 + organization tax based on number of shares (minimum of $10). |
Other Helpful Kentucky Facts
As you are preparing to incorporate, keep in mind the following requirements specific to Kentucky.
Kentucky Directors
- Number: One or more required.
- Qualifications: None.
- Quorum: Majority of directors, unless bylaws fix a different number. No less than one third.
Kentucky Officers
- As stated in the bylaws, but a minimum of one. One person may hold multiple offices. One officer is required to be responsible for maintaining corporate records.
Kentucky Bylaws
- Required: Yes.
Kentucky Annual Shareholder Meeting
- Required: Yes.
- Action by written consent: Allowed if enough shareholders consent to equal 80% the number entitled to vote on said action.
Kentucky Shareholders
- Qualifications: N/A
- Stock Certificate: Not required.
- Voting Trusts Allowed: Yes.
Helpful Tools
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