Guides

Business Formation Documents

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To onboard, businesses must provide business formation documents. This guide outlines acceptable formation documents for each business entity type.

Acceptable Formation Documents by Entity Type

  1. Sole Proprietorships

    • Business License
    • Trade Name Registration
    • DBA ("Doing Business As") Filing

  2. Partnerships

    • General Partnerships (GP)
      • Partnership Agreement
      • Business License listing all partners
      • Trade Name Registration (DBA) listing all partners
    • Limited Partnerships (LP)
      • Certificate or Registration of Limited Partnership–filed with the secretary of state or similar government body to officially form the LP
    • Limited Liability Partnerships (LLP)
      • Certificate or Registration of Limited Liability Partnership–filed with the secretary of state or similar government body to register the LLP

  3. Corporations

    • Articles of Incorporation–filed with the secretary of state or similar government body
    • Certificate of Incorporation–filed with the secretary of state or similar government body

  4. Limited Liability Companies (LLC)

    • Articles of Organization–filed with the secretary of state or similar government body
    • Certificate of Incorporation–filed with the secretary of state or similar government body

  5. Nonprofit Organizations

    • Articles of Incorporation–filed with the secretary of state or similar government body
    • Certificate of Incorporation–filed with the secretary of state or similar government body
    • In Addition Application for Tax-Exempt Status: Form 1023 or 1023-EZ filed with the IRS to obtain 501(c)(3) status or similar tax-exempt recognition

  6. Foundations

    • Articles of Incorporation–filed with the secretary of state or similar government body
    • Certificate of Incorporation–filed with the secretary of state or similar government body

  7. Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs)

    • Legal Entity Formation–if the DAO formed a legal entity (e.g., LLC) with the secretary of state or similar government body
    • Other DOA Formation Documents:
      • White Paper
      • Membership or Token Agreement
      • Governance Framework

  8. Trusts

    • Trust Deed (or Trust Agreement)–establishing the trust and outlining the roles of the trustors, trustees, beneficiaries, and terms of the trust
    • Certificate of Trust (or Abstract of Trust)–proving the existence of the trust and the trustee's authority
    • Notarized Trustee’s Affidavit–confirming the identity and authority of the trust parties

  9. Cooperatives

    • Articles of Incorporation–filed with the secretary of state or similar government body, establishing the cooperative listing its members
    • Bylaws–confirming the creation of the cooperative and specifying the cooperative’s governance and operational rules
    • Membership Agreement–outlining the terms of membership, rights, and responsibilities of cooperative members

Country Specific Requirements

  • Mexico: Please supply a copy of the entity filing document (Cedula de Identificacion Fiscal) that confirms the entity's RFC

Updated 5 months ago