Start an LLC in Washington
Start a Washington LLC by filing a Certificate of Formation with the Washington Secretary of State for $200.
Use our free tool to do it yourself, or hire us and have your LLC filed with Privacy by Default® for $39. This includes a free domain name, web hosting, email address, phone line, brand protection, and a year of registered agent service.
Washington Certificate of Formation
You can use our free tool to complete your Certificate of Formation right here. Download, save, or print at any time. You can hire us to submit your Certificate or do it yourself.
How to Start an LLC in Washington
A Limited Liability Company (LLC) is a permanent public record. Starting one requires sharing personal information with the government, banks, landlords, vendors, and of course, customers. We provide free identity tools to anyone who needs them, including a domain name, website, phone line, email address, and brand protection on day one. This helps protect your privacy and keep you in control of your intellectual property.
1. Name Your LLC
First, you have to name your business. Not only do you want to choose a name that’s available, but you also want to choose a name that helps build your LLC’s brand.
To make sure the name you want is available, search Washington’s business database to confirm it’s not already in use.
The name you choose must:
- Contain an indicator such as limited liability company, L.L.C., or LLC
- Not include words like incorporated, limited partnership, or any other words that are reserved for other business entity types
- Be unique among business names in Washington
Reserve a Business Name
If you’re waiting to start your LLC, you can reserve your business name by filing a Name Reservation form with the Washington Secretary of State for $30. The state will reserve your business name for 180 days.
Register a Trade Name
A trade name, sometimes called a DBA (doing business as), is any name your business uses other than its legal name. You can register a Washington trade name for your business when you file a WA Business License Application.
2. Register your Domain Name
Your domain name opens up a world of options. From launching a website to building social media profiles, setting up email communications, and printing business cards, there’s a whole lot of new-business stuff you can’t do until you choose a domain name.
When you choose your business domain, consider:
- Does your domain work well with your business name?
- Is your domain easy to remember and spell?
- Is your domain available wherever else you want it, like social platforms, trademarks, or business name registries?
Once you have a domain you’re happy with, it’s time to claim it. When you form an LLC with us, we include a free domain of your choice (up to $25 value).
3. Appoint a Registered Agent
All Washington businesses need a registered agent to accept state and legal mail. You can have a commercial registered agent (a professional registered agent service that has registered its address with the state, like us) or a noncommercial registered agent (a person or business that hasn’t registered its address with the state).
Remember that your registered agent’s name and address will be part of the public record.
WA registered agent requirements
The requirements for a Washington registered agent are outlined in RCW §23.95.455. Your registered agent must:
- Have a physical Washington address
- Be available during regular business hours
- Accept legal and state mail on behalf of your LLC and get it to you fast
Why use a registered agent service?
A registered agent service offers advantages that being your own registered agent doesn’t. Here’s what you get when you hire a commercial registered agent.
Registered agent contact information goes on the public record. This means if you’re the registered agent for your LLC, your address will be easy to find online. When we’re your registered agent, you can use our address instead.
While you could appoint Uncle Fred as your registered agent, Fred might need to do things like run to the auto shop or take a sick day. With a professional service, there’s always someone to accept and forward your important mail.
Imagine you’re a customer and you see a business owner get served with a lawsuit at their store or office. It wouldn’t exactly stoke confidence. Having a commercial registered agent lets you receive and open any legal mail on your own time.
4. File Certificate of Formation & Initial Report
The Washington Certificate of Formation is the official document you submit to the Secretary of State to create your LLC.
Online filings ($200) are processed in two days.
Paper filings ($180) are processed in the order they are received.
UBI Number
If you already have a Unified Business Identifier (UBI), check yes. Otherwise, select no, and you’ll be given a UBI number when your Certificate of Formation is accepted.
Company Name
Must include “Limited Liability Company,” “LLC,” or another abbreviation thereof.
Duration
You can add a future end date for your LLC or choose “This company will have a perpetual duration” if you don’t have a planned dissolution date.
Effective Date
You can delay the formation date for your LLC by up to 90 days, or simply choose the date of filing as your effective date.
Registered Agent
Check the yes box if you’ve appointed a commercial registered agent and list their name here.
Registered Agent Address
If you’ve appointed a non-commercial registered agent, list their name, phone number, email address, and physical Washington address here.
Registered Agent Signature
Your registered agent must sign the Certificate of Formation.
Principal Address
This must be a physical address—no P.O. Boxes allowed. If you hire us as your registered agent, you can use our address here.
Executor Name and Address
The person submitting your Certificate of Formation. If you hire us, we sign here.
Washington Initial Report
Washington requires LLCs to file an initial report within 120 days of forming your business. Most of the required information is identical to the information you’ll list on your Certificate of Formation. However, you’ll also need to include:
- Members’ and managers’ names and addresses
- Brief description of your business purpose
Your initial report must be filed with the Washington Secretary of State. If you file it at the same time as your Certificate of Formation, it’s free. Otherwise, there’s a $10 fee. When you form your LLC with us, we’ll file your WA Initial Report at the same time for no added charge.
5. Create an Operating Agreement
Ever try to make an important decision in the heat of the moment? Now imagine your whole business depends on you making the right choice. That’s why most LLCs choose to create an operating agreement, so they can plan for important business decisions before they happen, like distributing profits, entering into a contract, or even selling the company.
You can include whatever you want in your operating agreement, but most people include:
- Members’ initial contributions
- Voting rights
- Management structure
- Distribution of profits and losses
- How to transfer membership interest
- Rules to dissolve the LLC
It’s a good idea to have a lawyer review your operating agreement. You can also use our free, attorney-drafted Washington operating agreement templates as a starting point.
6. Get an EIN
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is sort of like your business’s Social Security number. It’s a unique nine-digit number given to you by the IRS. It’s used for tax filings, but you may also need it to open a business bank account or apply for a business loan.
You’re legally required to have an EIN if you are a multi-member LLC, have employees, or want to be taxed as a corporation.
If you have a Social Security number, you can apply for your EIN online. Otherwise, you can file Form SS-4 by mail or fax or call the IRS. Rather let a professional handle it for you? You can hire Northwest to get your EIN.
7. File Your Annual Report
Your LLC has to file a Washington Annual Report every year. It is due on the last day of your anniversary month. So if you start your business in January, your annual report is due every year on January 31. It costs $70 to file your Washington Annual Report. The information is the same as what’s in your initial report—namely, information on your members/managers and a brief description of your business purpose.
Want to make this part easy? When you appoint Northwest as your registered agent, you’re automatically enrolled in our Renewal Filings service. We’ll send compliance reminders before your annual report due date and file on your behalf for $100 + the state fee. If you prefer to file yourself, just cancel this service in your client account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Forming an LLC doesn’t give you exclusive rights to your LLC name. Another business could still use the name as a trade name. If you want a legal claim to your business name, you’ll need to trademark the name. You can file a WA State Trademark Registration for $55 or go big and register a federal trademark.
Ready to Start a Washington LLC?
We'll get it done for $39 + state fees.