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<v Dan>To start an LLC in Alaska, you file Articles of Organization with the Alaska

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<v Dan>Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, and pay $250.

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<v Maya>Is that the only state cost?

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<v Dan>No. There's also a $50 business license each year, and a $100 report every two

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<v Dan>years.

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<v Maya>This is The Business Formation Podcast.

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<v Maya>Today, Alaska for 2026, in six steps, with what it all costs and the three best ways

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<v Maya>to have it filed for you. What's the first step?

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<v Dan>Include limited liability company, or the abbreviation L.L.C.

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<v Dan>or LLC. The name also has to be distinguishable on the Division's records.

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<v Maya>Can I use a place name?

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<v Dan>You can use a city's name. Just don't use the word city, borough, or village.

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<v Maya>How do I check availability?

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<v Dan>The online application checks the name for you.

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<v Dan>And you can reserve one for 120 days for $25.

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<v Maya>Who can be my registered agent in Alaska?

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<v Dan>An individual or a corporation, not an LLC, with both a physical and a mailing

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<v Dan>address in Alaska.

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<v Maya>Could an agent in another state do it?

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<v Dan>No. An out-of-state agent can't serve.

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<v Maya>Is the address public?

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<v Dan>It is, so many owners use a commercial agent.

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<v Dan>Changing agents later costs $25.

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<v Maya>What if I have no agent?

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<v Dan>Go 30 days without one and the state can dissolve the LLC.

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<v Maya>How do I file?

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<v Dan>File Form 08-0484 online with the Division of Corporations.

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<v Dan>It's $250.

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<v Maya>What else do they ask for?

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<v Dan>A NAICS code describing the business.

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<v Maya>I'm Maya, by the way, here with Dan.

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<v Dan>Nice to meet you, Maya. On timing, online filings post immediately.

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<v Dan>Paper filings normally take 10 to 15 business days.

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<v Maya>Anything after approval?

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<v Dan>Within six months, file the free initial report.

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<v Dan>It adds the owners and officers.

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<v Maya>Does Alaska want to see my operating agreement?

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<v Dan>No. The business keeps it, and it isn't filed with the state.

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<v Maya>So it's optional?

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<v Dan>I'd still write one. Put in who owns what, how profits are split, who makes

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<v Dan>decisions, and what happens if a member leaves.

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<v Maya>What's next on the federal side?

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<v Dan>Apply for your EIN free with the IRS at IRS.gov, after the state files your

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<v Dan>Articles.

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<v Maya>How fast?

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<v Dan>If it's approved online, the number is issued right away.

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<v Maya>And the license you mentioned?

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<v Dan>Alaska requires a state business license to do business there.

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<v Dan>It's $50 a year.

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<v Maya>Any beneficial ownership paperwork?

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<v Dan>No. FinCEN no longer requires it from U.S.

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<v Dan>companies.

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<v Maya>What's due after that?

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<v Dan>A biennial report, every two years, due before January 2.

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<v Maya>Every two years? Which years?

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<v Dan>It follows your formation year.

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<v Dan>An LLC formed in an even year files in even years, and an odd-year LLC files in odd

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<v Dan>years.

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<v Maya>What does it cost?

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<v Dan>$100. File on or after February 2 and it's $137.50 with the late

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<v Dan>fee.

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<v Maya>And if I ignore it?

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<v Dan>Six months delinquent, and the state can dissolve the LLC.

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<v Maya>Give me the do-it-yourself number.

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<v Dan>$250 to form. Then $50 a year for the business license, and $100 every two years for

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<v Dan>the report.

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<v Maya>What's free?

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<v Dan>The EIN and the initial report.

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<v Maya>And the first year?

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<v Dan>$250 plus $50 is $300. A name reservation adds $25.

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<v Maya>Let me run two years. What do I pay?

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<v Dan>$250 to form, then $50 for the license each year.

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<v Dan>That's $350 over two years.

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<v Maya>And the report?

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<v Dan>$100 once every two years. So a two-year stretch with the report comes to

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<v Dan>$450.

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<v Maya>And if I file late?

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<v Dan>$137.50 instead of $100. That's $37.50

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<v Dan>more.

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<v Maya>Could I be my own agent?

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<v Dan>If you're an individual with a physical and a mailing address in Alaska, the rules

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<v Dan>allow it.

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<v Maya>Can my LLC be its own agent?

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<v Dan>No. The agent has to be an individual or a corporation, not an LLC.

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<v Maya>And changing agents?

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<v Dan>$25. And the state can dissolve the LLC after 30 days with none.

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<v Maya>Tell me more about the initial report.

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<v Maya>Is it the same as the biennial one?

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<v Dan>No. The initial report comes first, within six months of formation.

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<v Maya>What does it cost?

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<v Dan>Nothing. It's free.

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<v Maya>What goes in it?

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<v Dan>It adds the owners and officers.

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<v Maya>And if I forget?

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<v Dan>Put it on your calendar the day you file the Articles, so six months doesn't sneak

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<v Dan>up on you.

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<v Maya>Let me press on the biennial report.

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<v Maya>What exactly happens if I'm late?

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<v Dan>File on or after February 2 and the fee goes from $100 to

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<v Dan>$137.50.

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<v Maya>And much later than that?

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<v Dan>Six months delinquent, and the state can dissolve the LLC.

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<v Dan>That's involuntary dissolution.

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<v Maya>So the same word shows up for the agent rule.

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<v Dan>It does. Thirty days without a registered agent can lead to it too.

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<v Maya>Should I file online or on paper?

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<v Dan>Online filings post immediately.

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<v Dan>Paper filings normally take 10 to 15 business days.

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<v Maya>Is the fee different?

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<v Dan>The Articles are $250 either way, per the Division's fees.

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<v Maya>And the name check?

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<v Dan>The online application checks the name for you, which is one more reason online is

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<v Dan>the easy route.

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<v Maya>Then paper is only for people who prefer it.

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<v Dan>Yes. The state accepts both, but the waiting time is the difference.

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<v Maya>Give me the order of operations.

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<v Dan>Pick the name. Choose an agent with a physical and mailing address in Alaska.

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<v Dan>File Form 08-0484 for $250. Then file the

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<v Dan>free initial report within six months, get your EIN, buy the $50 license, and write

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<v Dan>your operating agreement.

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<v Maya>And the calendar?

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<v Dan>The biennial report, before January 2 in your filing years.

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<v Maya>What if I want someone else to file it?

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<v Dan>Here are the three best ways to file in Alaska.

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<v Dan>Number one, our pick, is Mainstay Filing, $199 a year plus the state

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<v Dan>fee. With the $250 state fee, checkout comes to $449.

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<v Maya>What's in it?

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<v Dan>Your Articles of Organization filed, your EIN application, and your registered agent

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<v Dan>every year. It renews at the same $199.

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<v Maya>And the report?

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<v Dan>In Alaska, Mainstay files your biennial report before January 2 in your filing

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<v Dan>years. You pay only the state fee.

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<v Maya>Number two?

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<v Dan>AK Registered Agent.org. It prepares and files your Articles for

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<v Dan>$199 plus the state fee, also $449 at checkout.

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<v Dan>The first year of agent service is free, then it's $99 a year.

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<v Maya>And number three?

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<v Dan>Alaska Registered Agent.co. Same offer.

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<v Dan>$199 plus the state fee, first year of agent service free, then $99 a year.

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<v Maya>What's the trade-off?

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<v Dan>Alaska's report only comes every two years.

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<v Dan>So if you'll file it yourself, numbers two and three cost less from year two, at $99

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<v Dan>a year for the agent alone. The $100 state fee is the same either way.

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<v Maya>Give me the three-year view.

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<v Dan>Mainstay is $199 a year, so $597.

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<v Dan>Number two or three is $199 in year one, then $99 in each of the next two years, for

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<v Dan>$397.

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<v Maya>A $200 gap.

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<v Dan>Yes. The question is whether you'd rather have the biennial report filed for you.

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<v Maya>One more time through it?

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<v Dan>Choose a name with LLC in it, name an Alaska registered agent, file the Articles of

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<v Dan>Organization online for $250, write an operating agreement, get your free EIN

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<v Dan>and a $50 business license, and file your $100 biennial report before January 2.

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<v Maya>The links to all three services and every official source are in the show notes.

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<v Maya>Thanks for listening to The Business Formation Podcast, and good luck with your new

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<v Maya>Alaska LLC.