What is an Incorporation Document?

Modified on Fri, 16 Jan at 11:52 AM

During the Qapita Spark onboarding process, you'll be asked to upload your incorporation document. This is the official government filing that legally established your corporation within a specific U.S. state. 

Understanding Incorporation Documents 

Different states use different names for this foundational document: 

  • Articles of Incorporation - Used in CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, MN, NV, OH, OR, PA, SC, TN, UT 
  • Certificate of Incorporation - Used in DE, NY, NJ 
  • Certificate of Formation - Used in TX 
  • Articles of Organization - Used in MA 


Regardless of the name, this document contains essential company details including your business name, purpose, registered agent, and most importantly for cap table setup - your authorized share capital and stock classes. 

Modified Charters: Amendments and Restatements 

Companies frequently update their original incorporation documents as they grow. If you've raised funding, added new share classes, or increased your authorized shares, you likely have: 

  • An Amendment - A separate filing that modifies specific sections of the original document.
  • A Restated Charter - A complete rewrite that consolidates all previous changes into one updated document.

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