LLC Formation Guides
Do you want to start an LLC, but you’re not sure where to begin? At LLC Geek you can find step-by-step guides on starting your LLC for each state. It’s designed for the complete beginner who has never heard of an LLC before!
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Step-by-step: How to start an LLC
Starting a new LLC business is one of the most exciting and liberating things you can do. We will provide all the information you need to start your own LLC in a few easy steps. This step-by-step guide is going to walk you through the process of registering an LLC. We’ll tell you what is required to form your own company, and give some useful tips along the way.
Every state has its own law and regulation about forming an LLC. We will give you general guidelines for all 50 states so that you can get a sense of what is required in your area. You should always check with your secretary of state office to make sure you are following the correct process for your area.
Select a state for your LLC
The first step in creating an LLC is to decide which state you will be incorporating in. The state constitutes where your legal company headquarters are; it decides the jurisdiction of your business and therefore affects how courts may rule against disputes that occur in its territory. If you are planning on running a multi-state business then check out ‘National LLCs’ which allow you to operate multiple companies in different states under one central LLC.
Find a Name
Your company needs a name! It can be anything! If you already have one in mind then write it down right now. Make sure it is unique and memorable so you can easily find it when the time comes.
Laws also require that your company name be written in such a way that it does not resemble another, existing LLC or doing business as (DBA) name. The last thing you want is for your company to get snared up in legal problems because of a simple name mix-up!
Choose a Registered Agent
A registered agent is an individual (it can be you!) who has registered with the State Secretary’s office as the point of contact for your company. This person or entity will act as secretary to your LLC, taking on administrative tasks like serving court summons and maintaining minutes and files of corporate meetings. Your registered agent will be handed all legal documents that come your company’s way and is expected to forward them to you without conversing with the sender.
Texas Registered Agents
Florida Registered Agents
New York Registered Agents
California Registered Agents
Georgia Registered Agents
Ohio Statutory Agents
Arizona Statutory Agents
Michigan Resident Agents
Maryland Resident Agents
Indiana Registered Agents
Minnesota Registered Agents
Missouri Registered Agents
Massachusetts Registered Agents
Nevada Registered Agents
Illinois Registered Agents
North Carolina Registered Agents
Pennsylvania Registered Agents
Virginia Registered Agents
Louisiana Registered Agents
New Jersey Registered Agents
Colorado Registered Agents
Delaware Registered Agents
Vermont Registered Agents
Wisconsin Registered Agents
Utah Registered Agents
Connecticut Registered Agents
Oregon Registered Agents
Wyoming Registered Agents
Oklahoma Registered Agents
Alabama Registered Agents
Kansas Registered Agents
Iowa Registered Agents
Tennessee Registered Agents
South Dakota Registered Agents
Montana Registered Agents
New Mexico Registered Agents
Idaho Registered Agents
Kentucky Registered Agents
Hawaii Registered Agents
Arkansas Registered Agents
Maine Registered Agents
Mississippi Registered Agents
Alaska Registered Agents
New Hampshire Registered Agents
South Carolina Registered Agents
North Dakota Registered Agents
Washington Registered Agents
Nebraska Registered Agents
West Virginia Registered Agents
Rhode Island Registered Agents
File the Articles of Organization
The state government will not acknowledge your new company as a legal entity until you have filed the required documents. These can be done through the Secretary of State, online, or on paper. Once you have filed them then you are officially an LLC!
All LLCs must file an Annual Report with the state for compliance purposes. This report contains information about your company’s structure, profits, and officers. It must be filed to keep your LLC active and IRS-compliant.
Create an Operating Agreement
An operating agreement is a very important document you will need when starting up your LLC because it sets out in detail how the business should be run, it also allows you to outline what your relationship with partners is and explains their rights as well as responsibilities.
Would you rather use a service?
LLC Formation Services make it much easier to form an LLC. We have found the best LLC formation services and reviewed them so that you can make a more educated decision when choosing the right one for you.
Best LLC Formation Services: Explore our picks
- Comprehensive LLC formation services
- User-friendly platform
- Excellent customer support
- Offers mobile app
- Upselling unwanted services
- Not the most affordable RA service
- Comprehensive branding tools
- Free starter package (excl. state fee)
- Free business plan included
- User-friendly interface
- No mobile app
- Privacy by default service.
- Affordable LLC formation fee.
- Free registered agent for 1 year.
- Comprehensive RA services.
- Exceptional customer support.
- No mobile app available.
- Pricey add-ons.
