Jason Lord headshot
Jason “Deep Dive” Lord • • About the Author
Affiliate Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy through them, Deep Dive earns a small commission—thanks for the support!

DIY, Not Alone: Forming a C-Corp with ChatGPT (and a Very Judgy Cat)

By -
DIY, Not Alone: Forming a C-Corp with ChatGPT (and a Very Judgy Cat)
Principle: Consult when it’s complex. Automate when it’s repeatable. ChatGPT’s job is to draft, check, explain, and iterate—so your paid time with pros targets the weird corners, not the bold headings.

Draft • Check • Explain • Iterate

✓
Draft plain-English bylaws, short organizational minutes, a bank resolution, and a contractor intake SOP.
✓
Check against your state’s formation requirements; close gaps with concrete fixes.
✓
Explain forms (e.g., Form 1120 timing, W-9/1099-NEC rules) so the process feels calm, not cryptic.
✓
Iterate to essentials: one-page minutes, concise bylaws, tidy folders you can find in 60 seconds.

Walkthrough: The Clean, Repeatable Parts

1) Name & Registered Agent

Search the state database. Pick a registered agent: DIY (frugal, less private) vs. professional (privacy, reliability). Have AI generate a pros/cons table—cost, mail scanning, service hours.

2) Articles of Incorporation

Public skeleton: name, authorized shares, agent/office, broad purpose, incorporator. Keep it minimal. Ask AI for a state-specific template with placeholders and filing instructions.

3) Bylaws & Organizational Minutes

Bylaws: board structure, officer roles, meetings/notice, committees, indemnification, fiscal year.

Minutes: adopt bylaws; appoint directors/officers; authorize stock; approve bank; set fiscal year (seal optional).

4) EIN (Fast & Free)

Apply online with the IRS; save the CP 575 letter. Ask AI to list fields ahead of time so you don’t time out mid-form.

5) Corporate Kit (Digital OK)

  • /Articles, /Bylaws, /Minutes, /Resolutions
  • /Stock Ledger, /Certificates, /Tax, /Vendors, /Calendar

If you can’t find it in 60 seconds, it doesn’t exist.

6) Bank Account

Bring Articles, EIN, bylaws, IDs, and a deposit resolution. Ask AI for a one-page resolution in your bank’s typical format. Confirm account name/signers in writing.

7) Contractors: W-9s & 1099-NEC

Collect a W-9 before the first payment. In January, identify who gets a 1099-NEC (file by Jan 31). Codify an SOP: file names (Vendor_W9_YYYY.pdf), thresholds, and deadlines.

8) Form 1120 (Annual Return)

Even if you use a CPA, prep a clean packet: P&L, balance sheet, cap table, depreciation, contractor list, statements. Ask AI for a pre-filing checklist and common errors to avoid.

When to Call Humans (Edge-Case Triggers)

  • Equity beyond straight common shares to founders.
  • Core IP created by non-employees (assignment needed).
  • Multi-state nexus, payroll or sales-tax gray zones.
  • Outside capital or debt: SAFEs, notes, covenants.
  • Audits, disputes, or letters with seals.

Motto: Map the middle with AI; pay pros for the corners.

Seven Quick Plays (Start Today)

  1. Big Red Circle: Circle today; list three tasks—Name filed, EIN obtained, bylaws drafted.
  2. Two-Document Sprint: 90 minutes; generate Articles + Bylaws v0.1 with AI.
  3. One-Page Minutes: Org minutes with a tiny agenda table. Sign, scan, file.
  4. Bank in a Box: Draft deposit resolution; book the appointment; bring IDs.
  5. Contractor Intake SOP: W-9 before first invoice; file-name convention; Jan 31 reminder.
  6. Compliance Calendar: State report, 1099s, 1120, registered-agent renewal—remind 30 days early.
  7. Edge-Case Alarm: Post your “call a human” triggers where you’ll see them.

Deep Dive Picks (Helpful Reads & Tools)

As an Amazon Associate, we may earn from qualifying purchases.

Limited: Use promo code DEEPDIVE10OFF in our merch shop through Oct 21, 2025.

Related Reading

➜ How We’re Planning to Form a C-Corp (Part 1)
➜ Follow-up Notes to the Plan

FAQ

Isn’t DIY formation risky?

Risk lives in the corners—equity nuance, IP gaps, multi-state rules. Use AI to map the middle and hire pros for the corners.

Do I still need a CPA/lawyer?

Targeted help saves time and penalties. Use AI to prepare clean drafts and specific questions; let pros focus on judgment, not data wrangling.

Like this? Share it with a founder who has three tabs open and a cat looking disappointed.

Subscribe on YouTube: Deep Dive AI · Listen on Spotify: Deep Dive AI Podcast

Deep Dive AI • Editorial vibe: bold ink, cross-hatching, and quiet confidence.
Motto: DIY, Not Alone.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Upgrade Our inTech Flyer Explore: LiFePO4 + 200W Solar (Budget to Premium)

By -
Image
Upgrade Our inTech Flyer Explore: LiFePO4 + 200W Solar (Budget to Premium) Upgrade Our 2018 inTech Flyer Explore: LiFePO4 Battery + 200W Solar Weekend-friendly power for our Dometic electric cooler, night fan, morning coffee, and device charging—without winter camping headaches. Upload 16:9 hero image here (our campsite + panel + battery) Subscribe on YouTube Listen on Spotify Read more on the Blog Our Merch Store TL;DR Replace the old starting battery with a 100Ah LiFePO4 for real 12V capacity and long life. Keep the Jackery 1000 as a separate AC station (coffee, laptops). Don’t use it to charge lead-acid unless it’s an emergency. Our 200W solar pairs perfectly with a 20A MPPT . Expect ~500–800Wh on a good summer day in Michigan. Affiliate note: Links below use our Amazon tag deepdiven1l-20 . If an item shows ASIN_HERE , we’ll drop in the real ASIN later. Shopping Lists (Amazon) — Low / M...
Read more

OpenAI o3 vs GPT-4 (4.0): A No-Nonsense Comparison

By -
Image
OpenAI o3 vs GPT-4 (4.0): A No-Nonsense Comparison Bottom line up-front: OpenAI’s o3 vs GPT-4 (4.0) OpenAI’s o3 (April 2025) is a brand-new “reasoning” model with a 200 K-token context window, a fresher May 2024 knowledge cut-off, native vision I/O, adjustable reasoning modes, and lower per-token prices than the original GPT-4 (“4.0”) from March 2023. GPT-4 still wins on mature benchmarks and instruction-following polish, but o3’s vast context, newer data, multimodal workflow and cheaper pricing make it the more attractive choice when you need big context or integrated image reasoning. Below is the fact-checked comparison. 1 · Core Specs at a Glance Feature o3 GPT-4 (4.0) First release 16 Apr 2025 14 Mar 2023 Knowledge cut-off 31 May 2...
Read more

Dear Uncle Dave — and to everyone who loves him,

By -
Image
For Uncle Dave Dear Uncle Dave — and to everyone who loves him, I wanted to put this in writing so you can hold it, reread it, and know exactly what you mean to me. When my world got small after the divorce and I lost my dad to distance and silence, you stepped in without making a speech about it. You just showed up. You became a kind of father to me—steady, funny, practical, and brave enough to dream out loud. I learned so much standing next to you. You taught me how to grow things—how to pay attention to soil and light, how to be patient, how to try again. You shared your love of the garden (and yes, the proud grower’s craft, and growers love), and you passed along that green-thumb courage. I’d send you pictures and you’d respond with advice, encouragement, and that confident “we can get this done” tone that made me feel like I could do...
Read more