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Form a C Corporation in Wyoming for Free

Swyft Filings’ Basic Wyoming C Corp formation package lets you start your corporation with a $0 service fee + $100 state filing fee. Our package includes a name availability check, preparation and filing of your Articles of Incorporation, and ongoing support throughout the formation process.
If you need more assistance, you can choose a premium Wyoming C Corporation formation package. Depending on the package, you can get additional services such as bylaws preparation, support for multiple stock classes, initial corporate resolutions, EIN assistance, and other formation services.

Wyoming C Corp Formation Packages

Start your C Corp at $0 + state filing fee

How to Start a C Corp in Wyoming in 7 Steps

Wyoming is one of the simplest states in the country to incorporate in. There's no newspaper publication requirement, no state corporate income tax, and no franchise tax; the process runs in a straight line. Just pick a compliant C Corp name, line up a registered agent, decide your share structure, file your Wyoming Articles of Incorporation, adopt bylaws, hold an organizational meeting, and finish with an EIN.

Here's what each step involves:

Step 1: Choose a Name for Your Wyoming C Corporation

Wyoming's corporate naming rules are set forth in W.S. § 17-16-401, and they're noticeably looser than those in most states.

No mandatory designator: Unlike an LLC, a Wyoming corporation does not have to end in "Corporation," "Incorporated," "Inc.," or "Corp." You may add one for clarity or branding, but the state won't reject a filing that omits it.
Distinguishable in the state's records: Your Wyoming C Corporation name must stand apart from every other domestic and foreign entity already on file with the Secretary of State, including corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, and statutory trusts.
No implied unauthorized purpose: The Wyoming C Corporation name can't suggest your corporation exists for something outside what your Articles allow.
Restricted words: Terms like "Bank," "Trust," or wording implying a government affiliation need separate approval before you can use them.

Once you have settled on a name, run it through the Wyoming Secretary of State's WyoBiz business entity search to confirm its name is available before you file.

If you have a name that appears available, still consider keeping one or two alternatives in case the Wyoming Secretary of State determines that your preferred name is not distinguishable when you file. You can use Swyft Filings' free business name generator to shortlist some more options.

Start by confirming the name is genuinely unused on WyoBiz. Remember, punctuation, spacing, and singular/plural changes don't count as different names under Wyoming's mechanical distinguishability test. From there, decide whether you want a designator like "Inc." even though the state doesn't require one; many founders keep it for the credibility it signals to banks and vendors.

File an Application for Reservation of Corporate Name with the Secretary of State's Business Division, either online through WyoBiz or by mail. The filing fee is $60. The reservation holds your name for 120 days and is nonrenewable, so file it close to when you actually plan to incorporate. Remember, mail processing time is up to 15 business days following the date of receipt, and you need to mail it to the address:

Herschler Building East, Suite 101
122 W 25th Street
Cheyenne, WY 82002-0020

Possibly. An inactive Wyoming business name may be available, but you should check its sub-status in the Wyoming Secretary of State’s business records. If the inactive record has an “Archived” sub-status, the name may be available for registration. Otherwise, review the record carefully before using the name.

Step 2: Appoint Your Wyoming Registered Agent

Every Wyoming corporation must continuously maintain a registered agent with a physical street address in the state (no P.O. boxes).

Physical Wyoming address: The registered office has to be a real street address where the agent can be reached.
Availability during business hours: The agent needs to be present to accept legal and state documents as they arrive.
Individual or entity: The agent can be a Wyoming resident, or a domestic or foreign business entity authorized to operate in the state, so an out-of-state commercial registered agent company is fine, as long as it's registered in Wyoming.
Ongoing duty: This isn't a one-time formation step; the corporation must keep a valid agent on file at all times or risk falling out of compliance.

Yes. A Wyoming C Corp must continuously maintain a registered agent in the state. The registered agent receives official state correspondence and legal documents on behalf of the corporation. The agent must have a physical Wyoming address and be available during normal business hours to receive service of process.

Yes. You can generally serve as your own registered agent if you meet Wyoming's requirements. You must have a physical street address in Wyoming and be available to receive legal and official documents during normal business hours.

Yes. You can change your Wyoming C Corp's registered agent by filing the required change with the Wyoming Secretary of State. Your new registered agent must meet Wyoming's requirements and consent to serve. If you prefer not to handle the filing yourself, you can choose Swyft Filings' change registered agent service to help manage the change and reduce the hassle of handling the paperwork.

The right registered agent depends on your needs, including pricing, privacy, availability, and compliance support. You can serve as your own registered agent if you meet Wyoming's requirements or choose Swyft Filings' registered agent service to handle official notices for your corporation.

The cost of a professional registered agent service varies by provider, but price is only one factor to consider. For example, Swyft Filings charges $149+ per quarter for its registered agent service. The service includes a dedicated registered office address, secure handling and digital delivery of official state and legal notices, and a secure online dashboard for viewing, storing, and downloading received documents.

Therefore, when comparing registered agent services, don't focus only on finding the lowest price. Consider what you are getting for the fee. A service with more useful features and support may offer better value even if its price is higher.

Wyoming's flat $100 filing fee doesn't scale with your authorized share count, so there's no cost penalty for authorizing a large number of shares up front.

Consider your current ownership plans and future investors before choosing your structure, since changing it later may require additional corporate steps.

Decide how many shares to authorize. You can authorize an unlimited number of shares if you state that in your Articles, or set a specific number — most startups authorize a round number like 10,000 or more so they don't need to amend later.
Choose your stock classes. Common and preferred stock can carry different voting, dividend, and liquidation rights.
Document founder ownership in your corporate records once share allocations are agreed.
Know the difference between authorized and issued shares; authorized is the ceiling, and issued is what's actually distributed.
Leave room for investors and employees, since every future share issuance dilutes existing holders.

There is no fixed number of shares that a Wyoming C Corp must authorize. You can specify a particular number or authorize an unlimited number of shares in your Articles of Incorporation. Consider your current ownership plans and whether you expect to issue shares to investors or employees in the future.

Yes, as long as the corporation has sufficient authorized shares and complies with its governing documents and applicable corporate procedures. If all authorized shares have already been issued, you may need to amend the Articles of Incorporation to increase the authorized number before issuing additional shares. Wyoming law allows the Articles to authorize an unlimited number of shares.

Common and preferred stock can have different rights and terms. Common stock generally represents basic ownership in the corporation and may include voting rights. Preferred stock can have special rights or preferences, such as priority in dividends or liquidation. The specific rights depend on the corporation's governing documents.

Yes. A Wyoming corporation can authorize more than one class or series of shares. Its Articles of Incorporation must identify the classes and series and specify their terms, including their rights, preferences, and limitations.

Step 4: File Your Wyoming Articles of Incorporation

Once you have chosen your C Corporation's name, registered agent, and share structure, the next step is to officially create your Wyoming C Corp by filing its Articles of Incorporation with the Wyoming Secretary of State. When preparing the Articles, pay close attention to the information you provide.

Option 1: File Online

You can file your Wyoming C Corp Articles of Incorporation online through the Wyoming Secretary of State's WyoBiz portal. The current filing fee for a Wyoming profit corporation is $100, and online filings can be paid by Visa or Mastercard.

Go to the WyoBiz Online Business Services portal.
Select “File Your Wyoming LLC, Profit or Nonprofit Online Now!” This will take you to the WyoBiz online filing system.
Click “Start Now” to begin your filing.
Select “Profit Corporation” as the business entity type. If applicable, you can also select an additional designation before continuing.
Complete the online application. The portal will guide you through sections such as:
- Business Entity Name
- Details
- Registered Agent
- Addresses
- Incorporators
- Additional Articles
- Confirmation
- Signature
- Payment

Review all the information carefully before submitting. Wyoming's filing instructions specifically advise reviewing the form before submission because incomplete filings cannot be processed.
Pay the $100 state filing fee online. The Wyoming Secretary of State lists Visa and Mastercard as payment options for online filings.
After submitting the filing, keep your confirmation and a copy of the filed Articles of Incorporation with your corporate records.

*NOTE: The Wyoming Secretary of State refers to the C Corp entity type as a "Profit Corporation" in its online filing system. A C Corporation is a federal tax classification, so forming the Wyoming profit corporation is the state formation step; your federal tax treatment is handled separately.*

Option 2: File by Mail

Complete a paper Wyoming Articles of Incorporation form using black ink, mail it with a check or money order for $100 to:

Wyoming Secretary of State
Herschler Building East, Suite 101
122 W 25th Street
Cheyenne, WY 82002-0020

Processing time of Wyoming Articles of Incorporation is up to 15 business days.

Under W.S. 17-16-202, Wyoming requires the Articles of Incorporation for a for-profit corporation to include four main pieces of information:

Corporate name: The corporation's name must meet Wyoming's naming requirements under W.S. 17-16-401.
Authorized shares: State the number of shares the corporation is authorized to issue. Wyoming also allows the Articles to state that the corporation may issue an unlimited number of shares.
Registered office and agent: Provide the street address of the corporation's initial registered office and the name of its initial registered agent at that address.
Incorporator information: Include the name and address of each person acting as an incorporator.

You can also include additional provisions, such as the names and addresses of initial directors, the corporation's purpose, rules governing the corporation's affairs, the par value of shares, and certain director liability provisions. These additional provisions are generally optional unless required for your particular corporate structure.

The time depends on how you file. Wyoming allows you to form a for-profit corporation online, by mail, or in-person. If you file online, you can submit your Articles of Incorporation electronically and receive confirmation through the filing system. Paper filings may take up to 15 business days because they are processed in the order received. For the quickest start, filing online is generally the more convenient option.

Step 5: Adopt Bylaws for Your Wyoming C Corp

After filing your Articles of Incorporation, the next step is to establish the internal rules your Wyoming C Corp will follow. These rules are called corporate bylaws. Wyoming law requires the incorporators or the board of directors to adopt the corporation's initial bylaws.

Your bylaws typically explain how the corporation will be governed and how important corporate decisions will be handled. They can cover matters such as:

Board of directors: Set out the number of directors, how directors are elected or replaced, and how the board conducts its business.
Shareholders' meetings: Establish rules for annual and special shareholder meetings, including notice and voting procedures.
Board meetings: Explain how board meetings are called, what constitutes a quorum, and how directors vote on corporate matters.
Corporate officers: Identify the corporation's officers, such as the president, secretary, and treasurer, and describe their responsibilities.
Shares and stock records: Include procedures for issuing shares, maintaining ownership records, and handling stock certificates if the corporation uses them.
Committees: If appropriate, establish rules for creating and operating board committees.
Corporate records: Set out how important business and corporate records will be maintained.
Amendments: Explain how the bylaws can be changed in the future.

Use Swyft Filings' Corporate Bylaws service. We create the bylaws based on your actual share structure, rather than providing a generic template that doesn't reflect the classes or vesting terms you've established.

The incorporators or board of directors can adopt the corporation's initial bylaws. If the Articles of Incorporation already name the initial directors, those directors can hold an organizational meeting to complete the corporation's organization, including adopting the bylaws and appointing officers.

If the Articles do not name initial directors, the incorporators can first elect the directors or authorize the board to complete the corporation's organization.

Generally, no. Bylaws are internal corporate documents rather than a formation filing with the Wyoming Secretary of State. You should keep the adopted bylaws with your corporation's records and follow them when making corporate decisions.

Yes. Bylaws can be amended or repealed as the corporation grows, subject to the corporation's Articles of Incorporation and applicable Wyoming law. Wyoming law gives shareholders the authority to amend or repeal corporate bylaws, while the board may also have that authority in certain circumstances.

The board of directors generally holds authority to adopt, amend, or repeal bylaws unless your Articles say otherwise, following whatever voting threshold your existing bylaws set.

Step 6: Hold Your Organizational Meeting

After filing your Articles of Incorporation with the Wyoming Secretary of State, hold an organizational meeting to officially set up your corporation's internal structure.

During the meeting, your Wyoming C Corp initial directors generally:

Adopt and approve the corporate bylaws.
Elect or confirm the corporation's officers, such as the president, secretary, and treasurer.
Approve the issuance of shares to the initial shareholders.
Authorize the opening of a corporate bank account.
Approve the corporation's fiscal year and accounting practices.
Approve any initial contracts, business plans, or other important corporate actions.

Wyoming law permits directors to take certain corporate actions through written consent instead of holding a physical meeting, provided the statutory requirements are met. Keeping accurate corporate records is important because the organizational meeting establishes the initial governance and ownership decisions of your Wyoming C Corp.

Yes. Keeping written minutes or records of the corporation's initial decisions helps document how the corporation was organized and operated.

In certain circumstances, yes. Wyoming law allows directors to take action by unanimous written consent, which has the effect of action taken at a board meeting.

Step 7: Apply for Your EIN

The IRS generally requires corporations to have an EIN, even if they do not currently have employees. You should form your Wyoming corporation before applying for an EIN. The IRS allows you to apply online for free if your principal place of business is in the United States or its territories.

If approved, you can receive your EIN immediately online. If you choose Swyft Filings’ Premium Wyoming C Corporation formation package, our professionals will apply for an EIN on your behalf at no additional cost as part of the package.

Yes. A corporation generally needs an EIN for federal tax purposes, and you may also need it to open a business bank account, hire employees, obtain business licenses, and handle other business activities.

The IRS does not charge a fee for an EIN, so you can apply directly through the IRS for free. If you prefer not to handle the application yourself, some Wyoming C Corporation formation service packages include assistance with the EIN application as a complimentary service.

You should apply for an EIN after your Wyoming C Corporation is legally formed. The IRS recommends establishing your corporation with the state before applying for an EIN to ensure the entity information matches your federal tax records.

If you are eligible to use the IRS online application, you can generally receive your EIN immediately after successfully completing the application. The IRS issues the number online once your information is validated.

Yes. Foreign owners can obtain an EIN for a Wyoming C Corp. However, if the corporation's principal place of business is outside the United States, you generally cannot use the IRS online application and may need to apply by phone, fax, or mail.

What Are the Post-Formation Requirements for a C Corp in Wyoming?

Getting your Articles approved is only the start. To stay in good standing, keep up with the following:

1. File Your Annual Report Every Year

Due date: The first day of the anniversary month of your Wyoming C Corporation formation date.
Fee: A minimum of $60, or $0.0002 per dollar of Wyoming-located assets if those assets exceed $300,000.
Missed deadline: Falling behind risks losing good standing and eventual administrative dissolution.

Stay compliant with Wyoming’s annual filing requirements with Swyft Filings’ Annual Report service. Our professionals can prepare and file your Wyoming C Corp Annual Report on your behalf, helping you avoid missed deadlines. It’s a convenient way to keep your corporation in good standing while you focus on running your business.

2. Open a Wyoming C Corporation Bank Account

After forming your Wyoming C Corp, open a separate business bank account to keep corporate and personal finances apart. Banks commonly request your Articles of Incorporation, EIN confirmation letter, and corporate documents showing who is authorized to manage the account. Keeping finances separate also helps maintain the corporation's separate legal identity.

3. Register for Sales Tax and Employer Withholding, If Applicable

If you sell taxable goods or services, register with the Wyoming Department of Revenue to collect sales tax. If you hire employees, register for unemployment insurance with the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services. Wyoming has no state income tax withholding, since it has no individual income tax.

4. Obtain Necessary Business Licenses and Permits

Wyoming does not have a general statewide business license requirement for every C Corp. However, your business may need specific state, county, or city licenses and permits depending on its location, industry, and activities. Check with the appropriate local and state authorities before starting operations to determine which licenses apply to your Wyoming C Corp.

You can also use Swyft Filings professional business license research service to identify the licenses your Wyoming C Corp may need, understand the application requirements, and get guidance on how and where to apply.

How Much Does It Cost to Incorporate a C Corp in Wyoming?

The cost to incorporate a C Corp in Wyoming starts with the state’s filing fee, but your total startup and ongoing costs depend on the services and business requirements you choose.

Cost	Fee
Wyoming Articles of Incorporation	$100
Wyoming Registered Agent Service	Varies
Name Reservation (optional, 120 days)	$60
Annual Report (minimum)	$60/year
EIN	$0

Ready to Start Your Free Wyoming C Corp?

With Swyft Filings, you can get started with our Basic Wyoming C Corporation formation service package for a $0 service fee plus the applicable Wyoming state fees. We can help you prepare and file your formation documents, so you can focus on getting your business up and running. If you need additional support, you can choose a premium package with services such as EIN assistance, bylaws, and other corporate formation needs.

Start Your Free Wyoming C Corp Now!

$0 + State Filing Fees

*Disclaimer: This guide provides general information about forming a C Corporation in Wyoming and is not a substitute for legal, tax, or financial advice.*

Check C Corp Formation Guides for Other States

C Corp rules, filing costs, and corporate tax structures vary by jurisdiction. Select any state below to view its specific C Corp laws.

Need Help With Your C Corp Paperwork?

Starting a Wyoming C Corp means filing Articles of Incorporation, appointing a registered agent, and staying current with the annual report. Swyft Filings has been helping businesses form and stay compliant since 2015. Our team knows the Wyoming Secretary of State requirements and can file your C Corp quickly, accurately, and in full compliance.

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FAQ's

Starting a business can feel complex. We're here to provide clear answers to some of the most common questions entrepreneurs ask.

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There's no cap under Wyoming law. That's different from an S Corp election at the federal level, which limits ownership to 100 shareholders regardless of the state in which you are incorporated.

No! Wyoming doesn't require shareholder names to appear in the Articles of Incorporation or the Annual Report, which is part of why it's popular for privacy-conscious founders.

You can form a Wyoming C Corp relatively quickly, but getting the business fully operational involves more than filing the Articles of Incorporation. Online state filing may be processed quickly, while obtaining an EIN, adopting bylaws, issuing initial shares, and opening a business bank account can take additional time. For many U.S.-based founders, the process can take a few days to a couple of weeks, assuming there are no delays. International founders may need more time, particularly for EIN and banking requirements.

A “free” Wyoming C Corporation formation package typically means the formation service fee is waived. You will still need to pay Wyoming’s required $100 filing fee for the Articles of Incorporation, along with any additional services you opt for.