Forming an LLC takes one filing. You send the state the articles of organization, pay the fee and wait for the office to accept them. After acceptance the LLC exists in that state.
Most of the work is deciding the details the form asks for, which are covered below. The filing is a state job. We are a private guide, so use the state's own form and portal, linked on each state page.
What goes into articles of organization?
The exact fields depend on the state. Expect the LLC's name, the registered agent and the agent's street address in the state, and the principal address. Some states ask for the management structure or a purpose, and a few require extra steps such as publication.
What do the states call the form?
Names differ and so do forms. California uses Form LLC-1. Delaware and Texas call the LLC document a certificate of formation. The table lists the form names we confirmed on the state offices' own pages.
| State | LLC form | Corporation form | Faster processing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | Articles of Organization | Articles of Incorporation | $35 more for about 3 to 5 days; next day is $100 more |
| California | Articles of Organization, Form LLC-1 | see the office | Class B expedite, same day response, costs $750.00 |
| Colorado | Articles of Organization | Articles of Incorporation | Expedited service is fulfilled within 3 business days for an added $150.00 |
| Delaware | Certificate of Formation of a Limited Liability Company | see the office | Expedited service is available; a certified copy costs $50 extra |
| Florida | see the office | see the office | The division does not offer expedited services |
| Georgia | Articles of Organization (Form CD 030) | see the office | Same business day, if sent before noon on a weekday, costs $250 more |
| Illinois | Form LLC-5.5, Articles of Organization | Form BCA-2.10, Articles of Incorporation | see the office |
| Michigan | Articles of Organization, form CSCL/CD-700 | see the office | 24-hour service $50 for formation documents |
| Missouri | Articles of Organization, filed with the Corporations Division | Articles of Incorporation, with a fee based on authorized shares | see the office |
| New Jersey | Certificate of Formation | Certificate of Incorporation | Expedited service is over-the-counter only, so it cannot be bought for online or mailed filings |
| New York | Articles of Organization (Section 203 of the LLC Law) | see the office | $25.00 in 24 hours, $75.00 the same day, $150.00 in 2 hours, per document |
| North Carolina | Articles of Organization, Form L-01 | see the office | see the office |
| Ohio | Articles of Organization, Form 610 (replaces Form 533A) | Initial Articles of Incorporation, Form 532A | $100 for 2 business days, $200 for 1 business day, $300 for 4 hours (in person only) |
| Oklahoma | Articles of Organization, SOS Form 0073 | Certificate of Incorporation for an Oklahoma for profit corporation | see the office |
| South Carolina | Articles of Organization, Limited Liability Company, Domestic | Articles of Incorporation, filed with Department of Revenue form CL-1 | see the office |
| Tennessee | Articles of Organization Limited Liability Company, Form SS-4270 | Charter For-Profit Corporation, Form SS-4417 | see the office |
| Texas | Form 205, Certificate of Formation for a Limited Liability Company | Form 201, Certificate of Formation for a For-Profit Corporation | $50 standard, $500 next day, $750 same day |
| Virginia | Form LLC1011, Articles of Organization of a Virginia LLC | Form SCC619, Virginia stock corporation | Next day $50 or $100 (submit by 2:00PM EST), same day $200 |
| Wisconsin | Form 502, Articles of Organization, Limited Liability Company | see the office | Next business day expedite costs $100.00 |
What does the state charge?
The filing fee is set by each state. Current examples from the state offices: Texas $300, Massachusetts $500, New York $200 and California $70. Many states also sell expedited handling, and the state pages show the fee when the office publishes one. See the full filing fee comparison.
How do you file?
- Check that the name is available in the state business search.
- Pick a registered agent with a street address in the state.
- Get the state's form or open its online portal.
- Fill in the form and pay the fee.
- Keep the filed copy and note your first annual report date.
Articles of organization or articles of incorporation?
LLCs file articles of organization. Corporations file articles of incorporation, or a certificate of incorporation in some states. Read the articles of incorporation guide if you are forming a corporation.
If you want someone else to prepare the filing, you can ask our private filing service. State fees are separate and you can always file yourself with the state. This is a guide, not legal advice.
Sources
Fees and form names come from each state office's own pages, listed on the state pages.