District of Columbia Corporation Formation, 2026
How to form a corporation in District of Columbia for $0 service fee.
District of Columbia state filing fee is $99. Standard processing 15 to 20 business days. We file Articles of Incorporation with the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, issue 10M authorized shares (QSBS-eligible), prepare District of Columbia corporate bylaws, issue founder common stock with vesting and 83(b) templates, obtain your EIN, and file your BOI report.
$0 service fee
QSBS preserved
60-day money-back
SOC 2 Type II secure
4.9 rating · 8,200+ reviews
Filed directly with the state
10,000,000 shares authorizedQSBS
Founder stock · 83(b) · EIN
Cap table ready on day one
Is a District of Columbia corporation right for you
When the corporation structure fits.
FORM A CORPORATION IN DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA IF
- You plan to raise venture capital (institutional investors require C-Corp)
- You want to issue stock options to employees (ISOs)
- You want QSBS eligibility for capital gains tax exclusion
- You expect significant retained earnings (C-Corp can retain at 21% federal rate)
- You want clear separation between operators and shareholders
FORM AN LLC INSTEAD IF
- You are a solo operator or small business not raising outside capital
- You want pass-through taxation with no corporate formalities
- You prefer minimal annual compliance burden
- You will own real estate (LLCs are standard for property holding)
- You want simpler ownership transfer without share certificates
The District of Columbia business environment
Why District of Columbia for your corporation.
Federal contracting and lobbying dominate. Highest per-capita federal spending in the US. Biennial (not annual) report cycle. Personal income tax up to 10.75%.
State GDP$155BTotal state output
Population673kCensus estimate
Small businesses~80,000Per SBA
NotableHighest per-capita federal spendingEconomic distinction
Top industries in District of Columbia
Federal governmentLobbying & advocacyLaw firmsHospitality & tourismHealthcare
Top cities
Where District of Columbia corporations are headquartered.
Washington
The District. Federal government, lobbying, K Street law firms, think tanks.Georgetown
Embassies, retail, hospitality.Capitol Hill
Federal contractors, government affairs.Dupont Circle
Embassy row, nonprofits.Foggy Bottom
GWU, State Department.
What we'll set up for you
A clean handoff, in four steps.
You give us the basics. We handle the state, the IRS, and the compliance clock so you can focus on the business.
01 · Name + Brand
A name that's actually available.
Real-time check against the state register, USPTO trademark database, and matching domains.
02 · State filing
Filed with the Secretary of State.
We submit your Articles, pay the state fee on your behalf, and return the stamped certificate.
03 · Federal IDs
EIN + the right tax setup.
Federal Employer ID with the IRS, plus state tax accounts when your business needs them.
04 · Stay compliant
Registered Agent + deadline tracking.
Your agent on file in every state, with every renewal and annual report tracked in one calendar.
Filing timeline
From form to filed in District of Columbia.
1
Day 0
Tell us about your businessEntity name, incorporators, share structure, founder allocations2
Day 1
We file with District of ColumbiaArticles submitted to the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection3
Day 2-5
EIN + governance docsEIN issued. Bylaws, board minutes, founder stock prepared4
Day 5-30
83(b) + cap table83(b) mailed (30-day deadline). Cap table populated. Ready to operate
Compare to alternatives
District of Columbia corp vs other formation states.
Delaware (default for VC-backed)$89+Required by most VCs. Foreign qualification in District of Columbia still needed.
Virginia$100Northern Virginia has lower taxes, faster processing
Maryland$100Lower cost than DC, suburbs of DC
Delaware$110Holding company alternative
District of Columbia Corp$99Form here if you operate in District of Columbia.
Local resources
District of Columbia corporate resources.
DC Department of Small and Local Business DevelopmentCapital city small business support
DSLBD Certification ProgramsCBE and other SBE programs
Washington DC ChamberCapital region chamber
Greater Washington Hispanic ChamberHispanic business community
FAQ
District of Columbia Corporation questions.
Should I form my District of Columbia corporation as a C-Corp or S-Corp?
Most District of Columbia corporations start as C-Corps (default federal tax treatment). S-Corp is a federal election (Form 2553) you file later, typically when net profit crosses $60-80k. For venture-backed startups, C-Corp is required: S-Corp cannot have institutional investors, non-US shareholders, or multiple share classes. We file the District of Columbia corporation; you can elect S-Corp anytime by filing Form 2553.
What is the difference between forming an LLC and a corporation in District of Columbia?
LLCs are simpler (no shares, fewer formalities, pass-through tax by default). District of Columbia corporations have shareholders, a board of directors, officers, bylaws, board minutes, and double taxation by default. Corporations are the standard structure for raising venture capital because investors require preferred stock, ESOPs, and other corporate-specific instruments LLCs cannot provide.
Do I need bylaws for my District of Columbia corporation?
Yes. District of Columbia corporations are governed internally by bylaws (board structure, officer roles, meeting requirements, voting rules) plus the Articles of Incorporation filed with the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection. We include District of Columbia-appropriate bylaws with every formation, along with initial board minutes and a corporate governance binder.
How many shares should my District of Columbia corporation authorize?
Standard for a new C-Corp: 10,000,000 authorized shares of common stock with a small percentage actually issued to founders. The 10M structure leaves room for an option pool (typically 10-20%) and future preferred stock issuances in financing rounds. We file the 10M authorized share structure by default; you can specify a different number.
What is QSBS and does my District of Columbia corporation qualify?
Qualified Small Business Stock (IRC Section 1202) lets shareholders exclude up to $10M (or 10x basis) of capital gains on qualifying C-Corp stock held more than 5 years. District of Columbia C-Corps qualify if they meet the active business test (80% of assets used in qualified trade) and the gross asset test (under $50M at issuance). We preserve QSBS eligibility from day one.
Do I need to issue founder stock with vesting?
Highly recommended. District of Columbia founder stock without vesting means a co-founder who leaves after 6 months keeps 100% of their shares. With standard 4-year/1-year-cliff vesting, the company can reclaim unvested shares. We issue founder stock with vesting and prepare Section 83(b) election forms (due to IRS within 30 days of issuance).
When should my District of Columbia corporation elect S-Corp status?
S-Corp election (IRS Form 2553) can save self-employment tax when net profit crosses ~$60-80k. Restrictions: 100 shareholders max, US individuals only (no entities, no non-resident aliens), single class of stock. If you plan to raise venture capital, stay C-Corp. Our service fee for filing Form 2553 is $99.
Start your District of Columbia Corporation in 5 minutes.
Tell us a few details. We file with the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, prepare your bylaws, issue founder stock with vesting, file your 83(b) reminder, obtain your EIN, and file BOI.
Pay only state fee
QSBS preserved
60-day money-back
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Built for real businesses
Corporations we have formed in District Of Columbia.
SOC 2 Type II audited
220,000+ businesses. 60-day money-back. State fees passed through at cost.
Your operating system, not a transaction
Every deadline auto-tracked across your entities. Compliance Score visible year-round.
Transparent pricing
No hidden fees. No upsells at checkout. State fees disclosed upfront.