# Create a business entity

**POST** `/entities/business`

Create a new business entity.

> **Note: Managing Associated Persons**
>
> After creating a business entity, use the [Associated Persons endpoints](/api/entity/get-associated-persons) to add beneficial owners and control persons. This endpoint creates only the core business entity.

### Body Parameters

- `account_usage` `array of strings` — Indicates possible uses of the accounts an entity may use at Column. Only required for a root entity.
- `address` `object` — Addresses need to adhere to character validation, as addresses are used across multiple payment rails. Characters are validated according to the [Fedwire character validation](/wire#valid-characters-permitted). Required by default.
  - `city` `string` _(required)_ — City name
  - `country_code` `string` _(required)_ — Two-letter ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code (e.g. `US`)
  - `line_1` `string` _(required)_ — Street address line 1
  - `line_2` `string` — Street address line 2
  - `postal_code` `string` — Postal or ZIP code
  - `state` `string` — State or province
- `business_name` `string` _(required)_ — Legal Business Name
- `collected_at` `object` — Field collection timestamps, keyed by field path (for example, `business_name` or `ein`). Values must be RFC3339 timestamps between `1900-01-01T00:00:00Z` and the current time. An empty map records no timestamps. Nested beneficial owner fields do not support `collected_at`; attest beneficial owners separately as person entities. Idempotency replays return the original resource without re-applying timestamps.
- `countries_of_operation` `array of strings` — Countries in which the business currently operates or expects to operate. Only ISO 3166-1 Alpha-2 Country Codes (e.g., `US`, `FR`, `UK`, `DE`, ... ) are allowed. Only required for a root entity.
- `country_of_incorporation` `string` — Country in which the business is incorporated. ISO 3166-1 Alpha-2 Country Code.
- `date_of_incorporation` `string` — Date on which the business was incorporated. Format: `YYYY-MM-DD`.
- `dba_name` `string` — Doing Business As name, if different from the legal business name.
- `description` `string` — Description of the business entity. Only required for a root entity.
- `ein` `string` — Employer Identification Number (Tax ID). This may be SSN for a sole proprietorship. At least one form of business identification (`ein` or `registration_id`) is required unless `ein_pending` is set to `true`.
- `ein_pending` `string` _(required)_ — Set to `true` if the business has applied for an EIN but has not yet received it. When `true`, `ein` and `registration_id` must not be provided. Cannot be `true` for root entities.
- `end_customer_type` `string` — Type of end customer the business serves.
- `expected_payment_rails` `string` — Expected transaction types for the account.
- `expected_use_of_funds` `string` — Expected use of funds for the business accounts.
- `has_virtual_address` `boolean` — Indicates whether the business uses a virtual address.
- `industry` `string` — Industry in which the business entity operates.
- `is_high_risk` `boolean` — Indicates whether the entity has been identified as high risk based on compliance screening
- `is_root` `boolean` — Whether this entity is going to be a root entity of the platform. Root entities have special requirements and validation rules.
- `legal_type` `string` — Type of business. Permitted values are `limited-partnership`, `trust`, `sole-proprietorship`, `corporation`, `llc`, `general-partnership`, `professional-association`, `government`, `non-profit`, `other`, `pic-piv`, `spv`, `irrevocable_trust`, `revocable_trust`.
- `makes_international_payments` `boolean` — Indicates whether the business expects to make international payments.
- `payment_volumes` `string` — Expected payment volumes. Only required for a root entity.
- `purpose_of_account` `string` — Intended use of the account.
- `registration_id` `object` — Registration ID. At least one form of business identification (`ein` or `registration_id`) is required unless `ein_pending` is set to `true`.
  - `country_code` `string` — Two-letter ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code of the issuing country
  - `number` `string` — Registration or identification number (alphanumeric, up to 32 characters)
- `source_of_funds` `string` — Primary source of funds for the business.
- `state_of_incorporation` `string` — State in which the business is incorporated. Only postal abbreviations (e.g. `AL`, `CA`, `DE`, ...) are allowed. Only required for a root entity.
- `website` `string` — Website of the business. Optional, but highly encouraged as it will increase likelihood of an automated verification.
- `year_of_incorporation` `string` — Year in which the business entity was incorporated. Only required for a root entity.

**Request**

```shell
curl 'https://api.column.com/entities/business' \
  -XPOST \
  -u :<YOUR API KEY> \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{
    "business_name": "Yellen Cocktails LLC",
    "ein": "123456789",
    "legal_type": "llc",
    "website": "https://yellencocktails.com",
    "description": "Premium craft cocktail lounge and distillery",
    "industry": "Food & Beverage",
    "state_of_incorporation": "CA",
    "year_of_incorporation": "2019",
    "countries_of_operation": ["US"],
    "registration_id": {
        "number": "123456789",
        "country_code": "US"
    },
    "address": {
        "line_1": "555 California Street",
        "line_2": "Suite 200",
        "city": "San Francisco",
        "state": "CA",
        "postal_code": "94104",
        "country_code": "US"
    },
    "is_root": false
}'
```

**Response 200**

```json
{
  "id": "enti_2Q1fIwKjnf7TmZP37mAuKjWXB2o",
  "name": "Yellen Cocktails LLC",
  "type": "BUSINESS",
  "verification_status": "VERIFIED",
  "is_root": false,
  "review_reasons": [],
  "documents": [],
  "business_details": {
    "business_name": "Yellen Cocktails LLC",
    "ein": "123456789",
    "website": "https://yellencocktails.com",
    "address": {
      "line_1": "555 California Street",
      "line_2": "Suite 200",
      "city": "San Francisco",
      "state": "CA",
      "postal_code": "94104",
      "country_code": "US"
    },
    "industry": "Food & Beverage",
    "legal_type": "llc",
    "registration_id": {
      "number": "123456789",
      "country_code": "US"
    },
    "state_of_incorporation": "CA",
    "year_of_incorporation": "2019",
    "description": "Premium craft cocktail lounge and distillery",
    "countries_of_operation": [
      "US"
    ]
  }
}
```