Filed with
Idaho Secretary of State, Business Services
Document
Certificate of Organization
Recurring filing
Every year
- 01
Choose a name for your Idaho LLC
Idaho Secretary of State, Business Services business filings →The name must contain "limited liability company", "limited company", "L.L.C.", "LLC", "L.C." or "LC" ("Limited" may be abbreviated "Ltd." and "Company" "Co."). It also has to be distinguishable from every business already on the Idaho register.
Search the Idaho Secretary of State, Business Services business records before you file.
- 02
Choose a registered agent
Every Idaho LLC needs a registered agent with a physical address in Idaho, available in business hours to accept legal papers and state notices.
You can be your own agent, but your address goes on the public record and you need to be there during business hours. A registered agent service keeps your home address off the filing.
- 03
File your Certificate of Organization
Idaho Secretary of State, Business Services →The Certificate of Organization is the document that creates your LLC. It is filed with the Idaho Secretary of State, Business Services, which accepts it online.
It names the LLC, its registered agent and address, and whether it is managed by its members or by managers.
- 04
Write an operating agreement
Idaho operating agreement rules and free generator →The operating agreement sets out who owns the LLC, how profits are shared and how decisions are made. It is not filed with the state, but banks often ask for it, and without one your state’s default rules decide disputes between members.
- 05
Get an EIN
An Employer Identification Number from the IRS is the LLC’s federal tax number. You need it to open a business bank account and to hire, and it is free from the IRS.
- 06
Open a business bank account
Keep the LLC’s money separate from yours from the first day. Mixing them is the most common reason courts set aside an LLC’s liability protection.
- 07
Get the licenses your business needs
Idaho business license lookup →Forming the LLC is not a business license. Check whether Idaho requires a state license, what your city or county requires, and whether your trade is licensed. If you sell taxable goods or services, register for Idaho sales tax too.
- 08
Keep your Idaho LLC in good standing
Compliance deadline tracker →Idaho LLCs file an Annual Report every year. It is due by the last day of the LLC's anniversary month (the month its Certificate of Organization took effect) each year.
The first one is due by the end of the anniversary month one year after formation.
Worth knowing in Idaho
- Idaho LLCs must file an Annual Report every year; it is filed online through SOSBiz and a reminder is mailed to the mailing address on record.
- An LLC that stops filing can be administratively dissolved, and its name may then become available to others.
- The registered agent needs a physical Idaho street address; P.O. boxes are not accepted.
Or have it done for $399
We check your name, file your Certificate of Organization with the Idaho Secretary of State, Business Services and pay the state fee, act as your Idaho registered agent for the first year, get your EIN and write your operating agreement. One price, nothing else to buy.
Sources
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Frequently asked questions
How do I start an LLC in Idaho?
Choose an available name, appoint a registered agent in Idaho, and file a Certificate of Organization with the Idaho Secretary of State, Business Services. Then write an operating agreement, get an EIN from the IRS and open a business bank account.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Idaho?
Idaho charges a filing fee for the Certificate of Organization. With StartGlobal the total is $399, with that fee included, plus your EIN, operating agreement and first-year registered agent service. See our Idaho LLC cost page for the yearly costs.
Does a Idaho LLC have to file an annual report?
Idaho LLCs file an Annual Report every year. It is due by the last day of the LLC's anniversary month (the month its Certificate of Organization took effect) each year. The first one is due by the end of the anniversary month one year after formation.
What is the Certificate of Organization?
The document filed with the Idaho Secretary of State, Business Services that creates your LLC. It gives the LLC's name, its registered agent and registered office in Idaho, and how it is managed.
Can I be my own registered agent in Idaho?
Yes, if you have a physical address in Idaho and are there during business hours. That address becomes part of the public record.
