Registering Your Business Name
Business structures range from informal sole proprietorships to complex corporations with publicly traded stock. The Secretary of State's web site provides a brief overview of the most prevalent structures administered by the Secretary of State to prepare you to work with an attorney or other business advisor to determine which structure is best suited for your business.
Business Types
- Sole Proprietorship
- General Partnership
- Limited Partnership
- Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)
- Limited Liability Limited Partnership (LLLP)
- Professional Limited Liability Partnership (PLLP)
- Limited Liability Companies
- Limited Liability Companies (LLC)
- Farm Limited Liability Companies
- Professional Limited Liability Company (PLLC)
- Corporations
- General Business Corporations
- Farm Corporations
- Professional Corporations
- Cooperative Associations
Each structure has certain advantages and disadvantages depending on the size and type of business. The Secretary of State’s staff cannot provide legal advice regarding advantages of the various business structures, filings, transactions, taxes, financing, indemnification, shares, stock certificates, preparation of minutes or bylaws, or other matters of internal business management. Procedural information and registration forms are available from this website or the Secretary of State’s office.
