To start an LLC, you'll need to create articles of organization. This simple document lays out basic information about your LLC—like the name of your company and the purpose of your business. File it with the appropriate state office to make your LLC an official entity.
States vary in how they refer to the document and the office where you will file it. This guide covers what LLC articles of organization are, how to file them, and important state information you should know to make your LLC official.
What are articles of organization for an LLC?
Articles of organization, sometimes known as a certificate of organization or certificate of formation, is an official document that outlines basic details about your company. You must file this document with your state in order to officially establish a business as an LLC. You can think of them as birth certificates for your company.
Depending on your Secretary of State's office, it can take a few business days or up to several weeks to get a response, but most states offer an expedited option. Once these articles are approved and filed, the LLC becomes a legal business entity.
The Secretary of State will review the articles of organization, but there is a chance they may reject them. When they are not approved, it is usually due to issues with the LLC's suggested name, filing the wrong entity, or not following state-specific guidelines for filing.
You can usually fix incorrect articles of organization and resubmit them by filing an article of amendment, which details the specific changes to the information included in your article of organization.
What is the purpose of the articles of organization?
The purpose of articles of organization is to establish details such as the powers, duties, and obligations of your LLC at a state level.
Each state has different requirements for what's needed, but the most common information includes:
- LLC name
- Description/purpose of the LLC
- LLC's address
- Name and address of the registered (or statutory) agent
- Information about the LLC members, managers, and officers
- The date you'll start the LLC
Do you need articles of organization for an LLC?
Yes. If you are planning to start an LLC, you are required to file an article of organization with the Secretary of State and pay a filing fee—no matter what state you reside in.
Articles of incorporation vs. articles of organization
Articles of organization and articles of incorporation often get used interchangeably. Although they have the same purpose of outlining the details of your business, there is one key difference.
Articles of organization are for businesses interested in forming an LLC.
Articles of incorporation are for businesses interested in forming a corporation.
However, some states may use one name for all business structures, or a different name. Make sure to check your state's rules to see if there are specific filing guidelines for separate business entities.
How to file articles of organization in 4 simple steps
To begin filing LLC articles of organization, you'll need to have information about your company on hand. Here is a basic breakdown of how to file articles of organization for your LLC.
1. Visit your Secretary of State website
Your Secretary of State's website should outline the requirements for filing articles of organization. Information to look for includes:
- LLC articles of organization form
- Whether or not you can file the form online
- The filing cost. Depending on the state, the price is typically between $50 and $150, but it could be much higher depending on your state.
- Any follow-up instructions
2. Gather your information
Before filing, make sure to gather all of the information you'll need to file. Here is a list of some of the important information that most states will require you to have:
- LLC name: You need to have a name for your LLC. It's important that you check your state's business website to ensure the business name you want isn't already taken.
- LLC address: You'll need to provide the physical address of your LLC. In some states, an address may be required rather than a P.O. box. Your Secretary of State's website will help you understand address requirements for your state.
- Start date: You'll need to provide a start date. This is typically the day you file the articles of organization or the date your article or organization is approved. Your state will give direction on any specific start date requirements if there are any.
- Registered agent: A registered agent is someone you designate to receive the legal paperwork for your business, like service of process notices, government correspondence, and compliance-related documents. You'll need to provide the name and address of your registered agent on your form.
3. Prepare additional information
Before you can complete your LLC's articles of organization application, your state will require you to submit additional information, such as operational and organizational details. Here are some examples of what your state may ask you:
- LLC purpose: Some states may want you to state the purpose of your LLC. For example, some LLCs must enter a single professional purpose when filing, like accounting services or law practice.
- LLC manager: Will a manager or group of members manage the LLC? This is something you need to be prepared to answer. Member-managed LLCs usually have fewer members and are involved in the day-to-day operations. Manager-managed LLCs sometimes have a larger number of members who aren't involved in day-to-day management.
- Members: In some states, you need to provide information about the initial members of the LLC, such as addresses and names. Additionally, there is no max amount of members to include in your list.
4. Submit the form
Once you provide the necessary information, you'll need to submit your LLC articles of organization for approval. Depending on how your state lets you file, you can either send your paperwork in the mail with a check payment or file it electronically.
Tip: Double-check and make sure your articles of organization are signed—it must be done by the authorized representative of the LLC.
If required: Publish a notice
Arizona, Nebraska, and New York require LLCs to publish a notice of formation in their local newspaper. Each state may have different publishing requirements, but your notice should typically include:
- Your LLC's name
- What county your LLC is located in and its address
- The LLC's purpose
- The name of the LLC's registered agent
- The date of your file was approved
Make sure to check your state's publishing guidelines, as there may be an additional fee or specific requirements you'll need to meet.
5 steps to take after filing
After you file your LLC articles of organization and they've been approved, there are some other documents and actions you should consider. Here are five things you'll want to make sure you complete after filing:
1. Get an EIN
An EIN, or an employer identification number, is a nine-digit number given to a company by the IRS for purposes of identification. An EIN is also known as a federal employer identification number or a federal tax identification number.
EINs are essentially Social Security numbers for your business and are usually required to open a business banking account, obtain a business license, or file a business tax return.
2. Create an LLC operating agreement
To ensure your LLC operates smoothly, you need to create an operating agreement. This agreement outlines your business' functional and financial decisions including regulations, rules, and provisions. Operating agreements are important because they protect your business against personal and financial liabilities, trade secret sharing, and conflicts of interest.
The operating agreement should outline things like member responsibilities and roles, member titles, and contributions.
3. Open a bank account
Now that you have an LLC designation, you can open an LLC bank account. Utilizing a business account for your LLC is more manageable than using your personal one because all your business expenses can be found in one place. It's important to maintain a separation between your personal and business finances to protect your personal assets from liability.
Your business accounts should only be used for business purposes so you can properly check your business's financial records.
Opening a bank account for your LLC is also the first step toward establishing business credit.
4. Get a business license
Depending on the type of business you are opening and your state's regulations, you may need a business license. This license will ensure you comply with all state, county, and local laws. You'll need to reach out to your city's licensing authority to obtain an application, or it may also be available online.
5. File an annual report
In many states, you must file an annual report for your LLC. Filing this report keeps your company compliant with all state regulations and in good standing to preserve your limited liability protection and other benefits.
Note: If you do business in more than one state, you may be required to file an annual report in each state.
Filing articles of organization by state
While most states require similar information when filing articles of organization, every state has its own filing requirements and different fees, processing times, and ways to submit. Here is some key state information to know before filing.
- Alabama: Articles of organization, referred to as a certificate of formation in Alabama, must be filed with the Alabama Secretary of State. There is a $200 formation filing fee that you can pay by check, money order, or credit card payment. You must mail two copies of the completed form and must include your name reservation certificate.
- Alaska: Articles of organization in Alaska must be filed with the State of Alaska Corporations Section. There is a $250 filing fee, and it can take 10 to 15 days to process the application.
- Arizona: Articles of organization in Arizona must be filed with the Arizona Corporate Commission. There is a $50 filing fee, and it can take 13 to 15 days to process the application. If you'd like to expedite the processing time, there will be an additional $35 fee. After your articles are approved, you'll be required to publish a notice in the newspaper.
- Arkansas: A certificate of organization in Arkansas must be filed with the Arkansas Secretary of State. There is a $50 paper fee when mailing in the form, or you can fill out the online form for a $45 fee. You must also fill out and file the LLC corporate franchise tax form, which is included with the certificate of organization form.
- California: Articles of organization in California must be filed with the California Secretary of State. There is no processing fee, however, there is a $15 handling fee for in-person submissions. Processing usually takes up to five business days. If you'd like a faster approval time, it is recommended to apply online, as they prioritize online submissions. You are still required to pay the annual $800 franchise tax fee.
- Colorado: Articles of organization in Colorado must be filed with the Colorado Secretary of State online. There is a $50 filing fee. Colorado provides an LLC checklist to help you prepare what you need ahead of filing your articles of organization.
- Connecticut: Certificates of organization in Connecticut must be filed with the Connecticut Secretary of State. There is a $120 filing fee that you must submit when filing your form. Processing can take up to six weeks, but if you'd like your application reviewed sooner, you can pay an additional fee of $50.
- Delaware: A certificate of formation in Delaware must be filed with the Delaware Division of Corporations. You can either submit your form using its online document upload service or mail the request to their office. There is a $90 state filing fee. To speed up processing, you can also pay a $50 24-hour fee or a $100 same-day fee.
- District of Columbia: Articles of organization in the District of Columbia must be filed with the D.C. Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection. There is a processing fee of $220 and it can take up to 15 business days for approval. You file your form online, by mail, or in person. Walk-in filings will be charged an expedited fee of $100 for the one-day service.
- Florida: Articles of organization in Florida must be filed with the Florida Division of Corporations. There is a $125 processing fee, which includes the designation of the registered agent. The processing time in Florida is usually between 2 to 14 business days.
- Georgia: Articles of organization in Georgia must be filed with the Georgia Secretary of State. You can submit your form online or by mail. There is a $100 filing fee when filing online, and an extra $10 paper filing fee when submitting your application by mail or in person. Processing time can take up to 15 days, but you may pay an additional $100 fee for faster processing.
- Hawaii: Articles of organization in Hawaii must be filed with the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Business Registration Division. The filing fee is $50 with an additional filing fee of $25 if you'd like to expedite the filing process. Processing usually takes three to five business days or one day for expedited filing.
- Idaho: A certificate of organization in Idaho must be filed with the Idaho Secretary of State. There is a $100 filing fee with an additional $20 added on if you're submitting a non-electronic form. You can pay an additional $40 for expedited processing or $100 for same-day services. Processing time can take seven to 10 business days, or more when filing by mail.
- Illinois: Certificates of organization in Illinois must be filed with the Illinois Secretary of State. There is a $150 filing fee, and an additional $100 expedited fee if you need approval faster. Processing time can take up to 10 days.
- Indiana: Articles of organization in Indiana must be filed with the Indiana Secretary of State Business Services Division using this form. There is a $90 filing fee, and processing times may vary depending on the method of submission.
- Iowa: Certificates of organizations in Iowa must be filed with the Iowa Secretary of State. There is no official form, but the state provides an overview of what's needed on the document. There is a $50 fee that can be paid when submitting your document online or by mail.
- Kansas: Articles of organization in Kansas must be filed with the Kansas Secretary of State. There is a $165 filing fee for paper forms and a $160 filing fee when submitting your application online. Processing typically takes two to three business days but may be faster with online filing.
- Kentucky: Articles of organization in Kentucky must be filed with the Kentucky Secretary of State. There is a $40 filing fee, and documents are usually processed the same day but can take up to three business days.
- Louisiana: Articles of organization in Louisiana must be filed with the Louisiana Secretary of State. There is a $100 filing fee and an additional $30 24-hour expediting fee, or a $50 same-day fee if you'd like to bring the document into the office. Processing can take one to seven business days but may be faster when filing online.
- Maine: A certificate of formation in Maine must be filed with the Maine Secretary of State. There is a $175 filing fee and processing can take 20 to 25 business days. However, you can pay an additional $100 same-day processing fee for immediate service or an additional $50 24-hour processing fee.
- Maryland: Articles of organization in Maryland must be filed with the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation. There is a $100 filing fee and a $20 fee for the Certificate of Status at the time of filing. Processing can take four to six weeks, but an expediting fee of $50 is available if you'd like to have your documents processed within seven business days.
- Massachusetts: A certificate of organization in Massachusetts must be filed with the Massachusetts secretary of the commonwealth. The filing fee is $500 and approval time can take one to two business days if you file online.
- Michigan: Articles of organization in Michigan must be filed with the Michigan Corporation Divisions. The filing fee is $50, with additional fees added if you'd like 24-hour, same-day, or one to two-hour expedited processing. These fees range from $50 to $1,000 depending on the option you choose.
- Minnesota: Articles of organization in Minnesota must be filed with the Minnesota Secretary of State. There is a $155 filing fee for expedited in-person and online filings and a $135 filing fee for mail-in applications. Processing typically takes three to five business days.
- Mississippi: A certificate of formation in Mississippi must be filed online with the Mississippi Secretary of State. There is a $50 filing fee, and processing usually takes one to two business days.
- Missouri: Articles of organization in Missouri must be filed with the Missouri Secretary of State. The filing fee is $105 for paper documents or $50 for online filing, with an additional convenience fee. Processing times vary.
- Montana: Articles of organization in Montana must be filed with the Montana Secretary of State. There is a $35 filing fee and an additional filing fee to register an assumed business name (or DBA) with the state.
- Nebraska: Certificates of organization in Nebraska must be filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State. There is a $110 in-office filing fee and a $100 online filing fee. Processing can take one to two business days. In Nebraska, all owners of newly formed businesses must publish a notice of formation in one newspaper for three consecutive weeks once the articles are filed.
- Nevada: Articles of organization in Nevada must be filed with the Nevada Secretary of State. Documents are usually processed the same day when filing online. There is a $75 filing fee, with 24-hour, 2-hour, and one-hour expedited options available for an additional fee.
- New Hampshire: Certificates of formation in New Hampshire must be filed with the New Hampshire State Corporation Commission. The form must be legibly printed with black ink or typed on an 8.5" x 11" piece of paper and maintain 1" margins. Pencil or erasable ink isn't accepted. The filing fee is $100.
- New Jersey: Certificates of formation in New Jersey must be filed with the state of New Jersey. There is a $125 filing fee. You must also file Form NJ-REG for tax/employer registration. Processing can take up to four weeks, but expedited options are available for an additional fee.
- New Mexico: Articles of organization in New Mexico must be filed with the New Mexico Secretary of State. There is a $50 filing fee, and processing can take one to three business days.
- New York: Articles of organization in New York must be filed with the New York State Division of Corporations. There is a $200 filing fee, and the documents will be processed within minutes when filing online. After your articles are approved, you'll be required to publish a notice in a newspaper.
- North Carolina: Articles of organization in North Carolina must be filed with the North Carolina Secretary of State. There is a $125 filing fee, and processing can take three to five business days. Expedited processing is available for additional fees.
- North Dakota: Articles of organization in North Dakota must be filed with the North Dakota Secretary of State. There is a $135 filing fee, and it can take up to four weeks for documents to be processed.
- Ohio: Articles of organization in Ohio must be filed with the Ohio Secretary of State. There is a $99 filing fee, and processing usually takes three to seven business days. Faster processing times are available with an additional fee.
- Oklahoma: Articles of organization in Oklahoma must be filed with the Oklahoma Secretary of State. There is a $100 filing fee, and processing time may vary.
- Oregon: Articles of organization in Oregon must be filed with the Oregon Secretary of State. There is a $100 processing fee. Processing can take six to eight weeks for mail-in forms but may be faster when filing online or in person.
- Pennsylvania: Certificates of organization in Pennsylvania must be filed with the Pennsylvania Department of State. There is a $125 filing fee, and processing can take up to 15 business days.
- Rhode Island: Articles of organization in Rhode Island must be filed with the Rhode Island Secretary of State. The filing fee is $150, and processing can take as little as two days when filed online.
- South Carolina: Articles of organization in South Carolina must be filed with the South Carolina Secretary of State. There is a $110 filing fee, and processing usually takes 24 hours for online filing and two to three business days when filing by mail.
- South Dakota: Articles of organization in South Dakota must be filed with the South Dakota Secretary of State. There is a $165 filing fee when filing by paper or a $150 filing fee when filing online. Processing can take three to five business days, but expedited processing is available for an additional $50.
- Tennessee: Articles of organization in Tennessee must be filed with the Tennessee Secretary of State. The filing fee is $50 per member, with a minimum fee of $300 and a maximum fee of $3,000. Processing times may vary but may be faster when filing online.
- Texas: Certificates of formation in Texas must be filed with the Texas Secretary of State. There is a $300 filing fee. Processing time can take 70 to 72 days for nonexpedited documents sent by mail or fax, 12 to 14 days for expedited documents sent by mail or fax, and 10 to 15 days when submitted online.
- Utah: Certificates of organization in Utah must be filed with the Utah Department of Commerce, which must be typed and not handwritten. There is a $54 filing fee, and processing can take three to 10 business days.
- Vermont: Articles of organization in Vermont must be filed with the Vermont Secretary of State. There is a $125 filing fee, and processing can take less than one business day when filing online, or seven to 10 business days when filing by mail.
- Virginia: Articles of organization in Virginia must be filed with the Virginia State Corporation Commission. There is a $100 filing fee. and processing times are faster when filed online.
- Washington: Certificates of formation in Washington must be filed with the Washington State Corporation Commission. The filing fee is $180, with an additional $50 fee if you'd like to expedite filing. Online and expedited filing is usually processed within two business days.
- West Virginia: Articles of organization in West Virginia must be filed with the West Virginia State Corporation Commission. There is a $100 filing fee that can be waived if you have a veteran-owned business. Processing can take five to 10 business days, but expedited processing is available for an additional fee.
- Wisconsin: Articles of organization in Wisconsin must be filed with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. There is a $175 filing fee and an additional $25 fee if you'd like expedited processing. Processing generally takes up to five business days.
- Wyoming: Articles of organization in Wyoming must be filed with the Wyoming Secretary of State. There is a $100 filing fee, and processing can take up to 15 business days. Expedited processing is not available.
LLC articles of organization FAQ
Ready to start filing? Here are some important questions and answers to remember when completing your LLC articles of organization.
Do I need an attorney to file articles of organization?
An attorney is not required, and you can file articles of organization by yourself. Each state has different rules and regulations for filing, however. Thus, a business attorney may be able to help you navigate the process and help you better understand and prepare.
Do I need to register my business name?
If you are filing articles of organization, you don't need to register your business name. Registering your LLC in the articles of organization also serves as registering your business name.
What forms do I need to file articles of organization?
This depends on the state you're filing in. Some states will require other forms, such as a docketing statement or an initial list of managers or managing members. Check with your state to see if there are additional forms that are required. Or follow the state-by-state guide above for more information.
How do you write articles of organization?
Writing an articles of organization for an LLC is simple because most states have the form created and ready for you to fill out. This takes the hassle out of having to create it yourself.
All you'll need to do is download the form and fill in the information, like your LLC's name, address, type of business, the purpose of business, and more. Make sure you're downloading your state's correct form, as some states may require additional information.
Are articles of organization on public record?
Articles of organization are public records if they're filed with the state. If you're starting a company, ensure you don't reveal confidential information.
LLC articles of organization checklist
Ready to complete your articles of organization form for your new LLC? The downloadable checklist below can help you stay organized.
If you're ready to get your company running and form your business, articles of organization are a required step to reach that goal.
