Filed with
Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations
Document
Certificate of Organization
Recurring filing
Every year
- 01
Choose a name for your Pennsylvania LLC
Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations business filings →The name must contain "company", "limited" or "limited liability company", or an abbreviation of one of those terms. It also has to be distinguishable from every business already on the Pennsylvania register.
Search the Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations business records before you file.
- 02
Choose a registered agent
Every Pennsylvania LLC needs a registered agent with a physical address in Pennsylvania, 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
Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations →The Certificate of Organization is the document that creates your LLC. It is filed with the Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations, 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
Pennsylvania 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
Pennsylvania business license lookup →Forming the LLC is not a business license. Check whether Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania sales tax too.
- 08
Keep your Pennsylvania LLC in good standing
Compliance deadline tracker →Pennsylvania LLCs file an Annual Report every year. It is due between January 1 and September 30 each year.
The first one is due the year after the LLC is formed.
Worth knowing in Pennsylvania
- Annual reports began January 1, 2025 and replaced the old decennial report, which has been repealed.
- Starting with reports due in 2027, an LLC that does not file faces administrative dissolution six months after the due date.
- The Certificate of Organization is filed with a docketing statement, and no newspaper advertising is required to form an LLC.
Or have it done for $399
We check your name, file your Certificate of Organization with the Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations and pay the state fee, act as your Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania?
Choose an available name, appoint a registered agent in Pennsylvania, and file a Certificate of Organization with the Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations. 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania LLC cost page for the yearly costs.
Does a Pennsylvania LLC have to file an annual report?
Pennsylvania LLCs file an Annual Report every year. It is due between January 1 and September 30 each year. The first one is due the year after the LLC is formed.
What is the Certificate of Organization?
The document filed with the Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations that creates your LLC. It gives the LLC's name, its registered agent and registered office in Pennsylvania, and how it is managed.
Can I be my own registered agent in Pennsylvania?
Yes, if you have a physical address in Pennsylvania and are there during business hours. That address becomes part of the public record.
