Starting a company
How to start a company in the US
Start with the business you want to build. Then choose its legal structure, form the entity, organize ownership and records, and handle tax IDs and banking. If a Delaware C-Corp fits your startup, Corply lets you coordinate that formation from the AI agent you already use.
By Corply · Updated
1. Decide what you are starting
A company registration does not create customer demand. Get clear on what you sell, who will pay, who owns the business, and whether you expect outside investment. A freelance practice, a local shop, and a venture-backed software startup may need different structures.
This guide covers the US. If you mean starting a company in another country, use that jurisdiction's requirements. Corply's MCP formation workflow currently supports regular Delaware C-Corporations. Other listed state and entity quotes on the homepage use an operator request, not that same self-serve agent flow.
2. Choose the structure and state
A sole proprietorship, LLC, and corporation are not interchangeable. They differ in ownership, administration, liability, and tax treatment. A Delaware C-Corp is a common venture-startup structure, but it is not the default answer for every small business.
Decide where you will operate as well as where to form. Incorporating in Delaware does not automatically replace registrations, permits, or tax obligations elsewhere. If you are unsure, get legal or tax advice before filing. Our incorporation explainer separates the basic terms.
3. Pick the way you want to incorporate
You can prepare a filing yourself, use a guided formation service, work with a lawyer, or connect an AI agent to a formation workflow. Choose based on the documents, approvals, support, and follow-through you need, not just the price of the initial filing.
Corply is designed for founders who already work in an AI chat. You explain the company, ask follow-up questions, and keep the application moving in the same conversation. Secure browser steps handle personal sign-in, review, payment, and sensitive information. See how to choose the best incorporation tool for your workflow.
Do it from your agent
Starting a Delaware C-Corp? Paste this into your agent chat. Corply connects the conversation to the application, documents, approvals, and filing status.
4. Prepare and file the company
For a Delaware corporation, establish the legal name, registered agent, and charter details, then prepare the Certificate of Incorporation. Founder ownership, governance, and authorization need deliberate decisions. A name reservation alone is not incorporation.
Each founder reviews and signs the documents assigned to them. Corply coordinates the process and routes the Delaware submission through human review. A draft, a payment, or a submission is not proof of acceptance. Follow the Delaware C-Corp formation steps for the detailed sequence.
5. Turn the accepted filing into a usable company
Keep the accepted certificate and complete the relevant organizational actions, founder stock documents, and company records. Request the EIN after the entity is formed. The IRS issues EINs directly without a government application fee; a service may charge for its assistance.
Banking is another step, not an automatic consequence of incorporation. The bank decides eligibility and requires its own application and identity checks. Corply can guide the supported banking handoff, but it is not a bank and cannot promise approval.
Keep ownership records, filing evidence, and upcoming obligations together. Founder stock can create time-sensitive tax questions. Start with the post-incorporation checklist and ask your agent what remains outstanding for your company.
What should I have ready?
- The proposed company name and a plain-English business description.
- Who the founders are, how ownership should work, and who will serve as directors and officers.
- Where the company and founders operate, and whether there is existing IP, an existing company, or a nonstandard arrangement.
- Your budget for the service, state filing, registered agent, and ongoing obligations.
You do not need to know every answer before asking a question. You do need to confirm the material decisions before they become documents or filings.
FAQ
- What is the best way to open a company?
- Choose the structure and jurisdiction before choosing the filing tool. For a standard Delaware C-Corp, you can use an incorporation service, work with counsel, or prepare the filing yourself. Corply is an agent-first option for founders who want to coordinate formation from Codex, Claude Code, or another compatible AI agent. An LLC or a company outside the US needs a different formation path.
- Can my AI open my company?
- An AI connected to Corply can guide a Delaware C-Corp application, prepare documents, coordinate founder signatures, and track the reviewed filing. You still approve the consequential steps and sign as yourself. A chat response alone does not create a company; the accepted state filing is what matters.
- Do I need to incorporate before testing a business idea?
- Not every idea needs a corporation immediately. Consider what you are about to do: enter contracts, bring in cofounders, issue equity, take investment, or assume liability. Those facts help determine when and how to form an entity. Ask a qualified professional about your specific legal and tax situation.
- Is incorporation the same as getting an EIN?
- No. Incorporation creates a corporation through a state filing. An EIN is a federal tax identification number issued by the IRS. A corporation should be formed with the state before its EIN application.
Primary sources
This page is general education, not legal or tax advice, and reading it does not create an attorney–client relationship. Corply is operated by 0Lumen Labs Corp., is not a law firm, and routes questions that need individualized judgment to licensed professionals. Rules and fees change, so verify current requirements with the State of Delaware, the IRS, or your counsel.