Alaska – 50 States of Incorporation, Rebooted

This week, we head to “America’s Last Frontier” to uncover more about what it means to start a business in Alaska. The 49^th state in the nation, Alaska prides itself on having a strong revenue source from the oil and natural gas industry along with counting the seafood and fishing industry as part of the state’s largest private industry employer.

The State of Alaska encourages entrepreneurs from all walks of life to come and start their businesses by providing an abundance of resources for new startups. If you feel like it’s time to head North and get started, here’s what you need to know about starting a small business in Alaska.

1. If you are filing to incorporate in Alaska, The Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing provides more information about forms to use and required fees. Already incorporated? Check in on your entity’s status using the corporations database.

2. The state of Alaska encourages small businesses to file online to ensure a quicker processing time, however not every business has the option to file online. If you must file hardcopy forms, the processing timeframe during the months of March to September averages at 10-15 business days. Between the months of October to February, you can expect more than a 15-business day delay.

3. Want to (or more aptly, need to) register a trademark? The state’s trademark registration page outlines everything you need to know about the process including advice on the types of marks the State of Alaska registers, how long each trademark lasts for, and applications needed to register for the mark.

4. What do you need to know about registered agents? From the requirements to become one to the importance of maintaining an RA, the state of Alaska has an answer to each of these questions readily available. Additionally, they offer information on more small business topics like EINs, entity types, and business licensing, just to name a few.

5. Did you know that the Alaska Secretary of State has a Small Business Assistance Center? The Small Business Assistance Center offers both new and existing Alaskan businesses tools for success including information about events and training throughout the state, financing options, licenses and permits specialized businesses need, marketing tips, and much more.

Ready to start a small business in Alaska? Give us a call at 1(877) 692-6772 or visit us at mycorporation.com if you have any questions about forming a business or the regulations required.

Welcome back to the 50 States of Incorporation, Rebooted where we share what it takes to start a business in each of the 50 states. Join us biweekly for advice on how to start an LLC or corporation across the United States.

Deborah Sweeney

Deborah Sweeney is an advocate for protecting personal and business assets for business owners and entrepreneurs. With extensive experience in the field of corporate and intellectual property law, Deborah provides insightful commentary on the benefits of incorporation and trademark registration.

Education: Deborah received her Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration degrees from Pepperdine University, and has served as an adjunct professor at the University of West Los Angeles and San Fernando School of Law in corporate and intellectual property law.

Experience: After becoming a partner at LA-based law firm, Michel & Robinson, she became an in-house attorney for MyCorporation, formerly a division in Intuit. She took the company private in 2009 and after 10 years of entrepreneurship sold the company to Deluxe Corporation. Deborah is also well-recognized for her written work online as a contributing writer with some of the top business and entrepreneurial blogging sites including Forbes, Business Insider, SCORE, and Fox Business, among others.

Fun facts/Other pursuits: Originally from Southern California, Deborah enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons, Benjamin and Christopher, and practicing Pilates. Deborah believes in the importance of family and credits the entrepreneurial business model for giving her the flexibility to enjoy both a career and motherhood. Deborah, and MyCorporation, have previously been honored by the San Fernando Valley Business Journal’s List of the Valley’s Largest Women-Owned Businesses in 2012. MyCorporation received the Stevie Award for Best Women-Owned Business in 2011.