Company Formation Law: How To Register A Business (US Law)

Intro to business incorporation and liability protection for entrepreneurs with LLC, S Corp, C Corp business entities

Created byAlex Genadinik, Steve Pipenger

Last updated 8/2024

English

English [Auto],Japanese [Auto],

What you'll learn

Great for beginners!
Why it is important to register a business entity for your business
How to register their business with the state
What might be the right business entity for their company
Re-filmed and improved for 2025, and still applicable in 2026
Corporate business entities and pros and cons of LLC, C-Corp, S-Corp
Must-know information for business owners

Course content

5 sections • 15 lectures • 46m total length

Business registration course and instructor introduction2:32
Explore US business registration essentials for US-based businesses only, including liability protection, entity types (LLC, S Corp, C Corp), bank accounts and partner considerations in a focused one-day course.

How to decide what business entity is right for you6:54
Evaluate LLC, S corporation, and C corporation options for liability protection and tax implications, including when to use each, filing with the Secretary of State, and consulting a lawyer.
Difference between a partnership vs. shareholders vs. members3:39
Explore how partnerships differ from shareholders in corporations and members in LLCs, focusing on liability for debts and the governing documents that define ownership, voting, and dissolution.
Member agreement vs. partnership agreement vs. shareholder agreement1:35
Identify which document applies to your business entity—member agreement for a limited liability company, shareholder agreement for a corporation, or partnership agreement for a partnership—covering ownership, revenue distribution, and voting.
What if a partner or member or shareholder wants to quit?2:38
When a partner quits, ownership outcomes depend on the entity and governing documents; LLCs or corporations specify leave terms to avoid deadlock and costly disputes.
Delaware registration: registering your business in Delaware vs. your own state1:10
Consider Delaware registration for startups seeking investment and growth, where Delaware courts offer a well-developed corporate law framework. Avoid Delaware for small businesses by registering in your home state.
Different types of business insurance & how to decide if you should buy it3:39
Explore general liability, malpractice, employment practice liability, errors and omissions, and other business insurance types, evaluate risk, and decide if coverage fits your unique business needs.
How to dissolve a company if you need to close it1:15
Learn to dissolve a dormant business to avoid minimum state taxes, using the Secretary of State website or a call to close proactively before automatic closure.
What is an EIN1:04
Learn how an ein, obtained from the irs, separates your personal finances from your business, enables payroll, and reports company taxes using a nine-digit number.
Hiring freelancers vs. employees vs. contractors3:42
Assess the legal differences between contractors, freelancers, and employees by examining control over work, tools, and hours; convert valuable contractors into employees to reduce risk.
Business bank account and maintaining other business formalities4:43
Open a business bank account soon after forming your entity to separate personal and business finances. Ensure payments and salaries flow through the business account to maintain liability protection.
How to begin the registration process4:15
Identify your business type and access the secretary of state’s website to file formation online. Navigate filings by business type and consider a lawyer, then check for permits as needed.

Requirements

This course focuses on United States law ONLY
Please have sufficient English language skills because this course does not have translations or subtitles

Description

Great for beginners! Re-filmed and improved in 2025, relevant for 2026.

NOTE: This course covers company formation law for the United States only.

Learn why it is important to register your business with the state, how do register your business correctly, and how to choose the business entity (LLC vs corporation).

By the end of this business registration law course, you will have a great idea of which business entity is right for you, be able to register it on your own, and do what is necessary to keep your business in good standing with the state in which it is registered. This will give you liability protection and protect your personal assets.

This is a great course to learn corporate and business formation law for entrepreneurs.

RESPONSIVE AND CARING INSTRUCTOR: WORLD-CLASS STUDENT SUPPORT

If you have questions, know that I am here to help! I answer 99% of student questions within 24 hours. Many students tell me that other instructors don't respond. Well, I do because

1) I care about my students.

2) I feel a responsibility to make sure that students get their money's worth from the course.

Still wondering if the course is right for you? There is no risk to try

Every Udemy course comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. So if you don't get what you hoped out of the course, you can get a full refund. But I am sure you will love the course, so go ahead, sign up, and start learning about the best ways to register your business starting today.

Who this course is for:

Great for beginners in this subject area
This course is for entrepreneurs and small business owners
If you already registered your business this course may not be necessary

Company Formation Law: How To Register A Business (US Law)

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Business registration course introduction1 lecture • 3min

Company formation11 lectures • 35min

Company formation definitions and recap1 lecture • 3min

Nonprofits and foundations1 lecture • 4min

Conclusion1 lecture • 2min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: