Articles of organization is a legal document used to officially establish a Limited Liability Company (LLC). The document contains basic information about the company like the name, purpose of business, duties, responsibilities, and obligations between the members of the LLC, the LLC and its members, and the LLC at the state level. They are also referred to as certificates of organization or certificate of formation.
How to file Articles of organization?
Articles of organization need to be filed with the Secretary of State and require a filing fee in all states.
Each state has slightly different rules for filing, and the LLC has to meet specific requirements for the field of business they want to be involved in for that particular state.
Articles of organization are not typically written from scratch. There are state-specific forms available online or through state offices.
While the specific requirements for filing articles of organization vary from state to state, this information is typically required:
- The name of the LLC
- The purpose of the LLC
- The address of the LLC’s principal office
- The names and addresses of the LLC’s members and managers
- The date on which the LLC was formed
Once the articles of organization are approved, the company becomes a registered business bound by the respective state laws. It’s similar to the birth certificate of an LLC.
Steps involved in filing articles of organization
- Go to your Secretary of State’s website and read through the requirements for filing articles of organization. You may find a downloadable form which you then print and fill out. The cost of the filing and whether they accept online submissions of filings will also be mentioned, along with any other instructions to keep in mind.
- Make sure you have decided on a few things already before filing like the name of the LLC, the physical address you provide, the start date, and details of the registered agent. Apart from this, you will also need to provide a few organizational details of the members and manager(s) and their responsibilities.
- After all the details have been filled out, you need to either mail the form or submit it online, depending on the state.
After filing the articles of organization
Once the articles of organization are filed, the LLC is officially a legal entity. You can then apply for an Employee Identification Number which is needed to file taxes, open a bank account, and get a business license. You will also need to obtain a business license from the city or county where your LLC will be located.
