New York Corporation Formation, 2026
How to form a corporation in New York for $0 service fee.
New York state filing fee is $125. Standard processing 1 to 2 weeks. We file Articles of Incorporation with the New York Department of State, issue 10M authorized shares (QSBS-eligible), prepare New York 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 New York corporation right for you
When the corporation structure fits.
FORM A CORPORATION IN NEW YORK 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 New York business environment
Why New York for your corporation.
2nd-largest state economy. NYC is the financial capital of the world. Publication requirement adds one-time $300-$1,500 cost depending on county. State income tax up to 10.9%. NYC additional 3.876%.
State GDP$2.05TTotal state output
Population19.7MCensus estimate
Small businesses~2.3MPer SBA
Notable2nd-largest US state economyEconomic distinction
Top industries in New York
Financial services (Wall Street)Media & advertisingFashionTourismReal estate
Top cities
Where New York corporations are headquartered.
New York City
5 boroughs, financial capital of the world, fashion, media, tech.Brooklyn
Tech (Brooklyn Tech Triangle), creative, manufacturing.Queens
Tech, healthcare, JFK Airport logistics.Buffalo
Manufacturing, healthcare, tech growth.Rochester
Manufacturing (Kodak legacy), tech, healthcare.Albany
State capital. Government, nanotech.
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 New York.
1
Day 0
Tell us about your businessEntity name, incorporators, share structure, founder allocations2
Day 1
We file with New YorkArticles submitted to the New York Department of State3
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
New York corp vs other formation states.
Delaware (default for VC-backed)$89+Required by most VCs. Foreign qualification in New York still needed.
Delaware$110Used by NY operating businesses sometimes, but you still need NY foreign qualification
New Jersey$125Lower fees, similar NYC metro
Florida$125No income tax, growing migration destination
New York Corp$125Form here if you operate in New York.
Local resources
New York corporate resources.
Empire State DevelopmentState EDC
NYC SBS (Small Business Services)City-level support
NY SBDCStatewide centers
Partnership for New York CityNYC business community
FAQ
New York Corporation questions.
Should I form my New York corporation as a C-Corp or S-Corp?
Most New York 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 New York corporation; you can elect S-Corp anytime by filing Form 2553.
What is the difference between forming an LLC and a corporation in New York?
LLCs are simpler (no shares, fewer formalities, pass-through tax by default). New York 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 New York corporation?
Yes. New York corporations are governed internally by bylaws (board structure, officer roles, meeting requirements, voting rules) plus the Articles of Incorporation filed with the New York Department of State. We include New York-appropriate bylaws with every formation, along with initial board minutes and a corporate governance binder.
How many shares should my New York 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 New York 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. New York 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. New York 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 New York 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 New York Corporation in 5 minutes.
Tell us a few details. We file with the New York Department of State, 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
Related searches: form a corporation in New York · New York C-Corp · New York S-Corp · New York incorporation cost 2026 · how to incorporate in New York · New York Secretary of State corporation · New York corporate bylaws · New York QSBS · Delaware vs New York C-Corp
Built for real businesses
Corporations we have formed in New York.
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.