How to Form an LLC in Washington
Our flat $199 formation package handles the filing; Washington's own $200 state fee is separate. Every Washington LLC also needs a registered agent on file, which renews at $99/year once your entity is formed.
Creating a Washington LLC comes down to one filing done right: the Certificate of Formation, submitted to the Washington Secretary of State through its CCFS portal. Put a registered agent on the public record, budget for the state fee, and keep up with a short list of yearly obligations afterward. Below are the exact fees, the official document, the steps, and how we plug into the process.
Form Your Washington LLC — $199
$199 once. We draft the formation document, file with Washington Secretary of State, and update you when approval comes back.
What A Washington LLC Is (and Why People Form One)
A limited liability company is the entity choice that protects the owner's house, savings, and car from most business liabilities. In Washington, the LLC is by far the most common entity choice — its mix of liability shielding and simple taxes is hard to beat.
Washington LLC Filing Fee: $180 State Fee, About $200 Online
The official Washington filing fee for the Certificate of Formation is $180, set by WAC 434-112-085(7). That is the number printed on the state's paper form. Filing online through CCFS adds an online processing fee on top of the $180, bringing the online total to about $200, which is the figure most filers actually pay and the one shown in the table below. Optional expedited processing adds $100.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Our LLC formation service | $199 one-time |
| State filing fee, online total (Washington Secretary of State) | $200 one-time |
| Registered agent (required for every Washington LLC) | $99/year |
| State annual report fee | $70/year |
$199 for the filing work; state fee to Washington Secretary of State; RA service $99/year as its own product.
Important Washington-specific notes: The annual report fee rose to $70 in 2026 (it was $60 before). Washington has no state income tax but does levy a Business & Occupation (B&O) tax on gross receipts, so plan for that once revenue starts.
The Certificate of Formation: Washington's Version of Articles of Organization
Washington does not use the name Articles of Organization. The formation document is the Certificate of Formation, required by RCW 25.15.071, which puts it plainly: "In order to form a limited liability company, one or more persons must execute a certificate of formation."
The official form name is Certificate of Formation - Limited Liability Company. It has no form number; the Secretary of State identifies it by title and revision date. The form itself states the $180 filing fee and the optional $100 expedite. You can file it online through CCFS, the state's filing portal, or mail the paper form, and the certificate covers the LLC's name, its registered agent, its principal office, how the company is managed, and the organizer executing the filing.
How to Form an LLC in Washington: The Official Steps
- Pick a name Washington Secretary of State will accept. It needs an LLC suffix (Limited Liability Company, LLC, or L.L.C.), it cannot duplicate or closely resemble an existing registered entity, and it should avoid bank, insurance, or government terms unless you hold the relevant license. Check the state's online business search before filing.
- Appoint a registered agent with a physical Washington street address who is available during business hours and consents to the role in a record. The agent's name and address go on the public record. Our $99/year plan covers this, with our address on the filing instead of yours.
- File the Certificate of Formation - Limited Liability Company. Online through CCFS runs $180 plus the online processing fee, about $200 total, and is the fastest route; mailing the paper form runs the $180 statutory fee. Expedited handling is $100 extra either way.
- File the one-time Initial Report within 120 days of formation. It carries no charge when submitted together with the Certificate of Formation, or $10 if filed separately. This is distinct from the annual report.
- Document your operating agreement. Washington does not require one on file, but ownership splits, profit allocation, and decision rights need to live somewhere better than memory, because without a written agreement the state's generic default LLC rules control.
- Get the LLC's EIN from the IRS. It is free at IRS.gov, takes about ten minutes online, and banking, payroll, and federal taxes all require it. Paid EIN services add nothing.
- Stay compliant year after year: keep a registered agent continuously on file, submit the $70 annual report by the last day of your anniversary month through CCFS, keep business banking separate from personal, and meet federal and state tax obligations.
Falling behind on the recurring items can trigger administrative dissolution by Washington Secretary of State, and a dissolved LLC offers no liability protection.
Hand it off? $199 flat and we file your Washington LLC on your behalf.
The Registered Agent Piece
There's no way around the agent requirement in Washington. Every LLC, regardless of size, needs one on file at all times. The agent must:
- Have a real Washington street address on file (a PO box alone isn't acceptable)
- Remain available throughout the standard business day to take official legal mail and lawsuits
- Get state mail and lawsuits into the LLC's hands quickly enough to respond on time
Acting as your own agent is allowed in a limited form, but it exposes your address. Everyone with access to Washington Secretary of State's public entity database can see it.
We act as the agent in Washington for $99/year. Our address is what appears on the public filing.
Questions People Ask
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Washington?
The official state filing fee is $180 under WAC 434-112-085(7); filing online through CCFS adds a processing fee that brings the total to about $200. After formation, the annual report runs $70 per year.
How long does it take to form an LLC in Washington?
Processing depends on the state's filing volume. Online CCFS filings clear faster than mailed forms, and Washington Secretary of State offers expedited handling for an extra $100 if you need to jump the queue.
Does Washington require an annual report?
Yes. Every LLC files a $70 annual report through CCFS by the last day of its anniversary month, and new domestic LLCs also file a one-time Initial Report within 120 days of formation.
Do I need a registered agent for my Washington LLC?
Yes — An agent must be on file at all times for every Washington LLC. The requirement begins at formation and lasts as long as the LLC exists.
Can I form an LLC in Washington if I live in another state?
Yes. Non-residents can form Washington LLCs without any extra steps. (a Washington agent is still required — our $99/year service is exactly that.)
File Your Washington LLC With Our Help
You can file your Washington LLC directly with Washington Secretary of State through CCFS, paying the $180 official fee plus the online processing charge, about $200 in total. A registered agent must still be on file.
We're available as your RA. At $99 a year, your filing carries our Washington address, mail gets scanned and emailed to you the same day it lands, and we flag you ahead of every compliance date.
Need only a registered agent? Our RA service on its own is $99 annually.
Curious about other parts of Washington LLC formation or how our service handles the agent role? Check the FAQ or contact us any weekday.
Ready to get started?
Start representation at the annual rate — address, scanning, and proactive deadline tracking.