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Your first step to forming your own LLC will be to download the appropriate Articles of Organization form (sometimes referred to as the Certificate of Formation or Certificate of Organization) for your state.
Follow the instructions that accompany each form. Typically, you will be asked to supply a name for your Limited Liability Company; business address; whether it is managed by members or a manager; address of organizers; and identity and address of your registered agent. Some forms ask for more information.
The forms will also contain instructions for where to return them and the filing fee required.Note that Professional LLCs might have higher filing fees, depending on your state.
Most LLC Articles of Organization forms are 2 pages. Some are only a single page long and the links all direct you to the Secretary of State (or similarly named state entity registray). Many states will require an Operating Agreement. RocketLawyer has one you can fill out for free.
Many of the forms are in Adobe Acrobat Reader format, a free piece of software for viewing documents.
Even though you can download and fill out these forms, it’s important to first do a business name search as each state requires a unique name for each business entity. See how to do an LLC name search to make sure the name you want for your new LLC is available.
Chart: Find your state’s fee for forming a limited liability company.