How to Start a Corporation in Washington D.C.

If you are interested in attracting investors, a corporation may be the right business entity for you. 

In Washington D.C., you can start a corporation by filing the Articles of Incorporation with the District of Columbia’s Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection. You will also need to hold an organizational meeting — where you will draft your corporate bylaws and appoint your initial directors — and get a registered agent. 

This guide will show you how to start a Washington D.C. corporation by yourself.

Or, you can use a professional service:

Northwest ($29 + state fee)

It's Easy to Incorporate in DC

Step 1: Name Your Washington D.C. Corporation
Step 2: Choose a Registered Agent
Step 3: Hold an Organizational Meeting
Step 4: File the Articles of Incorporation
Step 5: Get an EIN

For a look at corporation formation in every state, check out our other How to Start a Corporation guides.

Not sure if a corporation is right for you? Check out our LLC vs. Corporation guide to help you make your decision.

Step 1: Name Your Washington D.C. Corporation

Choosing a business name is the first step in starting a corporation. 

1. Washington D.C. naming guidelines:

Your corporation’s name will need to comply with the following guidelines:

• Must contain the word “corporation,” “company,” “incorporated,” or any such abbreviation (e.g., inc, co, etc.). Non-English equivalents can also be used. 
• Cannot be the same — or extremely similar — to another domestic or foreign corporation that has been authorized to conduct business in Washington D.C. 
• Must contain the phrase “professional corporation” or the word “chartered” if operating a professional service (e.g., law firm, medical practice, etc.). 
• Cannot include words that heavily imply that you are a statutory trust (e.g., foundation, fund, society, union, syndicate, etc.). 
• If your corporation is registered as a nonprofit, it does not need to include any specific word or abbreviation in its name (e.g., corporation, company, etc.). 

Read statute 29-103.01 and statute 29-103.02 about Washington D.C. corporation naming guidelines for more information.

 2. Is my corporation name available in Washington D.C.?

Your Washington D.C. corporation name must be unique and distinguishable from other business names in Washington D.C. Use the Washington D.C. CorpOnline Search Portal to determine if your desired business name is available.

3. Is the URL available?

Before registering your Washington D.C. corporation, you’ll need to check if a good URL is available for your business name. It’s important to secure your URL right away.

Step 2: Choose a Washington D.C. Registered Agent

You must appoint a Washington D.C. registered agent when registering your corporation with the District of Columbia’s Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection. 

A registered agent is an individual or entity appointed to receive service of process, government correspondence, and compliance documents on behalf of a business.

Your registered agent can be an individual, business entity, or professional registered agent service. Any member of the corporation or individual can serve as your Washington D.C. registered agent as long as the person:

• is 18 years or older
• has a physical address in the state where business activity is conducted
• is available (in person) during normal business hours

Recommended: Northwest offers one year of free registered agent services with their corporation formation package ($29 + State Fees).

Step 3: Hold an Organizational Meeting

Before you officially file the Articles of Incorporation in Step 4, you will need to hold an organizational meeting to complete the following tasks:

• Fill out and execute the Articles of Incorporation
• Create and approve bylaws
• Select your initial director(s)
• Determine your share structure
• Execute an Incorporator’s Statement

Create and Approve Corporate Bylaws

Bylaws are the rules that determine how your organization will be governed and run. For detailed instructions on creating your bylaws, read our corporate bylaws guide.

Appoint Initial Directors

You must appoint at least one director who will oversee your Washington D.C. corporation until the first shareholder meeting.

A corporate director is in charge of the adoption, amendment, and repeal of operational bylaws as well as the election, supervision, and removal of officers.

After forming the corporation, the incorporator(s) — or initial director(s), if named on the formation documents — should call an organizational meeting. During this initial meeting, either the incorporator(s) will elect the board of directors or the initial director(s) will appoint the officers. 

Choose a Share Structure and Strategy

A share of stock is the unit of ownership of a corporation. Each share of stock represents a percentage of ownership of the company. For example, if a corporation issues one share of stock the shareholder (stock owner) would then own 100% of the corporation. 

Shares can be structured into classes. Each class, termed a share class, holds different rights and privileges. You can have multiple classes and each class can hold any number of shares.

Authorized Shares: the number of shares the corporation is allowed to issue.
Issued Shares: the total number of shares actually issued to shareholders.
Share Class: a group of shares that has a unique set of rights and privileges.

The Articles of Incorporation form issued by the Washington D.C. Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection can only be used to start a corporation with one share class. If the corporation needs a multiple share class structure, you must either attach an additional provision or compose your own Articles of Incorporation.

Create and Execute an Incorporator’s Statement

The incorporator(s) should sign an Incorporator’s Statement with complete names and addresses of each initial director and store it in the corporate records book. 

This document names the initial director(s) that will serve until the board of directors is elected during the first shareholder meeting. It should be stored with the rest of your corporate records.

Step 4: File the Washington D.C. Articles of Incorporation

You will need to file the Washington D.C. Articles of Incorporation to set up a corporation in Washington, D.C. You may file it online or by mail with the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection.

This document will cover the basics of your corporation, including:

• Corporate name
• Corporate registered agent name and address
• The number of authorized shares the corporation is allowed to issue and their par value
• Incorporator(s) name(s) and address(es)

Filing Fee: The filing fee for the Washington D.C. Articles of Incorporation depends on the amount of authorized capital a corporation will have:

• Up to $100,000 in authorized capital: $220
• $100,001 to $500,000 in authorized capital: $550
• $500,001 to $1,000,000 in authorized capital: $1,100
• More than $1,000,000 in authorized capital: $1,650

The Articles of Incorporation form issued by the Washington D.C. Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection can only be used to start a corporation with one share class. If the corporation needs a multiple share class structure, you must either attach an additional provision or compose your own Articles of Incorporation.

File the Washington D.C. Articles of Incorporation

OPTION 1: File Online With the Washington D.C. CorpOnline Portal

- OR -

OPTION 2: File the Articles of Incorporation by Mail

Filing Fee: This will depends on the amount of your company’s authorized capital:

• Up to $100,000 in authorized capital: $220
• $100,001 to $500,000 in authorized capital: $550
• $500,001 to $1,000,000 in authorized capital: $1,100
• More than $1,000,000 in authorized capital: $1,650

Mailing Address:
Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection
Corporations Division
P.O. Box 92300
Washington, DC 20090

Step 5: Get an EIN for Your Washington D.C. Corporation

An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is used by the federal government to identify a business entity. It is essentially a Social Security number for the company. An EIN is needed:

• To open a bank account for the company
• For federal and state tax purposes
• To hire employees

Get an EIN

Option 1: Request an EIN from the IRS

Apply Online

- OR -

Option 2: Apply for an EIN by Mail or Fax

Download Form

Mail to:
Internal Revenue Service
Attn: EIN Operation
Cincinnati, OH 45999

Fax: (855) 641-6935

Fee: Free

Running Your Corporation

It is very important to adhere to the formalities of running a corporation. Read our How to Run a Corporation guide to learn more.

Taxes, Biennial Reports, & Licensing

Washington D.C. Corporation Tax Requirements

Depending on the nature of your business, you may be required to register for one or more forms of state tax:

Washington D.C. Sales Tax

If you’re selling a product, you’ll typically need to register for a seller's permit through the Washington D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue website. This allows a business to collect sales tax within the district.

Washington D.C. Employer Taxes

If you hire employees, you will need to register for Washington D.C. employer taxes through the Washington D.C. Department of Employment Services website. This includes Employee Withholding Tax, Unemployment Insurance Tax, and Disability Insurance.

Washington D.C. Corporation Licenses and Permits

To operate your corporation in Washington D.C., you must comply with federal, state, and local government regulations. For example, restaurants likely need health permits, building permits, signage permits, etc.

Learn more in our Washington D.C. Business License guide.

File the Washington D.C. Corporate Biennial Report

You must file the Washington D.C. Corporate Biennial Report within the first year of incorporation by April 1 and every two years thereafter. You can file the report online or submit a printable form by mail. The filing fee is $300.

Corporate Dissolution & Washington D.C. Good Standing

How to Get a Washington D.C. Certificate of Good Standing

A Certificate of Good Standing verifies that your Washington D.C. corporation was legally formed and has been properly maintained.

You may order a Washington D.C. Certificate of Good Standing online with the CorpOnline portal. The fee is $50.

Order a Certificate of Good Standing

Request a Certificate Online With the Washington D.C. CorpOnline Portal

Fee: $50

How to Dissolve a Corporation in Washington D.C.

If at any point you would like to permanently stop doing business, or close your business, it is important to officially dissolve your corporation. Failure to do so in a timely fashion can result in tax liabilities, penalties, or even legal trouble.

There are five main steps to close your Washington D.C. corporation:

• Stop doing business
• Hold a board meeting, vote on dissolution, and record the meeting in the corporation minutes
• File the Articles of Dissolution with the Washington D.C. Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection
• Close your federal and district business tax accounts with the IRS and Washington D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue
• Close your business bank accounts

File Dissolution Documents

Corporations in Washington D.C. have two options for filing dissolution documents: one for those that have yet to issue shares and commence business and one for those that already issued shares.

Articles of Dissolution by Incorporators and Initial Directors
If your corporation has not yet issued shares or commenced business, you may file the Articles of Dissolution by Incorporators and Initial Directors of Domestic For-Profit Corporation (Form DBU-8). You may file it by mail or online. The fee is $220.

Articles of Dissolution
If your corporation already issued shares, you must file the Articles of Dissolution of Domestic For-Profit Corporation (Form DBU-7). You may file it by mail or online. The fee is $220.

Is a Corporation Right For You?

An LLC provides limited liability protection without corporate complexity.
Find out if an LLC is the right structure for you.

LLC vs. Corporation | Form an LLC

Steps After Forming a Corporation

After forming a corporation, you’ll want to protect your personal and business assets and build credit.

Taking these steps will set your business up for success:

• Open a Business Bank Account
• Open a Business Credit Card
• Establish and Build Business Credit
• Get Insurance
• Protect Your Corporate Veil

Washington D.C. Corporation FAQ

Washington D.C. Corporation Quick Links

• Washington D.C. Corporation Forms

• Washington D.C. Online Business Filing

• Washington D.C. Business FAQ

• Washington D.C. Business Registration and Licensing Services

• Washington D.C. Corporation Statutes