In my state you just need to file simple articles of incorporation with the Sec. of State and then keep up an annual fee. (If there are multiple people involve

In my state you just need to file simple articles of incorporation with the Sec. of State and then keep up an annual fee. (If there are multiple people involved, you probably want to get them looked over by a lawyer in case disputes arise). The fees can vary significantly depending on the state you file in (NY and CA have especially high fees, since so many companies must incorporate there). Other than that you usually need a local address (which can be yours if you incorporate in the state you live). A bank account is useful to show a separation between business assets and personal assets should you ever need the 'limited-liability' part in court. The major thing is that you pick a structure that does what you want (LLC versus C or S Corp, etc), and that you understand the tax implications. The IRS and other folks have circulars on that as well as employer tax guides, etc. The SoS of the state you want to file in will probably have more information on the requirements.