How to Start a Corporation in Pennsylvania

In order to start a Pennsylvania corporation, you will need to choose a suitable business name, find a registered agent (e.g., yourself, a registered agent service, etc.), and file the Articles of Incorporation with the Pennsylvania Department of State. 

You will then need to hold an organization meeting, where you will appoint your corporation’s directors and draft its corporate bylaws.

We’ll show you how to start a corporation in Pennsylvania yourself.

Or, simply use a professional service:

Northwest ($29 + state fee)

It's Easy to Incorporate in PA

Step 1: Name Your 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 Pennsylvania Corporation

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

1. Pennsylvania naming guidelines:

Your corporate name:

• Will need to contain the word “Corporation'', “Company”, or “Incorporated”. A suitable abbreviation can be used instead (e.g., Corp, Co, Inc, etc.). 
• Must contain the word “Association”, “Fund”, “Syndicate”, or an applicable word or abbreviation that has the same meaning in a different jurisdiction.
• Will not need to contain a specific word (e.g., Corporation, Company, etc.) if it is registered as a non-profit organization. 
• Can be in any language, as long as it is expressed in Roman letters or characters and  Arabic or Roman numerals or symbols. 
• Cannot be extremely similar or identical to a name that’s already taken by an entity authorized to conduct business within Pennsylvania (e.g., foreign corporations, domestic LLCs, etc.).

Read the Pennsylvania state statute about general naming guidelines and the Pennsylvania state statute about corporation naming guidelines for more information.

 2. Is my corporation name available in Pennsylvania?

Your Pennsylvania corporation name must be unique and distinguishable from other business names in Pennsylvania. Use the Pennsylvania Department of State’s Business Entity Search to determine if your desired business name is available.

3. Is the URL available?

Before registering your Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania Registered Agent

You must appoint a Pennsylvania registered office when registering your corporation with the Department of State. The state does not record individual registered agents.

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

Any address can serve as your Pennsylvania registered office as long as it’s a physical address in the state where business activity is conducted.

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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania Department of State 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 Pennsylvania Articles of Incorporation

You will need to file the Pennsylvania Articles of Incorporation to set up a corporation in Pennsylvania. You can file it by mail or online with the Pennsylvania Department of State. The filing cost is $125.

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

• Corporate name
• The corporation’s effective date
• The corporation’s proposed registered office -OR- its commercial registered office provider and the county of venue
• The number of authorized shares the corporation is allowed to issue
• Incorporator(s) name(s) and address(es)

You also must include a Docketing Statement with your Articles of Incorporation. This form includes:

• The entity name
• Description of business activity
• Name and address of the individual responsible for initial tax reports
• Employer Identification Number (EIN)/Federal Tax Identification Number (FEIN)
• Fiscal year-end date

The Articles of Incorporation form issued by the Pennsylvania Department of State 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 Pennsylvania Articles of Incorporation

Option 1: File Online With Pennsylvania's Business One-Stop Shop 

- OR -

Option 2: File the Articles of Incorporation by Mail

Filing Cost: $125

Mailing Address:
Pennsylvania Department of State
Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations
P.O. Box 8722
Harrisburg, PA 17105-8722

Note: Mailed submissions must include a Docketing Statement

Step 5: Get an EIN for Your Pennsylvania 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, Annual Reports, & Licensing

Pennsylvania State Corporation Tax Requirements

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

Pennsylvania Sales Tax

If you’re selling a product, you’ll typically need to register for a seller's permit through the  Pennsylvania Department of Revenue's website. This allows a business to collect sales tax.

Pennsylvania Employer Taxes

If you hire employees, you will need to register for Pennsylvania employer taxes through the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue's website. This includes Employee Withholding Tax, Unemployment Insurance Tax, and Disability Insurance.

Pennsylvania Corporation Licenses and Permits

To operate your corporation in Pennsylvania, 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 Pennsylvania Business License guide.

File the Pennsylvania Annual Report

The previous decennial report requirements for Pennsylvania business entities were repealed in November 2022. Starting in 2024, for-profit corporations will be required to submit an annual report to the Department of State along with a $7 filing fee.

Corporate Dissolution & Pennsylvania Good Standing

How to Get a Pennsylvania Certificate of Good Standing

A Certificate of Good Standing, known in Pennsylvania as a Certificate of Subsistence, verifies that your Pennsylvania corporation was legally formed and has been properly maintained.

You can order a Certificate of Subsistence in Pennsylvania on the state’s Business One-Stop Shop website. After creating an account and logging in, search for your corporation and then select “Find Subsistence/Certificate of Registration” under “Certified Documents.’” The fee is $40.

Order a Pennsylvania Certificate of Subsistence

Request a Certificate Online With Pennsylvania's Business One-Stop Shop

Fee: $40

How to Dissolve a Corporation in Pennsylvania

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 six main steps to close your Pennsylvania corporation:

• Stop doing business
• Hold a board meeting, vote on dissolution, and record the meeting in the corporation minutes
• File an Application for Tax Clearance Certificate with both the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue AND the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry
• File the Articles of Dissolution — along with the tax clearance certificates from both departments noted above — with the Pennsylvania Department of State
• Close your federal and state business tax accounts with the IRS and Pennsylvania Department of Revenue
• Close your business bank accounts

File Dissolution Documents

After receiving your tax clearance certificates from the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue AND the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, file them and the Articles of Dissolution form with the Pennsylvania Department of State. You can file by mail or online. The filing fee is $70.

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

Pennsylvania Corporation FAQ

Pennsylvania Corporation Quick Links

• Pennsylvania Business Registration Forms
• Pennsylvania's Business One-Stop Shop
• Pennsylvania Business FAQ
• Pennsylvania Corporation Statutes