Dakota Business Formation Documentation Requirements

To onboard with Dakota, businesses must provide official formation documents that confirm their legal establishment. Below is a guide outlining the acceptable formation documents for each business type.

Acceptable Formation Documents by Entity Type

Sole Proprietorship

✅ Business License – Official license showing the business is legally registered.
✅ Trade Name Registration – If operating under a different business name, this document confirms the registration.
✅ DBA ("Doing Business As") Filing – Official registration showing the business name and the owner.

Partnerships

General Partnership (GP)

✅ Partnership Agreement – A signed agreement listing all partners and outlining the partnership structure.
✅ Business License – Must list all partners as owners.
✅ Trade Name Registration (DBA) – If the business operates under a different name, it must list all partners.

Limited Partnership (LP)

✅ Certificate or Registration of Limited Partnership – Filed with the Secretary of State (or similar government body) to officially form the LP.

Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)

✅ Certificate or Registration of Limited Liability Partnership – Filed with the Secretary of State (or similar government body) to register the LLP.

Corporations

✅ Articles of Incorporation – Legal document filed with the Secretary of State (or similar government body) to establish the corporation.
✅ Certificate of Incorporation – Official certificate issued by the Secretary of State confirming the corporation’s registration.

Limited Liability Company (LLC)

✅ Articles of Organization – Legal document filed with the Secretary of State (or similar government body) to form the LLC.
✅ Certificate of Incorporation – Official certificate issued by the Secretary of State confirming the LLC’s registration.

Nonprofit Organizations

✅ Articles of Incorporation – Filed with the Secretary of State (or similar government body) to legally form the nonprofit.
✅ Certificate of Incorporation – Official certificate confirming the nonprofit’s registration.
✅ Application for Tax-Exempt Status (IRS Form 1023 or 1023-EZ) – Required to obtain 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status or similar recognition.

Foundations

✅ Articles of Incorporation – Filed with the Secretary of State (or similar government body) to establish the foundation.
✅ Certificate of Incorporation – Official certificate confirming the foundation’s registration.

Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs)

If registered as a legal entity (e.g., LLC, Corporation):

✅ Formation Document – Official entity registration filed with the Secretary of State (or similar government body).

Other DAO Formation Documents (if not legally registered as an entity):

✅ White Paper – Describes the purpose, structure, and governance of the DAO.
✅ Membership or Token Agreement – Outlines member/token holder rights and responsibilities.
✅ Governance Framework – Defines decision-making and operational rules.

Cooperatives

✅ Articles of Incorporation – Filed with the Secretary of State (or similar government body), listing cooperative members.
✅ Bylaws – Confirms the cooperative’s formation and outlines governance and operational rules.
✅ Membership Agreement – Defines member rights, responsibilities, and terms of membership.

Country-Specific Requirements

Mexico

✅ Cedula de Identificación Fiscal (Tax Identification Certificate) – Confirms the entity's RFC (Registro Federal de Contribuyentes), the official tax registration number.

Important Notes:

• All documents must be clear, complete, and up to date.

• Ensure the document clearly states the entity name and formation details.

• Providing incorrect or incomplete documentation may delay the onboarding process.

If you have any questions, our team is happy to assist!