Home/Specialty Entities/Wyoming Close Corporation
Specialty Entities
Up to 50 shareholders · no board required

Form a Wyoming Close Corporation. Up to 50 shareholders. No board needed.

A Close Corporation is a small-business corporation with relaxed formalities: up to 50 shareholders, no board of directors required, shareholders can manage directly. Wyoming is the most popular state for close corporations due to its statute and low cost. Useful for closely-held family businesses, small partnerships needing C-Corp tax structure, and businesses wanting corporate liability protection with LLC-like flexibility.

All 50 states + DC 60-day money-back SOC 2 Type II
How it works

How we handle Wyoming Close Corporation, end-to-end.

A Close Corporation is a small-business corporation with relaxed formalities: up to 50 shareholders, no board of directors required, shareholders can manage directly.

1

Use case fit

Close corporation useful for: small businesses wanting corporate structure without board formalities, closely-held family corporations, S-Corp election with shareholder-management flexibility. LLC is usually simpler unless you need corporate features specifically.

2

Articles of Incorporation

File Articles of Incorporation electing close corporation status under Wyoming statute. Specifies up to 50 shareholders, shareholder management option, transfer restrictions on shares.

3

Bylaws + shareholder agreement

Shareholder agreement is the core governance document for close corporations (replaces formal board meetings). Specifies decision-making, share transfer restrictions, exits, deadlock procedures.

4

EIN + state tax + S-Corp election (optional)

EIN obtained. If electing S-Corp tax treatment, file Form 2553 within 75 days. Wyoming does not impose state income tax.

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.

Pricing

Transparent wyoming close corporation pricing.

Government fees pass through at cost. No upsells.

With S-Corp election

$599
Close corp + S-Corp tax election.

Close corp formation plus Form 2553 S-Corp tax election (filed within 75-day window). Combines close corp governance simplicity with S-Corp tax benefits.

Get started

Family business package

$999
Close corp + family wealth planning.

Close corp formation plus coordination with estate planning attorney for family business succession planning. Common for second-generation family business handoffs.

Get started
FAQ

About the Wyoming Close Corporation Service.

What is a close corporation?
A small-business corporation with statutorily relaxed formalities: limited shareholders (50 in WY), optional board of directors, shareholder management allowed, share transfer restrictions. Designed for businesses that want corporate structure without traditional corporate formalities.
Close corp vs. regular corp?
Regular corp: board of directors required, regular board meetings, more formality. Close corp: optional board, shareholders manage directly, less formality. Both provide limited liability and corporate tax structure. Close corp is the small-business variant.
Close corp vs. LLC?
LLC: simpler, more flexible, partnership tax default. Close corp: corporate structure (C-Corp default), more recognizable to traditional banks and investors, allows certain tax structures (S-Corp) that LLCs need additional steps for. For most small businesses, LLC is simpler. Close corp makes sense for specific corporate-structure needs.
Why Wyoming?
Wyoming has one of the strongest close corporation statutes, no state income tax, low filing fees, and a business-friendly legal environment. Other states (DE, NV) have close corp statutes too but Wyoming is most popular for small businesses.
Can I S-Corp a close corporation?
Yes. Close corp is a C-Corp by default. File Form 2553 within 75 days of formation to elect S-Corp tax treatment. S-Corp eligibility rules apply (100 shareholder max, US individuals/eligible trusts only, one class of stock). Both compatible.
What about share transfer restrictions?
Close corp shares typically have right-of-first-refusal restrictions: if a shareholder wants to sell, existing shareholders get first chance to buy at the offered price. Keeps ownership 'closely held' as the name implies. Restrictions are in the bylaws or shareholder agreement.

At a glance

What is it
Wyoming close corporation is a regulated business process governed by federal or state agencies. File.Business handles the paperwork, filings, and tracking for you.
Why it matters
Doing this correctly the first time avoids penalties, late fees, and personal liability exposure for owners.
Who needs it
Any US business that has triggered the relevant requirement - usually based on entity type, state, or business activity.
When it is due
Deadlines vary by agency and state. We track your specific dates and remind you ahead of any filing window.
How it works
Tell us what you need, review the prepared filing, and we submit through the agency's official channel.
What it costs
Pricing is shown on this page with state and federal fees disclosed separately from our service fee.
Risks of skipping
Penalties, administrative dissolution, loss of liability shield, blocked transactions, or audit triggers depending on the filing.
Alternatives
File directly with the agency yourself, hire a law firm, or use a competing service. File.Business is the fastest premium option.
Why File.Business

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

LegalZoom $249+, ZenBusiness $199+, Northwest $39 with hidden upsells. File.Business: $99 LLC, $99/yr RA, $19/mo Compliance Monitoring, $599 Business Complete Bundle. Premium positioning, transparent pricing, no service-fee markup on state filings.

Start your business in the next 5 minutes.

No state-fee markup. Pay only the state fee. 60-day money-back guarantee.

No state-fee markup 60-day money-back Cancel anytime
$0 + state fee Start my business