How to Form Your Own California Corporation [With CDROM]

Reviewed this at library and then bought for reference. Worked great and will help me as time goes on. Great base documents on the CD.

I purchased this book as a research tool before incorporating my business as a California C corp without any outside assistance last year. This was all I needed and used. I read the book cover-to-cover, which did not take more than about 6 hours, and I felt very comfortable with the entire process. Like most Nolo books, this has a very readable style, with plenty of important information organized in a sensible manner. Even though the topic may not be entertainment reading, Mancuso makes the process very reasonable and I can't imagine another book doing it meaningfully better than this. This book hits its target audience very well - someone who wants to know about the practical and procedural issues related to incorporation. As part of the responsibility of operating a business, any incorporator needs to know most of what is covered in this book. Even if you get someone to do the filing, any incorporator needs to know this stuff. Don't worry - it's not rocket science. For a broader understanding of business issues, I found Nolo's other titles to be similarly excellent (their guide to california business and their guide to business deductions). Both cover related but different and important areas for new business owners. Read all 3 and you'll be set for general business issues.

This was an excellent book, very well written for the layperson. The online links to further instruction and the CDROM were fabulous tools. I highly recommend this to an start-up non-profit.

This book has gotten us through filing papers with the Secretary of State. I haven't gotten into writing bylaws and filing tax forms yet--which should be much more challenging--but from skimming over those sections, I think I should be able to manage. I expect this book will have saved us hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in lawyer and accountant fees by the time our nonprofit is up and running.

I am working with a group in Sacramento to start a nonprofit French cultural group and school. Others suggested this jewel from Nolo press and it has been extrodinary. Initially, I checked it out from the library and found it so useful, I am purchasing it. The CD ROM provides all form letters and forms essential to register the organization. From state tax exemption, to federal tax exemption, to establishing a name and reduced tarriff postage, it's all there. They also provide step by step instructions to completing the dizzying federal tax exemption forms which will reduce days of your prep time. I strongly recommend this book!