Incorporate a US C-Corp Online

Just the three docs:

• Your ID / Passport
• Proof of Address
• Proof of Residence

We will handle everything else for you.

No, the company formation and bank account opening process can be completed entirely online by citizens or residents of any country, except those permanently residing in sanctioned jurisdictions.

(1) Certificate of Incorporation — a document filed with the State of Delaware that evidences the formation of your C-corporation.

(2) Bylaws — the internal governing document for your C-corporation, which outlines the powers and duties of the stockholders, directors, and officers.

(3) Initial Board Resolutions — the document commonly used for initial stock distribution, officer election, and setting up the company's operations.

(4) Founder Stock Purchase Agreement — an agreement under which the founder assigns his intellectual property to the company in exchange for the company’s shares. Comes in two versions – with or without vesting.

(5) Proprietary Information and Invention Assignment Agreement — an agreement by which founders, employees, advisors, and others assign to the company the intellectual property and other proprietary rights they create while performing work for the company.

(6) Capitalization Table — a spreadsheet that lists all stockholders of the company, the number of shares they hold, and their ownership percentages.

(7) Statement of Incorporator — a document that appoints the initial directors of the C-corporation.

(8) EIN Notice — an official letter from the IRS assigning your company an Employer Identification Number.

(9) Beneficial Ownership Information Report — a document required by the Corporate Transparency Act that identifies the individuals who own or control a company, helping to prevent money laundering and other illicit activities.

Yes, one person can hold all the positions in the company. This person can even make an agreement between the company and himself as an individual.

It depends on your state, entity type, and revenue — but for most early-stage founders, expect roughly $1,500–$2,500 per year in total.

Here's what that includes:

• Registered agent (~$160–$200/yr) — required by law. A designated service that receives official legal and government correspondence on your company's behalf. Included in your first year with Skala.
• US mailing address (~$250/yr) — not a legal requirement, but most banks need a physical US address on file to open and maintain your account. Also included in your first year.
• Annual state filing ($0–$849/yr) — required by law, but the name and cost vary by state. Delaware calls it a Franchise Tax Filing, California a Statement of Information, Wyoming an Annual Report, Texas a Public Information Report, Nevada an Annual List & Business License. Skala can handle the filing for $99+ on top of the state fee.
• Accounting & bookkeeping (~$1,500/yr) — you'll need your own. Less for a simple LLC, more for a C-Corp with cross-border activity.
• Federal corporate income tax (21%) — though most early-stage startups pay nothing here because they're not yet profitable.
  

Converting an LLC to a C-Corp is common — many founders start with an LLC for simplicity and convert when they're ready to raise venture capital. The process varies by state but generally involves either a statutory conversion (filing a certificate of conversion with the state) or a statutory merger (merging the LLC into a newly formed C-Corp).

There are a few things to watch for. The conversion may trigger a taxable event depending on how your LLC assets are valued at the time of conversion. You'll also need to draft entirely new corporate documents — bylaws, board resolutions, stock purchase agreements — since the governance structure changes completely. And any contracts or bank accounts tied to the LLC will need to be transferred. It's doable, but it costs time and legal fees, so if you already know you'll raise institutional capital, incorporating as a C-Corp from the start is usually cheaper. For a step-by-step walkthrough, see our guide.