The Pennsylvania Certificate of Organization is the LLC form that must be completed and filed with the state in order to create an LLC.
We’ll walk you through the Pennsylvania LLC Articles of Organization filing process in three simple stages.
Get Your Organizational Certificate Forms
Fill out the Organizational Certificate
File the Organizational Certificate
You may either download and send your Pennsylvania Certificate of Organization or establish an account and submit online.
We will assist you in completing the Pennsylvania Certificate of Organization form in this stage. Along with the Certificate of Organization, an extra Docketing Statement must be submitted.
To complete these forms, you will need the following information:
Name of the Entity
Name of the Registered Agent and the Address of the Registered Office
Organizers
Date of Implementation
Business Objective (for restricted professional companies only)
Business Activity Description
TIN (Taxpayer Identification Number) (EIN)
A unique and clever company name is crucial, but it is not as necessary as a legally valid name.
When selecting a name for your company, you must ensure that the name:
fulfils Pennsylvania naming standards
is not currently in use by another Pennsylvania firm
Your name must include the words “company,” “limited,” or “limited liability company,” as well as an abbreviation of one of those keywords or words or abbreviations with the same meaning.
Your name cannot include any words that indicate it is a commercial entity, such as “corporation” or “incorporated,” or an abbreviation of these phrases.
Your LLC’s name cannot include terms that may be confused with a government organisation (FBI, Treasury, State Department, etc.).
Certain limited phrases may need clearance from the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, the Department of Education, the Department of Banking and Securities, the Insurance Department, or the Public Utility Commission.
Your name must be distinct from any other current company in the state. This lists reserved names in Pennsylvania.
Is your name accessible in the state of Pennsylvania? Do a name search on the Pennsylvania Department of State website to ensure that the name you choose isn’t currently in use.
We suggest that you check to see whether your company’s name is accessible as a web domain. Even if you don’t intend to create a company website right away, you may wish to purchase the URL to prevent others from doing so.
A registered agent receives and transmits legal paperwork on behalf of your LLC. When you form a Pennsylvania LLC, you must provide your registered agent and registered office address.
The names of all LLC organisers must be included, and they must sign the form.
You must specify whether the Certificate of Organization will be effective immediately or at a later date.
If your LLC is set up to provide a certain professional service (for example, dentistry, law, or medicine), you must specify which one.
Remember that a business goal including licencing, tax-exemption, or tax-deductible status needs explicit wording from the IRS or a professional licence.
Business Activity Description
Briefly outline your company’s operations.
Provide your company’s nine-digit Employer Identification Number. See “Steps After Your LLC Is Officially Formed” for further information on obtaining an EIN.
You must submit the Certificate of Organization with the Department of State to register your LLC.
There are two options for submitting your Certificate of Organization:
Fill out the forms online.
Make a Business Agreement
Obtain an EIN
Establish a Business Bank Account
Purchase Licenses and Permits
A Pennsylvania LLC operating agreement is a legal document that details your LLC’s ownership structure and member functions.
Although an Operating Agreement is not necessary in Pennsylvania to incorporate an LLC, it is a good idea to have one. You may begin working on your operating agreement before, during, or after filing your Certificate of Organization.
Your operating agreement will be held in the private business records of your LLC; you will not submit it with the state.
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is your LLC’s equivalent of a social security number. If you want to recruit staff or create company bank accounts, you’ll need an EIN.
You may get your EIN for free by using the IRS website, fax, or mail. Read our What is an EIN article to discover more about EINs and how they might benefit your LLC.
When forming an LLC, you should consider if your company requires any licences or permissions to operate legally. There are a few commercial operations that need licences or permissions on the federal level.
Learn how to secure the licences and permissions required for your company, or hire an expert to handle it for you:
Federal: For federal business licences and permits, see the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
State: Visit the website of Pennsylvania’s Department of State Licensing Services to apply for or learn more about licences, permits, and registration.
Local: Contact your local county clerk and ask about local licenses and permits.