Starting a Business

Emerging States to Incorporate a Business

Which states are most popular to incorporate a business? This list tends to vary on a year-to-year basis. Some states, like Delaware and Nevada, have long-standing reputations as corporate darlings. However, other states are starting to emerge as some of the best states to do business because of their startup friendliness.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, states like Texas and Florida are trending with businesses. Major corporations, including those in coastal cities, are relocating their headquarters to states where taxes and filing fees are significantly less expensive.

Which states are trending with entrepreneurs that want to start a business? Some of the states emerging in popularity to incorporate a business might surprise you.

  • Texas
  • Florida
  • Nevada
  • Delaware
  • South Dakota
  • Wyoming

Texas

There are several benefits to incorporating in Texas. Small and big businesses alike may enjoy the reasonable cost of living, talented workforce, and business friendly climate. Texas also has a low tax burden. Entrepreneurs that reside in and conduct business out of Texas do not have to pay personal income taxes.

Filing as an LLC in Texas does not require paying annual fees. However, Texas LLCs must file annual reports. An annual report is a record of changes that are made in a business throughout the course of a year. Some of these changes may include the names and addresses of business members and officers. They may also reflect business address changes, a change in address for a registered agent, and changes in the business’ activities.

Florida

Much like Texas, Florida is well-known for having low state tax burdens. Florida does not have personal income taxes. What about corporate taxes? These are also gradually decreasing. Previously, this taxable rate was at 5.5% on January 1, 2019. For all dates after January 1,2019, the corporate income tax rate is now 4.458% in Florida.

Startups, especially those in the tech industry, are making waves across Florida. Cities like Miami offer plenty of benefits to entrepreneurs. Some of these include tech talent hires, diversity in representation, and affordable living in a sunny, warm climate. There are also grants and loans available to finance small businesses, including those impacted by COVID-19. The strength of The Sunshine State’s growing business ecosystem means more entrepreneurs are choosing to incorporate in Florida.

Nevada

Nevada is often referred to as a tax haven. Incorporating in Nevada means receiving perks by way of minimal business taxes.

Thanks to its business-friendly state statute, Nevada has no corporate or personal income tax. The state does not require keeping annual meetings or operating agreements to stay in compliance either. Entrepreneurs may operate their businesses in Nevada and receive these tax benefits. Or, they may incorporate in Nevada and choose to operate their business in another state — and still receive these tax perks.

Delaware

Similar tax benefits abound in another corporate darling, Delaware. Nicknamed the incorporation state, Delaware has incorporated over one million entities. Delaware is one of the most affordable states to incorporate a business and also boasts a business-friendly corporate law.

An out-of-state business that files to incorporate in Delaware does not pay any corporate income tax or state income tax. This allows businesses to save on taxes, particularly out-of-state businesses that earn little in Delaware. What if your business has a brick-and-mortar storefront in Delaware? The business does not collect sales tax on purchases.

What if your startup experiences an issue with business law? Delaware is here to help. The State of Delaware’s Court of Chancery is a valuable resource that tackles business matters for entrepreneurs. This court has a skilled jurisdiction that may assist business owners in resolving any issues their business faces.

South Dakota

There is no personal income tax for South Dakota businesses. Incorporating in South Dakota means entrepreneurs get to enjoy a state of formation where there are low taxes and annual fees to stay in compliance.

South Dakota’s favorable corporate and individual income tax rate are so favorable that the state has been able to make leaps ahead as the best state to start a business. It is number two on the Tax Foundation’s 2021 State Business Tax Climate Index.

Wyoming

The growth of startups in Wyoming allows the state to rank as one of the top 10 states to start a business. In fact, Wyoming ranks at number one on the Tax Foundation’s 2021 State Business Tax Climate Index!

There is a rich history of business formations in Wyoming. This is the first state that allowed individuals to form corporations in the United States! In 1977, permission was granted by the state to form limited liability companies in Wyoming.

Wyoming, much like Nevada, is a business-friendly state. There are few tax burdens. Wyoming does not have personal income taxes. There are also no franchise taxes for corporations. This makes it appealing to startups with brick-and-mortar storefronts as well as online eCommerce businesses. However, it should be noted that annual reports must be filed in Wyoming. The filing fee is quite low. Filing annual report documents keeps Wyoming businesses in compliance so they may enjoy their state of incorporation.

Which State Is Best For My Business?

Are you unsure as to which state you should start and incorporate a business? Let our team of professionals assist you! We can answer questions you have about incorporating in one of these states or any other states across the United States. Give us a call at 877-692-6772 or contact us at mycorporation.com.

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.

Recent Posts

Winning Together: How Supporting Other Businesses Can Help You Win

Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day activity of your business that…

1 week ago

5 Big Marketing Opportunities for Your Business In 2024

Can you believe we’re already in April? The year is passing by and we want…

2 weeks ago

How to Start A Local Service Business

Congrats! You’re starting a business to serve the people in your local community. How exciting!…

4 weeks ago

The Best Way To Start a Construction Company

You’ve spent years working in construction managing projects and dealing with clients for former bosses.…

4 weeks ago

What to consider when choosing your nonprofit payment processor

When selecting a payment processor for your nonprofit organization, you may be tempted to opt…

1 month ago

How to Protect the Privacy of Your Small Business’ Data

Data breaches and cybersecurity threats can threaten the security and privacy of a small business.…

5 months ago