Do I need an attorney to incorporate?

You do not need an attorney to incorporate, unless you need to structured special agreements for your employees or or need different types of stocks for employees and potential investors. If you are running a small business that you are the main investor and you are the main employee, you do not need an attorney to structure your company.

Should I hire someone to help me incorporate?

Even though it is possible to do all the paperwork for incorporating yourself, the process can very time consuming if you have never done it before and you might not do it correctly. The government forms aren't comlicated, but they are also not always obvious to understand. It is also not always clear what you need to file and not file.

There are many firms that specialize in incorporating businesses that can perform the service for a relatively small fee. It will probably cost you about $500-$800 to incorporate depending on your state. As part of the service of incorporating your company, they will create you bylaws and draft up your initial minutes. In some cases, they will also offer you registered agents services for the first year.

Companies focused on incorporations do this work every day, so all the paperwork will be done correctly for your specific situation. They should also be able to advise you on what annual paperwork is required to maintain your company.