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District of Columbia CorporationForm a Corporation or S-Corp in District of Columbia for $0 service fee plus the $99 state fee. Articles, bylaws, 10M authorized shares, founder stock with vesting, EIN, BOI included.
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District of Columbia Corporation Formation, 2026
Incorporating live in D.C. · C-Corp & S-Corp supported

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.

Start your District of Columbia Corporation Is a corp right for me
$0 service fee QSBS preserved 60-day money-back
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
District of Columbia C-Corporation
Authorized shares10,000,000
Par value$0.0001
State fee$99
Processing15 to 20 business days
DC
SEAL
2026
$99
District of Columbia incorporation fee
10M
Authorized shares (standard)
QSBS
Capital gains exclusion
$0
Our service fee
$0
Service fee
we file it free
$220
D.C. state fee
passed through at cost
10-15 biz days
Processing
state office turnaround
C-Corp + S-Corp
Both supported
with S-Corp election
SOC 2 Type II · 2025 report 4.9 · 8,200+ reviews E&O Insured · carrier on request 51 Jurisdictions 220,000+ Formed
See disclosures + carrier names →
Bylaws + minutesDistrict of Columbia-specific corporate governance ready
Founder stock + 83(b)Vesting agreement, 83(b) template included
Cap table toolFree under 50 stakeholders, SAFE-ready
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.
Ready to incorporate in District of Columbia?5 minutes. $0 service. $99 state fee at cost. C-Corp default with 10M authorized shares.
Start your District of Columbia Corp →Pay only state fee
What is included on Starter

Free with your District of Columbia corporation LLC formation.

Starter is genuinely $0. We pass through the $state District of Columbia corporation state fee at cost. Everything below is included free.

  • Articles filed with the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, our service fee $0
  • IRS EIN application (Form SS-4) filed for you
  • District of Columbia corporation-specific Operating Agreement or Bylaws template
  • District of Columbia corporation Registered Agent service: first year free, then $99/year
  • Basic District of Columbia corporation compliance calendar (annual report dates)
  • Document storage, 5 GB
Upgrade to Growth · $49/mo

Add the operating stack most District of Columbia corporation businesses need.

BOI filing + annual report filing + custom domain (1 free) + business email (3 mailboxes) + business phone line + brand kit (logo + 100 cards) + website builder + books + CRM + e-signature unlimited + document vault unlimited + audit trail + priority support. See full Growth features →

Or pay as you need

BOI filing $249 · S-Corp election $99 · Annual report filing $149 + state fee · Foreign qualification $149/state · Trademark $249/class + USPTO fee · Custom Operating Agreement $199 · Expedited state filing state fee + $50 service. Full add-on pricing →

Filing timeline

From form to filed in District of Columbia.

1
Day 0
Tell us about your businessEntity name, incorporators, share structure, founder allocations
2
Day 1
We file with District of ColumbiaArticles submitted to the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection
3
Day 2-5
EIN + governance docsEIN issued. Bylaws, board minutes, founder stock prepared
4
Day 5-30
83(b) + cap table83(b) mailed (30-day deadline). Cap table populated. Ready to operate
Skip the District of Columbia paperwork.Articles, bylaws, founder stock, 83(b), EIN, BOI, all done end to end.
Start your District of Columbia Corp →Pay only state fee
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
60day promise

The File.Business Promise

If we miss a filing deadline on a service you pay us to manage, we pay the state penalty. If you change your mind in the first 60 days, we refund our service fee in full. Your data stays yours, always.

60-day money-back Penalty-free filings Cancel anytime QSBS preserved
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.

Start your District of Columbia CorpTalk to a District of Columbia specialist
Pay only state fee QSBS preserved 60-day money-back

Related searches: form a corporation in District of Columbia · District of Columbia C-Corp · District of Columbian S-Corp · District of Columbia incorporation cost 2026 · how to incorporate in District of Columbia · District of Columbia Secretary of State corporation · District of Columbia corporate bylaws · District of Columbia QSBS · Delaware vs District of Columbia C-Corp

Built for real businesses

Corporations we have formed in District Of Columbia.

Funded startup · District Of Columbia
Funded startup · District Of Columbia
C-Corp + 83(b)
C-Corp + 83(b)
S-Corp election
S-Corp election
$129/yr Compliance Annual Filings · penalty-free

On the $129/yr Compliance Annual Filings plan, we cover state late fees.

When you autofile your annual report through the $129/yr plan and we miss the deadline, we pay the state's late fee. The guarantee applies to that specific plan and the filings it includes. Other File.Business services are billed at the prices on this page.

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File.Business is a private business filing and compliance service. We are not a government agency and are not affiliated with any Secretary of State office. You may file directly with the appropriate state agency. SOC 2 Type II audited. 220,000+ businesses formed since 2017.
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