FormationHub is a filing service, not a law firm or accounting firm. Once you submit your application and payment, our team prepares your Articles of Organization and files them directly with your state — you never have to visit a courthouse yourself.
Your total at checkout is itemized: our service fee plus your state's own filing fee (state fees vary, so this is never a flat number). We offer two filing speeds: standard ($149), typically completed in 1-4 business days, and expedited ($199), submitted the same business day. We process every order as quickly as possible based on order priority and queue, but that speed reflects how fast we submit your paperwork — not how fast the state processes it.
If you'd like us to handle it, we also offer optional add-ons: a registered agent service ($192/year — that's $16/month, prepaid yearly to cover the next 12 months), an EIN ($79), an operating agreement ($40), and an S-corp tax election for LLCs expecting significant annual income. Add-ons cost the same amount whether you buy them at checkout or add them later.
Every LLC needs an EIN, regardless of how many members it has or whether it has any employees yet — it's how you open a business bank account, hire employees, and pay federal taxes. It's easy to add to your order for $79.
A few application terms trip people up. 'Member' just means owner — if you're the one running the day-to-day, you can list yourself as the member and document a spouse's or partner's role separately in your operating agreement. Most first-time owners without a dedicated office use their home address for the business address, though rules can vary by state. 'Capital contribution' is simply the amount you personally put in to start the business — there's no required minimum; you choose the number. Business names can't include special characters like apostrophes in the official state filing, but you're free to use your full stylized name in your branding, signage, and marketing.
Most states require a registered agent as part of your filing — someone with a physical address in that state who can receive legal and state mail for your LLC. You can act as your own registered agent, or have FormationHub do it for you.
Approval timing has two parts: how fast we submit your filing (standard in 1-4 business days, expedited the same business day — we always process as fast as possible based on priority and queue), and how long your state takes to process it once we do. State processing is separate, outside our control, doesn't run on weekends or holidays, and can take longer than expected even on an expedited filing.
We can't advise on questions that require legal or tax judgment specific to your situation. This includes which state to form your LLC in — whether that's your home state, Delaware, Wyoming, Montana, or anywhere else: we always recommend speaking with a CPA or an attorney licensed in your state and don't offer substantive guidance on which state is 'better.' The same goes for how to structure ownership between partners or liability questions tied to your specific circumstances.
Already running as a sole proprietorship? Switching to an LLC isn't automatic — you'll need to form a new LLC entity with the state, and then transfer your business operations into it. We're happy to help with that filing.
Started an application but didn't finish? No problem — your progress is saved automatically, and you can pick up right where you left off any time within 30 days.
Step by step
Complete the application with your business name, address, and business category.
Choose a registered agent — act as your own for free, or have FormationHub do it for $192/year (required in most states).
Review your itemized total at checkout (service fee + state filing fee) and pay.
FormationHub prepares and files your Articles of Organization with your state.
You'll receive updates by email, and your filed LLC documents once your state approves the filing.