Register Software Company Name

[Jasonb61]

I have some friends wanting to start their own Software Development Company and they would like to know the basic outline of what has to be done to Register a Company name legally such as M$.

Thank you for your time!

-Jason

[sage45]

Well, they would need to first get and fill out a declaration of incorporation... You can get this from your local state office... Although the best bet would be to hire a lawyer to handle the finer details of it... A lawyer would also be able to provide the best information on how to incorporate and why...

-sage-

[Jasonb61]

So, would there be any monthly or annual fees? or Any Fees at at all except for the lawyer? My friends program in a language called visual basic which is a pretty simple language (even I have mastered it) and would it really be worth it to go though all the trouble? They want to start puttin out software titles that legally belong to them and their company so they can make a little money to pay to go onto more complicated languages such a C++, Asm, Ect... but basicly, they want a way to sell their services.. they are advanced in html and webdesign including php, cgi, perl, and so on and they are even better at VB... Any suggestions on ways they can get something out of their skills?

[Spookster]

To register your business name you just need to write up your own certificate of assumed name or find one to copy from. There is not official one to use. And being that there are just a few of you I don't think you need to start out as incorporated. A simple sole proprietorship or partnership should suffice.

Here is the one I used for my business:

http://www.designqueue.com/certificate_of_assumed_name.pdf

As long as your state doesn't have any specific requirements you could even use this one and just change the name of the state to your own.

Other than that you need to take your completed certificate of assumed name to a notary public and have them sign it. You can find them usually at lawyers offices. Often times the paralegals at law firms are registered notary publics. They may charge you a small fee for it. I sweet talked the female paralegal at the law firm I went to and she did it for free. :) Anyways once you have it signed you need to take it to your register of deeds office and have them sign off on it and file it. Oh first you need to look up the business name for your county to make sure it is not already taken. Your register of deeds office should either have the capability to do that at their office or direct you to where you can do it. They also charge a nominal fee for signing and filing your certificate.

Once that is all done and they give you back your official copy you can then operate under that business name. So for instance if you wanted to open up a business account at a bank you would just need that certificate for proof.

[Jasonb61]

Thank you so much spookster! It's always great to have such helpful people like you around; Also, thanks to sage for replying also!

-Jason

[Jasonb61]

Hello, It's me again... I have a question for Spookster, Is it possbile for me to edit the North Carolina part, in the PDF file, somehow to change Georgia.... basicly, I just need a little help filling the document out. And after this certificate expires, what do I do? Just go back and do it all over again? Sorry, but none of us have ever delt with anything like this before.

Thanks for all the help,
-Jason

[Spookster]

Here is the Microsoft Word version of it:

http://www.designqueue.com/certificate_of_assumed_name.doc

As for when it expires that will be up to your register of deeds office of how long they register documents for. I think mine said something like 10 years but I don't recall for sure. I remember it was such a long time that I diidn't give it another thought.