Filed with
Washington Secretary of State, Corporations and Charities Division
Document
Certificate of Formation
Recurring filing
Every year
- 01
Choose a name for your Washington LLC
Washington Secretary of State, Corporations and Charities Division business filings →The name must include "limited liability company", "limited liability" with "Co.", "L.L.C." or "LLC". It also has to be distinguishable from every business already on the Washington register.
Search the Washington Secretary of State, Corporations and Charities Division business records before you file.
- 02
Choose a registered agent
Every Washington LLC needs a registered agent with a physical address in Washington, 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
Washington Secretary of State, Corporations and Charities Division →The Certificate of Formation is the document that creates your LLC. It is filed with the Washington Secretary of State, Corporations and Charities Division, 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
Washington 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
Washington business license lookup →Forming the LLC is not a business license. Check whether Washington 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 Washington sales tax too.
- 08
Keep your Washington LLC in good standing
Compliance deadline tracker →Washington LLCs file an Annual Report every year. It is due by the expiration date, which is the last day of the month in which the LLC was formed, each year. It can be filed up to 180 days early.
An Initial Report is due within 120 days of formation (it can be filed together with the Certificate of Formation).
Washington has no state income tax, but LLCs doing business in the state are generally subject to the business and occupation (B&O) tax, a gross receipts tax administered by the Department of Revenue with rates that vary by business activity.
Worth knowing in Washington
- Filing the annual report early does not change your expiration date.
- Formation and reports are filed online through the Corporations and Charities Filing System (CCFS).
Or have it done for $399
We check your name, file your Certificate of Formation with the Washington Secretary of State, Corporations and Charities Division and pay the state fee, act as your Washington 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 Washington?
Choose an available name, appoint a registered agent in Washington, and file a Certificate of Formation with the Washington Secretary of State, Corporations and Charities Division. 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 Washington?
Washington 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 Washington LLC cost page for the yearly costs.
Does a Washington LLC have to file an annual report?
Washington LLCs file an Annual Report every year. It is due by the expiration date, which is the last day of the month in which the LLC was formed, each year. It can be filed up to 180 days early. An Initial Report is due within 120 days of formation (it can be filed together with the Certificate of Formation).
What is the Certificate of Formation?
The document filed with the Washington Secretary of State, Corporations and Charities Division that creates your LLC. It gives the LLC's name, its registered agent and registered office in Washington, and how it is managed.
Can I be my own registered agent in Washington?
Yes, if you have a physical address in Washington and are there during business hours. That address becomes part of the public record.
