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How to File Articles of Incorporation for Your LLC

How to File Articles of Incorporation for Your LLC – The LLC formation process begins when the Articles of Incorporation are filed with the state

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Overview

Decide on a business name.

The first step in filing articles of incorporation is to choose a name for your LLC. This name must be available for use and not already registered with the state by another business. The name must also include certain words or abbreviations, depending on the state, such as “Limited Liability Company,” “L.L.C.,” “LLC,” or “LC.”

Check to see if the name is available as a web domain.

Before you file your articles of incorporation, you need to decide on a name for your LLC. And not just any name will do—it needs to be distinctive enough to distinguish your LLC from the competition, but not so unique that no one will be able to remember it. You also want to make sure that the name you choose is available as a web domain, so that you can build a professional-looking website for your business.

To see if your desired LLC name is available as a web domain, just enter it into the search bar below. If it’s available, you’ll be able to register it instantly.

Draft your articles of incorporation.

Every LLC must have articles of incorporation. The articles of incorporation, also called the certificate of formation or the corporate charter, is the document that officially creates your LLC. It is filed with the state government. The articles of incorporation must include the LLC’s name, the LLC’s purpose, the LLC’s duration, the LLC’s address, and the names and addresses of the LLC’s organizers.

Include the LLC’s name, address, and contact information.

When you form an LLC, you must file “articles of organization” with your state’s LLC filing office. These articles are also sometimes called a certificate of formation or certificate of organization.

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Your articles of organization must include:
-The LLC’s name and address
-The LLC’s filing date
-The LLC’s duration (if it’s not permanent)
-The LLC’s purpose
-The name and address of the LLC’s registered agent
-The signatures of the people organizing the LLC

Include the names of the LLC’s members.

Articles of incorporation, also called a certificate of incorporation or corporate charter, establish the existence of your LLC. They include basic information about your LLC, such as the LLC’s name, address, and the names of its members. Filing articles of incorporation with your state is the first step in forming your LLC.

Include the names of the LLC’s members.
The articles of incorporation must include the names of all the members of the LLC. If you are the only member, you must still include your name in the Articles.

Include the LLC’s purpose.

As you draft your articles of incorporation, you’ll need to include your LLC’s purpose. This is also sometimes called your LLC’s business purpose or mission statement.

Your LLC’s purpose is the reason you formed your LLC. It can be anything that is legal, although most businesses have a profit motive. For example, your LLC’s purpose could be:

To engage in any lawful activity for which limited liability companies may be organized in this state.
To operate a hair salon.
To provide accounting services.
To manufacture and sell bicycles.

Your LLC’s purpose doesn’t have to be very specific. In fact, many LLCs use the catch-all language “to engage in any lawful activity.” However, it’s generally a good idea to be as specific as possible so that you can add more detail later if needed.

Include the LLC’s duration.

When you draft your articles of incorporation, you’ll need to include the LLC’s duration. The duration is the amount of time the LLC will exist. You can choose to have an unlimited duration, which means the LLC will exist until it’s dissolved. Alternatively, you can choose to have a limited duration, which means the LLC will exist for a set amount of time.

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If you choose to have a limited duration, you’ll need to include an expiration date in your articles of incorporation. The expiration date is the date on which the LLC will dissolve. You can choose any expiration date you want, but it’s generally best to choose an expiration date that’s far in the future so you don’t have to worry about renewing your LLC every few years.

Once you’ve chosen an expiration date, be sure to include it in your articles of incorporation so there’s no confusion about when the LLC will dissolve.

File your articles of incorporation with the state.

When you’re ready to form your LLC, you’ll need to file your articles of incorporation with the state. This is also sometimes called a Certificate of Incorporation or a Certificate of Formation. The articles of incorporation (or formation) is a document that contains basic information about your LLC, such as the LLC’s name, address, and contact information for the LLC’s registered agent.

Most states require a filing fee.

When you file your articles of incorporation with the state, most states will require a filing fee. The filing fee is generally a few hundred dollars, but it may be more or less depending on the state in which you incorporate. Some states also require that you publish a notice of your incorporation in a local newspaper, which can add to the cost of incorporating.

Publish a notice of the LLC’s formation.

You will need to file Articles of Incorporation with the state in order to form your LLC. The Articles of Incorporation is a document that states the LLC’s name, contact information, and the names of the LLC’s members. You will also need to publish a notice of the LLC’s formation in a local newspaper. This will let the public know that the LLC exists and is doing business in the state.

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This is required in some states.

To give your LLC the best chance of success, you’ll want to take some key steps when starting out. In addition to selecting a unique name and registered agent, you’ll also need to file Articles of Incorporation (or Articles of Organization) with your state’s LLC filing office.

While the process of filing Articles of Incorporation may vary slightly from state to state, the overall process is typically the same. Below, we’ve outlined the general steps you’ll need to take in order to file Articles of Incorporation for your LLC.

1. Choose a name for your LLC.
2. Select a registered agent for your LLC.
3. Obtain the necessary forms from your state’s LLC filing office.
4. Fill out and sign the Articles of Incorporation (or Articles of Organization).
5. Submit the completed form and pay the filing fee.

Obtain an employer identification number from the IRS.

In order to file your Articles of Incorporation, you will need to first obtain an employer identification number from the IRS. This can be done by filing Form SS-4. You will need to provide your business name, business address, and contact information. Once you have obtained your EIN, you will be able to file your Articles of Incorporation.

This is required in order to open a business bank account.

In order to obtain an employer identification number, you will need to file your articles of incorporation with the IRS. You can find the form for this online at the IRS website. Once you have completed the form, you will need to submit it along with a filing fee. The filing fee for an LLC is $130.

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*This applies to Virginia residents too!

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