There are many companies that offer LLC formation services online, and it’s sometimes difficult to determine which one has your best interests in mind.
If you’re looking to form an LLC, but you’re not quite sure where to turn, we have outlined the 14 top LLC services online. For each service will cover pricing, features, strengths, weaknesses, company stats, and what we think overall.
Alternatively, if you’re looking to save time on research and want to create your LLC today, we’ll start this list by introducing you to the #1 best LLC service out of all the 14 options and why.
Editors Pick: #1 Best LLC Service
Zen Business is the #1 LLC Service
To be perfectly honest, your opinion of the “best” service could vary considerably depending on your priorities.
For some entrepreneurs, the fastest service is the “best”. For others, it’s the company with the best core values. And for most other entrepreneurs, it comes down to the best price and what features are included with it.
That said, while all 14 online LLC services on this list receive good marks on each of these priorities, there is one who stands out with the best combination of speed, company values, and great prices/features. And that’s Zen Business.
Why They’re the Top Rated LLC Service:
- Low Prices: Their cost to form an LLC is substantially less than the industry average, which is around $99. Zen Business is just $39.
- Excellent Features: Zen Business includes the most important features in every package. While other LLC services come fairly close, Zen Business is the only one that offers LLC formation, registered agent service and an operating agreement to every entrepreneur they start a business for.
- Fast LLC Formation: They form your LLC faster than the vast majority of options out there and notify you immediately when your new company is officially created.
- Admirable Company Values: Zen Business is a socially conscious organization that uses lending to help lift people out of poverty. In the process of helping entrepreneurs create businesses in the United States, they’re also dedicated to making a positive impact across the board.
All in all, if you’d like to save a couple hours researching the 14 LLC services on this list, Zen Business is an excellent LLC service. They really do have an offering that other options can’t top – especially compared to LegalZoom.
Our Review of the 14 Top LLC Services
Keep reading for our reviews of all the top LLC formation services available.
#1) Zen Business
Form an LLC for Just $39
Zen Business, our favorite out of all LLC formation services, has been helping entrepreneurs form a business online for the last 4 years.
The Texas-based company is trying to flip the online business services market on its head by offering inexpensive LLC and corporation formation services, without sacrificing valuable features. Zen Business receives excellent customer feedback, and their options for formation are quite intriguing.
Pricing & Features:
- Starter ($39) – This plan starts with the formation essentials, including the full preparation and filing of your business formation documents. In addition, you’ll receive registered agent service, an LLC operating agreement, and a risk-free assessment from one of their in-house CPAs.
- Pro ($149) – On top of everything from the Starter package, this plan adds a federal tax ID number (EIN), a banking resolution, and their Worry Free Guarantee, which includes your annual report, up to two amendments per year, and regular compliance audits to make sure you’re maintaining your good standing with the state.
- Premium ($249) – This package starts with all contents of the Pro plan, then adds several third-party features: a business website, domain name, domain name privacy tools, and a business email address.
Strengths:
- Among the best prices in the industry
- Outstanding customer feedback
- Registered agent included
Weaknesses:
- Not as fast as some other LLC services
Company Values and Track Record
Zen Business is a relatively new company in the business services industry, as they just opened their doors in 2015. In their few years of experience, they’ve already helped thousands of customers, and they say their goal is to form one million more LLCs and corporations by 2024. Plus, they’re also a socially conscious organization that uses lending to help lift people out of poverty.
Customer Service Quality
With Zen Business, you can access their support department by phone, email, or the chat function on their website. Their hours of operation are a fairly standard 9am to 7pm ET Monday through Friday, and in our experience their reps respond quickly and provide useful information.
What We Think of Their Service
They’re our top pick for a reason! Zen Business has affordable price points, great customer feedback, and well-balanced formation packages. There are some other solid choices in this guide, but in our opinion none of them can top Zen Business.
#2) Incfile
Form an LLC for Just $0
Incfile has a unique advantage when it comes to pricing, as they offer a free LLC formation service that still includes a year of registered agent service. One of Incfile’s biggest selling points is their excellent customer feedback, as they have a high volume of positive reviews available online.
Pricing & Features:
- Silver ($0) – Incfile’s Silver package starts with the basics of formation, including the preparation and filing of your articles of organization. This package also includes 12 months of registered agent service, lifetime access to their company alerts system, and a statement and resignation of the organizer form to help you open a business bank account.
- Gold ($149) – This package includes everything from the Silver package, then adds a federal tax ID number (EIN), a binder embossed with your company name, a banking resolution, an operating agreement, and express shipping of all documents. In addition, if you want your LLC to be classified as an S corporation with the IRS, they will file the relevant forms.
- Platinum ($299) – This package includes everything from the Gold package, then adds expedited state filing which dramatically speeds up your turnaround time in most states. You also receive a collection of business contract templates written by an attorney, an embossing seal customized with your LLC info, and a third-party offer for a business website and domain name.
Strengths:
- Excellent price points
- Thousands of positive customer reviews
- 15+ years of experience
- One year registered agent service included with any formation package
Weaknesses:
- Platinum package is a bit overpriced
- Includes several third-party partner offers that don’t add much value
Company Values and Track Record
Incfile opened for business in 2004, and to date they’ve formed more than 250,000 LLCs and corporations for their clients. Even more impressive than their solid experience level is their customer feedback. Incfile has several thousand reviews available on third-party review websites, and even with such a high volume of feedback, they maintain excellent average rating scores. It’s clear that most of Incfile’s clients are satisfied with what they have to offer.
Customer Service Quality
Incfile has a good reputation for customer service, which was confirmed when we used it for ourselves. Whether you call or email them, their response times are quick, and their representatives are courteous and well-informed. They do not have the same level of personalization for customer support that some competitors like Northwest do, but Incfile still does a solid job with their support.
What We Think of Their Service
Everyone loves getting things for free, and Incfile is the only company we know of that offers a free LLC formation service (aside from your state fee). They do enough things well to be in consideration for any business formation, especially with their excellent customer feedback reputation.
#3) Northwest Registered Agent
Form an LLC for Just $225
Northwest Registered Agent is one of the best LLC formation service providers available. Their prices are reasonable for what you get, and every formation package they sell includes one full year of their premium registered agent service. In addition, they have excellent customer support, with highly knowledgeable representatives assigned to each client account.
Pricing & Features:
- Basic ($225) – Northwest’s primary offering includes the preparation of your articles of organization, and they’ll also file these documents with your state to officially form your company. This package also includes 12 months of registered agent service.
Strengths:
- Reasonable pricing model
- 12 months registered agent service included
- Personalized customer support with a dedicated representative
Weaknesses:
- Only a few dozen customer reviews available
- Prices are pretty high compared to other websites
Company Values and Track Record
They opened for business in 1998 and they’ve served millions of clients since then. They only have around 110 customer reviews (most of which you can find on Google), but nearly all of them are positive. We were unable to find more than a small handful of critical reviews when it comes to Northwest’s services and reputation.
Customer Service Quality
Northwest is well-known for their Corporate Guides, which is what they call their support representatives. Their Corporate Guides are quite knowledgeable about a variety of issues that you may come across as a client, and in our opinion, they are the best in the industry.
What We Think of Their Service
If customer support is a priority for you, Northwest could be your top pick. In addition, they have good pricing models, and their registered agent service is a strong offering. They truly are one of our favorite companies in this industry.
#4) LegalZoom
Form an LLC for Just $79
When you discuss online incorporation services, the first name that comes to nearly everyone’s mind is LegalZoom. That’s because they’ve served millions of customers, and they also advertise heavily across several different mediums.
LegalZoom’s pricing models aren’t exactly packed with value, and they do not include registered agent service with any of their LLC formation packages. In short, you can get more bang for your buck from Zen Business or Northwest, but LegalZoom has some advantages of their own as well.
Pricing & Features:
- Economy ($79) – With LegalZoom’s entry-level LLC service package, you receive the essentials of LLC formation, along with a banking resolution.
- Standard ($329) – This package adds an LLC kit and seal to the Economy package.
- Express Gold ($349) – The Express Gold plan adds rush processing with your Secretary of State’s office.
Strengths:
- Tons of experience
- Widespread name recognition
Weaknesses:
- No registered agent included
- “Standard” package is way too expensive
- Constant upsells
Company Values and Track Record
LegalZoom formed in 1999, and they’ve served 3.6 million clients since then, with over 1 million businesses formed. Their customer feedback is a mixed bag of positive and negative reviews, especially compared to the overwhelmingly positive feedback for Northwest and Zen Business.
Customer Service Quality
In our experience, LegalZoom has solid phone support. They’ve always been able to answer our questions accurately and thoroughly, and their reps are quite responsive. However, their email support is nearly worthless, as we’ve waited more than a full week to hear back from them, only to receive a form email that doesn’t address our question at all.
What We Think of Their Service
If using a massive LLC service is what you’re looking for, LegalZoom is likely a good fit. However, in our opinion, they just don’t offer as much bang for your buck as other options do.
#5) MyCompanyWorks
Form an LLC for Just $79
MyCompanyWorks is roughly comparable to LegalZoom for pricing and included features in their LLC formation packages. The most impressive aspect of MyCompanyWorks as a company is their tremendous customer feedback, as nearly all of their 2,500+ online reviews are positive. We also appreciate the fact that they guarantee that all LLC formation orders will be processed and filed with the state within one business day.
Pricing & Features:
- Basic ($79) – This package includes the essentials of LLC formation, along with a personalized operating agreement and organizational minutes.
- Entrepreneur ($199) – With this package, you’ll receive all features of the Basic plan, plus a federal tax ID number (EIN), an LLC kit and seal, membership certificates, and some business forms.
- Complete ($279) – This package adds a year of registered agent service to the Entrepreneur plan.
Strengths:
- Great customer feedback
- 100% satisfaction guarantee
- Strong registered agent service offering
Weaknesses:
- Registered agent only included in most expensive package
- Not much customer support availability
Company Values and Track Record
MyCompanyWorks has been around since 2001. Over the years, they’ve helped form 50,000+ business entities. They were even named to the Inc5000 rankings for the fastest-growing private companies in the nation in 2017.
Customer Service Quality
MyCompanyWorks has solid, reliable customer support that you can reach by phone or email. When we’ve reached out to them, we’ve always found their team members to be knowledgeable, and their response times are fast as well. However, you can only reach their support team from 11am-7pm ET on weekdays, which is a pretty short window of availability.
What We Think of Their Service
MyCompanyWorks doesn’t have any glaring negatives to their service, but none of their positives are significant enough to push them into the top tier of LLC formation services.
#6) BizFilings
Form an LLC for Just $99
BizFilings has plenty of experience, with over 500,000 business filings since they were founded in 1996. Their entry-level price is mediocre, and all of their LLC formation packages include six months of registered agent service, but their top two packages vary in price considerably depending on which state you’re forming in.
Pricing & Features:
- Basic ($99) – This package includes the preparation and filing of your articles of organization, along with six months of registered agent service.
- Standard (varies from $159-244) – The Standard plan adds an LLC kit and seal, as well as a sample operating agreement and other business form templates.
- Complete (varies from $199-434) – This package adds a federal tax ID number (EIN), a certified copy of your articles of organization, overnight shipping, and an instructional DVD.
Strengths:
- High level of experience
- 6 months registered agent included
- Strong customer support with long hours of operation
Weaknesses:
- Very few customer reviews
- Mediocre pricing
- Vague turnaround times
Company Values and Track Record
BizFilings formed in 1996, and since then they’ve formed over 500,000 business entities. Today, BizFilings is a subsidiary of Wolters Kluwer, a global compliance and information services company.
Customer Service Quality
You can access BizFilings customer support by phone or email. We have experience with both options, and we’ve always received timely support from their well-trained representatives. Their hours of operation are quite generous, as they run from 7am to 9pm ET Monday through Friday.
What We Think of Their Service
BizFilings failed to break into the top three due to the low value and high price tags of their LLC formation packages.
#7) Harvard Business Services
Form an LLC for Just $89
Harvard Business Services is an excellent provider of LLC formation service in the state of Delaware, although they do not provide service in any other state. They provide a full year of registered agent service with all of their formation packages, and they receive great customer reviews. Harvard Business Services has formed 175,000+ businesses in Delaware since opening in 1981.
Pricing & Features:
- Green ($89) – With this entry-level package, you’ll receive a business name check and the prep/filing of your articles of organization. In addition, they bundle in a year of registered agent service, a custom digital “seal,” and compliance coaching.
- Basic ($139) – This plan adds an operating agreement, digital membership certificates, a bank resolution, a hard copy of your formation documents, priority shipping, and some essential documents.
- Standard ($239) – The Standard package adds an LLC kit and seal, along with ten membership certificates.
Strengths:
- Amazing pricing for registered agent
- Fantastic customer feedback
- Solid track record
Weaknesses:
- Services only available for Delaware businesses
Company Values and Track Record
Harvard Business Services opened their doors in 1981. Since then, they’ve formed more than 190,000 business entities in Delaware. The company has grown considerably over the years, as the founder used to operate the business out of his home. Today, Harvard Business Services has office space staffed with employees in Lewes, Delaware.
Customer Service Quality
With Harvard Business Services, you can access their customer support team by phone, email, web chat, or Skype. No matter which option you choose, you’ll receive helpful, professional assistance from their representatives. We have also never had to wait very long to hear back from them.
What We Think of Their Service
Harvard Business Services likely would have been in the conversation to make the top three if they provided service in all 50 states. As is, they’re a great option for entrepreneurs looking to form a company in the state of Delaware.
#8) Swyft Filings
Form an LLC for Just $49
Swyft Filings has low price points for limited liability company formation packages, but they don’t include many valuable features. This company is a recent addition to the business formation services industry, but they serve a high volume of clients. Their best selling point is their excellent customer feedback, with thousands of reviews and high average rating scores.
Pricing & Features:
- Basic ($49) – This package includes the essentials of business formation, along with a statement of the organizer and a handful of third-party partner offers.
- Standard ($149) – This plan starts with all features of the Basic package, then adds a federal tax ID number (EIN), a custom LLC operating agreement, a custom banking resolution, and organizational minutes.
- Premium ($299) – The Premium plan adds electronic delivery of state documents, a custom digital LLC kit, expedited processing with your state, FedEx shipping, and a third-party business website and hosting offer.
Strengths:
- Low price points
- Great customer feedback
- Guaranteed same-day filing
Weaknesses:
- Formation packages lack valuable features
Company Values and Track Record
There is very little information about Swyft Filings available online. The company was founded in 2012 by an attorney, and they’ve formed thousands of businesses, but that’s all the info we could find.
Customer Service Quality
Swyft Filings offers customer support via phone, email, or web chat. They always respond quickly when we contact them, and their team members have always been able to answer our questions accurately.
What We Think of Their Service
While they do have a low entry-level price point for LLC formation, and their customer feedback is admittedly impressive, they simply do not offer the features necessary to break into the top options.
#9) Nationwide Incorporators
Form an LLC for Just $145
Nationwide Incorporators’ claim to fame is that every document they prepare is either drafted or reviewed by an experienced business attorney. While their prices may be a bit higher than some competitors for LLC formation service, their “Attorney-Powered” slogan is more than just a catchphrase. They also offer a valuable coupon on their Yelp page that can take $100 off their higher-priced formation packages.
Pricing & Features:
- Basic ($145) – With this package, you receive the essentials of LLC formation, along with a sample operating agreement and organizational minutes.
- Priority Deluxe ($325) – This plan starts with all features of the Basic package, adding an embossed minute book, a custom short-form LLC operating agreement, custom membership certificates, and a state-specific checklist of ongoing maintenance requirements.
- Priority Premium ($375) – The Priority Premium package adds custom minutes, a membership ledger, and a federal tax ID number (EIN).
Strengths:
- All documents drafted or reviewed by an attorney
- $395 for $295 voucher available on Yelp
- State-specific compliance requirements
Weaknesses:
- Pricing isn’t great
- Some services only available via phone
- Formation packages don’t include registered agent
Company Values and Track Record
Nationwide Incorporators has been around since 1997. Company founder Mike Ross has even more experience than that, as he’s been a business attorney for over 40 years. While they may not have a high client volume like some competitors do, they say on their website that you should never “confuse volume with quality.”
Customer Service Quality
You can reach Nationwide Incorporators by email or phone. We’ve used both of these options several times, and we’ve always been impressed with the quality of their support. Company owner Mike Ross often answers the phone himself, giving Nationwide Incorporators a unique advantage — none of their competitors have seasoned business attorneys answering the phones, that’s for sure.
What We Think of Their Service
Their offering of having a respected business lawyer draft or review your formation documents is intriguing, and is certainly worth the extra money for some people. In general, we think the three most popular picks offer more value-per-dollar.
#10) MyCorporation
Form an LLC for Just $133
MyCorporation has been around for over 20 years, and they’ve served more than a million business clients in those years. They receive solid customer reviews, and they also offer good support. The issues with MyCorporation start with their $34 shipping fee, which is not added into the advertised price of their packages. In addition, they offer “rush processing” for $100, but they don’t indicate how much this speeds up your turnaround time.
Pricing & Features:
- Basic ($133) – This package includes only a name availability check, and the prep and filing of your formation documents.
- Standard ($158) – The Standard plan adds one year of annual report service to the Basic package.
- Deluxe ($258) – This plan includes all features of the Standard package, then adds one year of registered agent service.
- Premium ($358) – The Premium package starts with all features of the Deluxe plan, adding a year of MaintainMyBiz service. This feature allows you to make up to four business filings in the next year at no additional cost.
Strengths:
- Strong customer feedback
- Plenty of experience
- Good client support
Weaknesses:
- Additional $34 shipping fee
- Threadbare formation packages
- Vague “expediting” service
Company Values and Track Record
MyCorporation has been in business since 1998. In their 20+ years in the industry, they’ve helped more than a million clients. They’re a woman-owned business, and you can reach their CEO directly on Twitter (@deborahsweeney) if you have any questions or comments.
Customer Service Quality
MyCorporation offers customer support by phone or email. We’re impressed by their quick response times with either option, as we’ve never waited long to hear back from them. Their reps are friendly and knowledgeable. Overall, we have no complaints about their support system.
What We Think of Their Service
While MyCorporation receives good feedback from their clients, their prices simply aren’t competitive enough to crack the top three.
#11) Rocket Lawyer
Form an LLC for Just $99.99
Rocket Lawyer handles a massive volume of clients, as they’ve helped around 20 million customers since they opened in 2008. LLC formation is just one of many services provided by Rocket Lawyer ― the centerpiece of their offerings is their legal services subscription, which provides access to qualified business attorneys and several other perks. Rocket Lawyer receives strong customer feedback, indicating that most of their clients are pleased with their service, and they also offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Pricing & Features:
Rocket Lawyer has just one LLC formation package. It costs $99.99, and includes no additional features beyond the basics of formation. If you subscribe to their legal services plan ($39.99/month), you can get LLC formation for free as a new client — existing customers are eligible for a 25% discount.
Strengths:
- Good customer reviews
- Tons of experience
- 100% satisfaction guarantee
Weaknesses:
- High pricing for LLC formations
- No features whatsoever included with LLC service
Company Values and Track Record
Even though Rocket Lawyer has only been around since 2008, they’ve already served 20 million customers. It’s not clear how many of those are business clients instead of people buying personal services (like wills or power of attorney), but it’s an impressive client volume either way.
Customer Service Quality
Rocket Lawyer offers customer support via phone, email, or web chat. Their extended operating hours are a significant advantage, as you can contact them at any time from 9am until 9pm on weekdays. Their reps are helpful and friendly, and they respond in timely fashion as well. The only (minor) issue we have with their support is that the chat function is somewhat convoluted and not very user-friendly.
What We Think of Their Service
Rocket Lawyer’s offering is rather pedestrian, lacking any characteristics that would make it stand out from a crowded pack of competitors. While there’s nothing wrong with using them to form your business, we feel there are better options available.
#12) InCorp
Form an LLC for Just $99
InCorp is much better known for their registered agent service than for their LLC formations. While they offer excellent pricing for registered agent, with a large roster of active registered agent clients, their LLC formation service is a bit underwhelming.
Pricing & Features:
InCorp only has one LLC formation service package, which costs $99 plus state fee. It just includes the basic elements of forming a company: a business name availability check, and the preparation and filing of your articles of organization.
Strengths:
- Fantastic registered agent service
- Strong customer support
Weaknesses:
- Weak LLC formation offering
- Mediocre client feedback
Company Values and Track Record
InCorp entered this industry in 1998. Today, they’re the fourth-most popular registered agent service in the nation, with 125,000+ active clients. Their EntityWatch feature is an intriguing feature, as it tracks your compliance status, maintains a calendar of filing deadlines, stores your documents, and more.
Customer Service Quality
InCorp’s customer support team is available by phone, email, or chat. They have Spanish-speaking representatives available at all times, and their operating hours run from 9am-9pm ET on weekdays. We have always been impressed by the quality of their support, and we have no complaints about the way they provide customer service.
What We Think of Their Service
LLC formation service is not InCorp’s focus, and it shows. While they are an excellent option for registered agent service, there are many other companies that offer more value-per-dollar for LLC formations than InCorp does.
#13) Harbor Compliance
Form an LLC for Just $399
Harbor Compliance has very high pricing for LLC formations, but they also have a robust collection of inviting attributes. They have positive customer feedback on several third-party review websites, valuable features that many businesses need, and a strong customer service reputation.
Pricing & Features:
- Formation ($399) – Their entry-level package starts with a name availability check, and the prep/filing of your formation documents. They also include a year of registered agent service, a federal tax ID number (EIN), and a customizable LLC operating agreement template.
- Compliance ($799) – This plan starts with all features of the Formation package, adding a year of annual report service, one year of assistance from one of their compliance specialists, and S corp or C corp tax election, if you want it. Also, where required, they provide publication service and an initial report.
Strengths:
- Fantastic customer support
- Information Center packed with learning materials
- Great registered agent service
Weaknesses:
- Very high LLC formation service pricing
- Lacking experience compared to some competitors
Company Values and Track Record
Harbor Compliance opened for business in 2012. Since then, they’ve served more than 25,000 clients. They may not be the biggest player in the LLC formation service game, but they’re a highly reliable midsize company.
Customer Service Quality
With Harbor Compliance, each client has access to one of their compliance specialists. These highly trained experts know all the ins and outs of business formations, and they can help you navigate even the trickiest aspects of business ownership. You can access their support team by phone or email, or by filling out the contact form on their website.
What We Think of Their Service
Harbor Compliance is a great company, and we highly recommend their registered agent service. However, their LLC formation pricing is far too high to earn a spot in the top three.
#14) Incorporate.com
Form an LLC for Just $99
Incorporate.com is one of the oldest companies in the business services industry, as they opened for business well over a century ago, in 1899. Unfortunately, their LLC formation service is quite expensive, costing twice as much as many competitors without adding enough valuable features to make their price point worthwhile. Incorporate.com doesn’t have good customer reviews either.
Pricing & Features:
- The Starter ($99) – This package includes only the essentials: a business name availability check, and the preparation and filing of your articles of organization.
- The Essentials ($634) – This plan adds a federal tax ID number (EIN), an LLC kit and seal, annual report service, and a compliance dashboard tool.
- The Works ($734) – The Works package adds a business license research package and a customized operating agreement.
Strengths:
- Over a century of experience
- Good customer service
Weaknesses:
- Extremely high prices
- Misleading advertising (not all advertised features are actually included)
- Bad customer feedback
Company Values and Track Record
Incorporate.com has been around since way back in the 19th century, as they opened in 1899. Over the years, they’ve served over 750,000 clients. Their name has changed a few times (from Corporation Service Company to The Company Corporation to Incorporate.com), but their core business has remained the same for over 120 years.
Customer Service Quality
One of the few things Incorporate.com does right is customer support. You can reach them via phone, email, or chat. They always reply quickly, and their representatives provide accurate information that answers any questions you might have.
What We Think of Their Service
Their baseline price point is unimpressive, and their two higher-priced tiers are wildly overpriced, considering the features included.
Conclusion – If You’re Ready to Form an LLC
Zen Business is #1
Additional Reading
How Do Online LLC Services Work?
For the most part, online LLC services require very little effort from entrepreneurs. All you’ll need to do to get your LLC formed with most of these companies is provide them with some basic information about yourself and your business. Then, you will pay the service’s in-house fees, as well as your state’s business formation fee.
From there, the service provider will draft the articles of organization, which is the document used to officially form your LLC with your state’s government. Once that form is ready to be submitted, they will file it with your state and pay the fee they collected from you. At that point, your formation is in the hands of the state.
When the state finishes processing your formation, you’ll receive confirmation of the successful LLC formation process, and your business will be officially ready to operate.
How to Set Up an LLC Yourself
Would you rather form your own LLC? This option can save you some money, as you won’t have to pay a service to form your business. However, we will note that you’ll still need to pay your state’s fee.
- Prepare to Draft Your Articles of Organization – Before you get started, you’ll need to do two things. First, you should choose a business name for your LLC, and make sure it’s available by searching your state’s business database. Secondly, you need to decide who you want to serve as your registered agent. You can hire a registered agent service or designate yourself as the agent, or you can enlist the help of a trusted family member or friend. You could also designate an attorney or accountant, but this is a rather costly option without any major advantages to make it worth the expense, in our opinion.
- Create and File the Articles of Organization – Each state has a slightly different take on LLC formation, so you should check with your state to determine what is required in this document. For the most part though, you’ll need to include the name and address of your business, the nature of business conducted by your LLC, the identity and location of your registered agent, and the names of your LLC’s owners.
- Obtain an EIN – Also known as a federal tax ID number, the Employer Identification Number (EIN) allows your business to hire employees, file taxes, open business bank accounts, and more. The EIN is comparable to a Social Security number for your company.
- Draft an Operating Agreement – While not strictly required by law, it’s highly important that you create an operating agreement for your company. This document dictates how the business will be run, and can help prevent disputes between owners in the future. In general, you should describe the roles, responsibilities, and rights of each owner, along with plans to allocate the LLC’s profits. In addition, you’ll want to set out guidelines for holding meetings and voting on important issues, and outline the process for replacing an owner.
- Open a Business Bank Account – Next, you’ll want to set up a financial infrastructure for your business by opening a bank account. This helps you keep your personal and business finances separate, and it also lends your LLC an air of professionalism. After all, your customers will feel much more comfortable writing checks to your business than they will to your personal name.
- Acquire Licenses and Permits – While some businesses can operate in compliant fashion without getting any licenses, most LLCs do require at least one license or permit. The U.S. has thousands of licensing jurisdictions, and they all have their own rules and regulations. You’ll need to check with your state, county, and municipality to make sure you have everything your business needs to remain in good standing.
Helpful Articles on Limited Liability Companies
Here at Registered Agent Ready, we have all sorts of resources to help you form and operate your LLC. Especially if you’re forming your own LLC, there are quite a few different topics that you’ll need to continuously address throughout your business life cycle. Fortunately, we have everything you need right here!
Of course, if you use an LLC formation service, you won’t need to concern yourself with some of these topics as much as if you formed your own business. That’s just one more reason why we prefer to use a reputable service, rather than forming our own LLCs.
If you have any questions about the following topics, we invite you to check out our comprehensive articles.
- What Is a Limited Liability Company?
- How Much Does it Cost to Start an LLC?
- The Advantages & Disadvantages of Forming an LLC
- When Is the Right Time to Form an LLC?
- 9 Steps to Separating Personal Assets From Your LLC
- LLC Management by Members or Managers
- How to Name an LLC
- What Is a Registered Agent?
- What Are the Articles of Organization?
- What Is the LLC Corporate Veil?
- LLC Annual Reports
- What Is an LLC Operating Agreement?
- What Is an LLC/Corporate Kit?
- What Is an LLC Organizer?
- What Is a Domestic LLC?
- How Is an LLC Taxed?