The Washington Articles of Organization are the LLC forms that must be completed and filed with the state in order to incorporate an LLC.
It is simple to file the Washington Articles of Organization!
We’ll walk you through the three simple procedures of submitting the Washington LLC Articles of Organization.
Forms for Certificates of Formation
Fill out the Formation Certificate
Fill up and submit the Certificate of Formation.
Step 1: Obtain Certificate of Formation Forms
You may either download and send your Washington Certificate of Formation or set up an account and submit online.
Step 2: Complete the Articles of Incorporation.
We will assist you with completing the Washington Certificate of Formation form in this stage. There are five major parts.
To complete the form, you will need the following information:
Name and address of the entity
Date of Inception and Duration
Name of the Registered Agent and the Address of the Registered Office
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 Washington’s naming standards
is not currently in use by another Washington firm
The Washington Naming Guidelines should be followed:
Your name must include the phrases “limited liability company,” “limited liability” and the abbreviation “Co.,” or “L.L.C.” or “LLC.”
Your name cannot include any of the following words or abbreviations: cooperative, partnership, company, incorporated, Corp., Ltd., Inc., LP, L.P., LLP, L.L.P., LLLP
Your LLC’s name cannot include terms that may be confused with a government organisation (FBI, Treasury, State Department, etc.).
Certain prohibited terms (e.g., bank, attorney, university) may need extra documentation and the participation of a licenced professional in certain jurisdictions.
Your name must be distinct from any other current company in the state. This covers reserved names in Washington.
Examine Name Availability:
Is your name accessible in the state of Washington? Do a name search on the Washington Department of Revenue website to ensure that the name you choose 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.
Effective Date and Duration of the LLC
Indicate whether you want the Certificate of Formation to be effective immediately or at a later date. Also, consider if the LLC’s existence will be everlasting or whether a dissolution date is set.
Registered Office and Registered Agent
A registered agent receives and transmits legal paperwork on behalf of your LLC. When you form your Washington 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. During normal business hours, your registered agent must always be present at the registered office.
A P.O. box cannot be used as your registered office address.
Step 3: Submit your Certificate of Formation.
You must submit the Certificate of Formation with the Secretary of State to register your LLC.
There are two options for submitting your Certificate of Formation:
Fill out the form online.
Send a physical copy by mail or in person.
Following the Official Formation of Your Washington 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 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 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 held in the private business records of your LLC; you will not submit it with the state.
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).
State: Visit Washington’s Business Licensing Service website to apply for or learn more about licences, permits, and registration.
Local: Inquire with your county clerk regarding local licences and permissions.