The short answer is no.  The state of Idaho does not legally require a lawyer to form an Idaho Corporation.

Our detailed Incorporation Information page may help you understand some of the implications of forming an Idaho Corporation.  However, if there is anything about Incorporating in Idaho that you're not sure about you should seek the advice of a competent Idaho lawyer, an Idaho accountant, or both before you Incorporate in Idaho. 

Once you have made the decision to Incorporate in Idaho, an Idaho lawyer can file your documents and act as a middle man for a few hundred dollars an hour; or you can use an online service provider like All Business Documents to perform these services and save money that you can use in your new Idaho Corporation.

You are not legally required to reserve a Company Name for a new Idaho Corporation before you submit your application to Incorporate in Idaho.

Whether or not you need to reserve a company name for your new Idaho Corporation depends entirely on your business situation.  The Idaho Secretary of State uses names on a first come first served basis.  So if you think that someone may snatch the Company Name that you have in mind, you may want to reserve that Idaho Company Name.

If the Name you have chosen for your new Idaho Corporation is already in use by a currently active Idaho Corporation or LLC, and you still want to use that Corporation Name, then you will have to register a DBA Name with the Idaho Secretary of State.  "DBA" is an abbreviation for "Doing Business As."

In Idaho a DBA Name is called a Assumed Business Name. We verify that the Name you have chose for your new Idaho Corporation is available before we submit your Incorporation filing to the Idaho Secretary of State.  If necessary we can register a Assumed Business Name in Idaho for you so that you can open your new Idaho business as quickly as possible.

1. Choose a name for your Idaho Corporation
   
   Your Idaho 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 Idaho Corporation name that you choose must be distinguishable from the name of any other registered Idaho Corporation or other business entity and the name must also be different from any reserved names on record with the state of Idaho.  Your Idaho Corporation name must not imply that it was formed for a purpose other than that stated in your Articles of Incorporation; and your Idaho Corporation name must not be a name that is likely to mislead the public.
   
   The name of an Idaho Corporation must include the word "Corporation" or "Incorporated" or an abbreviation of one of these words.
   
   It's important to choose a good name for your Idaho Corporation because if you want to change it after you incorporate you will have to file amended Articles of Incorporation with the Idaho Secretary of State (and pay a fee).
   As part of our Idaho Incorporation services we will:

   • Check to make sure that your Idaho Corporation name is available
   • Make sure your Idaho Corporation name conforms to state of Idaho regulations
   • Reserve your Idaho Corporation name with the Idaho Secretary of State if necessary
2. Select an official address and a Registered Agent for your Idaho Corporation
   
   Every Idaho Corporation must have an address that is physically located in the state of Idaho.  This address is "registered" with the Idaho 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 Idaho to receive all correspondence on behalf of the Idaho Corporation is called a "Registered Agent".  You may act as your own Registered Agent, however, many Idaho Corporations hire a Registered Agent because they don't have a physical address within the state of Idaho or to provide a distinct level of privacy.
   We offer Registered Agent Services as part of our Idaho Incorporation Services.
3. Choose a Board of Directors for your Idaho Corporation
   
   All Idaho Corporations are required to have a Board of Directors.  Directors are the people who will set policies for your Idaho 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 Idaho Corporation.  The same person may be a Director and an Officer at the same time.  Directors need not be residents of the state of Idaho or shareholders of the Idaho Corporation unless the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws require it.
   
   Normally Directors for your Idaho 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.
   
   
4. Decide who will be Officers for your Idaho Corporation
   
   The Board of Directors elects Officers for your Idaho Corporation in accordance with the Corporate Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation.  Officers serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors of the Idaho Corporation.  Officers handle the day to day operation of the Idaho Corporation.
   
   Unless specifically prohibited by the Corporate Bylaws or Articles of Incorporation, in a Idaho 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 Idaho Corporation. 
   
   
5. Determine how you want your Idaho Corporation to be taxed
   
   The Idaho Corporate Income Tax Rate is 7.6%.   You may form an S Corporation in Idaho.  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 Idaho Corporate Income Tax.
   If you choose to be taxed as an S Corporation, we can prepare the S Corporation election form for your Idaho Corporation and include it with your Incorporation documents.
   Idaho Corporate Tax Information
6. File Articles of Incorporation with the Idaho Secretary of State
   
   In order to form a Corporation in Idaho you must file Articles of Incorporation with the Idaho Secretary of State.  The Articles of Incorporation must include certain specific information about your Idaho business. If the Articles do not conform exactly to state of Idaho requirements they will be rejected.  You may subsequently amend the Articles of Incorporation for your Idaho Corporation but you will have to pay a fee to the state of Idaho in order to make the changes official.
   
   
7. Get a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN)
   
   A Federal Employer Identification Number, 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 Idaho Corporation.  All Idaho Corporations are required to have an FEIN.
   As part of our Idaho Incorporation Services we can obtain a Federal Tax ID (EIN) for your new Idaho Corporation.
8. Issue Stock Certificates to the Initial Shareholders
   
   Corporate stock is evidence of ownership of a Idaho Corporation.  When you form your Idaho 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 Idaho Corporations hold 100% of the shares.
   
   Stockholders in a Idaho Corporation are entitled to voting rights or dividends of the Corporate profits or both.  Whoever owns over 50% of the stock of the Idaho Corporation is able to make all Corporate business decisions.  Idaho Corporations usually hold at least 51% of the corporate stock in order to retain control of the Idaho Corporation.
   

1. Conduct an initial Meeting of the Board of Directors and adopt Corporate Bylaws
   
   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 Idaho 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 Idaho 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 Idaho 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 Idaho law or the Idaho Corporation's Articles of Incorporation.  A copy of the Corporate Bylaws should be maintained at the Corporation's principal Idaho office.
   
   
2. Open a Business Bank Account in Idaho
   
   It's very important that you have a separate business bank account for your Idaho Corporation.  Mixing personal and business funds can get you in a lot of trouble with the tax man down the line.  It's a good idea to contact the bank before you open a business bank account.  Specific requirements vary from bank to bank.
   
   
3. Obtain Business Licenses from the cities and counties in which you plan to do business
   
   Note that forming an Idaho Corporation doesn't take the place of obtaining a business license, tax registration certificate, or other required business permits.  An Idaho 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 Idaho Corporation you may need to get one or more city business licenses or permits.  The business licenses or permits that are required for your Idaho Corporation vary depending on your business activities and the specific locations within the state of Idaho in which you want to conduct business.
   
   If your Idaho Corporation will be selling products in Idaho you may be required to obtain a Reseller's Permit from the appropriate Idaho state agency.  If your Idaho Corporation will be selling products in Idaho you will also be responsible for all applicable local and state of Idaho sales taxes if there are any.
   We can research and prepare the necessary forms for your required business licenses and permits and include them in your Idaho Incorporation package
4. Hold Meetings of Shareholders and Directors of each year
   
   Every Idaho 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 Idaho 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 Idaho Corporation a lot of potential trouble.
   We can transcribe the minutes of any meeting of your Idaho Corporation into a form that complies with all Idaho Secretary of State requirements.
5. File the required Idaho Corporation reports
   
   The Idaho Secretary of State does not have any Initial Corporation Annual Report requirements for a new Idaho Corporation.
   
   Every Idaho Corporation is required to file an Annual Report with the Idaho Secretary of State EACH year.
   
   The Idaho Corporation Annual Report is due at the Idaho Secretary of State EACH year by the last day of the anniversary month in which the Idaho Corporation was initially approved by the ID Secretary of State.
   
   For example, if the Idaho Corporation was first approved by by the Idaho Secretary of State on April 1 then the Idaho Corporation Annual Report is due at the Idaho Secretary of State by April 30 EACH year.
   
   If an Idaho Corporation does not file its Corporation Annual Report with the Idaho Secretary of State by the due date then that Idaho Corporation will be administratively dissolved by the Idaho Secretary of State after 60 days.
   
   If an Idaho Corporation is administratively dissolved by the Idaho Secretary of State then that Idaho Corporation will have to pay a reinstatement fee.
   
   
   We can fill out and file any Annual Report with the Idaho Secretary of State after your Idaho Corporation gets going.
   
   
   
6. Keep proper records of your Idaho Corporation on file
   
   Keep the following records on file and available at the principal business office of your Idaho Corporation:
   
   
   • Names and addresses of all Directors and Officers of the Idaho Corporation
   • Articles of Incorporation for the Idaho Corporation and any Amendments to them
   • Corporate Bylaws for the Idaho Corporation and any Amendments to them
   • List of current shareholders of the Idaho Corporation.  If shareholders change, keep a record of old shareholders and how stock was transferred.
   • Minutes of all Meetings of Shareholders and Directors
   • Copies of any Corporate Resolutions which have been adopted by the Idaho Corporation
   • Copies of all tax returns and Annual Reports for the Idaho Corporation for the last 3 years

In order to Incorporate in Idaho you'll need the following information about your new Company:

• The name of your new Idaho Corporation along with your second choice of a name in case the name that you want is not available
  
• Physical address of the Corporation office in Idaho (not a PO Box)
  
• Name and address of your Idaho Registered Agent (not a PO Box)
  
• A description of the nature of the business you are planning to operate with the Idaho Corporation
• Names and addresses of the initial Directors of the Idaho Corporation
• The number of shares of stock that the Idaho Corporation will be authorized to issue

Remember - ALL the information that you provide when you Incorporate in Idaho becomes part of the public record.  Our data entry forms include the absolute minimum amount of information that is required in order to Form a new Corporation in Idaho.

Processing times for new Idaho Corporation applications vary depending on the work load of the Secretary of State's staff.  We've found that normal processing of new Idaho Articles of Incorporation takes the state around 5-7 business days.  Add 2-3 days for the time period for shipping the final documents by mail.  Choosing our Express Mail option can shave a couple of days off the total processing time for your Idaho LLC.
We are dependent on, and have no control over, the staff and systems of the Idaho Secretary of State.

In our experience 5-7 business days is the time it usually takes the Idaho Secretary of State to process a new Idaho Corporation application. We get your Idaho Corporation application to the ID Secretary of State ASAP. Once it is at the state we have no control over the new Idaho Corporation application process.

For an additional $40 the Idaho Secretary of State will process your filing for a new Idaho Corporation by the next business day.

The state of Idaho charges $116.00 to Incorporate in ID.  This is the cost of filing and getting a Certified Copy of your Articles of Incorporation from the ID Secretary of State.  If you choose All Business Documents to help you Incorporate in Idaho our processing fees are $125.00.  We start processing your new Idaho Corporation order as soon as we get it.

Total cost includes:

• ID Name Check and Reservation
• Prepare Articles of Incorporation
• File Articles of Incorporation with the Idaho Secretary of State
• Certified Copies of Articles
• Idaho Corporation Checklist
• Priority Mail Delivery
• Unlimited Customer Support

Generally, if you are required to obtain some kind of license before you can market your skills in the state of Idaho then you will most likely need to form a Idaho Professional Corporation.

Attorneys, architects, engineers, public accountants, nurses and physicians, among others, may require registration as a Professional Corporation with the Idaho Secretary of State.

Depending on exactly what it is that you want to do in Idaho, approval from a specific Idaho state agency or board may be required before the ID Secretary of State will approve a new Idaho Professional Corporation filing.  This could add to the total processing time for a new Idaho Corporation.

You want to do business in the state of Idaho but are registered as a Domestic Corporation in another state.  In order to legally conduct business in the state of Idaho you must register with the Idaho Secretary of State as an Idaho Foreign Corporation.  The process of registering as a Foreign Corporation in the state of Idaho is called Idaho Corporation Foreign Qualification. 

The process of Idaho Corporation Foreign Qualification is similar to the process of forming a Domestic Corporation in the state of Idaho.  Your original formation documents (usually called Articles of Incorporation) and Corporate Bylaws apply to your Idaho Foreign Corporation.  The Board of Directors and Officers of your Domestic Corporation have the same roles in the Idaho Foreign Corporation.