Get Your LLC Online

Select your filing state to get started:

Is this your first time forming an LLC?

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Have you started doing business?

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How It Works

How it works:

1.Choose your state of formation
2.Fill out the online application
3.Pay state fees
4.Receive your formation documents

The Process of LLC Application

Getting an LLC means registering your business with your state as a Limited Liability Company. After approval, the LLC exists as its own legal entity. It owns the business's assets, signs contracts in its own name, and absorbs the company's debts. As long as you keep the LLC's affairs separate from your personal finances, your home, savings, and other personal assets generally stay out of any business dispute.

The mechanics are similar in every state. Pick a unique business name, name a registered agent with a physical address in your formation state, file Articles of Organization (or Certificate of Formation, depending on the state) with the state's business filing agency, and apply for an EIN with the IRS. FormationHub takes care of the filing in all 50 states and adjusts each submission to match the specific state's requirements.

The LLC is also flexible in ways a corporation isn't. There's no minimum number of members. Most states don't require members to be U.S. residents. And taxation is up to you. Single-member LLCs are taxed like sole proprietorships by default, multi-member LLCs are taxed like partnerships, and either can elect S-corporation or C-corp taxation if it fits your situation. That flexibility is why the LLC remains the default structure for most new small businesses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to common questions about LLC formation

An LLC, or Limited Liability Company, is a business structure that separates you personally from your business. Owners are called members, and an LLC can have one member or many. Most small business owners pick it because it's simpler to run than a corporation while still giving you legal separation between you and the business.

The main reason people form an LLC is liability protection. If your business runs into debt or gets sued, your personal assets, including your home, savings, and car, are generally separate from the business. Only what's inside the LLC is on the line. The protection isn't bulletproof (you still have to keep business and personal finances separate and file properly), but it's a meaningful legal wall you don't get as a sole proprietor.

By default, an LLC is taxed as a pass-through entity. The business itself doesn't pay federal income tax. Profits and losses pass through to the members and show up on their personal returns, which avoids the double taxation a C-corp can face. LLCs can also elect S-corporation tax treatment if it fits the owners' situation. Talk to your tax advisor about which option works best for you.

Your total depends on your state's filing fee plus the service options you choose. Before you pay, you'll see the full breakdown of state fee, our service, and any add-ons you select, so there are no surprise charges.

You pick a state, choose a business name, name a registered agent in that state, file Articles of Organization (or your state's equivalent), and apply for an EIN with the IRS. FormationHub combines all of this into one online application and handles the filing for you.

Filling out the application takes about 5 to 10 minutes. State approval times vary. Some states process LLCs within a few business days. Others take a few weeks. Expedited processing is usually available for an additional state fee if you need approval faster.

No. You can form an LLC in any state, regardless of where you live, as long as you have a registered agent with a physical address in that state. Most owners form in the state where they actually do business to avoid the complications of foreign LLC registration in their home state.

An LLC is a registration, not a license. Once approved, you may need separate business licenses or permits depending on your industry and location. Those are issued by federal, state, or local agencies, not by the office that registered your LLC.

For most owners, the best state is the one where you actually live and run your business. Some states are popular for incorporation strategies, but if you operate elsewhere you usually have to register as a foreign LLC in your home state, which means paying two sets of fees and tracking compliance in two places.

Your stamped formation document from the state (Articles of Organization, Certificate of Formation, or whatever your state calls it), an Operating Agreement template, and a state-specific compliance checklist. If you order an EIN through us, you also receive your IRS EIN confirmation letter.

Yes. U.S. citizenship and residency aren't requirements for forming a U.S. LLC. You'll need a registered agent with a U.S. address in your formation state, which we provide, and a way to apply for an EIN. Non-U.S. applicants typically apply for an EIN using IRS Form SS-4.

Open a business bank account, apply for any licenses or permits your industry needs, set up bookkeeping, and put recurring state filings on your calendar. Most states require an annual or biennial report to keep your LLC in good standing. We send reminders before each one is due.

FormationHub provides document preparation and filing services for business formations. We are not a law firm, accounting firm, or government agency, and we do not offer legal, tax, or financial advice. The information on this site is for general informational purposes only. Our service handles the preparation and submission of your LLC formation documents to the appropriate state authority on your behalf. FormationHub operates independently and is not endorsed by, affiliated with, or connected to any Secretary of State office or government body. We strongly recommend consulting a qualified attorney or tax professional for guidance specific to your situation.