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Kentucky CorporationForm a Corporation or S-Corp in Kentucky for $0 service fee plus the $50 state fee. Articles, bylaws, 10M authorized shares, founder stock with vesting, EIN, BOI included.
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Kentucky Corporation Formation, 2026
Incorporating live in Kentucky · C-Corp & S-Corp supported

How to form a corporation in Kentucky for $0 service fee.

Kentucky state filing fee is $50. Standard processing 1 to 2 business days. We file Articles of Incorporation with the Kentucky Secretary of State, issue 10M authorized shares (QSBS-eligible), prepare Kentucky corporate bylaws, issue founder common stock with vesting and 83(b) templates, obtain your EIN, and file your BOI report.

Start your Kentucky Corporation Is a corp right for me
$0 service fee QSBS preserved 60-day money-back
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
Kentucky C-Corporation
Authorized shares10,000,000
Par value$0.0001
State fee$50
Processing1 to 2 business days
KY
SEAL
2026
$50
Kentucky incorporation fee
10M
Authorized shares (standard)
QSBS
Capital gains exclusion
$0
Our service fee
$0
Service fee
we file it free
$55
Kentucky state fee
passed through at cost
5-7 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 + minutesKentucky-specific corporate governance ready
Founder stock + 83(b)Vesting agreement, 83(b) template included
Cap table toolFree under 50 stakeholders, SAFE-ready
Is a Kentucky corporation right for you

When the corporation structure fits.

FORM A CORPORATION IN KENTUCKY 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 Kentucky business environment

Why Kentucky for your corporation.

Lowest LLC formation fee in the US ($40) and one of the lowest annual report fees ($15). Right-to-work since 2017. State income tax 4% flat (recently reduced).

State GDP$260BTotal state output
Population4.5MCensus estimate
Small businesses~360,000Per SBA
Notable#1 bourbon producer (95% of world supply)Economic distinction
Top industries in Kentucky
Auto manufacturing (Toyota, Ford)Bourbon & distillingEquine industryHealthcareLogistics (UPS Worldport)
Top cities

Where Kentucky corporations are headquartered.

Louisville
Largest city. UPS Worldport (world's largest air freight hub), bourbon, healthcare.
Lexington
Equine capital, University of Kentucky, manufacturing.
Bowling Green
Manufacturing (Corvette plant), Western Kentucky University.
Owensboro
Manufacturing, agriculture.
Covington
Suburb of Cincinnati, financial services.
Frankfort
State capital. Government, bourbon (Buffalo Trace).
Ready to incorporate in Kentucky?5 minutes. $0 service. $50 state fee at cost. C-Corp default with 10M authorized shares.
Start your Kentucky Corp →Pay only state fee
What is included on Starter

Free with your Kentucky corporation LLC formation.

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

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

Add the operating stack most Kentucky 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 Kentucky.

1
Day 0
Tell us about your businessEntity name, incorporators, share structure, founder allocations
2
Day 1
We file with KentuckyArticles submitted to the Kentucky Secretary of State
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 Kentucky paperwork.Articles, bylaws, founder stock, 83(b), EIN, BOI, all done end to end.
Start your Kentucky Corp →Pay only state fee
Compare to alternatives

Kentucky corp vs other formation states.

Delaware (default for VC-backed)$89+Required by most VCs. Foreign qualification in Kentucky still needed.
Tennessee$300No state income tax, much higher upfront
Indiana$97Similar manufacturing economy
Ohio$99No annual report, similar fees
Kentucky Corp$50Form here if you operate in Kentucky.
Local resources

Kentucky corporate resources.

Kentucky Cabinet for Economic DevelopmentState business support
Kentucky SBDCStatewide centers
Greater Louisville IncLouisville metro chamber
Commerce LexingtonLexington area chamber
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

Kentucky Corporation questions.

Should I form my Kentucky corporation as a C-Corp or S-Corp?
Most Kentucky 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 Kentucky corporation; you can elect S-Corp anytime by filing Form 2553.
What is the difference between forming an LLC and a corporation in Kentucky?
LLCs are simpler (no shares, fewer formalities, pass-through tax by default). Kentucky 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 Kentucky corporation?
Yes. Kentucky corporations are governed internally by bylaws (board structure, officer roles, meeting requirements, voting rules) plus the Articles of Incorporation filed with the Kentucky Secretary of State. We include Kentucky-appropriate bylaws with every formation, along with initial board minutes and a corporate governance binder.
How many shares should my Kentucky 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 Kentucky 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. Kentucky 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. Kentucky 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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky Corporation in 5 minutes.

Tell us a few details. We file with the Kentucky Secretary of State, prepare your bylaws, issue founder stock with vesting, file your 83(b) reminder, obtain your EIN, and file BOI.

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

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

Built for real businesses

Corporations we have formed in Kentucky.

Funded startup · Kentucky
Funded startup · Kentucky
C-Corp + 83(b)
C-Corp + 83(b)
S-Corp election
S-Corp election
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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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