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LLC formation guides without the upsells.

Most first-time owners don't need more options. You need LLC formation guides with the filing steps in plain English, real costs up front, and an honest next step.

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Formation decision

Not sure if you need an LLC yet? Start there.

A sole proprietorship is the default. An LLC costs money and adds upkeep, so form when liability, privacy, contracts, or clean business separation make the state fee worth it.

Decide LLC vs sole prop

Flagship calculator

Already making real profit? Check the S-corp math before you pay anyone.

S-corp treatment can save tax, but only after payroll, accounting, and state costs. Run the calculator first if your LLC is consistently netting around $60K or more.

Run the S-corp calculator Check reasonable comp

LLC formation guides by state

Filing fees, annual reports, processing times, and the extra steps a few states still require. They all change depending on where you form. Pick your state to see what filing actually looks like.

Available now

Guides with verified filing details and full walkthroughs.

Other states coming soon (41)

We haven't finished writing these yet. Most LLC filings share the same five steps — while we publish, see our comparison of LLC services for the cleanest way to file in any state.

  • Alabama

    AL

    Guide in progress

  • Alaska

    AK

    Guide in progress

  • Arizona

    AZ

    Guide in progress

  • Arkansas

    AR

    Guide in progress

  • California

    CA

    Guide in progress

  • Colorado

    CO

    Guide in progress

  • Connecticut

    CT

    Guide in progress

  • Delaware

    DE

    Guide in progress

  • District of Columbia

    DC

    Guide in progress

  • Florida

    FL

    Guide in progress

  • Georgia

    GA

    Guide in progress

  • Hawaii

    HI

    Guide in progress

  • Idaho

    ID

    Guide in progress

  • Illinois

    IL

    Guide in progress

  • Iowa

    IA

    Guide in progress

  • Kansas

    KS

    Guide in progress

  • Kentucky

    KY

    Guide in progress

  • Louisiana

    LA

    Guide in progress

  • Maine

    ME

    Guide in progress

  • Massachusetts

    MA

    Guide in progress

  • Minnesota

    MN

    Guide in progress

  • Mississippi

    MS

    Guide in progress

  • Missouri

    MO

    Guide in progress

  • Montana

    MT

    Guide in progress

  • Nebraska

    NE

    Guide in progress

  • Nevada

    NV

    Guide in progress

  • New Hampshire

    NH

    Guide in progress

  • New Jersey

    NJ

    Guide in progress

  • New Mexico

    NM

    Guide in progress

  • New York

    NY

    Guide in progress

  • North Dakota

    ND

    Guide in progress

  • Oklahoma

    OK

    Guide in progress

  • Oregon

    OR

    Guide in progress

  • Rhode Island

    RI

    Guide in progress

  • South Carolina

    SC

    Guide in progress

  • South Dakota

    SD

    Guide in progress

  • Texas

    TX

    Guide in progress

  • Utah

    UT

    Guide in progress

  • Vermont

    VT

    Guide in progress

  • West Virginia

    WV

    Guide in progress

  • Wisconsin

    WI

    Guide in progress

How we approach this

Framework first. Click second.

Most LLC sites want the click first and the explanation later. We give you the framework first — what filing actually involves, what each state requires, where the real costs hide — and then let you pick. If you want help with the paperwork, our comparison of LLC services ranks them by year-one cost and how much they actually do for you.