Guide to organizing an LLC for your business in all 50 states.
City Applications has created a guide to how to create an LLC for your business in all 50 U.S. States. The essential provisions of the limited liability company laws of each state are summarized so that you can easily understand the steps involved in organizing an LLC. Select your state from the map below to get started!
In each of these LLC formation guides you will learn the following:
- How to select and register a name for your LLC. Choosing a name for an LLC is the first step before filing any documents. Great care needs to be taken in choosing the right LLC name to avoid legal risks. Our guide will explain how to search LLC name availability and what other research should be done before selecting a name for your LLC.
- What words may and may not be used in a LLC's name, including what language is must be included. The LLC laws in most states require that the LLC use certain naming conventions, such as LLC or Limited Liability Company. Other rules may also apply depending on various regulations.
- What a “registered agent” or “agent for services for process” is and how to find one for your LLC. Every LLC must have a registered agent in its state of organization, and alsoin other states where the LLC is required to register.
- What a Certificate of Organization or Articles of Organization are, what they must contain and how to file them in your state in order to properly create an LLC for your business. The Articles of Organization or Certificate of Formation, which have different names in each state, is the legal document filed with the state to creates the legal existance of your LLC.
- What filing fees you can expect to pay to create an LLC. Every state has different filing fees, including expedited services fees, 24 filing fees, 2 day filings, and other options depending on the state. There are also additional LLC fees and taxes that vary from state to state.
- What an operating agreement is and what should be considered to create one for your LLC. Every limited liability company should have an operating agreement, or in some states a "company agreement" that governs how the LLC's business will run and the rights and obligations of the members, managers and officers of the LLC. This document is extremely important when there LLC will have more than one owner.
- Where you can find free sample forms, and the third party services available that can help you with your LLC at an affordable rate. Many online services will now create the Articles of Formation or Certificate of Formation and file them with your state for a fee. There are also some free sample LLC operating agreements. Our guide gives you information about these services and things you should consider.
- How to “qualify” or “register” your LLC to do business in other states. Once you organize and form your LLC in your state, if you do business in other states, you may be required to register your LLC.
- What annual documents must be filed with your state and the associated fees. Most states require an annual LLC filing and LLC taxes, while others require filngs or fees on a less frequent basis. Our guides explain what to expect in each state.
