{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/articles-of-incorporation","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/articles-of-incorporation","data_freshness":{"sba_records_through":"2026-05-31","fdic_records_through":"2026-03-31","dealroom_last_updated":"2026-06-15","timezone":"America/Chicago"},"source_summary":["Public SBA 7(a) loan records","FDIC institution data","DealRoom lender and franchise enrichment"],"term":{"slug":"articles-of-incorporation","term":"Articles of incorporation","aka":"Certificate of Incorporation","group":"People and paperwork","definition":"A legal document filed with the state to officially create a corporation. It establishes the corporation's existence, name, and initial structure.","what_it_means":"If you're buying a corporation or forming a new one to acquire the business, these articles are fundamental. Your lender will review them to verify the legal entity and its standing. Ensure they are properly filed and kept current.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/articles-of-incorporation","official_sources":[],"related":[{"slug":"corporation","term":"Corporation","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/corporation"},{"slug":"articles-of-organization","term":"Articles of organization","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/articles-of-organization"},{"slug":"business-license","term":"Business license","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/business-license"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"Can I use a secured personal line of credit as part of my equity injection?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-i-use-a-secured-personal-line-of-credit-as-part-of-my-equity-injection"},{"question":"Can a seller-financed portion of the sale be considered part of my equity injection?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/can-a-seller-financed-portion-of-the-sale-be-considered-part-of-my-equity-injection"},{"question":"Can a buyer's assumption of existing business debt count as part of the equity injection?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-a-buyer-s-assumption-of-existing-business-debt-count-as-part-of-the-equity-injection"},{"question":"Can I use funds from a personal line of credit as part of my equity injection?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-i-use-funds-from-a-personal-line-of-credit-as-part-of-my-equity-injection"},{"question":"Can funds from an unsecured personal line of credit be considered part of my equity injection?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-funds-from-an-unsecured-personal-line-of-credit-be-considered-part-of-my-equity-inject"},{"question":"Do all owners of an acquiring business, regardless of ownership percentage, need to provide a personal guaranty?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/do-all-owners-of-an-acquiring-business-regardless-of-ownership-percentage-need-to-provide-"}]},"caveats":["Definitions represent DealRoom's plain-English interpretation for buyers; verify regulatory terms against the official SBA and eCFR sources listed.","Not legal, tax, or financial advice, and not an SBA eligibility determination."],"citation":{"label":"DealRoom.so Glossary — Articles of incorporation","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/articles-of-incorporation","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}