Create a formation

POST /api/v1/formations

Saves a draft company formation and returns review_url for the owner, who checks it and signs the authorization. Nothing is filed or charged until they do. Every field is optional; issues lists what's left.

In the MCP server this is create_formation.

Example

curl -X POST https://api.joinopenfile.com/v1/formations \
  -H "content-type: application/json" \
  -d '{
  "entity": "llc",
  "state": "WY",
  "name": "Northwind",
  "package": "pro",
  "contact": {
    "name": "Sam Lee",
    "email": "sam@example.com"
  }
}'

Body

Name	Type	Required	Description
`entity`	`llc`, `corp`, `scorp`, `nonprofit`	No	The kind of company.
`state`	string	No	The state to form in, two letters.
`name`	string	No	The company name, without LLC or Inc.
`designator`	string	No	The ending, like `LLC`. `get_state` lists what the state accepts.
`backup_name`	string	No	A second choice, used if the state won't take the first.
`purpose`	string	No	The business purpose. A nonprofit must state a specific one.
`management`	`member`, `manager`	No	LLCs only: run by its members or by managers.
`shares`	string	No	Corporations only: authorized shares, digits only.
`par_value`	string	No	Corporations only: par value in dollars. Empty for no par.
`package`	`basic`, `pro`, `premium`	No	The package.
`ein`	boolean	No	Basic only: add the EIN. Pro and Premium include it.
`agreement`	boolean	No	Basic only: add the operating agreement or bylaws. Pro and Premium include them.
`expedite`	boolean	No	Pay the state for faster processing, where it offers that.
`members`	integer	No	LLC members, in states that charge per member.
`county`	string	No	County, where publication depends on it.
`add_ons`	array of string	No	Add-on ids to include. `list_services` shows which can be added. Recurring ones can't: only the owner can start those.
`contact`	object	No	Who to reach about the order.
`contact.name`	string	No	Full name.
`contact.email`	string	No	Email address.
`contact.phone`	string	No	Phone number.
`principal`	object	No	The company's principal address. The owner can also add it when they review the order.
`principal.street`	string	No	Street.
`principal.city`	string	No	City.
`principal.state`	string	No	Two-letter state.
`principal.zip`	string	No	ZIP code.
`owners`	array of object	No	An LLC's members or a corporation's directors. The owner can also add these when they review the order.
`registered_agent`	object	No	The registered agent the owner named.
`registered_agent.name`	string	No	The agent's name.
`registered_agent.address`	object	No	A street address.
`registered_agent.address.street`	string	No	Street.
`registered_agent.address.city`	string	No	City.
`registered_agent.address.state`	string	No	Two-letter state.
`registered_agent.address.zip`	string	No	ZIP code.

Errors

Status	When
`400`	Invalid input.
`429`	Too many requests.
`503`	undefined

The body is the error shape.

Next: Get a formation