The Washington D.C. Articles of Organization are the LLC forms that must be completed and filed with the state in order to incorporate an LLC.
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It is simple to file the Articles of Organization in Washington, D.C.
We’ll walk you through the process of submitting the Washington D.C. LLC Articles of Organization in three simple stages.
Get Forms for Your Articles of Organization
Complete the Articles of Organization.
Keep the Articles of Organization on file.
Step 1: Obtain your Articles of Organization.
You can download and mail in your Washington D.C. Articles of Organization
Step 2: Download and send your Washington D.C. Articles of Organization Complete the Articles of Organization
We will assist you in completing the Washington D.C. Certificate of Formation form in this stage. The “Articles” are divided into four categories.
To finish each Article, you will need to know the following information:
Name and address of the entity
Name of the Registered Agent and the Address of the Registered Office
Date of Implementation
Organizer Details
Name and address of the entity
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 the naming standards of Washington, D.C.
is not already being used by another company in Washington, D.C.
The Washington D.C. Naming Guidelines should be followed:
The words “limited liability company” or “limited company” or one of its acronyms must be in your name (LLC, L.L.C., LC, or L.C.).
Your name must not be the same as, or deceptively similar to, the name of any United States department, agency, or instrumentality or the District of Columbia.
Without the previous consent of the Mayor, your name cannot include the terms “bank,” “banking,” “credit union,” “insurance,” or words of similar meaning.
Your name must be distinct from any other businesses in the area. This covers reserved names in Washington, D.C.
Examine Name Availability:
Is your name available in the District of Columbia? Do a name search on the Washington D.C. Business Center website to ensure that the name you desire isn’t already used
.
Obtain a Domain Name:
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
Registered Office and Registered Agent
A registered agent receives and transmits legal paperwork on behalf of your LLC. When you form your Washington D.C. LLC, you must provide your registered agent and registered office address.
Your registered agent may be someone over the age of 18 who resides in Washington, D.C. During normal business hours, your registered agent must always be present at the registered office.
Step 3: Submit the Articles of Incorporation.
You must submit the Articles of Organization with the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs to register your LLC.
You may submit your Articles of Organization in two ways:
Fill out the form online.
Send a physical copy by mail or in person.
A P.O. box cannot be used as your registered office address.
Following the Official Formation of Your Washington, D.C. LLC
After filing your Articles of Organization, you should do the following:
Make a Business Agreement
Obtain an EIN
Establish a Business Bank Account
Purchase Licenses and Permits
Make a Business Agreement
A Washington D.C. 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 Washington D.C. 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 Articles of Organization.
Your operating agreement will be preserved in the confidential business records of your LLC; you do not need to submit it with the district.
Obtain an EIN
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.
Establish a Business Bank Account
It is critical to use specific business banking and credit accounts to safeguard your company’s corporate veil. When you combine your personal and company accounts, your personal assets (house, vehicle, and other possessions) are at danger if your LLC is sued.
Purchase Licenses and Permits
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).
District: Visit Washington D.C.’s Registration and Licensing Services homepage to apply for or learn more about licences, permits, and registration.