"Authorized shares" refers to the number of shares the corporation is allowed to issue under its certificate or articles of incorporation. In California, a corporation must authorize at least one share but may authorize any number.I usually advise companies to authorize around 10 to 15 million shares of common stock. Around 8 or 9 million shares are issued to founders. This corporation is authorized to issue only one class of shares of stock. The total number of shares which this corporation is authorized to issue is. Authorizing is the same as creating. Implementing a system of certificateless stock will require a resolution of the board of directors to authorize uncertificated shares. City (no abbreviations)'. When you form a California corporation here in San Diego, you must decide up front how many shares of stock you want to authorize.