First 30 days. Critical action items.
The first 30 days after incorporation are the most consequential. Three deadlines matter: EIN (no specific deadline but blocks everything downstream), 83(b) election (30 days from grant of restricted stock), and BOI (30 days from formation for new entities). Plus the foundational actions: bank account, bylaws/OA adoption, founder stock issuance, initial resolutions. This guide walks through the specific actions.
Start here.
30-day window from grant of restricted stock. Missing it = six-figure mistake if stock appreciates.
30-day window for entities formed 2024+. Penalty $500/day.
No deadline; blocks bank account opening and downstream actions. File ASAP.
Issue at incorporation; tied to 83(b) timing.
Required for liability shield (no commingling).
The full picture.
Day 1-3: Apply for EIN
US founders with SSN: apply online at irs.gov/EIN. Same-day issuance. Foreign founders: file paper Form SS-4 by fax. Typical 1-3 weeks.
Day 1-5: Issue Founder Stock
Stock Purchase Agreements signed. Each founder pays par value (e.g., $0.0001/share) for their shares. Track in cap table.
Day 1-30: File 83(b) Elections
Within 30 days of receiving restricted stock. File with IRS Service Center where you would file your tax return. Mail certified return receipt. Keep copy and proof of mailing.
Day 5-15: Open Business Bank Account
Documents needed: EIN letter, formation documents, IDs, operating agreement (LLC) or bylaws (corp). Mercury, Relay, or traditional banks.
Day 5-15: Adopt Bylaws / Operating Agreement
Adopt at first board meeting (corp) or in writing (LLC). Sign and store.
Day 5-15: File Initial Resolutions
Initial board resolutions (corp): bylaws adoption, officer election, stock issuance, banking authorization. Initial member resolutions (LLC): operating agreement adoption, manager appointment if applicable, banking authorization.
Day 5-30: File BOI with FinCEN
For entities formed 2024+: within 30 days of formation. Submit to FinCEN online. Penalty $500/day for non-compliance.
Day 10-30: IP Assignment
Founders assign all relevant pre-existing IP to entity. Built into Founder Stock Purchase Agreement or standalone.
Day 15-30: Initial Compliance
Sales tax registrations if selling taxable goods. State employer registrations if hiring. Industry-specific licenses.
Common 30-Day Mistakes
Skipping 83(b) (30-day window cannot be extended). Skipping BOI (penalties accrue daily). Operating without business bank account. Founder stock issued without written Stock Purchase Agreement.
Common questions.
Why is 83(b) so important?
How do I file 83(b)?
What if I miss 83(b)?
What is BOI?
Can I do all this without a lawyer?
What about state-specific requirements?
When do I issue equity to employees?
What if I am a foreign founder?
Founder-ready foundation.
Form your entity, get the EIN, set up banking, manage the cap table, file BOI. All in one place.
Educational guide. Specific situations require professional legal and tax advice.
How we deliver, end-to-end.
Four-step path from request to confirmation. State and IRS turnaround varies; our steps run in parallel where possible to compress the timeline.
Intake + scope
You tell us what you need through a short intake form (or a call for complex matters). We confirm scope, surface any gating issues (deadlines, missing documents, entity status), and quote any state fees that pass through at cost.
Prepare + verify
Our specialists draft the filing, verify entity details against state databases, run internal QA, and route any items needing your sign-off. You see drafts before anything gets submitted.
File with the authority
We submit directly to the state Secretary of State, FinCEN, IRS, USPTO, or whichever authority your filing requires. We pay state fees at cost and track the submission identifier in your account.
Confirmation + vault
Stamped certificate, IRS notice, or filing receipt arrives in your SOC 2 encrypted document vault the moment we receive it. Next filing deadline auto-added to your compliance calendar where applicable.
Built on the same infrastructure used by 220,000+ businesses.
SOC 2 Type II audited
Independent annual security audit covering access control, change management, incident response, and data handling. Current report on request.
All 51 US jurisdictions
Every state plus DC plus Puerto Rico - direct filings, not third-party reseller. We hold registered-agent qualifications in every state we operate.
Deadline guarantee
If we miss a filing deadline on a service you pay us to manage, we pay the state penalty. Specific to each plan and the filings it includes.
4.9 from 8,200+ verified reviews
Independently verified by Trustpilot + Google + our own NPS infrastructure. Customer success team within reach by email, chat, or phone.
60-day money-back promise
Change your mind in the first 60 days and we refund our service fee in full. State filing fees pass through at cost and are non-refundable once paid to the state.
E&O insured
Errors and omissions coverage protects you from service errors. Carrier and certificate available on request for enterprise clients.
Recommended add-ons
Most customers add these to keep their business compliant year-round.
Registered Agent - Year 1
RecommendedRequired in every state. We act as your legal point of contact and forward filings same-day.
EIN / Federal Tax ID
Most orderedYour business identifier for taxes, bank accounts, hiring, and 1099s. Filed same business day.
Operating Agreement (LLC) / Bylaws (Corp)
State-compliant internal governance doc. Required by most banks at account opening.
Compliance Monitoring
Best valueTrack every annual report, registered agent renewal, and license deadline across all your entities.
Premium compliance, no service-fee markup.
Trust you can verify
SOC 2 Type II audited platform. 220,000+ businesses served. 60-day money-back on service fees. State fees passed through at cost with no hidden markup. Explicit AUP on restricted industries.
A compliance partner, not a transaction
Most providers go quiet after checkout. We auto-track every annual report, registered agent renewal, and license deadline across your entities. The Business OS dashboard keeps your compliance score visible year-round.
Premium experience competitors cannot match
Premium positioning, transparent pricing, no service-fee markup on state or federal filings. Premium positioning, transparent pricing, no service-fee markup on state filings.