Myth: In order to form a corporation, I only need to file the Articles of Incorporation.
It is not true that a corporate entity is fully formed with the filing of the Articles of Incorporation (or in the case of a Limited Liability Company, the Articles of Organization). Many times the question is asked, “I formed my new corporation by filing the Articles of Incorporation, now what do I need to do?”
Filing the Articles of Incorporation is just the beginning of setting up and establishing a corporation. There are many further actions to take and documents to prepare including the preparation and adoption of the Bylaws and the many transactions that occur prior to the stock issuance and exempting the stock from registration with the Department of Corporations. Some of those transactions are outlined below.
- Prepare Bylaws. Bylaws are regulations that a corporation makes for its internal government, the management of its property, the regulation of its affairs and the transfer of stock. The bylaws cover issues such as a) Directors powers; b) Number of directors; c) Election and tenure of directors; d) Compensation and expenses of directors; and e) Indemnification of directors.
- Conduct and document the Organizational Meeting. The purpose of the First Organizational Meeting is to attend to such matters as the ratification of the Articles of Incorporation, adopt the Bylaws, elect officers, authorize the establishment of bank accounts, adopt a fiscal year, ratify actions of the incorporator, and authorize the issuance of stock certificates.
- Apply for Federal Employer Identification Number with the IRS by filing Form SS4.
- Make “S” Corporation election, if applicable by filing Form 2553. There are strict and immediate deadlines, which if missed, can have adverse financial implications. Immediately upon filing the Articles such should be discussed with your Attorney or CPA. Please see Choosing From Alternative Forms of Business Entities © 2008 Tamara L. Harper.
- Capitalize the corporation e.g. fund the company with money and/or property. Under capitalizing a company can lead to problems further down the road. Shareholder loans, capital contributions and amortization of startup costs need to be documented by your CPA and by corporate resolution.
- Order corporate records book, if not done so already.
- Issue stock certificates with the appropriate stock restriction legends.
- Complete Stock Transfer Ledger.
- Exempt stock from registration with Department of Corporations by electronically filing the Notice of Exemption Under Section 25102(f).
- Prepare Buy Sell Agreement and discuss “Key Man” Insurance.
- Prepare Close Corporation Agreement, if applicable.
- Prepare Medical Reimbursement Plan, if applicable.
- Prepare Shareholder Management Agreement, if applicable.
- Calendar annual filing deadlines for the Statement of Information and Board of Director and Shareholder meetings as set forth in Bylaws or Organizational Meeting.
Myth: My corporate records book is not necessary. I filed the Articles, why bother with anything else?
The reason for forming a corporate entity in the first place is to have the liability protection if the corporation is sued and so that the corporation can sue in its own name. However, in order to have this protection, the corporation must a) be completely formed; b) adequately capitalized; c) corporate governance completed annually; and d) be in good standing with the Secretary of State. Additionally, owners may not commingle funds or run the company as an “alter ego,” e.g. running private costs and expenses for oneself through the corporation.
There are formation requirements in addition to annual requirements that are commonly referred to as corporate governance or compliance. Failure to file or late filing will result in monetary penalties.
Annual Statement of Information
The State of California requires that an Annual Statement of Information be filed within three months of filing your initial Articles of Incorporation and thereafter on an annual basis on the anniversary day of your Articles. A nominal annual fee is charged by the Secretary of State and penalties may be imposed for not filing such or for a late filing. You are responsible for meeting the deadlines: the Secretary of State will not remind you.
Annual Board of Director and Shareholder Meetings
Annual corporate Board of Director and Shareholder meetings must occur and minutes must be prepared in order to keep your corporate records up to date. These minutes must nominate and elect directors, approve the prior year financial records, and ratify the acts of the officers and directors at a minimum each year. The Board minutes further will nominate and appoint officers of the corporation. Transactions that have occurred throughout the past year should be evaluated to determine whether or not they warrant documentation through resolutions and other documentation e.g. the shareholders have loaned the corporation monies throughout the year. A resolution in this instance would be required together with a promissory note. There are other transactions that may have occurred such as equipment purchases, contract execution, premises leased, credit lines established, etc. that would require independent resolutions.
Corporate Records Book
The corporate books consist of the original Articles, Restated and Amended Articles, Bylaws, Organizational Meeting Minutes, Annual Board of Director and Shareholder Minutes, Buy Sell Agreement, Shareholder Agreements, Close Corporation Agreements, Application for Federal Tax Identification Number, S-Election Application, Stock Transfer Ledger, Stock Certificates, and Notice of Exemption from Registration. I also recommend that corporate loan agreements, promissory notes, leases, patent registrations and trademark registration certificates and assignments be included within the corporate records book. Nonprofit corporations have different documents, and are not addressed within this article.
The documentation of the annual transactions provides a defense to an alter ego theory being asserted against the principals of the corporate entity in the event of litigation. A Defendant may subpoena the corporate records book in order to look for deficiencies, lack of compliance with annual filings, evidence of commingling funds, and other evidence of running the corporation as a separate person for personal purposes and gain in order to pierce the corporate veil. If the liability of the corporation does not hold up under this scrutiny, then the Defendant will pursue the principals personally attempting to reach their personal assets beyond the corporation. Should this occur, the purpose of having a corporation is for not.
Piercing the Corporate Veil
In certain limited instances, creditors or litigants can attempt to impose personal liability on principals in a Close Corporation by claiming that the corporation is a sham, a device created merely to defraud creditors, or is being run as a sole proprietorship (e.g., there has been a commingling of corporate and individual property, the entity was not properly formed, formalities have not been followed, or the entity was not properly capitalized). The process of imposing individual and personal liability is referred to as “piercing the corporate veil,” or “disregarding the corporate entity.” Ordinarily, a party seeking to pierce the corporate veil will have a heavy burden in attempting to persuade the courts to disregard the corporate entity.
In order to maintain your corporate liability protections it is crucial to keep your corporate records up to date and the annual filings, including the corporate tax return, timely.
Corporate records governance and compliance and keeping such up to date is crucial to asserting a defense in litigation and be able to commence litigation as well as defend litigation through the corporate entity and shield your personal assets and wealth.
Taking the time to effectively communicate with your corporate counsel and allowing the corporate governance process to occur on at least an annual basis by your counsel is essential to maintaining the corporate liability protections.
Staying in compliance with California labor laws is overwhelming. We advocate and protect not only your corporate interests but also your employment and labor law liability exposure. Hoefflin & Associates, A.L.C, understands how you all feel, as we are an employer too. Many of our clients felt the same way too before they worked with Tamara Harper, Esq. Our clients have found that as a result of working together, they feel confident in the final outcome of their situation. Our unique competitive advantage is that Hoefflin & Associates, ALC, is very approachable as a firm which makes our clients feel at ease and in capable hands. Tamara Harper, Esq. is an aggressive fighter that is reliable and ethical. Hoefflin & Associates, ALC, not only offers quality work, but enjoys a good location in Westlake Village, California. Tamara Harper prides herself on her good personal and business relationships with clients, and uses her insight and knowledge to obtain successes for each client.
Hoefflin & Associates, ALC, offers you the opportunity to be proactive in offering these strategies you can implement immediately to limit your risk and exposure to employee labor lawsuits. Useful tools are provided to you to use as checklists, tips and worksheets. However, should you face an employee lawsuit or Department of Labor or Department of Labor Standards Enforcement audit, we are here to represent you and advocate your interests.
Our goal is to help employers negotiate the maze of employment regulations, give them peace of mind and advocate their best interests should they experience the painful process of employment litigation. |
