How To Create an LLC: The Ultimate Guide

A limited liability company (LLC) is a business entity that marries an owner-friendly pass-through tax structure with legal and financial liability protection. Add management flexibility and ease of formation to the mix and you'll understand why this company type has been the most popular choice among small business owners since an IRS ruling clarified the innovative new corporate structure’s tax status in 1988.

If you’ve made a decision to structure your sole proprietorship as a limited liability company or you want to start a completely new business but don’t know how to create an LLC, we suggest you keep reading our step-by-step guide.

We’ll walk you through the LLC creation process, share all the important steps you need to take after forming your company, explain all the differences between LLCs and other popular entity structures, and let you know how to find additional state-specific information.

Before we elaborate on how to start an LLC, let’s take a look at some pros and cons.

Benefits of Forming an LLC

The advantages of structuring your business as an LLC - rather than operating as a general partnership, limited liability partnership, sole proprietorship, or starting a corporation - surpass its drawbacks in most cases.

• Limited liability: The most apparent advantage of creating an LLC is shielding your personal assets. In most cases, LLC members will be protected from legal claims against the company and not be personally responsible for any business debts.
• Pass-through taxation: As "pass-through" or "flow-through" entities, LLCs do not pay any entity-level taxes as C corporations do. LLC income is “passed-through" to members, who report it on their personal tax returns.
• Flexible membership: Unlike an S corporation, which is a federal tax election and is more restricted regarding who can be a shareholder, an LLC offers the benefit of flexible membership. Members (owners) can be individuals, partnerships, corporations, and trusts. There are no limits to the number of members.
• Management: Unlike corporations, which are managed by a board of directors, LLCs can be managed by their members or a management group.
• Enhanced credibility: Creating an LLC may help a new company increase its credibility, especially compared to businesses operating as partnerships or sole proprietorships.
• Limited compliance requirements: Businesses structured as LLCs face fewer state-imposed formalities - such as annual compliance requirements - than almost any other company type.

Disadvantages of Forming an LLC

There are a few disadvantages of LLC formation. However, in most cases, the benefits significantly outweigh the drawbacks of this company type.

• Cost: Compared to a partnership or sole proprietorship, an LLC can be a little more expensive to form and maintain. On top of the start-up filing fees, many states also impose ongoing charges, such as annual report fees.
• Transferable ownership: Transferring ownership is more complicated with an LLC than with a corporation. In most cases, all members must approve alterations in ownership percentages of existing members and adding new members.

How To Create an LLC in Six Easy Steps

Providing that you know what you’re doing, starting your own business doesn’t have to be complicated, especially if you decide to structure it as a limited liability company.

However, although the LLC formation procedure isn’t as complex as starting a corporation, you’ll still need to follow several steps to ensure that you’ve done everything correctly.

To help you get started, we’ve broken down all LLC formation-related activities into six steps.

Choosing Your State of Formation

Although you are allowed by law to establish an LLC in any state - even if your company won’t be operating there - most new business owners choose to form an LLC in the state they live in, which is usually also the state where they plan to do business.

When selecting your state of formation, it's important to remember that the registration costs, taxation rules, and LLC laws can vary widely from state to state, making some parts of the country more favorable for certain small businesses.

That's why some entrepreneurs assume they will save money by incorporating in a state with low fees (such as Delaware or Nevada), even if they don't plan on conducting business in that state.

Bear in mind that LLCs formed in one state but operating in another must obtain a foreign qualification in each state of operation. In other words, if your business will have some type of physical presence (offices, storefronts, sales reps, etc.) in different states, you'll have to register a foreign LLC in every state of operation. Note that this may significantly increase your administrative costs.

In most states, LLC formation documents are filed with the Secretary of State. However, some states have a separate department that handles business filings.

Naming Your LLC

There are two important aspects to choosing your new LLC name.

First, you need to pick a business name that hasn't already been taken by another domestic or qualified legal entity in your state of formation. While states have slightly different regulations, most do not allow two business entities to have the same name.

To determine the business name you want is available, search your Secretary of State's website. If you’re not ready to file your LLC formation paperwork, we recommend reserving the name you like. In most states, you can do this for a small fee.

On a side note, we suggest you perform a trademark search of your desired name with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to ensure you don't confuse your customers or violate any intellectual property regulations.

Second, your company's name must comply with state-specific LLC regulations. While each state has somewhat different rules regarding LLC names, there are some general guidelines:

• The phrase "limited liability company" or its abbreviation (LLC or L.L.C.) must form a part of your business name.
• Words that could confuse your limited liability company with a government agency are off-limits, and so are the terms “corporation” and “incorporated.”
• Certain words, such as "insurance,” "attorney,” "bank,” or "university," are prohibited unless a licensed individual such as a lawyer or doctor will be a part of your LLC.

If you plan to run your business under a name different from the business name, you’ll also need to register a “doing business as” (DBA) name, also known as a trade name or assumed name.

Appointing a Registered Agent

An LLC’s registered agent (also referred to as an agent for service of process) is a person or business that sends and receives official correspondence such as document filings and legal summons on your behalf. 

Whether you are forming a new LLC or registering an existing one to operate in a foreign state, you are oRememberw to appoint a registered agent with a physical street address (not a PO box) in the state of registration.

Even though one of the LLC's owners can also represent the company as its registered agent, we highly recommend hiring a business that provides registered agent services, as the company will always be there to take delivery of notices and other important documents.

Filing Your LLC With the State

To officially create an LLC, you’ll need to file articles of formation with the Secretary of State’s office. In some states, LLC articles of formation are referred to as the certificate of formation or the certificate of organization.

While no two states have exactly the same LLC registration documents, these legal documents generally have certain common elements, such as:

• Business’s name, purpose, and principal location
• Registered agent’s name and physical address
• LLC's management structure (member-managed or manager-managed)

Note that you’ll be charged a state filing fee, which may vary across the United States. Once your request has been approved, you’ll receive a confirmation document. Issued by the state, this document serves as proof of the LLC’s legal status and can be used to obtain an EIN and open a business bank account.

In some states, you may also be required to publish an LLC registration notice, usually in a local newspaper.

Creating an LLC Operating Agreement

Although most states may not officially require it, we recommend you create an LLC operating agreement. This internal document outlines your new company’s member roles and ownership interests.

Should you decide not to create an operating agreement, state laws will dictate how your limited liability company operates.

LLC operating agreements have the following six main sections:

• Organization: States when and where the LLC was created, lists the company’s members, and describes its ownership structure.
• Management and voting: Addresses how the company will be managed and outlines the members’ rights, responsibilities, and voting powers.
• Capital contributions: Lists the members who will support the LLC financially and outlines a plan on how additional funds will be raised moving forward.
• Distributions: Describes how the LLC’s profits and losses will be shared among its members.
• Membership changes: Covers the process of adding or removing members along with the mechanism of transferring ownership shares.
• LLC dissolution: Defines the circumstances under which the company may be dissolved.

Getting an EIN

After your official LLC creation, you’ll need to apply for an EIN to be able to open a business bank account and hire employees. Provided by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), an Employer Identification Number (EIN) works like a Social Security number for your company.

A single-member LLC with no employees (disregarded entity) does not need an EIN. However, if you have formed an LLC with more than one member, you’ll still need this identification number even if you don’t plan on hiring any employees.

You can acquire your EIN by filling out an application form online, by phone, or by fax. Alternatively, you can hire an LLC service provider to do it for you.

Additionally, in each state of operation, you’ll need to apply for a Sales Tax Identification number from the State's Tax Department and register with the Labor Department.

Further Reading - Reviews of the top LLC formation services & more

• ZenBusiness Review
• Incfile Review
• Inc Authority Review
• Swyft Filings Review
• LLC or Incorporation: Which Should You Choose?
• Can an LLC own another limited liability company?

Important Steps After Starting an LLC

Congratulations, you’ve formed your LLC! Don’t spend too much time celebrating, as you’ve still got some post-formation work to do. Here’s an overview of all additional steps you’ll have to take before officially opening for business.

Open a Business Bank Account

While this step can’t be considered a legal requirement, separating your company’s finances from your personal ones by opening a separate business bank account is a key best practice for new LLC owners.

If your personal and business assets are mixed, you risk losing your personal valuables (such as your home and car) if legal action is taken against your LLC. That's why using separate bank accounts is necessary to shield your business's corporate veil.

Applying for a business bank account is simple and easy. With most banks, you’ll be required to provide basic information, such as the LLC’s formation date and the owners’ names and addresses. Given that some banks may have additional requirements, we suggest you contact your provider of choice before opening an account.

Register Your LLC with Relevant Tax Authorities

As far as state taxes go, the nature and location of your business will determine your LLC’s requirements. You may even need to register for multiple forms of state tax. The most common forms include:

• Sales and use tax: If you are selling goods and collecting tax from your consumers, you’ll need to remit a percentage of the selling price to the government.
• Franchise tax: Although not required nationwide, this tax is based on how much an LLC earns annually.
• Withholding tax: Withheld from employee paychecks to be given to the government, this type of tax is paid by business owners who have employees.
• Unemployment insurance (UI) tax: UI tax rates are set by state laws. The funds accumulated through this form of tax are used by the government to cover unemployment benefits.

Set up Accounting

Keeping track of your LLC’s finances can be daunting, but it must be done properly. If you’re a new business owner, you’ll be surprised at the expenses you’ll need to keep up with even before officially opening for business.

As soon as you register your LLC, you’ll need an effective accounting system to help you supervise your business finances (including bills, income, and expenses), plan the budget for running and growing your LLC, and simplify your annual tax filing.

If you can’t handle this aspect of the business by yourself, we recommend hiring a certified accountant or exploring the best accounting software options.

Obtain LLC Licenses and Permits

Depending on the nature of your business, you may need to obtain certain licenses and permits to start operating and stay compliant. While business license requirements usually vary depending on your state, county, and city laws, some business activities require permits and licenses on the federal level.

The activities in question involve:

• Agriculture
• Aviation
• Alcoholic beverages
• Ammunition and firearms
• Explosives
• Fish and wildlife
• Waterborne transportation
• Nuclear energy
• Mining and drilling
• Television and radio broadcasting
• Transportation and logistics

If you need help researching LLC license requirements for your company, hiring a professional would be a smart business move. Most companies that offer LLC services make obtaining business licenses a part of their portfolio.

Get Business Insurance

Business insurance protects businesses from financial damage due to unexpected events such as accidents, professional errors, property damage, and workers’ compensation claims. There are several types of business coverage that you should consider, especially as a small business owner:

• Workers’ compensation insurance: Mandatory in almost all 50 states, this type of insurance covers work-related injuries, diseases, rehabilitation costs, and lost wages no matter who is at fault.
• General liability insurance: Also referred to as commercial liability insurance or small business liability insurance, this type of coverage protects your business against claims such as bodily injury, property damage, and advertising liability. Although you’re not legally required to get general liability insurance, we strongly recommend you do. Without this coverage, a lawsuit could force your LLC out of business.
• Professional liability insurance: Also known as errors and omissions coverage, this type of insurance protects you if you fail to do something you should have or if you end up doing something you shouldn’t have. Professional liability insurance also guards you against mistakes made by your employees and subcontractors.

Comply With Hiring Laws

Your business is expanding, and you’re looking to bring your first employees on board. While that’s great news for your LLC, keep in mind that the hiring process comes with several legal requirements. Here’s what you’ll need to do:

• Make sure that your prospective employees are able to work in the United States. In some situations, the services of background check companies can be helpful.
• Report your new hires to the state.
• Provide all employees with workers' compensation insurance.
• Withhold employee taxes.
• Pay your workers at least the federal minimum wage, as frequently as your state requires.

LLC vs. Other Business Entity Types

In addition to limited liability companies, S corps (also known as S corporations, subchapter, or small business corporations) and C corps (C corporation) are the other two main types of for-profit business structures. Each of these company types has its own set of advantages and disadvantages.

To decide whether to start an LLC, a C corporation, or an S corporation, you’ll need to consider several factors, such as taxation, flexibility, ownership structure, and treatment of shares or ownership interest.

To help you choose the best entity type, we’ve broken down the differences and similarities between the three company structures.

Finding State-Specific Information

When setting up an LLC (or any other type of business), you need to make sure you are well informed about the regulations and tax filing requirements of your state of formation.

Your state's Secretary of State website is an excellent place to obtain a form meeting state law requirements and to inform yourself about how to remain in good standing with your state after your LLC is formed.

To help you gather all the information as  fast as possible, we’ve compiled a list of website links and telephone numbers for Secretary of State offices of all US states and territories. Note that, where it was possible, we made sure to include the phone numbers of the Secretariats' business service departments: