Step-by-Step Guide: How to Set Up Your LLC in Washington | Expert Washington LLC Formation | BetterLegal

Are you considering setting up an LLC in Washington? BetterLegal has developed a complete yet concise guide to help you through the process through our years of experience. The five critical steps to properly set up an LLC in Washington in order are:

1. Prepare by choosing a Name and Registered Agent
2. File Certificate of Formation with the State of Washington
3. Apply for an EIN with the IRS
4. Obtain an Operating Agreement
5. Handle Ongoing Washington Compliance and Maintenance

An LLC (Limited Liability Company) is a fairly new business structure which combines the best aspects of two older structures. Corporations have existed since before the US existed, but require heavy maintenance such as quarterly meetings with officially recorded minutes, board approval and distribution of ownership, and more. On the other side of the spectrum is a sole proprietorship (or partnership if more than one person) that possesses tax benefits, but doesn't provide the owners with liability protection.

Combining the liability protection of a corporation and the tax benefits of a partnership, LLCs were created and slowly adopted by all 50 states between 1977-1998. This means that, as the owner of an LLC, you are not personally liable for any debts or obligations of the business. This can be a crucial safeguard for a sole proprietor, as transitioning to an LLC protects your personal assets, such as your home or savings, in the event that the business is sued or faces financial difficulties.

In addition to liability protection, an LLC helps establish credibility for your business. When you officially register your business as an LLC, you are signaling to the public that you are a professional and legitimate operation. This is especially important for a sole owner of a business as customers have more options than ever and are more likely to choose a company that feels more trustworthy. Any credibility you can build with your future customers is extremely important.

The first step in setting up an LLC in Washington is choosing a name for your business. The name you choose will represent your company and be used on all official documents, so it's essential to take the time to carefully consider your options.

It may seem tempting to have a very specialized name like "Irene's Washington Ice Cream." However, if you're still iterating on your business offering or may expand, a somewhat generalized name may work in your favor. Don't fret too much as you can always change a Washington LLC's name or use a nickname by filing a Washington DBA. More on those post-formation options can be found under Step 5: Changes and Maintenance.

It's important to choose a name that is unique and not already in use by another business. You can use the Washington Secretary of State's name check service to verify the availability of your desired LLC name. If you are having trouble accessing the name check service, you can also call the Washington Secretary of State.

When choosing a name for your LLC, it's important to keep the following guidelines in mind:

The name must contain the words "Limited Liability Company", "Limited Liability" and abbreviation "Co." or the abbreviation "L.L.C." or "LLC". The name is limited to a maximum of 255 characters. If you wish to use a name longer than 255 characters, your application must be filed in paper form instead of electronically.

When choosing a name, it's also important to consider available domain names and social handles. One of our early customers owned austineventcollective.com as well as austineventcollective across every social platform. Unfortunately, someone in Washington already had a registered "Austin Event Collective LLC" and rejected her filing.

If you’re not ready to file, it is possible to reserve your Washington LLC's name before officially registering your LLC with the Washington Secretary of State. Please note that this is an additional and separate cost from officially filing your LLC and only holds the name, so you have to decide whether reserving a name for a few months is a better option than simply setting your Effective Start Date for the future (more on this in Step 2).

The next step in setting up an LLC in Washington is choosing a registered agent. This person or entity will be responsible for receiving official mail from the State of Washington and legal documents on behalf of your business.

Registered Agents must also have a physical address in Washington. PO Boxes aren’t allowed

It's worth noting that this information is considered a public record and may be accessed by anyone. This means that anyone can view the names and addresses of the managers or members of your LLC by requesting a copy of your Certificate of Formation from the Washington Secretary of State. If you are concerned about privacy, you may want to consider using a third party to act as a registered agent for your LLC rather than using your own personal information. This step helps protect your operator's and owner's privacy and shield your personal information from public view.

There are countless options for Registered Agent Service, but we believe BetterLegal provides the best value. Click here to sign up.

Some additional guidelines in Washington for Registered Agents:

The Registered Agent may be an individual or a registered entity in Washington.

BetterLegal has helped tens of thousands of business owners across the US set up their LLC. Sign up today to start yours!

Once you have chosen a name and registered agent for your LLC, you'll need to file the Certificate of Formation with the Washington Secretary of State for a fee of $200 which is refundable and provide a digital, scanned, or wet signature of the organizer.

Filing Options

Online
1) Go to https://ccfs.sos.wa.gov/ to submit the online form

Mail
1) Send the completed form and filing fee to
Washington Secretary of State, Corporations Division, 801 Capitol Way South PO Box 40234, Olympia, WA 98504-0234

Payment Options

If filing online, Credit Card. If by mail: Check or money order.

Turnaround Time

The turnaround time for LLC formation in Washington is advertised by the Secretary of State as three (3) to seven (7) business days from the date of online submission. However, it can take up to seven (7) to ten (10) business days if filed by mail. Keep in mind that this can take longer based on state examiner’s workload at the time of filing. BetterLegal's internal experience with Washington is three (3) to seven (7) business days from the time of payment receipt, as long as the filing request was received during BetterLegal's operating hours (Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. EST). Expedited services are not available for Washington LLC formation.

Please note that the Secretary of State's office in Washington is closed on weekends and state holidays. The office is open from 8:00am to 5:00pm, Monday through Friday.

Also note, that you should not apply for an EIN (Step 3) until Washington has approved and delivered your Certificate of Formation in case your LLC's name is rejected.

Setting a Future Effective Date

If you want to set a future "start date" for your LLC, this the date when you submitted your LLC application or a future effective date that may not be more than ninety (90) days from the date of filing. in the State of Washington.

Address Requirements

In Washington, you're required to provide Principal Office Address, Manager's Address, Registered Agent Address, Return address for filing If you want your address information to be private rather than public record, make sure your Registered Agent allows for all addresses. BetterLegal's $90/year service provides full privacy.

State's Mailing Address: The mailing address may be different from the listed registered agent address or principal office address.

Manager Information

The Manager's Information section of your LLC's Certificate of Formation may include the names and addresses of the managers or members of your LLC. Here is extra information Washington will want to know about your Managers:

1) Manager's Name - It may be an individual or non-individual manager. Members and managers may be individuals, partnerships, corporations, and any other type of legal entity. However, for non-individual managers, there must be an authorized representative to sign the LLC's articles of organization.

2) Manager's Address - This may be a business or post office box address, especially if privacy concerns are an issue. Note that a document on file with the secretary of state is a public record that is subject to public access and disclosure.

Receiving your documents

After the Certificate of Formation has been filed and accepted by the Washington Secretary of State, the LLC is officially formed. Here's what Washington will provide back to you based on your method of submission: If filed online, documents will be available on state website via account. if filed by mail, approved documents will be mailed to the return address.

The official deliverables will include: the following documents:
1) Congratulation Letter
2) Certificate of Formation
3) Initial Report
4) Certificate of Formation with Initial Report – Fulfilled

You should keep a copy of the Certificate of Formation for your records and use it to open a bank account, apply for business licenses, and conduct other business.

What if my filing is rejected?

If your filing is rejected, you'll receive information from the Washington Secretary of State explaining the reason for the rejection. You can then make the necessary corrections and resubmit your documents. Regardless whether filed online or by mail, the document must be refiled.

Additional information

It is necessary to file Initial Report alongside Certificate of Formation. If not, entity has 120 days to file after formation.

Obtaining an Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a crucial step in starting an LLC in Washington because banks require it to open a business bank account and the IRS requires it to pay taxes. So if you plan on making money, you'll need one. You don't need to employ anyone to need an EIN, it's simply a poor name choice by the IRS for what is essentially your LLC's Social Security Number or Tax ID.

An EIN is a unique nine-digit number assigned by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to identify a business for tax purposes and formatted as 12-3456789. EINs are free to get from the Internal Revenue Service's website, but can be tricky if you're not careful when answering their questions.

An EIN is a Tax ID for the federal government, it is not your Tax ID for the State of Washington.

Here are some key points to keep in mind when obtaining an EIN for your LLC:

1. A Sole Proprietorship's EIN cannot be transferred to your Washington LLC.
2. A Manager or Member must provide their personal information to link the EIN to your Washington LLC.
3. You cannot use an existing business' information for an EIN since a business doesn't have a Social Security Number.
4. If you're not a US citizen that is in possession of an SSN, you will need to first obtain an ITIN before applying for an EIN through a paper filing.
5. Once the EIN is obtained, it must be included on all federal tax returns and other documents that require the business's tax identification number.
6. Keep a copy of the EIN confirmation letter for your records.

It's important to note that the EIN is for tax purposes only and does not give any rights or privileges to the holder.

The turnaround time for an EIN is instant and the fee is $0. However, the IRS’ website that generates EINs only works normal business hours EST, so it’s a good idea to plan ahead if getting this item is time sensitive. Also note, that you should not apply for an EIN until Washington has approved and delivered your Certificate of Formation in case your desired business name is rejected.

An operating agreement is an important document for any LLC, as it lays out the rights and responsibilities of the members (owners), as well as the management structure of the LLC. It's not a mandatory document filed with the State of Washington, but it's highly recommended to have notarized as it can help prevent disputes and misunderstandings among members later on.

While it's your preference to decide whether the Washington LLC is manager-managed or member-managed, BetterLegal prefers to set up LLCs as manager-managed since an individual can be both a manager and a member. If a manager/member wants to become passive at a later stage of the company and the Operating Agreement is set up as member-managed, then it opens up a can of worms that could have been avoided by retaining the separation of duties from the beginning.

Here are some key points to keep in mind when creating an Operating Agreement for your LLC:

1. Identify the members of the LLC and their respective ownership percentages.
2. Outline the decision-making procedures, such as how many members must be present for a meeting to be considered quorate and how many votes are required to pass a resolution.
3. Specify the process for admitting new members or removing existing members.
4. Include information about how profits and losses will be distributed among members.
5. Set out the procedures for amending the Operating Agreement and dissolving the Washington LLC.

This is an important document for a Washington Limited Liability Company and is too often overlooked or skimped on. If setting up a single-member LLC, be wary of professionals that charge hundreds or thousands of dollars for a single-page document. We have seen attorneys charge $3500 for a simple document providing zero ability for supporting multiple owners in the future. While you may start as a sole owner, that may not always be the case. It's best to plan ahead during these early phases before the grind of entrepreneurship sets in.

We've also seen instances where an individual helping with the business early on later claims ownership upon the business' later success. Never refer to someone paid or unpaid as a "partner" in public, especially if you don't have a signed and notarized Operating Agreement in place.

If you're setting up your Washington LLC on your own and need an Operating Agreement, BetterLegal can provide one for a reasonable fee.

The Operating Agreement should be reviewed periodically and updated to ensure that it accurately reflects the current state of the Washington LLC.

BetterLegal has helped tens of thousands of business owners across the US set up their LLC. Sign up today to start yours!

As an LLC in Washington, you'll need to comply with certain Washington regulations.

This includes, but not limited to:

1. Obtaining any necessary licenses and permits
2. Keeping records of your business's financial transactions
3. Staying on top of Washington's Annual Report
4. Notifying the State of changes to your LLC