Your Connecticut Corporation name can identify the type of products and services your business will provide; or it may be the name of the founder; or it can be a combination of the two or something else.

In any case, the Connecticut Corporation name that you choose must be distinguishable from the name of any other registered Connecticut Corporation or other business entity and the name must also be different from any reserved names on record with the state of Connecticut.  Your Connecticut Corporation name must not imply that it was formed for a purpose other than that stated in your Articles of Incorporation; and your Connecticut Corporation name must not be a name that is likely to mislead the public.

Connecticut state law restricts the use of certain words and phrases in Corporation names.  The name of a Connecticut Corporation also must include the word "Corporation" or "Incorporated" or an abbreviation of one of these words.  If you choose us to help you for a new Connecticut Corporation we will make sure that the name you have chose complies with all Connecticut requirements.

It's important to choose a good name for your Connecticut Corporation because if you want to change it after you incorporate you will have to file amended Articles of Incorporation with the Connecticut Secretary of State (and pay a fee).

Every Connecticut Corporation must have an address that is physically located in the state of Connecticut.  This address is "registered" with the Connecticut Secretary of State.  The Registered Address is where official and legal correspondence can be delivered.

The individual or company that is registered with the state of Connecticut to receive all correspondence on behalf of the Connecticut Corporation is called a "Registered Agent".  You may act as your own Registered Agent, however, many Connecticut Corporations hire a Registered Agent because they don't have a physical address within the state of Connecticut or to provide a distinct level of privacy.

All Connecticut Corporations are required to have a Board of Directors.  Directors are the people who will set policies for your Connecticut Corporation and manage the business and its resources.  In the majority of small corporations directors are the owners. The Articles of Incorporation or Corporate Bylaws may define specific qualifications for Directors. 

The Board of Directors is responsible for creating rules, approving budgets and distributing profits to shareholders. One of the most important duties of the Board of Directors is electing Officers for your Connecticut Corporation.  The same person may be a Director and an Officer at the same time.  Directors need not be residents of the state of Connecticut or shareholders of the Connecticut Corporation unless the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws require it.

Normally Directors for your Connecticut Corporation are elected for a term of one year.  Elections are held at the annual meeting of Shareholders.  The Directors serve until the next annual Shareholders meeting.

The Board of Directors elects Officers for your Connecticut Corporation in accordance with the Corporate Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation.  Officers serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Corporation.  Officers handle the day to day operation of the Connecticut Corporation.

Unless specifically prohibited by the Corporate Bylaws or Articles of Incorporation, in a Connecticut Corporation the same person may hold more than one Corporate Office at the same time.  However, there are certain legal affairs in which the same person cannot act in more than one capacity.

One Officer - usually the Secretary - is given responsibility for preparing Minutes of Directors and Shareholders meetings and for authenticating records for the Connecticut Corporation. 

The Connecticut Corporate Income Tax Rate is 7.5%.   You may form an S Corporation in Connecticut.  S Corporations may "pass through" all corporate profits to the shareholders (owners) who then pay tax at their applicable personal rate.  S Corporations do not pay any Connecticut Corporate Income Tax.

In order to form a Corporation in Connecticut you must file Articles of Incorporation with the Connecticut Secretary of State.  The Articles of Incorporation must include certain specific information about your Connecticut business. If the Articles do not conform exactly to state of Connecticut requirements they will be rejected.  You may subsequently amend the Articles of Incorporation for your Connecticut Corporation but you will have to pay a fee to the state of Connecticut in order to make the changes official.

A Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN), also known as a Federal Tax Identification Number, is used by the IRS to identify a business entity.  An FEIN is like a Social Security Number for your Connecticut Corporation.  All Connecticut Corporations are required to have an FEIN.

Corporate stock is evidence of ownership of a Connecticut Corporation.  When you form your Connecticut Corporation, you will need to determine what type of stock and the number of shares of each type that you want to authorize.  You do not have to sell the number of shares that are authorized.  Many small Connecticut Corporations hold 100% of the shares.

Stockholders in a Connecticut Corporation are entitled to voting rights or dividends of the Corporate profits or both.  Whoever owns over 50% of the stock of the Connecticut Corporation is able to make all Corporate business decisions.  Connecticut Corporations usually hold at least 51% of the corporate stock in order to retain control of the Connecticut Corporation.

The Board of Directors holds an initial meeting to elect Officers, authorize issuance of stock and adopt the Corporate Bylaws.  Bylaws are the internal rules of your Connecticut Corporation.  They are adopted by the Board of Directors and vary widely from Corporation to Corporation.  Commonly bylaws include the number of seats on the board of directors; how Directors are elected; how meetings of Directors and Shareholders are to be conducted; what Officers the Connecticut Corporation will have and a description of each of their duties. 

As your company grows over time, you may amend your bylaws as necessary.  Bylaws generally cannot be amended by the Board of Directors unilaterally.  A vote by the majority of Stockholders of the Connecticut Corporation is usually required to amend the Corporate Bylaws.  Bylaws may include any rules for managing the business and conducting corporate affairs.  Almost anything may be written into the Bylaws, however, the Bylaws must not be in violation of any federal or Connecticut law or the Connecticut Corporation's Articles of Incorporation.  A copy of the Corporate Bylaws should be maintained at the Corporation's principal Connecticut office.

Note that forming a Connecticut Corporation doesn't take the place of obtaining a business license, tax registration certificate, or other required business permits.  A Connecticut Corporation merely creates an ownership structure that limits the owners' personal liability.  You may still need to take care of getting set up to do business with your local government.

Depending on the nature of the business and the location of your Connecticut Corporation you may need to get one or more city business licenses or permits.  The business licenses or permits that are required for your Connecticut Corporation vary depending on your business activities and the specific locations within the state of Connecticut in which you want to conduct business.

If your Connecticut Corporation will be selling products in Connecticut you may be required to obtain a Reseller's Permit from the appropriate Connecticut state agency.  If your Connecticut Corporation will be selling products in Connecticut you will also be responsible for all applicable local and state of Connecticut sales taxes if there are any.

Every Connecticut Corporation must hold corporate and shareholder meetings, at least annually, and must keep minutes of each meeting on file.  A copy of the minutes is evidence that the meetings took place and includes all resolutions that were adopted.  The minutes of each meetings must be open for inspection by any Shareholder or Director.  This meeting requirement is often overlooked and comes into play when the Connecticut Corporation is challenged for any reason.  Keeping proper meeting minutes and documenting resolutions made and approved by the Directors is a formality that could save your Connecticut Corporation a lot of potential trouble.

All Connecticut Corporations are required to file an initial Annual Report with the CT Secretary of State within 30 days of the date on which the new Connecticut Corporation was approved.

All Connecticut Corporations are required to file an Annual Report with the CT Secretary of State EACH year.

The CT Corporation Annual Report is due by the end of the anniversary month of the date on which the Connecticut Secretary of State approved the filing of the Connecticut Corporation.

For example, if the Articles of Incorporation of the Connecticut Corporation were approved by the Connecticut Secretary of State on April 15 then the CT Corporation's Annual Report is due at the Connecticut Secretary of State EACH year by April 30.

The Connecticut Secretary of State does not impose a late filing penalty for a Connecticut Corporation Annual Report which is filed with the CT Secretary of State after the due date.