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Washington CorporationForm a Corporation or S-Corp in Washington for $0 service fee plus the $200 state fee. Articles, bylaws, 10M authorized shares, founder stock with vesting, EIN, BOI included.
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Washington Corporation Formation, 2026
Form A Corporation In Washington · File.Business

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

Washington state filing fee is $200. Standard processing 3 to 7 business days. We file Articles of Incorporation with the Washington Secretary of State, issue 10M authorized shares (QSBS-eligible), prepare Washington corporate bylaws, issue founder common stock with vesting and 83(b) templates, obtain your EIN, and file your BOI report.

Start your Washington Corporation Is a corp right for me
$0 service fee QSBS preserved 60-day money-back
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
Washington C-Corporation
Authorized shares10,000,000
Par value$0.0001
State fee$200
Processing3 to 7 business days
WA
SEAL
2026
$200
Washington incorporation fee
10M
Authorized shares (standard)
QSBS
Capital gains exclusion
$0
Our service fee
$0
Free
formation service
51
Jurisdictions
filed in-house
220K+
Businesses
formed since launch
4.9★
Rating
8,200+ verified reviews
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 + minutesWashington-specific corporate governance ready
Founder stock + 83(b)Vesting agreement, 83(b) template included
Cap table toolFree under 50 stakeholders, SAFE-ready
Is a Washington corporation right for you

When the corporation structure fits.

FORM A CORPORATION IN WASHINGTON 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 Washington business environment

Why Washington for your corporation.

No state income tax. Major tech cluster in Seattle/Bellevue. B&O (Business & Occupation) tax on gross receipts is the trade-off; it functions differently from income tax. Aggressive labor laws.

State GDP$750BTotal state output
Population7.8MCensus estimate
Small businesses~640,000Per SBA
NotableNo state income taxEconomic distinction
Top industries in Washington
Technology (Microsoft, Amazon)Aerospace (Boeing)AgricultureForestryHealthcare
Top cities

Where Washington corporations are headquartered.

Seattle
Amazon HQ, Microsoft (Redmond), Starbucks, Boeing, financial services.
Spokane
Eastern WA hub, healthcare, manufacturing.
Tacoma
Port logistics, manufacturing, growing tech.
Vancouver
Suburb of Portland OR, growing tech.
Bellevue
Microsoft, T-Mobile, Expedia, tech cluster.
Olympia
State capital. Government.
Ready to incorporate in Washington?5 minutes. $0 service. $200 state fee at cost. C-Corp default with 10M authorized shares.
Start your Washington Corp →Pay only state fee
What is included on Starter

Free with your Washington corporation LLC formation.

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

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

Add the operating stack most Washington 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 one-time · 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 Washington.

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

Washington corp vs other formation states.

Delaware (default for VC-backed)$89+Required by most VCs. Foreign qualification in Washington still needed.
Oregon$100No sales tax, has income tax
California$70Larger economy, $800 annual tax
Nevada$425No income tax, higher fees
Washington Corp$200Form here if you operate in Washington.
Local resources

Washington corporate resources.

WA Department of CommerceState business support
WA SBDC NetworkStatewide centers
Greater Seattle ChamberMetro chamber
Greater Spokane IncEastern WA EDC
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

Washington Corporation questions.

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

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

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

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

Built for real businesses

Corporations we have formed in Washington.

Funded startup · Washington
Funded startup · Washington
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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