Set the stage to raise capital, attract investors, and unlock growth opportunities with a Kentucky C corp. Starts at $0 plus KY state fees.
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Starts at $0 +KY state fee and only takes 5-10 minutes
Are you thinking of forming a Kentucky corporation? Corporations are a popular business type because they’re treated as independent legal entities, limiting the liabilities of the owners and allowing the corporation to enter into contracts and maintain stability over time.
If you’ve decided that a corporation is the right business entity structure for your company, read on to learn how to get started forming your Kentucky corporation today. These steps are for forming a C corporation (the default form of corporation) in Kentucky that is for-profit and domestic (in-state).
To start a corporation in Kentucky, you must file the Articles of Incorporation with the Kentucky Secretary of State office, but there are important decisions to make before doing so, in addition to steps you need to take afterward.
One of the first decisions you’ll need to make is if you’re forming a standard corporation or professional corporation. For many entrepreneurs, the corporation is the better fit. But for professionals in certain industries that require licensure — law, accountancy, and medicine, to name a few — a professional corporation (PC) is a better fit (sometimes also called a professional service corporation). Kentucky’s Revised Statutes detail which trades are able to form a professional service corporation.
To simplify the process of forming a corporation or professional corporation in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, we’ve put together 10 easy steps for you to form your business:
Before you can file any paperwork, you need to decide on a business name. This might seem simple on the surface, but you must consider many factors and adhere to regulations.
Start by brainstorming a list of potential names. Names on this list should match your business’s purpose, and the more names you have, the better. The next several steps will begin to narrow your options. Once you have your shortlist, search your prospective Kentucky business names on the Kentucky Secretary of State’s website to eliminate any names that are too similar to existing businesses.
Here are some guidelines to help you through the naming process:
Once you’ve narrowed your list based on the above, the next task is to search for available domain names to ensure you can secure a website domain that matches your business name.
Most of the above rules apply to naming professional corporations, but there are some specialized requirements to stick to. For starters, your name will need to include “professional service corporation” or “PSC” instead of one of the designators listed above.
Plus, if your industry requires specific terms for a business name, be sure to include those.
Check to make sure your desired Kentucky corporation name hasn’t already been trademarked by someone else. Search federal and Kentucky trademark databases. If your name isn’t claimed, you can also consider trademarking it and/or your logo or slogan. To do this within Kentucky, you’ll need to register your trademark with the commonwealth, complete the application, and pay a small fee. But while it’s easier and quicker to file at the state level, filing at the federal level affords broader protection, which helps if you plan on doing business outside Kentucky.
Once you’ve settled on a business name, you may choose to reserve the name if you’re not ready to register it. Reserving your business name can be done by filing a Reservation or Renewal of Reserved Name form with the Secretary of State and paying a filing fee. The reservation will be valid for 120 days. You’ll have to mail the form to Michael Adams, Office of the Secretary of State, P.O. Box 718, Frankfort, KY 40602-0718.
You also don’t want to overlook the importance of choosing a name that also has an available website domain name. Additionally, you should consider any “doing business as” (Kentucky DBA) names you may want. If you’d like to do business under a name different from your official business name, you’ll need to file a Certificate of Assumed Name with the Kentucky Secretary of State and pay a small filing fee.
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A corporation’s board of directors is responsible for overseeing the operations of the business. As such, your business needs one to get started. The initial incorporators — those filing the Articles of Incorporation for the business — often appoint the initial directors. Afterward, the board is elected annually by shareholders (those who hold stock in the company; this can include the original incorporators).
In Kentucky, only a single incorporator is required, and only one member on the board is needed, although having more is generally advisable. Incorporators may be directors and shareholders. In fact, a single person can start a Kentucky corporation and hold all associated titles. But the three titles are associated with different roles within the company.
To clarify, here are some of the different roles that exist in a corporation:
It’s a good idea for all incorporators to meet and elect an initial board of directors before filing the Articles of Incorporation. This board can then begin creating the corporate bylaws (described in a later section).
Kentucky state law has some more specific requirements for the directors of a professional corporation. The law states that at least half of your directors need to be licensed in your corporation’s profession.
If your board of directors includes any unlicensed directors, they cannot vote on any measures that directly address the service the PC offers. They can vote on measures that address general business management.
A registered agent is a person or entity that receives service of process and other important legal notices and government correspondence on behalf of the corporation. If your business is sued, the court summons will be given in person to your Kentucky registered agent.
When filing your Articles of Incorporation, you must list a registered agent who is an individual or entity with a street address (not a P.O. box) in Kentucky. The agent must always be available during normal business hours. The Kentucky registered agent must give explicit consent to being your registered agent, typically by signing the Articles of Incorporation.
Now that all the initial puzzle pieces are in place, you’re ready to file your Articles of Incorporation to register your business with the commonwealth officially. In this document, you’ll need to include:
Professional corporations have a very similar process for filing, but they file a slightly different version of the form that’s dedicated to PCs. The content is largely the same. Before you make any submissions, ensure that you have the correct version of the form for your corporate type.
Once you’ve filled out the form, you will mail it to the Secretary of State with a check for the filing fee, made out to the “Kentucky State Treasurer.” As of this writing, $10 of this fee is an organization tax fee for 1,000 shares of stock or fewer. As long as you don’t have more than 1,000 shares, this is all you pay. If you plan on having more than 1,000 shares, you’ll need to contact the Kentucky Secretary of State’s office to determine your total filing fee.
The address to mail the form is:
Michael AdamsOffice of the Secretary of StateP.O. Box 718Frankfort, KY 40602-0718
Alternatively, you can register online using the Kentucky Business One Stop Portal. After the incorporation, one copy of the Articles of Incorporation must be filed with the county where the corporation’s registered office is located.
Before your business can get up and running, the incorporators or the board of directors need to create the corporate bylaws. The bylaws establish all of the rules and day-to-day activities of your business. Not only is this a good idea, but it also is required by Kentucky for all corporations.
Your corporate bylaws may include:
While you’re not required to file your bylaws anywhere, you are required to keep them in a safe place with any other corporate records. It’s often a good idea when starting to set up a corporate records book where you can keep all of your corporation’s important papers, including bylaws, minutes from meetings, and stock certificates.
The shareholder or stockholder agreement is a document that outlines the rights and responsibilities of all shareholders in the company. It may include the following:
This agreement can be drafted from a template, but you may want to utilize professional assistance. Your shareholder agreement should be kept with your other important corporate records.
One of the requirements for starting a corporation is issuing stock. When you filed your Kentucky Articles of Incorporation, you stated the number of stock shares that were authorized. The number of shares you issue should always be less than or equal to this number.
It’s a good idea to determine how much capital you need before issuing shares of stock so that you can determine a reasonable value for each share. Shares of stock may also be issued in exchange for services or other noncash value and capital contributions.
Each share is only issued once. However, after being issued, it can be traded and sold. All issued shares must be documented in the company’s annual report. Although it’s not typically required, many corporations issue certificates to shareholders, indicating their shares.
Stock may be issued publicly or privately. Privately issued stock is usually issued to the founders or a private group of investors. A public corporation makes a portion of its stock shares available for public purchase.
Companies that issue public stock need to file quarterly statements with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). They must also track how many shares are issued and to whom. You should also check with the Securities Division of the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions for regulations and requirements at the state level.
Kentucky has a few specific standards for who can be shareholders in a professional corporation. Shareholders can include individuals, a partnership, a professional limited liability company (PLLC), or another professional corporation. Individual shareholders must all be licensed in the profession stated in the Articles of Incorporation. In the case of the business entities we just listed, all of the members or partners of those businesses have to be licensed in the corresponding profession.
These restrictions apply to both the shares you originally issued and the transfer of those shares later on. In short, at all times, the shareholders of your business need to be licensed for the service you offer.
Next comes the task of determining which additional licenses and permits your business may need. The Kentucky One Stop Business Portal outlines the following types of licenses and permits to consider:
Remember to also check into building and zoning permits, especially if you’re renovating a space.
Corporations are generally regarded as distinct entities separate from the people involved in them. As such, you’ll need to acquire an employer identification number (EIN), also known as a federal tax identification number. This number acts like the corporation’s Social Security number for tax purposes. You’ll also need an EIN when you open your corporation’s business bank account.
Visit the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website and fill out the online form. It only takes a few minutes and is free. Afterward, you will receive your EIN. Keep this number safe, as you’ll need it for future documentation and filing your business’s tax returns.
Remember that corporations must pay their own taxes separate from any taxes paid on shareholder earnings. This must be done at the federal and state levels by submitting the appropriate returns each year. Having a separate business bank account from your personal bank account is critical at tax time.
Kentucky requires all corporations to file an annual report to update information with the commonwealth. Expect to receive a reminder postcard for the annual report in January. You’ll have until June 30 of that year to return the completed postcard or complete your annual report by filing online with the Kentucky Secretary of State.
Information you’ll need to provide in your annual report includes:
Also, you’ll need to submit a filing fee. If you fail to file the annual report and pay the fee, the commonwealth can dissolve your corporation in 60 days.
The exact cost of starting a Kentucky corporation will vary depending on the size and type of business and where it’s located. You’ll need to pay the fee for filing the Kentucky Articles of Incorporation at a minimum. Additional fees may include:
Our formation plans can help get your corporation off the ground by assisting with many of the required steps.
Many benefits come with starting a corporation in Kentucky. As a business type, the benefits of a corporation include:
However, also be aware of the disadvantages so you can make an informed decision. The primary disadvantages are the tax structure (profits are taxed at both the corporation and personal income tax levels) and having more red tape and paperwork than other structures, such as limited liability companies (LLCs).
Corporations mainly fall into the following three categories:
How a corporation is taxed in Kentucky depends on its designation. Corporations are most commonly designated as C corporations, S corporations, and nonprofit corporations.
C corporations are treated as separate entities and must file their own tax returns. In addition to this, all owners and shareholders file tax returns for earnings and dividends. This results in “double taxation.” While that might seem less than ideal, this tax structure includes some other benefits, such as more flexibility in what can be deducted.
S corporations are pass-through entities. All profits are passed through to the owners without first being taxed at the business level, thus avoiding the double taxation of a C corporation.
Nonprofit corporations are exempt from paying federal and state taxes, provided they stay within the rules for nonprofit activity. However, anyone drawing a salary from a nonprofit corporation will pay income tax on that salary.
Kentucky has a gross receipts tax called the Limited Liability Entity Tax (LLET) that applies to businesses with limited liability, like corporations and LLCs. If your corporation’s total gross receipts or total gross profits are $3 million or less, you’ll only have to pay a $175 minimum LLET. If your gross receipts or profits exceed $3 million, visit the Kentucky Department of Revenue website to see what you’ll owe. You can also find out more information about additional taxes your corporation may be responsible for, including sales tax.
Currently, we don’t offer formation services for professional corporations, but we can help you start a standard corporation. When you sign up for our business formation plans, our experts will walk you through each step of the incorporation process as you get your business started. With our help, navigating the ins and outs of expanding a business doesn’t have to be a headache.
Corporations are known for requiring a lot more paperwork and record keeping. This is not surprising, considering they tend to have more laws to comply with and usually more people involved. Consider corporate bylaws, shareholder agreements, keeping track of all stock issuances, meeting notes, etc., and the paperwork can add up pretty quickly.
LLC stands for limited liability company. This type of business entity is a pass-through entity for tax purposes, and, like a corporation, it’s useful in keeping the personal assets of the business owner separate from the assets of the business. However, LLCs don’t have a board of directors and don’t issue shares.
To change your corporation’s name, you’ll need to file the Articles of Amendment with the Kentucky Secretary of State and pay a filing fee.
It takes just one person, an incorporator, to form a corporation in Kentucky.
Yes. By using Kentucky’s One Stop Business Portal, you can take care of all of your business filings online, including initial registration.
To dissolve your corporation, you’ll need to file the Kentucky Articles of Dissolution. Forms and fees vary for this, depending on whether your corporation is being dissolved by the incorporators or initial directors, by the board of directors or shareholders, or whether your corporation is a nonprofit.
Kentucky law doesn’t require that you retain an attorney for this process, and depending on the size and complexity of your business, it may not be necessary.
Yes. As discussed above, professionals can also form PLLCs.
Only in rare situations. Under Kentucky law, all the members of a professional service corporation must be from the same professional service or from “related” professional services.
Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.
Written by Team ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness has helped people start, run, and grow over 700,000 dream companies. The editorial team at ZenBusiness has over 20 years of collective small business publishing experience and is composed of business formation experts who are dedicated to empowering and educating entrepreneurs about owning a company.
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