Corporate Kit Definition

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If you just incorporated your business, you may want to purchase a corporate kit. This binder organizes all your corporate documents in one place and looks professional during meetings.

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Corporate Kit Definition

A corporate kit is an elegant, embossed binder used to hold all your important corporate documents. It’s a way to keep everything related to the formation, organization, and management of your corporation at your fingertips.

You can create your own corporate kit or buy a pre-made one. Though the contents differ by seller and state, a corporate kit may contain a place for any or all of the following:

Articles or Certificate of Incorporation
Amendments to Articles or Certificate of Incorporation
Bylaws
The operating agreement
A company guidebook
Minutes
Corporate resolutions
Stock certificates
The membership/stock transfer ledger
Your corporate seal
Sales contracts
Lease and rental agreements

Some sellers may offer upgraded options for some of these items such as custom printed and numbered stock certificates or minutes that provide samples of standard wording. Others provide handy electronic documents to supplement the hard copy binder. For example, after purchasing a binder, they allow you to download fillable minutes forms for future use.

Corporate Kit Benefits

Though no state requires you to have a corporate kit, you must maintain records of many of the documents listed above. Thus, this binder is an easy way for a small business to keep track of these papers. You can always add other things to it such as documents you will need for taxes. It also looks professional when you’re meeting with banks, investors, or other entities who may need to review some of this information.

One of the most significant advantages of a corporate kit is that the ones you purchase contain state-specific information about corporations. This provides a readily accessible resource for looking up requirements and making sure your corporation stays compliant with state law.

Corporate Kit Disadvantages

The primary reasons not to invest in a corporation kit are that they’re expensive and not legally required. As a business owner, you may choose to maintain all your records in electronic format. Or you can keep them in a shoe box, so long as you don’t lose track of any required documentation.

Considerations When Purchasing a Corporate Kit

Though you may be eager to buy one of the corporate kit examples available online, it’s best to wait until you receive confirmation that the state accepted your corporate filings. Corporate kits typically contain customized documents and supplies that you won’t want to have to reorder if something goes wrong. For instance, a corporate seal reflects the corporation’s name, year of incorporation, and state of incorporation. If your name is rejected or your filing is delayed until the next calendar year, you will have to redo your seal.

Equivalent Binders Are Available If You Own a Different Legal Entity

By definition, a corporate kit is used for corporations. But you can buy a similar binder for a limited liability company. It would include some different forms but, similarly, provide useful information about state-specific requirements.

Summary

A corporate kit is a convenient binder that keeps all your corporation’s important documents in one place. Staying organized is vital to maintaining corporate compliance and avoiding liability.

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Make sure your business is official before purchasing and assembling your corporate binder. We can help you reserve your corporate name and then prepare and file your incorporation documents. Get started today.

Disclaimer: The content on this page is for informational purposes only, and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.