Form an LLC in any state, for free.

If your business operates from one place, your home state is almost always the right answer. Forming in Delaware or Wyoming to "save money" usually backfires: you still have to register and pay a registered agent in the state where you actually work, so you pay twice and file two annual reports. Out-of-state formation earns its keep in specific cases: holding companies and real estate (Wyoming, for privacy and strong charging-order protection) or venture-backed startups (a Delaware C-corporation, not an LLC). Weigh it in our LLC vs. corporation breakdown, and if you'll operate across state lines, read foreign qualification before you choose.

That's set by the state, not by us. Delaware, Nevada, Wyoming, and Colorado typically approve same-day or next-day; most other states run 5-15 business days for standard processing, and a few slow down at peak filing times. Many states sell expedited handling if you need it faster. We'll give you the realistic window for your state up front and file the moment your details check out, so nothing bounces back over an avoidable error.

Our fee covers preparing and filing your Articles of Organization, a specialist review so it isn't rejected over something fixable, an Operating Agreement template, and an EIN walkthrough. The state charges its own filing fee on top, which varies by jurisdiction: we pass it through at cost with no markup and show the exact amount before you pay. You'll find current pricing for the filing and what each state charges on the pricing page.

Yes: and not only because California, Delaware, Maine, Missouri, and New York require one. It's the document that proves who owns the company, who can sign, and what happens if an owner leaves, dies, or wants out; without it, your state's default rules make those decisions for you. It's also the first thing a bank or investor asks to see. You can generate one in minutes with our Operating Agreement tool.

Usually yes, if you have a physical street address in the state and you're there during business hours to accept legal mail. Many owners choose not to, for two reasons: the agent's address becomes public record, and a single missed service-of-process notice can turn into a default judgment. A commercial registered agent keeps your home address off the public record and makes sure nothing slips through; if you started as your own agent, switching later is a simple change of agent.

By default an LLC is pass-through: the business itself pays no income tax, and profit lands on your personal return. Once profit is steady, electing S-corp tax treatment can lower self-employment tax: but it adds payroll, a separate return, and a "reasonable salary" requirement, so it's a math decision, not an automatic upgrade. As a rough rule it starts to pay off once net profit is consistently well above a reasonable salary. We can file the election (IRS Form 2553) when the timing actually works for you.

As of 2026, most don't. FinCEN's 2025 interim rule removed the federal beneficial-ownership reporting requirement for companies formed in the United States, so a domestic LLC generally has nothing to file federally: ignore older guides that say "file within 30 days." Two cases still matter: entities formed outside the U.S. but registered to do business here, and a handful of states running their own disclosure (New York's took effect in 2026). We track which rule applies to you: see who actually has to file.

If anything could go wrong: a client dispute, an injury, an unpaid vendor: yes. A sole proprietorship gives you no separation: your home, car, and savings are exposed to business debts and lawsuits. An LLC creates that separation and, in most states, adds charging-order protection a sole proprietorship simply can't offer. It also reads as more established to banks, suppliers, and customers, which matters more than founders expect.

Yes. You don't need to be a citizen or resident, hold a visa, or ever set foot in the country. The one extra step is the EIN: without a Social Security Number, we obtain it for you directly from the IRS, which opens US banking and payment processors like Stripe. If you're an international founder, start with our EIN guide.