The position of secretary of state of Vermont is part of the five cabinet-level constitutional officers elected to the post every two years, the secretary has different responsibility and duties; those concerning business is handled by the corporation division. The corporation division handles the registration of business entities and is the filing repository for Uniform commercial code filings.
The secretary of state, corporations division, is an agency in Vermont with the responsibility of processing documents necessary to form the state’s standard corporations, business entities, and nonprofit organizations. The secretary of the state offers the following corporation and license services: incorporation, formation of limited liability company, limited partnership filings, and foreign qualification (foreign corporation registration too).
Filing of documents and certification services are also services offered by the secretary of state corporations division and they include the following: articles of incorporation, articles of amendment, articles of organization, articles of dissolution, foreign reservation, and certificate of good standing.
Corporation and business search
You can use this section of the website to find information on any corporation or business entity operating in the state of Vermont. This is done by performing a search on the website of the secretary of state of Vermont, if the corporation is registered in its database, you can get access to all the information you need.
To search, use the right link or search, and you will be directed to the correct search page. There is also no charge to use the website, and you can search for most of the basic corporation registration information are free, though more detailed information requires a fee for it.
You can search for an existing particular entity or find out if your intended business name is available through the business search in the database of the website of the secretary of state.
US Trademark search
The Trademark electronic search system of the U.S. will indicate if someone has trademarked your name. As a startup, the cost of trademarking is high, but it will be important to know if someone has trademarked your name.
Setting a new corporation in Vermont
To set up a new business entity in Vermont, some steps need to be taken and this process must be certified by the secretary of state business division.
- Carry out a business name availability search
- Do an internet domain availability search to create a website and email
- Choose the type of business entity (LLC, S-Corp, C-Corp, Partnership, or Non-Profit Org)
- Obtain an IRS EIN (employer identification number)
- Create articles of incorporation and bylaws that describe the following for your business:
- Purpose
- Agents
- Directors
- Address
- Operating guidelines
- Dissolution provisions
- Check if the new entity needs a federal, state, or local license
- Determine the payroll tax requirement
- Determine the type of tax filing requirement, (either federal, state, or local government)
- Create the following:
- business mailing address (physical and mail)
- phone number
- voicemail
- website
- email address
- business cards.
Annual report and filing
All business entities operating in Vermont are required to file an annual or biennial report, it depends on the type of business you are operating. The report must be submitted to the Business Services Division of the Vermont secretary of state. To file the annual report, you are expected to follow the following steps below:
- Know your due date for filing and filing fee
- Complete your report online or print the form into a hard copy
- Send your report by mail or online to the Vermont secretary of state, business division.
