Filed with
Mississippi Secretary of State, Business Services
Document
Certificate of Formation
Recurring filing
Every year
- 01
Choose a name for your Mississippi LLC
Mississippi Secretary of State, Business Services business filings →The name must contain "limited liability company", "L.L.C." or "LLC". It also has to be distinguishable from every business already on the Mississippi register.
Search the Mississippi Secretary of State, Business Services business records before you file.
- 02
Choose a registered agent
Every Mississippi LLC needs a registered agent with a physical address in Mississippi, 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 Formation
Mississippi Secretary of State, Business Services →The Certificate of Formation is the document that creates your LLC. It is filed with the Mississippi 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
Mississippi 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
Mississippi business license lookup →Forming the LLC is not a business license. Check whether Mississippi 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 Mississippi sales tax too.
- 08
Keep your Mississippi LLC in good standing
Compliance deadline tracker →Mississippi LLCs file an Annual Report every year. It is due between January 1 and April 15 each year.
Worth knowing in Mississippi
- LLC annual reports must be filed online. Paper annual reports are not accepted.
- Failing to file the annual report can lead to administrative dissolution of the LLC.
- The LLC annual report requirement comes from the Revised Mississippi Limited Liability Company Act of 2010.
Or have it done for $399
We check your name, file your Certificate of Formation with the Mississippi Secretary of State, Business Services and pay the state fee, act as your Mississippi registered agent for the first year, get your EIN and write your operating agreement. One price, nothing else to buy.
Sources
Nearby states
Frequently asked questions
How do I start an LLC in Mississippi?
Choose an available name, appoint a registered agent in Mississippi, and file a Certificate of Formation with the Mississippi 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 Mississippi?
Mississippi charges a filing fee for the Certificate of Formation. With StartGlobal the total is $399, with that fee included, plus your EIN, operating agreement and first-year registered agent service. See our Mississippi LLC cost page for the yearly costs.
Does a Mississippi LLC have to file an annual report?
Mississippi LLCs file an Annual Report every year. It is due between January 1 and April 15 each year.
What is the Certificate of Formation?
The document filed with the Mississippi Secretary of State, Business Services that creates your LLC. It gives the LLC's name, its registered agent and registered office in Mississippi, and how it is managed.
Can I be my own registered agent in Mississippi?
Yes, if you have a physical address in Mississippi and are there during business hours. That address becomes part of the public record.
