Essential business relocation documents

Moving a business can be really complicated. After all kinds of moves are. It is hard enough to stay organized when moving just one person or a family, with their belongings. However, in the case of business relocation, there is a whole lot more to think about. Not only will there be more items to move, but the business relocation documents can be vastly different than the ones involved in home moving. There is some overlap with home moves. However, moving business can bring with it a potential for a lot more documents being needed. It really depends on what kind of a business you’re moving and whether you are moving in-state, across the US or internationally. To help you out with this particular issue, we’ve compiled the following guide. So let’s explore the essential business relocation documents.

DIY or hire the professionals

Before we dive into the essential business relocation documents we should first mention the one thing that can help you not deal with a lot of said documents. That is – hiring professional help! For example, professional state-to-state movers will be able to help you with all the particularities of your business move. In general terms, DIY moves are more suited for a home relocation. There are so many things to care for in an office move, that even enlisting the help of your employees may not be enough. Not to mention that involving them in the move preparations can put them in the risk of injuries.

Two people shaking hands
Business relocation can be very complex and is often best left with professionals.

Essential move-related business relocation documents

There are two categories of business relocation documents.  One concerns the documentation pertaining to the move itself. Even though it is on a larger scale, in this category, a business move is similar to a home move, as fare as moving documents go.

Bill of Lading

As professionals from moving companies Maine might tell you, the Bill of Lading will be one of the most important business relocations documents you will encounter. This is because the Bill of Lading is a legally binding document between you (or your company) and the moving company. It will include all the important information on your move, from your moving rate and origin and the destination to estimate and billing details.

Inventory

Another essential document for a business move is the inventory. After all, a company couldn’t function without its inventory so it is your primary interest to get the items it needs to function safely to the destination. The inventory will help you with that. It should list all of the items that were picked up by the moving company. It will also include notes on the condition of the items being moved as well. This will also include a note on who packed the items – the customer or the moving company.  An inventory becomes essential in damage claims, therefore it is usually included in office relocation checklists.

A laptop and a notebook
The complete inventory will be one of the most important business relocation documents

Insurance

A final piece of move-related business relocation documents will be the moving insurance. Simply put, you will be going through a lot of stress when moving your business. The larger the business, in fact, the more chances are that something will go wrong with the move. Especially with your company’s inventory. Depending on what kind of items will be moved the damages to this, can really hit your company hard. So, to avoid that and help you cope with moving stress, it might be for the best to get moving insurance. That way, in case of any damages, you can at least get some money back.

Essential business-related business relocation documents

Besides the business relocation documents that are similar to home moving-related documents, there are is some paperwork that will be tied to the fact you are moving a business. These documents will, however, be also influenced by the industry your company is in and if you are moving your company abroad.

Articles of incorporation or Organization

When moving your business from one state to another, you will need to make changes to the documents you need to file to register your business in a state.  Depending on if your business is a corporation or an LLC, these will be either articles of incorporation or articles of organization. These documents are filed with the state secretary of the state your business is in.

Two men going through documents
You need to report every change in the address of the business to the government.

Therefore when changing the state your business is in, you will need to amend your articles of incorporation or organization. Obviously this makes them essential business relocation documents. In addition to moving from one state to the next, you will also need to amend these articles with any address change. Apart from that, you will need to inform the IRS about any address change of your business.

Inspection documents

Some businesses will only have the standard office supplies to move. Others, however, might be dealing with dangerous chemicals or biohazards. For them to move their inventory they will need to pass specialized inspections depending on the specific goods they will be hauling find indoor playground in murrieta ca. Certain moving companies might have on offering specialized industrial moves that might help with passing these inspections. Either way, holding on to the inspection documentation will be vital. Especially if your inventory is in danger of being impounded.

The lease

Another essential of the business relocation documents will be the lease of your new office space. It will prove important for various registration purposes. Also, it will help you establish utilities in your new place of business and avoid any drop in productivity. Essentially the lease will prove your business has a new home!

Handling your essential business relocation documents

In this article, we’ve given a very broad overview of business relocation documents. This is because business moves vary significantly from state to state and from industry to industry. Therefore it is always advisable to consult your attorney and tax advisor when moving business. However, with the basis we just gave you, we are confident you will take this challenge on, like a pro!