- Legal vs tax
- Corporation is the legal entity. C-corp is the default federal tax classification unless a valid S election is in force.
- Liability
- Strong entity shield when capitalized and formalized (board, stock ledger, minutes).
- Default federal tax
- c corporation
- Other federal options
- s corporation
- Formation / maintenance
- Articles, bylaws, stock issuance, EIN, and ongoing corporate formalities. Foreign qualification where you operate.
- Public-record notes
- Directors/officers often appear in annual reports. Delaware/Wyoming still file something public — they do not make you invisible.
- Succession
- Shares transfer under bylaws, shareholder agreements, and securities rules.
- Investor fit
- Default for priced equity, option pools, and institutional rounds.
Disqualifiers
- Want pass-through tax without S-corp eligibility work
Professional review: cpa, attorney.
Related: s-corporation-electionbenefit-corporationclose-corporation