Filed with
Kentucky Secretary of State
Document
Articles of Organization
Recurring filing
Every year
- 01
Choose a name for your Kentucky LLC
Kentucky Secretary of State business filings →The name must end with "limited liability company", "limited company", "LLC" or "LC" ("limited" may be abbreviated "Ltd." and "company" may be abbreviated "Co."). It also has to be distinguishable from every business already on the Kentucky register.
Search the Kentucky Secretary of State business records before you file.
- 02
Choose a registered agent
Every Kentucky LLC needs a registered agent with a physical address in Kentucky, 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 Articles of Organization
Kentucky Secretary of State →The Articles of Organization is the document that creates your LLC. It is filed with the Kentucky Secretary of State, 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
Kentucky 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
Kentucky business license lookup →Forming the LLC is not a business license. Check whether Kentucky 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 Kentucky sales tax too.
- 08
Keep your Kentucky LLC in good standing
Compliance deadline tracker →Kentucky LLCs file an Annual Report every year. It is due between January 1 and June 30 each year.
The first one is due between January 1 and June 30 of the year after the calendar year the LLC was formed.
Kentucky imposes an annual limited liability entity tax (LLET) on LLCs doing business in Kentucky, based on Kentucky gross receipts or gross profits. A single-member LLC owned by an individual reports it on Form 725 with the Department of Revenue.
Worth knowing in Kentucky
- A domestic LLC that misses the June 30 annual report deadline is administratively dissolved and stays in bad standing until it reinstates.
- The annual report confirms the principal office and registered agent, and lists managers for a manager-managed LLC.
Or have it done for $399
We check your name, file your Articles of Organization with the Kentucky Secretary of State and pay the state fee, act as your Kentucky 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 Kentucky?
Choose an available name, appoint a registered agent in Kentucky, and file a Articles of Organization with the Kentucky Secretary of State. 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 Kentucky?
Kentucky charges a filing fee for the Articles 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 Kentucky LLC cost page for the yearly costs.
Does a Kentucky LLC have to file an annual report?
Kentucky LLCs file an Annual Report every year. It is due between January 1 and June 30 each year. The first one is due between January 1 and June 30 of the year after the calendar year the LLC was formed.
What is the Articles of Organization?
The document filed with the Kentucky Secretary of State that creates your LLC. It gives the LLC's name, its registered agent and registered office in Kentucky, and how it is managed.
Can I be my own registered agent in Kentucky?
Yes, if you have a physical address in Kentucky and are there during business hours. That address becomes part of the public record.
