What to do after your LLC is approved (the 30-day playbook)
Your state approved your LLC! Here's everything you need to do in the next 30 days to actually have a functioning business.
Week 1: Get your EIN
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) is your business's federal tax ID. You need one to:
Open a business bank account
Hire employees or pay contractors
File business taxes
Get a business credit card
How to get one: - Free: apply directly with the IRS at irs.gov/ein (only available M-F, 7am-10pm ET — and only works for US residents with an SSN) - Easier: we'll handle it for you — usually takes 2-5 business days
If you already bought our EIN add-on at checkout, we've already started.
Week 1: Open a business bank account
This is the single most important step for maintaining your liability protection. Mixing personal and business money is the #1 way to "pierce the corporate veil" and lose your LLC protection.
You'll need: - Articles of Organization (in your portal under Documents) - EIN confirmation letter (CP-575 from the IRS) - Operating Agreement (if applicable in your state) - Your photo ID
Banks we recommend: - Mercury (online-only, free, fastest signup) — best for tech / online businesses - Relay (online-only, free, multiple sub-accounts) — best for envelope-budget operators - Chase Business Complete — best for in-person banking, ~$15/mo fee - Bluevine — best for businesses that want a high-yield checking account
Week 2: Sign your Operating Agreement
The Operating Agreement is the internal contract between LLC members (or just you and yourself if it's a single-member LLC).
Even if you're a solo owner, get one — banks frequently ask for it, and it formalizes details like: - Who owns what % - How profits are distributed - What happens if you bring on a partner later - What happens if you want to sell or dissolve
We deliver yours within 1-2 business days of LLC approval if you bought the OA add-on.
Week 2-3: File your BOI report (federal requirement)
The Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) report goes to FinCEN, the federal Treasury Department's financial-crimes division. Filing deadline:
LLCs formed in 2024+: file within 90 days of formation
LLCs formed before 2024: file by Jan 1, 2026
Penalty for missing the deadline: up to $500/day in civil penalties. Don't skip this one.
You can file directly at fincen.gov for free, or use our $99 BOI add-on which handles the form for you.
Week 3-4: Set up bookkeeping
You don't need an accountant on day 1, but you DO need to track every expense and dollar of revenue from day 1.
Bare minimum: - A separate business bank account (week 1 — see above) - A business credit card (not personal!) - A simple spreadsheet or QuickBooks Simple Start ($25/mo)
If you cross $50k revenue: time to talk to a CPA. We don't refer to specific CPAs but can pair you with our partner Trefler & Co. for a free 30-min intro call.
Week 4: Set calendar reminders
Annual obligations to put on your calendar NOW:
State annual report: due date varies by state. We send reminders via email + the customer portal.
Federal income tax: April 15 (Schedule C if single-member LLC, Form 1065 if multi-member).
State income tax: varies. Check with your state.
Estimated quarterly tax payments: April 15, June 15, Sept 15, Jan 15. Required if you expect to owe more than $1,000 in federal tax.
What FormationHub does for you automatically
Mail forwarding (Registered Agent mail → your portal as PDF scans)
Annual report reminders (60 days before due)
BOI deadline reminders
Compliance dashboard in your portal showing what's due and when
Need help?
Live chat support is available in your member portal (the messenger bottom-right). Our support team answers M-F 9am-6pm ET. Outside business hours we have a self-serve knowledge base and you can leave a voicemail at our toll-free number, +1 (888) 695-5281.