Often I hear that it’s onerous or silly to keep a central file of legal paperwork.

But if you are an LLC/corporation, if you fail to keep a central file of required documents, you are poking holes in your fence.

And if you poke holes in the fence, then when you need your limited liability status the most, a bulldozer can be driven through your fence. Which makes your personal assets once again up for grabs, the exact thing you didn’t want.

If you are a sole proprietorship or partnership, this file just makes your life easier when you need to find your sales tax certificate, your EIN number, or your W-9.

Short version, every business should have a central legal file where its important legal documents are stored. And what you keep in that folder depends on which legal type your business is.

What should go in that file?

All businesses should have:

• Federal Employee Identification Number
• Permits and Licenses
• Property List
• Tax Returns
• Business Books

If you are a corporation, you should also have:

• Articles of Incorporation
• Bylaws
• Board of Directors Minutes + Consents
• Shareholder Minutes
• Shareholder’s List

If you are an LLC, you should also have:

• Articles of Organization
• Operating Agreement
• Members List
• Members Meetings Minutes + Consents

If you are a partnership, you should also have:

• Partnership Agreement

Need help gathering these? We’ve got a resource specific to this in the artist’s Courtyard available to all Guide members. (Or if you need to learn how to keep your LLC on the up and up, there’s a lesson on this in the Maintain your LLC course as well!)

---

The latest from the artist’s Courtyard…

• How do you keep track of your business finances? This week’s question is all about helping you stay on top of your bookkeeping. Share your insights.
• We’ve got several upcoming events! Today is our usual Friday Rundown and April 6th is our Q&A session. View the event calendar.

Not a member yet? You can join for $45/month and get access to dozens of resources and our private (non-Facebook) online community. Join today.