Articles of Incorporation
The primary formation filing containing registered agent, incorporator, and initial authorized shares; required by the state for corporate existence.
Complete, signed, and well-retained corporate documents establish legal authority, protect limited liability, support tax compliance, and enable banking and vendor relationships. Proper format and signatures reduce delays with government agencies and third parties.
Primary users include company officers, registered agents, internal legal or accounting teams, and external service providers who manage filings, contracts, and tax reporting.
Different stakeholders require different access and signing authority; identify authorized signers in advance to avoid invalid signatures or administrative delays.
The chief executive or president typically has broad authority to execute contracts, officer certificates, and corporate resolutions. Their signature often establishes binding corporate commitments and authorizes banking arrangements.
The corporate secretary maintains records, executes attestations and certifications, and often signs filings that require an officer attestation or corporate seal. Their role helps preserve evidentiary chain for corporate acts.
The primary formation filing containing registered agent, incorporator, and initial authorized shares; required by the state for corporate existence.
Internal governance documents that show who may sign contracts and appoint officers or agents on the company's behalf.
A signed officer attestation confirming signatory authority and corporate approval for specific transactions.
IRS-issued EIN notice or Form SS-4 confirmation used for tax, banking, and payroll setup.
Fully executed agreements with dates and initials on each page where required to prevent ambiguity in contract interpretation.
Proof of address, licenses, or board minutes that substantiate representations made in filings or third-party requests.
Apply immediately when forming entity to use for tax and banking
Provide a completed W-9 to payers upon request (no fixed filing deadline)
State-specific filing dates vary—often based on formation anniversary
Federal returns due April 15 (Form 1120 or relevant business form)
1099-NEC due to recipients and IRS by Jan 31 each year
| Document Type | Corporation (Articles) | LLC (Operating Agreement) |
|---|---|---|
| Formal Filing | ||
| Internal Rules | bylaws govern | operating agreement governs |
| Ownership Record | shares issued | membership interests |
| Typical Use | public/corporate formality | flexible member management |
| signNow | DocuSign | Adobe Sign | PandaDoc | HelloSign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $8/user/mo | $15/user/mo | $14/user/mo | $19/user/mo | $15/user/mo |
| Free Trial | 7-day free trial | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Varies by plan |
| Bulk Send | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Audit Trail | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HIPAA Compliant | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Envelope Cap | No cap | 100 envelopes/user/yr | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| Field | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Signer order | Sequential or parallel routing per board resolution |
| Authentication | Email, SMS code, or stronger KBA when required |
| Template reuse | Save standard forms and prefill recurring company data |
| Notifications | Set reminders and completion alerts for signers |
Ensure the signing platform supports required file formats, integrations, and authentication methods before executing corporate documents.
Draft document, circulate for internal review and legal input.
Obtain board or officer approvals required by governance documents.
Authorized signers complete signatures and notarization if necessary.
File with state agencies and store the executed copies in the record book.
Optica standardized online signatures across vendor contracts to speed approvals
Martin Properties moved lease and closing authorizations online to avoid in-person signings