How to Form a Limited Liability Company in Washington State

Start an LLC in Washington in 5 Simple Steps

Step 1: Give Your Washington LLC a Name
Step 2: Select a Registered Agent.

Step 3: Submit the Certificate of Formation.
Step 4 Create an Operating Agreement
Step 5: Obtain an EIN

It is simple to form an LLC in Washington State.

To form a Washington State LLC, you must submit a Certificate of Formation to the Washington Secretary of State, which may cost up to $200. You may apply both online and by mail. The Certificate of Formation is the formal legal document that establishes your Washington Limited Liability Company.

STEP 1: Give Your Washington LLC a Name

The first and most significant step in founding an LLC in Washington state is selecting a business name. Make certain that the name you chose conforms with Washington’s naming rules and is readily searched by prospective customers.

1. Follow the Washington LLC naming guidelines:

The word “limited liability corporation” or one of its acronyms must be in your name (LLC or L.L.C.).
Your LLC’s name cannot include terms that may be confused with a government organization (FBI, Treasury, State Department, etc.).
Restricted terms (e.g., bank, attorney, university) may need extra documentation and the participation of a licensed professional, such as a doctor or lawyer, in your LLC.

2. Does the name exist in Washington? Do a Washington state LLC name search on the Washington Corporations and Charities Filing System to ensure the name you choose isn’t currently in use.

3. Is the URL accessible? We propose that you investigate if your company’s name is accessible as a web domain. Even if you don’t intend to launch a company website right away, you may wish to purchase the URL to prevent others from doing so.

STEP 2: Select a Washington Registered Agent

You must choose a Washington Registered Agent for your LLC.

What exactly is a Registered Agent? A registered agent is a person or corporate organization that receives vital tax forms, legal papers, lawsuit notices, and other government communication on your behalf. Consider your registered agent to be your company’s point of contact with the state.

Who is eligible to be a Registered Agent? A Registered Agent must be a Washington person or a firm, such as a registered agent service, that is permitted to do business in Washington. You may choose someone from your organization, even yourself.

STEP 3: Submit the Washington LLC Formation Certificate.

You must submit the Certificate of Formation with the Washington Secretary of State to register your Washington LLC. You may apply both online and by mail.

STEP 4: Draft an Operating Agreement for a Washington LLC.

Although an operating agreement is not necessary to incorporate an LLC in Washington, it is a good idea to have one.

What exactly is an operating agreement? An operating agreement is a legal document that outlines an LLC’s ownership and running processes.

Why are operating agreements necessary? A detailed operating agreement guarantees that all firm owners are on the same page and decreases the likelihood of future disagreement.

STEP 5: Apply for a Washington LLC EIN.

What exactly is an EIN? EIN is an acronym that stands for Employer Identification Number. EINs are nine-digit numbers provided by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to companies to assist them be identified for tax reasons. It is basically a business’s Social Security number.

An EIN is also known as a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) or a Federal Tax Identification Number (FTIN) (FTIN).

Why do I need an EIN? An EIN is necessary in order to:

Establish a business bank account.
Filing and managing federal and state income taxes
Employ people

What if my single proprietorship already has an EIN?

When transitioning a sole proprietorship to an LLC, the IRS demands a new EIN.

Where can I get an EIN? The IRS will provide you an EIN for free. Obtaining an EIN is a simple procedure that may be completed online or by mail.