Vartika Puranik, MA, is a content strategist, writer, copywriter, social media marketer and journalist. She has been working with a myriad of B2B and B2C brands/companies for over a decade now. When she's not strategizing for and growing small busine.
Vartika Puranik ContributorVartika Puranik, MA, is a content strategist, writer, copywriter, social media marketer and journalist. She has been working with a myriad of B2B and B2C brands/companies for over a decade now. When she's not strategizing for and growing small busine.
Written By Vartika Puranik ContributorVartika Puranik, MA, is a content strategist, writer, copywriter, social media marketer and journalist. She has been working with a myriad of B2B and B2C brands/companies for over a decade now. When she's not strategizing for and growing small busine.
Vartika Puranik ContributorVartika Puranik, MA, is a content strategist, writer, copywriter, social media marketer and journalist. She has been working with a myriad of B2B and B2C brands/companies for over a decade now. When she's not strategizing for and growing small busine.
ContributorCassie is a deputy editor collaborating with teams around the world while living in the beautiful hills of Kentucky. Focusing on bringing growth to small businesses, she is passionate about economic development and has held positions on the boards of.
Cassie is a deputy editor collaborating with teams around the world while living in the beautiful hills of Kentucky. Focusing on bringing growth to small businesses, she is passionate about economic development and has held positions on the boards of.
Written ByCassie is a deputy editor collaborating with teams around the world while living in the beautiful hills of Kentucky. Focusing on bringing growth to small businesses, she is passionate about economic development and has held positions on the boards of.
Cassie is a deputy editor collaborating with teams around the world while living in the beautiful hills of Kentucky. Focusing on bringing growth to small businesses, she is passionate about economic development and has held positions on the boards of.
Jane Haskins, J.D. contributorJane Haskins practiced law for 20 years, representing small businesses in startup, dissolution, business transactions and litigation. She has written hundreds of articles on legal, intellectual property and tax issues affecting small businesses.
Jane Haskins, J.D. contributorJane Haskins practiced law for 20 years, representing small businesses in startup, dissolution, business transactions and litigation. She has written hundreds of articles on legal, intellectual property and tax issues affecting small businesses.
Jane Haskins, J.D. contributorJane Haskins practiced law for 20 years, representing small businesses in startup, dissolution, business transactions and litigation. She has written hundreds of articles on legal, intellectual property and tax issues affecting small businesses.
Jane Haskins, J.D. contributorJane Haskins practiced law for 20 years, representing small businesses in startup, dissolution, business transactions and litigation. She has written hundreds of articles on legal, intellectual property and tax issues affecting small businesses.
Updated: Jul 18, 2024, 5:59pm
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The articles of organization for an LLC is an important document to start your limited liability company (LLC). The articles are a public document necessary for creating your LLC in the state of your choice. Learn what this document is, its purpose and how to file it in this guide.
To establish an LLC, you must file a document called “Articles of Organization” with the state agency responsible for business filings. It’s a simple document that typically contains your business name and address as well as the name and address of a person who can receive lawsuits on the business’s behalf. Depending on your state, the articles might include additional information such as the names of the owners (members) or managers of the LLC and the purpose of the LLC.
The rules and requirements for articles of organization are different for different states. Almost all states have a form you can use, and some states even call the articles by a different name. For example, in Texas, the document for forming an LLC is called a “Certificate of Formation.” Filing articles of organization helps you properly launch both one-person and/or multimember companies.
An LLC has its own legal identity, separate from its owners. An LLC can sue and be sued, own assets, set up bank accounts, sign contracts and take on debt. Operating your business as an LLC offers numerous advantages. For example, members/owners are granted limited liability and are not held personally accountable for the actions/debts of the company. LLCs also enjoy tax flexibility that’s not available to other types of businesses.
However, an LLC does not legally exist until you file articles of organization and have them approved by the state. The articles provide a public record of the LLC’s existence, its name and its contact information. They also provide information about where to send lawsuits and legal notices involving the company.
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Start with visiting your state’s business filing website (usually the Secretary of State) to learn more about your state’s requirements for articles of organization. The fee for filing the articles is between $50 and $500 depending on the state. Most states offer editable PDF forms for filing articles of organization. In many states, you can complete the process online.
The information you’ll need to provide in the articles of organization will vary from one state to another. Here’s a list of commonly requested information.
Different states have different options for filing the articles of organization. Many states have an online business portal where you can complete the process online. You can usually also download and fill out paper forms and file them by mail, fax or in person.
If you don’t want to fill out and file articles of organization yourself, there are a number of online services that can handle the process for you. Here are some options:
Read more about the best LLC filing services available for your business in our comprehensive guide.
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In most states, you can act as your own registered agent if you meet your state’s registered agent requirements. Rules vary, but typically you must be a state resident with a physical business address in the state. Most states do not allow an LLC to act as its own registered agent. You need a registered agent as your point of contact for notices if your business gets involved in a lawsuit. You can also hire a registered agent service to act as your agent. This has advantages such as privacy, reliability and a variety of add-on features.
Your state can reject the new business for a myriad of reasons including but not limited to mistakes in your paperwork, failing to include the filing fee, unavailable business name, incomplete forms, errors in statutory legal formalities and invalid registered office.
After you file the articles, the state agency will review them. If everything looks good, it’ll issue a certificate of formation. You can use this document to get an IRS Employer Identification Number and open an LLC bank account. You’ll also want to create an LLC operating agreement. This is a document that lays down details of your business such as operations, designations, rights and asset contributions.
Each state has a different process for updating articles of organization. But in general, you’ll need to fill out and file a form to correct errors, change your address or change your registered agent or member/manager information. Consult your operating agreement to see if there’s a specific approval process you should follow for the updates. File the amendment or correction form with your state agency and include the fee.
An article of organization is usually filed with the secretary of state of the state where the LLC is being formed. This can be done in person and some states allow you to file the document online. All fees can be paid using a debit or credit card.
LLCs can be taxed as sole proprietorships, partnerships, C corporations (C-corps) or S corporations (S-corps). This choice allows members of an LLC to minimize their tax burden.
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ContributorVartika Puranik, MA, is a content strategist, writer, copywriter, social media marketer and journalist. She has been working with a myriad of B2B and B2C brands/companies for over a decade now. When she's not strategizing for and growing small businesses in the tech industry, she's watching psychological movies.
Cassie is a deputy editor collaborating with teams around the world while living in the beautiful hills of Kentucky. Focusing on bringing growth to small businesses, she is passionate about economic development and has held positions on the boards of directors of two non-profit organizations seeking to revitalize her former railroad town. Prior to joining the team at Forbes Advisor, Cassie was a content operations manager and copywriting manager.
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