Gullia Filing
Free course - 15 lessons

Limited Liability Company (LLC)

The complete free course on forming and running a US LLC

An LLC is the most common way to put a legal wall between your business and your personal assets in the United States. This course walks through the whole process in plain English, from deciding whether an LLC suits you to keeping it compliant year after year. You can follow every step yourself. If you would rather not, we file it for you.

Quick answers

How much does an LLC cost?

State filing fees currently range from under $50 to several hundred dollars, and most states also charge an annual or biennial report fee. Our state cost pages show the current figure for each jurisdiction.

See LLC costs by state

How long does it take?

Online filings in fast states are often approved within a few business days. Mail filings and slower states can take several weeks. Many states offer paid expedited processing.

Do I need a registered agent?

Yes. Every US state requires an LLC to maintain a registered agent with a physical street address in the state of formation.

Which state should I form in?

There is no single best state. If you operate from one state, forming there is usually simplest, because operating elsewhere normally means registering in that state anyway.

Non-resident state guide

Course lessons

  1. 1What is an LLC?How a limited liability company works and what it actually protects.
  2. 2Who should consider an LLC?When an LLC is the right call, and when another structure fits better.
  3. 3Choosing the state for your LLCWhy your home state is usually right, and when it is not.
  4. 4LLC costs and timelinesWhat you actually pay in year one and every year after.
  5. 5Choosing and checking an LLC nameState naming rules, availability searches and trademark screening.
  6. 6Choosing a registered agentWhat the agent does, who can serve, and when to use a service.
  7. 7Filing the LLC formation documentsWhat goes in the Articles of Organization and how to submit them.
  8. 8Operating agreements and internal documentsThe internal contract that decides what happens when things go wrong.
  9. 9Getting an EINThe federal tax ID, how to apply, and what to do without an SSN.
  10. 10Business licences and permitsFederal, state, county and city requirements that formation does not cover.
  11. 11Business banking and separating financesOpening the account and keeping the liability shield intact.
  12. 12LLC taxes and tax electionsDefault tax treatment, elections available, and state-level obligations.
  13. 13US LLCs for non-US foundersOwnership, EINs, addresses, banking and federal filings for foreign owners.
  14. 14Formation vs foreign qualificationWhere to form, and what happens when you operate somewhere else.
  15. 15Ongoing LLC complianceThe annual rhythm that keeps the company in good standing.
Start lesson 1

State by state guides

Fees, deadlines and filing steps for individual jurisdictions, each checked against official government sources.

Find your state

Search by name, or pick a state from the list to open its full guide.

51 jurisdictions, each checked against official government sources.

Popular guides

Delaware Wyoming Texas Florida California New York Nevada Washington, DC

Browse all 51 states

Start an LLC in AlabamaCertificate of Formation filed with the Alabama Secretary of StateStart an LLC in AlaskaArticles of Organization filed with the Alaska Department of CommerceStart an LLC in ArizonaArticles of Organization (Form L010) filed with the Arizona Corporation CommissionStart an LLC in ArkansasCertificate of Organization (Form LL-01) filed with the Arkansas Secretary of StateStart an LLC in CaliforniaArticles of Organization (Form LLC-1) filed with the California Secretary of StateStart an LLC in ColoradoArticles of Organization filed with the Colorado Secretary of StateStart an LLC in ConnecticutCertificate of Organization filed with the Connecticut Secretary of the StateStart an LLC in DelawareCertificate of Formation filed with the Delaware Division of CorporationsStart an LLC in FloridaArticles of Organization filed with the Florida Department of StateStart an LLC in GeorgiaArticles of Organization filed with the Georgia Secretary of StateStart an LLC in HawaiiArticles of Organization for Limited Liability Company (Form LLC-1) filed with the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer AffairsStart an LLC in IdahoCertificate of Organization filed with the Idaho Secretary of StateStart an LLC in IllinoisArticles of Organization (Form LLC-5.5) filed with the Illinois Secretary of StateStart an LLC in IndianaArticles of Organization filed with the Indiana Secretary of StateStart an LLC in IowaCertificate of Organization filed with the Iowa Secretary of StateStart an LLC in KansasArticles of Organization filed with the Kansas Secretary of StateStart an LLC in KentuckyArticles of Organization filed with the Kentucky Secretary of StateStart an LLC in LouisianaArticles of Organization filed with the Louisiana Secretary of StateStart an LLC in MaineCertificate of Formation (Form MLLC-6) filed with the Maine Secretary of StateStart an LLC in MarylandArticles of Organization filed with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT)Start an LLC in MassachusettsCertificate of Organization filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of MassachusettsStart an LLC in MichiganArticles of Organization (Form CSCL/CD-700) filed with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory AffairsStart an LLC in MinnesotaArticles of Organization filed with the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of StateStart an LLC in MississippiCertificate of Formation filed with the Mississippi Secretary of StateStart an LLC in MissouriArticles of Organization (Form LLC-1) filed with the Missouri Secretary of StateStart an LLC in MontanaArticles of Organization filed with the Montana Secretary of StateStart an LLC in NebraskaCertificate of Organization filed with the Nebraska Secretary of StateStart an LLC in NevadaArticles of Organization filed with the Nevada Secretary of StateStart an LLC in New HampshireCertificate of Formation filed with the New Hampshire Secretary of StateStart an LLC in New JerseyPublic Records Filing for New Business Entity (Certificate of Formation) filed with the New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise ServicesStart an LLC in New MexicoArticles of Organization filed with the New Mexico Secretary of StateStart an LLC in New YorkArticles of Organization filed with the New York Department of StateStart an LLC in North CarolinaArticles of Organization (Form L-01) filed with the North Carolina Secretary of StateStart an LLC in North DakotaArticles of Organization filed with the North Dakota Secretary of StateStart an LLC in OhioArticles of Organization (Form 610) filed with the Ohio Secretary of StateStart an LLC in OklahomaArticles of Organization filed with the Oklahoma Secretary of StateStart an LLC in OregonArticles of Organization filed with the Oregon Secretary of StateStart an LLC in PennsylvaniaCertificate of Organization Domestic Limited Liability Company (DSCB:15-8821) filed with the Pennsylvania Department of StateStart an LLC in Rhode IslandArticles of Organization (Form 400) filed with the Rhode Island Department of StateStart an LLC in South CarolinaArticles of Organization filed with the South Carolina Secretary of StateStart an LLC in South DakotaArticles of Organization filed with the South Dakota Secretary of StateStart an LLC in TennesseeArticles of Organization (Form SS-4270) filed with the Tennessee Secretary of StateStart an LLC in TexasCertificate of Formation (Form 205) filed with the Texas Secretary of StateStart an LLC in UtahCertificate of Organization filed with the Utah Department of CommerceStart an LLC in VermontArticles of Organization (Form LLC-1(D)) filed with the Vermont Secretary of StateStart an LLC in VirginiaArticles of Organization (Form LLC-1011) filed with the Virginia State Corporation CommissionStart an LLC in WashingtonCertificate of Formation filed with the Washington Secretary of StateStart an LLC in Washington, DCArticles of Organization for a Domestic Limited Liability Company (Form DLC-1) filed with the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer ProtectionStart an LLC in West VirginiaArticles of Organization of Limited Liability Company (Form LLD-1) filed with the West Virginia Secretary of StateStart an LLC in WisconsinArticles of Organization filed with the Wisconsin Department of Financial InstitutionsStart an LLC in WyomingArticles of Organization filed with the Wyoming Secretary of State

Prefer to have someone handle the filing?

You can file directly with the state using the steps above. If you would rather have Gullia Filing prepare and file your formation documents, run the name check and act as your registered agent, we handle the process end to end.

Start your LLC formation See pricing

Official sources

Last reviewed: September 2026