Which item is required to be included in the certificate of incorporation?

• A. Name of the corporation
• B. The corporation’s annual budget
• C. Names of all directors
• D. The corporate marketing plan

Answer: (A)

The essential point is that the certificate of incorporation serves to identify the new legal entity. The name of the corporation must be included because every filing, contract, and legal action will refer to that distinct entity. Without a named entity, the state cannot grant legal existence or allow the business to operate as a separate corporation.

Internal documents like the annual budget or a marketing plan are not required parts of the formation filing; they’re planning tools used after the corporation exists. The names of directors may be required in some contexts, but the item that must appear in the certificate of incorporation to form the entity is the corporation’s name.