thecorporation-form-and-operate

---
name: thecorporation-form-and-operate
description: How to use the `npx corp` CLI to manage corporate entities, governance, cap tables, finance, agents, and compliance for TheCorporation platform. Use this skill whenever the user mentions `npx corp`, TheCorporation, corporate formation, entity governance, cap table management, equity issuance, 409A valuations, board meetings, written consent, SAFE instruments, corporate agents, work items, or any task involving programmatic corporate governance. Also use when the user wants to form an LLC or C-Corp, manage board seats, issue stock options, run payroll, generate legal documents, or automate corporate compliance workflows.
homepage: https://github.com/thecorporationai/thecorporation-mono
install:
  - kind: node
    package: "@thecorporation/cli"
    bins:
      - corp
---

# npx corp CLI Skill

The `npx corp` CLI is the command-line interface for TheCorporation platform — a corporate governance system built by agents, for agents. It manages the full lifecycle of business entities: formation, governance, cap tables, finance, documents, tax, compliance, agents, and work items.

## Quick Start

### Setup

```bash
npx corp setup
```

Choose a hosting mode:

- **Local (your machine)** — no server needed. Data stored in `~/.corp/data`. Each command invokes the Rust binary directly (~6ms).
- **TheCorporation cloud** — hosted service, authenticates via magic link.
- **Self-hosted server** — point to your own API server URL.

### Local mode (recommended for development)

```bash
npx corp setup              # choose "Local (your machine)"
npx corp status             # verify — all local, no network
```

### Cloud mode

```bash
npx corp setup              # choose "TheCorporation cloud"
# Follow the magic link auth flow
```

### Advanced: Local server mode

For development with a persistent HTTP server:

```bash
npx corp serve --port 8020
npx corp config set api_url http://localhost:8020 --force
```

### Verify Context

```bash
npx corp context
```

Shows active workspace, user, entity, and hosting mode.

## Reference Resolution

The CLI supports flexible reference formats across all commands:

| Format | Example | Description |
|--------|---------|-------------|
| Full UUID | `763dde4d-ca62-4e20-90ba-662c462d4b09` | Canonical ID |
| Short ID | `763dde4d` | First segment of UUID |
| `@last` | `@last` | Most recently created resource of that type |
| Name/Handle | `"Acme Corp"` | Unique name match |

Use `npx corp resolve <kind> <ref>` to test resolution. Use `npx corp find <kind> <query>` to list matches.

## Entity Formation

### One-Shot Formation (Recommended for Agents)

Form an entity in a single command using key=value member syntax:

```bash
npx corp form \
  --type c_corp \
  --name "Acme Inc" \
  --jurisdiction US-DE \
  --member "name=Jane Doe,email=jane@acme.com,role=director,officer_title=ceo,is_incorporator=true,address=123 Main St|Dover|DE|19901" \
  --member "name=John Doe,email=john@acme.com,role=director,officer_title=cto,address=456 Oak Ave|Dover|DE|19901" \
  --json
```

**One-shot flags:**
- `--type <type>` — Entity type (see below)
- `--name <name>` — Legal name of the entity
- `--jurisdiction <jurisdiction>` — e.g. `US-DE`, `US-WY`
- `--member <spec>` — Founder (repeatable); key=value format with keys: `name`, `email`, `role` (director|officer|manager|member|chair), `officer_title` (ceo|cfo|cto|coo|secretary|treasurer|president|vp|other), `is_incorporator` (true|false), `address` (street|city|state|zip), `pct` (ownership %), `shares` (shares purchased)
- `--address <address>` — Company address as `street,city,state,zip`
- `--fiscal-year-end <date>` — Fiscal year end (MM-DD, default "12-31")
- `--s-corp` — Elect S-Corp status
- `--transfer-restrictions` — Enable transfer restrictions
- `--rofr` — Enable right of first refusal

**Important:** Member addresses use pipe `|` as separator (street|city|state|zip), NOT commas.

### Staged Formation

For more control, use the staged flow:

1. **Create** — `npx corp form create --type c_corp --name "Acme Inc" --jurisdiction US-DE --json`
2. **Add Founders** — `npx corp form add-founder @last --name "Jane Doe" --email jane@acme.com --role director --pct 100 --officer-title ceo --incorporator --address "123 Main St,Dover,DE,19901" --json`
3. **Finalize** — `npx corp form finalize @last --board-size 1 --company-address "123 Main St,Dover,DE,19901" --json`
4. **Activate** — `npx corp form activate @last --json`

The `activate` step transitions from `documents_generated` to `active` status by auto-signing formation documents.

**Staged `add-founder` flags:**
- `--name` (required), `--email` (required), `--role` (required: director|officer|manager|member|chair), `--pct` (required: ownership %)
- `--officer-title <title>` (choices: ceo, cfo, cto, coo, secretary, treasurer, president, vp, other)
- `--incorporator` (boolean flag — mark as sole incorporator)
- `--address <address>` (as `street,city,state,zip`)

**Staged `finalize` flags:**
- `--board-size <n>`, `--authorized-shares <n>`, `--par-value <value>`
- `--company-address`, `--incorporator-name`, `--incorporator-address`
- `--principal-name` (LLC manager name)

### Entity Types

`c_corp`, `llc`, `lp`, `llp`, `gp`, `sole_prop`, `cooperative`, `nonprofit`

### Setting Active Entity

Most commands require an active entity context:

```bash
npx corp config set active_entity_id <entity-ref>
```

## Governance

Governance operates through bodies (e.g., Board of Directors), seats, meetings, and resolutions.

### Full Meeting Lifecycle

```
create-body → add-seat → convene (with --agenda) → notice → open (--present-seat) → vote → resolve → finalize-item → adjourn
```

1. **Create a governance body**
   ```bash
   npx corp governance create-body --name "Board of Directors" --body-type board_of_directors --json
   ```
   Body types: `board_of_directors`, `llc_member_vote`

2. **Add seats** — `<body-ref>` is a positional argument
   ```bash
   npx corp governance add-seat @last --holder <contact-ref> --role member --json
   ```
   Roles: `chair`, `member`, `officer`, `observer`

3. **Convene a meeting** — `--type` and `--body` are required
   ```bash
   npx corp governance convene --body @last --type board_meeting --title "Board Meeting Q1" --date 2026-04-01 --agenda "Approve equity grant" --agenda "Review financials" --json
   ```
   Meeting types: `board_meeting`, `shareholder_meeting`, `member_meeting`, `written_consent`

   Agenda items are added via repeatable `--agenda` flags on `convene`. There is no separate `agenda-items add` command.

4. **List agenda items** — `npx corp governance agenda-items <meeting-ref> --json`

5. **Send notice** — `npx corp governance notice <meeting-ref> --json`

6. **Open meeting with present seats**
   ```bash
   npx corp governance open <meeting-ref> --present-seat <seat-ref> --json
   ```
   Repeat `--present-seat` for each seat present.

7. **Vote on agenda item**
   ```bash
   npx corp governance vote <meeting-ref> <item-ref> --voter <contact-ref> --vote for --json
   ```
   Vote values: `for`, `against`, `abstain`, `recusal`

8. **Compute resolution** — requires both `<meeting-ref>` and `<item-ref>` as positional args
   ```bash
   npx corp governance resolve <meeting-ref> <item-ref> --text "RESOLVED: The board approves the equity grant" --json
   ```

9. **Finalize item**
   ```bash
   npx corp governance finalize-item <meeting-ref> <item-ref> --status voted --json
   ```
   Status choices: `discussed`, `voted`, `tabled`, `withdrawn`

10. **Adjourn** — `npx corp governance adjourn <meeting-ref> --json`

### Written Consent (Alternative to Meetings)

For board approvals without a formal meeting:

```bash
npx corp governance written-consent --body <body-ref> --title "Approve Equity Grant" --description "Approve 10000 shares to Jane Doe" --json
```

Written consent produces a `meeting_id` and resolution that can be used for downstream operations like equity issuance. List the agenda items and vote to complete:

```bash
npx corp governance agenda-items @last
npx corp governance vote @last <item-ref> --voter <contact-ref> --vote for --json
```

## Cap Table

### Instruments

Create equity instruments before issuing shares:

```bash
npx corp cap-table create-instrument --kind common_equity --symbol COMMON --authorized-units 10000000 --issue-price-cents 1 --json
```

**Instrument kinds:** `common_equity`, `preferred_equity`, `membership_unit`, `option_grant`, `safe`

**Flags:**
- `--kind <kind>` (required) — instrument kind
- `--symbol <symbol>` (required) — e.g. COMMON, SERIES-A, OPTION-PLAN
- `--authorized-units <n>` — total authorized shares/units
- `--issue-price-cents <n>` — issue price in cents
- `--issuer-legal-entity-id <ref>` — auto-resolved if omitted
- `--terms-json <json>` — JSON object of additional terms

### Issuing Equity

C-Corps require board approval (a resolution) before issuing equity:

```bash
npx corp cap-table issue-equity --grant-type common --shares 100000 --recipient "Jane Doe" --meeting-id <meeting-ref> --resolution-id <resolution-ref> --json
```

**Flags:**
- `--grant-type <type>` (required) — `common`, `preferred`, `membership_unit`, `stock_option`, `iso`, `nso`, `rsa`
- `--shares <n>` (required) — number of shares
- `--recipient <name>` (required) — recipient name (not an ID)
- `--email <email>` — recipient email (auto-creates contact if needed)
- `--instrument-id <ref>` — instrument reference (auto-resolved by grant type if omitted)
- `--meeting-id <ref>` — board meeting reference (required for board-governed entities)
- `--resolution-id <ref>` — board resolution reference (required for board-governed entities)

### SAFEs

```bash
npx corp cap-table issue-safe --investor "Jane Investor" --amount 5000000 --valuation-cap 1000000000 --json
```

**Important:** `--amount` and `--valuation-cap` are in **cents** (e.g., `5000000` = $50,000).

**Flags:**
- `--investor <name>` (required) — investor name
- `--amount <n>` (required) — principal amount in cents
- `--valuation-cap <n>` (required) — valuation cap in cents
- `--safe-type <type>` — SAFE type (default: `post_money`)
- `--meeting-id <ref>` — board meeting reference
- `--resolution-id <ref>` — board resolution reference

### 409A Valuations

Three-step process:

1. **Create valuation**
   ```bash
   npx corp cap-table create-valuation --type four_oh_nine_a --date 2026-03-15 --methodology market --enterprise-value 120000000 --json
   ```
   Types: `four_oh_nine_a`, `fair_market_value`
   Methodologies: `income`, `market`, `asset`, `backsolve`, `hybrid`

2. **Submit for approval** — `npx corp cap-table submit-valuation <valuation-ref> --json`

3. **Approve** (after board resolution) — `npx corp cap-table approve-valuation <valuation-ref> --resolution-id <resolution-ref> --json`

Then check: `npx corp cap-table 409a --json`

### Transfers

```bash
npx corp cap-table transfer --from <contact-ref> --to <contact-ref> --shares 1000 --share-class-id <ref> --governing-doc-type bylaws --transferee-rights full_member --json
```

### Distributions

```bash
npx corp cap-table distribute --amount 100000 --type dividend --description "Q1 distribution" --json
```

## Finance

Key subcommands: `invoices`, `invoice`, `payroll-runs`, `payroll`, `payments`, `pay`, `bank-accounts`, `open-account`, `classifications`, `classify-contractor`, `reconciliations`, `reconcile`, `distributions`.

Monetary amounts are in **cents** (e.g., `--amount 500000` = $5,000).

### Payments

```bash
npx corp finance pay --amount 500000 --recipient "Jane Doe" --method ach --json
```

Note: Payments require an active bank account. Use `npx corp finance open-account` to create one (created in `pending_review` state).

### Invoices

```bash
npx corp finance invoice --customer "Client Co" --amount 1000000 --due-date 2026-04-01 --json
```

### Payroll

```bash
npx corp finance payroll --period-start 2026-03-01 --period-end 2026-03-15 --json
```

## Documents

### Generate a contract

```bash
npx corp documents generate --template employment_offer --counterparty "Jane Doe" --param department=Engineering --param equity_grant_type=iso --param base_salary=150000 --json
```

**Flags:**
- `--template <type>` (required) — `consulting_agreement`, `employment_offer`, `contractor_agreement`, `nda`, `custom`
- `--counterparty <name>` (required) — counterparty name
- `--effective-date <date>` — ISO 8601 date (defaults to today)
- `--base-salary <amount>` — for employment_offer template
- `--param <key=value>` — additional template parameter (repeatable)

### Signing

```bash
npx corp documents signing-link <document-ref>
npx corp documents sign <document-ref> --json
npx corp documents sign-all --json
```

### PDF Preview

```bash
npx corp documents preview-pdf --definition-id bylaws
```

**Known issue:** `preview-pdf` fails in `process://` local transport mode. Use cloud or HTTP server mode for PDF previews.

Templates: `bylaws`, `operating_agreement`, `certificate_of_incorporation`, `articles_of_organization`, `employment_offer`, `nda`, `ip_assignment`, etc.

## Contacts

```bash
npx corp contacts --json                                    # list all
npx corp contacts add --name "Jane Doe" --email jane@acme.com --category founder --json
npx corp contacts edit <contact-ref> --category board_member --json
npx corp contacts show <contact-ref> --json
```

Categories: `employee`, `contractor`, `board_member`, `investor`, `law_firm`, `valuation_firm`, `accounting_firm`, `officer`, `founder`, `member`, `other`

## Agents

Agents are autonomous actors that can claim work items and interact with the system:

```bash
npx corp agents create --name "Ops Agent" --prompt "You manage corporate operations" --json
npx corp agents skill <agent-ref> --name "gov-watch" --description "Monitor governance deadlines" --json
npx corp agents message <agent-ref> --body "Check upcoming deadlines" --json
npx corp agents pause <agent-ref>
npx corp agents resume <agent-ref>
npx corp agents delete <agent-ref>
```

**`agents create` flags:**
- `--name <name>` (required) — agent display name
- `--prompt <prompt>` (required) — system prompt for the agent
- `--model <model>` — LLM model to use

Note: Agents are workspace-scoped, not entity-scoped. No `--entity-id` needed.

Agent payloads can be size-sensitive — keep skill descriptions and message bodies concise to avoid 500 errors. Use `--body-file` or `--instructions-file` for large content.

## Work Items

```bash
npx corp work-items create --entity-id <ref> --title "File annual report" --category compliance --description "File with DE SOS" --deadline 2026-06-01 --created-by agent --json
npx corp work-items claim <work-item-ref> --by "Ops Agent" --json
npx corp work-items complete <work-item-ref> --by "Ops Agent" --result "Filed successfully" --json
npx corp work-items release <work-item-ref>
npx corp work-items cancel <work-item-ref>
```

Note: `--by` is required for both `claim` and `complete`. Alias: `--claimer` for claim, `--completed-by` for complete.

## Tax

```bash
npx corp tax filings --json
npx corp tax file --type franchise_tax --year 2026 --json
npx corp tax deadlines --json
npx corp tax deadline --type annual_report --due-date 2026-06-01 --description "Delaware annual report" --json
```

## Key Flags

| Flag | Description | Scope |
|------|-------------|-------|
| `--json` | JSON output (machine-readable) | Nearly all commands |
| `--dry-run` | Preview request without executing | Most write operations |
| `--entity-id <ref>` | Scope to an entity | Entity-scoped commands |
| `--force` | Allow security-sensitive updates | `config set` for `api_key` |

## Important Gotchas

1. **C-Corp equity requires board approval** — You must have a `resolution_id` from a governance vote or written consent before issuing equity on a C-Corp. LLCs do not have this requirement.

2. **`active_entity_id` must be set** — Most entity-scoped commands require either `--entity-id` or a configured `active_entity_id`.

3. **Dollar sign in descriptions** — `$` characters in command arguments may be shell-interpolated. In descriptions like `"$50K SAFE"`, the `$50K` can become `0K`. Avoid `$` or escape it properly.

4. **SAFE instrument is NOT needed for `issue-safe`** — Unlike `issue-equity`, the `issue-safe` command does not require a pre-existing instrument. It creates the SAFE directly.

5. **Agent payload size** — Large payloads to `agents skill` or `agents message` can cause 500 errors. Keep payloads short, or use `--body-file`/`--instructions-file`.

6. **Formation `finalize` requires complete data** — The staged flow requires `--board-size` and `--company-address` on `finalize` for C-Corps. Missing fields cause validation errors.

7. **`demo` command** — Use `npx corp demo --name "Acme" --minimal` for a reliable quick seed. Full scenarios (`startup`, `llc`, `restaurant`) may hit validation edge cases depending on version.

8. **Monetary values are in cents** — All financial amounts (`--amount`, `--valuation-cap`, `--enterprise-value`, `--issue-price-cents`, `--price-per-share-cents`) are in cents. `500000` = $5,000.

9. **Role values** — Member/seat roles are `director`, `officer`, `manager`, `member`, `chair` — NOT `founder`. Use `founder` as a contact category instead.

10. **Body type values** — Governance body types are `board_of_directors`, `llc_member_vote` — NOT `board`.

11. **Address formats** — One-shot `--member` addresses use pipe separator: `street|city|state|zip`. Staged `--address` and `--company-address` use comma separator: `street,city,state,zip`.

12. **`finance activate-account`** — Bank accounts are created in `pending_review` state. Use `npx corp finance activate-account <account-ref>` to activate before submitting payments.

13. **Formation auto-creates board** — Forming a C-Corp automatically creates a Board of Directors governance body. You don't need to `create-body` separately after formation.

13. **LLC requires pct** — LLC members require `pct` (ownership percentage). C-Corp members can use either `pct` or `shares`.

## Workflow Patterns for Agents

### Pattern: Form Entity + Issue Equity (C-Corp)

```
form (one-shot with --type c_corp) → config set active_entity_id @last → written-consent (approve equity) → cap-table issue-equity --grant-type common --shares <n> --recipient <name> --meeting-id <consent-meeting> --resolution-id <consent-resolution>
```

Note: Formation auto-creates a board, so skip `create-body` + `add-seat` if using one-shot formation.

### Pattern: 409A Valuation Approval

```
cap-table create-valuation --type four_oh_nine_a --date <date> --methodology <method> → submit-valuation <valuation-ref> → governance written-consent (approve 409A) → approve-valuation <valuation-ref> --resolution-id <consent-resolution> → cap-table 409a
```

### Pattern: Agent Task Loop

```
agents create --name <name> --prompt <prompt> → agents skill <agent-ref> --name <skill> --description <desc> → work-items create → work-items claim <ref> --by <agent-name> → work-items complete <ref> --by <agent-name> → agents message <agent-ref> --body "status report"
```

## Further Reference

For the complete command catalog with all options, run:

```bash
npx corp schema --json
```

For help on any specific command:

```bash
npx corp <command> --help
```