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Massachusetts CorporationForm a Corporation or S-Corp in Massachusetts for $0 service fee plus the $275 state fee. Articles, bylaws, 10M authorized shares, founder stock with vesting, EIN, BOI included.
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Massachusetts Corporation Formation, 2026
Incorporating live in Massachusetts · C-Corp & S-Corp supported

How to form a corporation in Massachusetts for $0 service fee.

Massachusetts state filing fee is $275. Standard processing 4 to 7 business days. We file Articles of Incorporation with the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, issue 10M authorized shares (QSBS-eligible), prepare Massachusetts corporate bylaws, issue founder common stock with vesting and 83(b) templates, obtain your EIN, and file your BOI report.

Start your Massachusetts Corporation
$0 service fee QSBS preserved 60-day money-back
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
Massachusetts C-Corporation
Authorized shares10,000,000
Par value$0.0001
State fee$275
Processing4 to 7 business days
MA
SEAL
2026
$275
Massachusetts incorporation fee
10M
Authorized shares (standard)
QSBS
Capital gains exclusion
$0
Our service fee
Is a Massachusetts corporation right for you

When the corporation structure fits.

FORM A CORPORATION IN MASSACHUSETTS IF
  • You plan to raise venture capital (institutional investors require C-Corp)
  • You want to issue stock options to employees (ISOs)
  • You want QSBS eligibility for capital gains tax exclusion
  • You expect significant retained earnings (C-Corp can retain at 21% federal rate)
  • You want clear separation between operators and shareholders
FORM AN LLC INSTEAD IF
  • You are a solo operator or small business not raising outside capital
  • You want pass-through taxation with no corporate formalities
  • You prefer minimal annual compliance burden
  • You will own real estate (LLCs are standard for property holding)
  • You want simpler ownership transfer without share certificates
The Massachusetts business environment

Why Massachusetts for your corporation.

Highest LLC filing fee in the US ($520) and $520 annual report. Justified for many by the Boston/Cambridge biotech ecosystem. State income tax 5% flat. Strong VC ecosystem (Greater Boston is the #2 VC hub after Bay Area).

State GDP$685BTotal state output
Population7MCensus estimate
Small businesses~715,000Per SBA
Notable#1 in biotech R&D spendingEconomic distinction
Top industries in Massachusetts
Biotech & life sciences (Boston/Cambridge)Higher education (60+ colleges)Financial servicesHealthcareRobotics & AI
Top cities

Where Massachusetts corporations are headquartered.

Boston
Largest metro. Biotech, finance, healthcare, MIT/Harvard ecosystem.
Cambridge
MIT, Harvard, biotech (Moderna, Vertex), AI startups.
Worcester
Healthcare, biotech, manufacturing, colleges.
Lowell
Manufacturing, tech.
Springfield
Manufacturing, insurance (MassMutual), healthcare.
Lawrence
Manufacturing, growing residential.
What we'll set up for you

A clean handoff, in four steps.

You give us the basics. We handle the state, the IRS, and the compliance clock so you can focus on the business.

01 · Name + Brand

A name that's actually available.

Real-time check against the state register, USPTO trademark database, and matching domains.

02 · State filing

Filed with the Secretary of State.

We submit your Articles, pay the state fee on your behalf, and return the stamped certificate.

03 · Federal IDs

EIN + the right tax setup.

Federal Employer ID with the IRS, plus state tax accounts when your business needs them.

04 · Stay compliant

Registered Agent + deadline tracking.

Your agent on file in every state, with every renewal and annual report tracked in one calendar.

Filing timeline

From form to filed in Massachusetts.

1
Day 0
Tell us about your businessEntity name, incorporators, share structure, founder allocations
2
Day 1
We file with MassachusettsArticles submitted to the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth
3
Day 2-5
EIN + governance docsEIN issued. Bylaws, board minutes, founder stock prepared
4
Day 5-30
83(b) + cap table83(b) mailed (30-day deadline). Cap table populated. Ready to operate
Compare to alternatives

Massachusetts corp vs other formation states.

Delaware (default for VC-backed)$89+Required by most VCs. Foreign qualification in Massachusetts still needed.
Rhode Island$150Much lower fees, smaller economy
New Hampshire$100No state income tax, no sales tax
Connecticut$120Larger insurance/finance, lower fees
Massachusetts Corp$275Form here if you operate in Massachusetts.
Local resources

Massachusetts corporate resources.

Massachusetts Office of Business DevelopmentState business support
MassDevelopmentQuasi-public economic development
Massachusetts SBDCStatewide centers
Greater Boston ChamberMetro chamber
FAQ

Massachusetts Corporation questions.

Should I form my Massachusetts corporation as a C-Corp or S-Corp?
Most Massachusetts corporations start as C-Corps (default federal tax treatment). S-Corp is a federal election (Form 2553) you file later, typically when net profit crosses $60-80k. For venture-backed startups, C-Corp is required: S-Corp cannot have institutional investors, non-US shareholders, or multiple share classes. We file the Massachusetts corporation; you can elect S-Corp anytime by filing Form 2553.
What is the difference between forming an LLC and a corporation in Massachusetts?
LLCs are simpler (no shares, fewer formalities, pass-through tax by default). Massachusetts corporations have shareholders, a board of directors, officers, bylaws, board minutes, and double taxation by default. Corporations are the standard structure for raising venture capital because investors require preferred stock, ESOPs, and other corporate-specific instruments LLCs cannot provide.
Do I need bylaws for my Massachusetts corporation?
Yes. Massachusetts corporations are governed internally by bylaws (board structure, officer roles, meeting requirements, voting rules) plus the Articles of Incorporation filed with the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth. We include Massachusetts-appropriate bylaws with every formation, along with initial board minutes and a corporate governance binder.
How many shares should my Massachusetts corporation authorize?
Standard for a new C-Corp: 10,000,000 authorized shares of common stock with a small percentage actually issued to founders. The 10M structure leaves room for an option pool (typically 10-20%) and future preferred stock issuances in financing rounds. We file the 10M authorized share structure by default; you can specify a different number.
What is QSBS and does my Massachusetts corporation qualify?
Qualified Small Business Stock (IRC Section 1202) lets shareholders exclude up to $10M (or 10x basis) of capital gains on qualifying C-Corp stock held more than 5 years. Massachusetts C-Corps qualify if they meet the active business test (80% of assets used in qualified trade) and the gross asset test (under $50M at issuance). We preserve QSBS eligibility from day one.
Do I need to issue founder stock with vesting?
Highly recommended. Massachusetts founder stock without vesting means a co-founder who leaves after 6 months keeps 100% of their shares. With standard 4-year/1-year-cliff vesting, the company can reclaim unvested shares. We issue founder stock with vesting and prepare Section 83(b) election forms (due to IRS within 30 days of issuance).
When should my Massachusetts corporation elect S-Corp status?
S-Corp election (IRS Form 2553) can save self-employment tax when net profit crosses ~$60-80k. Restrictions: 100 shareholders max, US individuals only (no entities, no non-resident aliens), single class of stock. If you plan to raise venture capital, stay C-Corp. Our service fee for filing Form 2553 is $99.

Start your Massachusetts Corporation in 5 minutes.

Tell us a few details. We file with the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, prepare your bylaws, issue founder stock with vesting, file your 83(b) reminder, obtain your EIN, and file BOI.

Start your Massachusetts CorpTalk to a Massachusetts specialist
Pay only state fee QSBS preserved 60-day money-back

Related searches: form a corporation in Massachusetts · Massachusetts C-Corp · Massachusetts S-Corp · Massachusetts incorporation cost 2026 · how to incorporate in Massachusetts · Massachusetts Secretary of State corporation · Massachusetts corporate bylaws · Massachusetts QSBS · Delaware vs Massachusetts C-Corp

Built for real businesses

Corporations we have formed in Massachusetts.

Funded startup · Massachusetts
Funded startup · Massachusetts
C-Corp + 83(b)
C-Corp + 83(b)
S-Corp election
S-Corp election

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Bundle & save

Recommended add-ons

Most customers add these to keep their business compliant year-round.

Registered Agent - Year 1

Recommended

Required in every state. We act as your legal point of contact and forward filings same-day.

$99 /year Add →

EIN / Federal Tax ID

Most ordered

Your business identifier for taxes, bank accounts, hiring, and 1099s. Filed same business day.

$79 one-time Add →

Operating Agreement (LLC) / Bylaws (Corp)

State-compliant internal governance doc. Required by most banks at account opening.

$49 one-time Add →

Compliance Monitoring

Best value

Track every annual report, registered agent renewal, and license deadline across all your entities.

$19 /month Add →
Why File.Business

Premium compliance, no service-fee markup.

Trust you can verify

SOC 2 Type II audited platform. 220,000+ businesses served. 60-day money-back on service fees. State fees passed through at cost with no hidden markup. Explicit AUP on restricted industries.

A compliance partner, not a transaction

Most providers go quiet after checkout. We auto-track every annual report, registered agent renewal, and license deadline across your entities. The Business OS dashboard keeps your compliance score visible year-round.

Premium experience competitors cannot match

Premium positioning, transparent pricing, no service-fee markup on state or federal filings. Premium positioning, transparent pricing, no service-fee markup on state filings.

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