What to Do After Registering an LLC in the USA

Getting the state's approval is not the end of setting up an LLC. A few steps that follow decide whether the company can bank, trade and stay in good standing. This checklist puts them in order. If you have not registered yet, start with our LLC formation service.

1. Check your formation documents

The state sends back a stamped or approved copy of the Articles of Organization (or Certificate of Formation). Check the name, the registered agent and the address for mistakes. Keep it somewhere safe: a bank and other providers will ask for it.

2. Sign an operating agreement

This records the owners, their shares and how the company is run. Most states do not file it, but you should have one. For a single owner it can be short. It helps show the LLC is separate from you.

3. Get an EIN

The EIN is the company's tax number. Apply through the IRS, which explains the process on its Employer ID Numbers page, or let us apply for you with our EIN service. An owner with no Social Security Number can still obtain one.

4. Open a business bank account

Use it for everything the company earns and spends. Mixing personal and business money is one of the common ways owners weaken the protection an LLC gives. Banks usually ask for the formation document, the EIN letter, the operating agreement and your ID. See US business bank account.

5. Register for the taxes your business needs

• Sales tax. If you sell goods in a state that charges it, you may need to register.
• Payroll tax. Required if you hire employees.
• State registrations. If you operate in a state other than the one you formed in, you may also need to register there.

6. Check local licences

Many cities and counties require a business licence, and some trades need a professional licence. Ask the local authority for the area where you work.

7. Put the yearly dates in a calendar

• The state's annual report or tax, where there is one.
• The registered agent's yearly renewal.
• The federal return. A foreign-owned single-member LLC files an information return every year, even with no income, and the penalty for missing it is heavy. See US LLC tax filing.

8. Keep the company separate

• Sign contracts in the company's name.
• Pay the company's costs from the company's account.
• Keep records of money moved in and out of the company.

Frequently asked questions

How soon after approval should I apply for the EIN?

Straight away. The bank account, payment providers and tax filings all depend on it.

Can I open a bank account without being in the US?

Some banks and online providers will open one for a non-resident, but the requirements differ. Ask before you rely on one.

Do I need an accountant?

It helps once the company has income, more than one owner or owners in another country, because the tax rules depend on those facts.

This is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules change, so check the state's and the IRS's own websites.