So many of the huge, multinational companies we do business with every day had humble beginnings. Amazon, for example, was a small, one-man operation at one point. Before you can become the next Jeff Bezos, however, you need to devise a plan for how your business will grow. If you have had some success and are curious about how you can further protect both yourself and your business, you may be wondering, how do you make your company an LLC?
Officially known as a Limited Liability Company, an LLC is a legal structure that can be applied to most businesses in all 50 states. As they are relatively easy to set up and are not subject to stringent requirements, LLCs are incredibly popular among business owners. If your business is experiencing growth and you would like to maintain that trajectory, chances are it is in your best interests to learn more about LLCs as well as how you can form yours.
How Do You Make Your Company an LLC? Start with the Basics
While LLCs are available in all 50 states (a notable distinction, as Limited Liability Partnerships, for example, are not), each state does have their own rules regarding how to form them, as well as certain annual reporting requirements. With this in mind, you are going to want to start by learning a bit more about what your state requires.
Nearly across the board, however, you will likely need to select a unique name. Most states require that LLCs have names that are clearly distinguishable from other registered companies. Often, you will have to have the words “Limited Liability Company”, or an abbreviation thereof within your name.
You will also need to select a registered agent when forming an LLC. The role of this individual is to handle all tax and government correspondence, as well as any service of legal process. Different states have different requirements about who this person can be. Some businesses opt to grant this role to in-house counsel, but smaller organizations do not necessarily need to pursue that path.
Creating Articles of Organization
With a registered agent in mind, and a name selected, it is time to complete some paperwork with your Secretary of State’s office. In most states, the required document for forming an LLC is called “Articles of Organization”. This document will call for some basic information about your LLCs members, its registered agent, its physical location, and perhaps a smattering of other details.
Once completed, you can submit this document to the Secretary of State’s office for processing. You can choose to do this by mail, or online by working with a private service such as ours at Corporation Center.
Use Our Web Forms Today
By working with us, you can save yourself a considerable amount of time, and a trip to the post office. Our easy-to-navigate website features online forms for creating an LLC in all 50 states. We also use an SSL-encrypted web portal, so you can rest easy knowing that your business’s information will be transmitted safely. To learn more, visit our FAQs page, or contact one of our helpful customer service representatives.
