Asked and Answered: If you have formed a business as a corporation or LLC you must adhere to "formalities" such as board meetings. Failure to do so will remove your personal liability protections.

Question:  How often does a Board of Directors have to meet per year? 

Answer:  The general answer to your question is that the Board of Directors do not have to meet at all. Check the rules for your state to make sure.  Some corporations, in place of annual meetings, will pass resolutions by mail.  However it is important to note that holding regular annual meetings will lend legitimacy to the corporation and make to more difficult for creditors and tort judgment holders from suing shareholders in a "piercing the corporate veil" type of suit.  Besides regular annual meetings a corporation should hold a meeting whenever an action is outside the ordinary course of business for the corporation.