WEBVTT 00:00:00.242 --> 00:00:04.162 To start an LLC in Washington, you file a Certificate of Formation with the 00:00:04.218 --> 00:00:09.042 Secretary of State, online in CCFS, and pay $200 in all. 00:00:09.882 --> 00:00:12.482 Two hundred. Is that the whole state fee? 00:00:12.482 --> 00:00:19.362 Yes. It's a $180 filing fee plus a $20 online processing fee. 00:00:19.362 --> 00:00:21.602 This is The Business Formation Podcast. 00:00:21.695 --> 00:00:27.362 Today, Washington for 2026, in six steps, with what it all costs and the two best 00:00:27.426 --> 00:00:28.802 ways to have it filed for you. 00:00:28.909 --> 00:00:30.162 Where do we start? 00:00:30.962 --> 00:00:37.682 The name needs Limited Liability Company, Limited Liability Co., L.L.C., or LLC. 00:00:37.922 --> 00:00:42.322 It also has to be distinguishable from names already on record. 00:00:42.322 --> 00:00:43.762 Anything off limits? 00:00:43.762 --> 00:00:48.482 Yes. Bank, trust, and cooperative aren't allowed in the name. 00:00:48.482 --> 00:00:50.722 How do I see if mine is taken? 00:00:50.722 --> 00:00:54.482 Use the free Corporation Search in CCFS. 00:00:54.722 --> 00:01:00.482 To hold a name while you get ready, a reservation is $30 for 180 days. 00:01:01.207 --> 00:01:03.527 Who can be my registered agent in Washington? 00:01:03.527 --> 00:01:08.007 A commercial registered agent, or a person or business with a physical Washington 00:01:08.053 --> 00:01:10.887 street address who agrees in a record to serve. 00:01:10.887 --> 00:01:13.367 What about a mailbox service? 00:01:13.367 --> 00:01:17.207 No P.O. boxes and no private mailboxes. 00:01:17.367 --> 00:01:19.366 It has to be a street address. 00:01:20.034 --> 00:01:21.287 Is that address public? 00:01:21.287 --> 00:01:24.087 The agent's name and address are, yes. 00:01:24.183 --> 00:01:26.807 That's why many owners hire a commercial agent. 00:01:26.947 --> 00:01:29.767 And changing agents later costs nothing. 00:01:31.304 --> 00:01:32.424 Where do I file? 00:01:32.424 --> 00:01:36.104 Online in CCFS, the Secretary of State's system. 00:01:36.244 --> 00:01:41.464 You pay the $180 filing fee plus a $20 processing fee. 00:01:41.464 --> 00:01:43.384 Do I file anything else with it? 00:01:43.384 --> 00:01:47.224 Your initial report. Filed with the Certificate, it's free. 00:01:47.304 --> 00:01:50.984 Otherwise, it's due within 120 days of formation. 00:01:50.984 --> 00:01:51.784 What's in it? 00:01:51.784 --> 00:01:55.304 Your principal office and the people who govern the LLC. 00:01:55.304 --> 00:01:57.624 I'm Maya, by the way, here with Dan. 00:01:57.624 --> 00:02:02.424 Good to meet you, Maya. Standard processing takes 7 to 10 business days. 00:02:02.557 --> 00:02:07.544 Expedited service is $100 more, and takes about three working days. 00:02:08.270 --> 00:02:10.990 Does the state keep a copy of my operating agreement? 00:02:10.990 --> 00:02:14.950 No. The Secretary of State doesn't record it, and there's no fee. 00:02:15.020 --> 00:02:16.350 You keep it with your records. 00:02:16.350 --> 00:02:18.270 Does it even have to be written? 00:02:18.270 --> 00:02:21.550 Washington counts oral and implied agreements, too. 00:02:21.678 --> 00:02:23.711 That's the reason to write yours down. 00:02:23.910 --> 00:02:29.470 Who owns what, how profits are split, who decides, and what happens if a member 00:02:29.539 --> 00:02:30.030 leaves. 00:02:30.708 --> 00:02:32.068 Now the federal side. 00:02:32.068 --> 00:02:38.628 Apply for your EIN free with the IRS at IRS.gov, after the Secretary of State files 00:02:38.644 --> 00:02:40.068 your Certificate. 00:02:40.068 --> 00:02:41.268 How fast is it? 00:02:41.268 --> 00:02:45.508 If the online application is approved, the number comes right away. 00:02:45.604 --> 00:02:50.428 Keep the Social Security number or ITIN of the person in charge handy. 00:02:50.428 --> 00:02:52.708 Anything at the state level? 00:02:52.708 --> 00:02:55.828 Possibly a business license from the Department of Revenue. 00:02:55.924 --> 00:03:01.428 That's when your gross income reaches $12,000 a year, you hire employees, or you 00:03:01.478 --> 00:03:02.708 collect sales tax. 00:03:02.708 --> 00:03:05.028 And the beneficial ownership report? 00:03:05.028 --> 00:03:09.188 You can skip it. FinCEN no longer requires it from U.S. 00:03:09.220 --> 00:03:09.748 companies. 00:03:10.809 --> 00:03:12.889 What keeps the LLC in good standing? 00:03:12.889 --> 00:03:18.009 An annual report in CCFS, by the last day of the month you formed, every year. 00:03:18.129 --> 00:03:19.689 The fee is $70. 00:03:20.449 --> 00:03:21.929 Every year, starting the first? 00:03:21.929 --> 00:03:25.210 Yes, once a year, on the same month as your formation. 00:03:25.210 --> 00:03:26.489 What if I'm late? 00:03:26.489 --> 00:03:32.249 It's $95 then, with a $25 delinquency fee on top of the $70. 00:03:32.249 --> 00:03:34.089 And if I ignore it for good? 00:03:34.089 --> 00:03:38.329 After a notice, the state can administratively dissolve the LLC. 00:03:38.516 --> 00:03:42.809 Reinstating is $140, plus every report you missed. 00:03:43.533 --> 00:03:44.973 Give me the do-it-yourself math. 00:03:44.973 --> 00:03:50.493 $200 to form, online. Then $70 a year for the annual report. 00:03:50.493 --> 00:03:51.613 And the initial report? 00:03:51.613 --> 00:03:53.773 Free, filed with the Certificate. 00:03:53.933 --> 00:03:56.093 The EIN is free too. 00:03:56.093 --> 00:03:58.093 What about the optional extras? 00:03:58.093 --> 00:04:02.813 A name reservation is $30. Expedited service is $100. 00:04:02.957 --> 00:04:06.893 Same-day in-person service is $150. 00:04:06.893 --> 00:04:08.813 So what's a fair first-year number? 00:04:08.813 --> 00:04:15.213 $200 for most people. With a reservation and the expedite, $330. 00:04:16.573 --> 00:04:18.013 Let me test the annual report. 00:04:18.153 --> 00:04:20.173 Say I forget for a month. 00:04:20.173 --> 00:04:23.533 Then you owe $95 instead of $70. 00:04:23.581 --> 00:04:26.813 That's $25 extra for the delinquency fee. 00:04:27.725 --> 00:04:29.294 That doesn't sound terrible. 00:04:29.294 --> 00:04:34.253 It isn't, by itself. The real cost is ignoring the notice. 00:04:34.397 --> 00:04:41.013 Dissolution means paying $140 to reinstate, plus the reports you skipped. 00:04:41.013 --> 00:04:43.693 So the cheap fix is a calendar reminder. 00:04:43.693 --> 00:04:49.213 Yes. Put the last day of your formation month on it, and you'll never pay the $25. 00:04:50.297 --> 00:04:52.217 Let me take the agent question again. 00:04:52.270 --> 00:04:53.897 Could I just be my own agent? 00:04:53.897 --> 00:04:58.457 You can, if you have a physical Washington street address and you agree to serve in 00:04:58.497 --> 00:04:58.937 a record. 00:04:58.937 --> 00:05:00.856 What if I move? 00:05:00.856 --> 00:05:05.097 Then you name someone new. There's no fee to change agents, so it's a small job. 00:05:05.717 --> 00:05:07.577 And if I travel a lot? 00:05:07.577 --> 00:05:09.337 That's the case for a commercial agent. 00:05:09.477 --> 00:05:13.497 The agent's name and address are on the public record, and a commercial agent is 00:05:13.564 --> 00:05:14.537 built for that role. 00:05:14.537 --> 00:05:16.617 Is a friend's address okay? 00:05:16.617 --> 00:05:20.777 Only if it's a real street address and the friend agrees to serve. 00:05:20.857 --> 00:05:22.697 Many owners prefer not to ask. 00:05:23.497 --> 00:05:25.657 Is the expedite worth $100? 00:05:25.657 --> 00:05:30.057 It depends on the deadline. Standard is 7 to 10 business days. 00:05:30.110 --> 00:05:32.217 Expedited is about three working days. 00:05:32.217 --> 00:05:33.417 Is there anything faster? 00:05:33.417 --> 00:05:37.257 Same-day in-person service is $150. 00:05:37.257 --> 00:05:38.857 So who should pay? 00:05:38.857 --> 00:05:42.297 Anyone who needs a bank account or a contract signed quickly. 00:05:42.484 --> 00:05:46.297 If you have time, standard processing costs nothing extra. 00:05:48.641 --> 00:05:50.081 Give me the order of operations. 00:05:50.081 --> 00:05:53.681 Search your name. Choose your agent at a Washington street address. 00:05:53.793 --> 00:05:56.481 File the Certificate online, with your initial report. 00:05:56.609 --> 00:06:00.241 Then get your EIN, and write your operating agreement. 00:06:00.241 --> 00:06:01.201 And the calendar? 00:06:01.201 --> 00:06:03.921 Mark the last day of your formation month. 00:06:04.001 --> 00:06:06.641 That's your annual report deadline, every year. 00:06:07.341 --> 00:06:09.280 And the money to keep in mind? 00:06:09.280 --> 00:06:13.761 $70 a year, plus the state license from the Department of Revenue if you cross the 00:06:13.826 --> 00:06:14.641 thresholds. 00:06:16.102 --> 00:06:17.702 What if I want someone else to file it? 00:06:17.702 --> 00:06:21.222 Here are the two best ways to file in Washington. 00:06:21.313 --> 00:06:27.702 Number one, our pick, is Mainstay Filing, $199 a year plus the state 00:06:27.782 --> 00:06:33.462 fee. With the $200 state fee, checkout comes to $399. 00:06:33.462 --> 00:06:34.662 What does that cover? 00:06:34.662 --> 00:06:40.582 Your Certificate filed, your EIN application, and your registered agent every year. 00:06:40.715 --> 00:06:43.782 It renews at the same $199. 00:06:43.782 --> 00:06:45.701 And the annual report? 00:06:45.701 --> 00:06:49.542 In Washington, Mainstay prepares and files it on time. 00:06:49.662 --> 00:06:52.423 You pay only the $70 state fee. 00:06:52.423 --> 00:06:54.582 Number two? 00:06:54.582 --> 00:07:01.543 WA Registered Agent.org. It prepares and files your Certificate for $199 plus the 00:07:01.596 --> 00:07:05.143 state fee, which is also $399 at checkout. 00:07:05.271 --> 00:07:10.423 Your first year of agent service is free, and after that it's $99 a year. 00:07:10.423 --> 00:07:11.863 How do I pick? 00:07:11.863 --> 00:07:18.423 If you'll file your own annual report, number two costs less from year two, at $99 a 00:07:18.487 --> 00:07:23.303 year for the agent alone. The $70 state fee is the same either way. 00:07:23.463 --> 00:07:28.343 If you want the report filed for you at one steady price, that's Mainstay. 00:07:29.083 --> 00:07:30.043 Three-year number? 00:07:30.043 --> 00:07:35.243 Mainstay is $199 a year, so $597. 00:07:35.277 --> 00:07:41.243 Number two is $199 in year one, then $99 in each of the next two years, for 00:07:41.283 --> 00:07:43.163 $397. 00:07:43.163 --> 00:07:45.643 A $200 difference. 00:07:45.643 --> 00:07:50.923 Yes, and in Washington, that gap pays for having your annual report filed on time. 00:07:51.638 --> 00:07:52.677 One more time through it? 00:07:52.677 --> 00:07:59.558 Choose a name with LLC in it, name an agent at a Washington street address, file 00:07:59.574 --> 00:08:05.478 your Certificate online for $200 with your initial report, write an operating 00:08:05.526 --> 00:08:12.038 agreement, get your free EIN, and file your $70 annual report 00:08:12.131 --> 00:08:12.998 every year. 00:08:12.998 --> 00:08:18.198 The links to both services and every official source are in the show notes. 00:08:18.244 --> 00:08:21.958 Thanks for listening to The Business Formation Podcast, and good luck with your new 00:08:22.002 --> 00:08:23.238 Washington LLC.