Table of Contents Introduction Just What is a Corporation, Anyway? Do I Really Need to Incorporate? Types of Corporations Which Format is Best for You? The Incorporation Process: What's Involved? Should You Consult an Attorney? Okay, You're Incorporated. Now What? Treat Your Corporation Like a Business "It's a Judgement Call" Acknowledgements

About the Author

Alice Fugate owns Fugate Publications, a writing and publications consulting business. Among her published titles are:

In addition to publishing more than 20 magazine articles, she has taught seminars for Washington University, the Association of Systems Managers, Data Processing Management Association, and McDonnell Douglas Corporation. Alice has received awards from the Quality Assurance Institute, Society for Technical Communication, and Women's Commerce Association.

Introduction

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“Corporation: an ingenious device for obtaining individual profit without individual responsibility.” — Ambrose Bierce (1842–1914), American author

Retired system analyst Don Kenney, now bookkeeper for a small Vermont company, dismisses incorporation as a “time sink” that requires “40 to 80 hours up front and a few more every year.” But Ken Jacobs, owner of Georgia-based TEK-WRITE Inc., insists: “It has helped marketing wise and I think it is a good way to go.”

Is incorporating worth it for small business owners? Clearly, many of us think about it, and clearly we disagree. Don Massey, of Massey Publications in Fort Collins, Colorado, probably speaks for many sole proprietors when he sighs: “I wish someone could give a good reason. I’d like to have the INC after my business name, if it was worth the paperwork.”

In this chapter, we’ll consider the pros and cons of incorporation for self-employed technical communicators. We’ll take a look at the types of corporations you’d be most likely to benefit from and the process you would go through if you decide to take the plunge. Since incorporation is more than just a one-time decision, we’ll also look at its ongoing responsibilities.

But first, let’s ask the logical question: Just What Is a Corporation, Anyway?