Start a Free LLC in Washington State

How to Form a Washington State LLC in 6 Steps

Starting an LLC in Washington is straightforward. The Secretary of State runs the Corporations and Charities Filing System for online LLC formation, and the state routes new owners through the Department of Revenue's Business Licensing Service for tax registration and licensing.

You need your business name, principal office address, registered agent details, and executor information to complete the Certificate of Formation. Washington also requires a separate Initial Report within 120 days of formation. Once your LLC is approved, you can apply for an EIN and a Washington Business License.

Swyft Filings handles the paperwork and state filings in all 50 states. Select our basic package to start an LLC for free in Washington State. We also offer professional registered agent services, so you can avoid using your personal Washington address as the registered agent address in public filings. Our online dashboard securely stores a copy of your paperwork and keeps it accessible at all times.

Step 1: Pick a Name for Your Washington LLC

Your name goes on your Certificate of Formation, your operating agreement, and every piece of paperwork after that, so it is worth getting right before you file anything.

Washington requires your LLC name to be distinguishable from any business entity already on file with the Secretary of State.

Washington Naming Guidelines and Requirements:

• Designator Required: Your name must include an approved entity identifier such as Limited Liability Company, LLC, or L.L.C. If your LLC provides a professional service that requires a state license (law, medicine, accounting, real estate), you may use Professional Limited Liability Company, PLLC, or P.L.L.C. instead.

• Restricted Words: Using words like Bank, Insurance, Credit Union, or University in your LLC name may require additional documentation or licensure from the relevant state agency.

• Prohibited Terms: Your name cannot include words like Corporation, Inc., Incorporated, or Trust, since those imply a different business structure.

• Government Names: Your LLC name cannot contain words or acronyms that could be mistaken for a government entity, such as FDA, EPA, or State Department. You can use the name of a city, town, or state, but not words like "city" that suggest a municipal entity.

Use our free business name generator tool to search names and list a few so you have backups ready if your first choice is taken. Before filing, confirm your final choice using the state’s official Business Entity Search.

Can you reserve your business name in Washington?

Yes. Under RCW 23.95.310, Washington lets you reserve a business name for 180 days by filing a name reservation request with the Secretary of State. This holds the name while you prepare your formation documents, so no one else can register it in the meantime.

Keep in mind that the reservation cannot be renewed. Once the 180 days are up, the name becomes available to other filers. This filing also isn't available online; you'll need to submit the fillable name reservation PDF form by mail or in person. The fee is $20 for nonprofits and $30 for all other business entity types.

Step 2: Appoint a Washington Registered Agent

Every LLC in Washington has to keep a registered agent on file. This person or entity is who receives lawsuits, subpoenas, and official state notices on your LLC's behalf. Washington requires every LLC to maintain a registered agent with a physical street address in the state, who can receive service of process and official communications during normal business hours. A P.O. box will not satisfy the requirement, no matter how you file it.

Check out our registered agent services before you decide who handles this, since the choice affects both your privacy and how reliably you receive notifications about important matters.

Step 3: File Your Washington Certificate of Formation

You form your Washington LLC by filing a Certificate of Formation with the Secretary of State. The state filing fee is $180 for mail/in-person filings, plus an online processing fee for online filings. You can also request expedited service for an additional $100, which is generally processed within three working days.

The Certificate of Formation can be filed online through the Washington Secretary of State's Corporations and Charities Filing System or by mail. The steps to start an LLC online include the following:

Select Your Business Type

• Log in to the Washington Corporations and Charities Filing System.
• Select “Create or Register a Business.”
• Choose “I would like to form a Washington State business.”
• Select “WA Limited Liability Company” from the business type list and click Continue.
• Enter & Verify Your LLC Name
• Enter your proposed LLC name or use your name reservation number if you have already reserved a name.
• Your LLC name must include “Limited Liability Company,” “Limited Liability Co.,” “L.L.C.,” or “LLC.”
• Check that the name is available through the Secretary of State's system.
• Name availability is subject to final review by the Secretary of State.

Designate Your Registered Agent

• Choose a commercial or noncommercial registered agent.
• Provide the registered agent's required information.
• A noncommercial registered agent must have a physical street address in Washington. PO Boxes and private mailbox addresses are not accepted.
• The registered agent must consent to serve.
• An email address is required for the registered agent.

Enter Your Principal Office

• Provide the physical address where your LLC keeps its records.
• A PO Box or private mailbox cannot be used as the principal office address.
• Your principal office does not have to be located in Washington.
• An email address is also required for the principal office.

Choose Your LLC's Duration

• Select perpetual if you want your LLC to continue indefinitely.
• You can also choose a specific number of years or an expiration date.
• If you do not select an option, the LLC will default to perpetual duration.

Select Your Effective Date

• Choose the date of filing for the LLC to become effective when the filing is processed.
• You can also choose a future effective date.
• A future effective date cannot be more than 90 days after the filing date

Provide Executor Information

• Enter the name and address of each executor.
• Executors are the individuals forming the LLC.
• Provide the required signature and certify that the information is accurate.

Submit Your Filing and Pay the Fee

• Review all of the information before submitting your filing.
• Add the filing to your cart and proceed to checkout.
• Pay the $180 state filing fee, plus the applicable online processing fee of $20.

Once you submit the filing, the Secretary of State will review it. After the filing is processed, your confirmation letter and filed documents will be available through your online account.

If you want to file an LLC by mail instead, complete the Certificate of Formation and mail it, along with the $180 filing fee, to the Washington Secretary of State, P.O. Box 40234, Olympia, WA 98504-0234. Paper filings may take longer to process than online filings.

You will need:

• Your LLC's proposed name
• Your LLC's duration
• Your preferred effective date
• Your registered agent's name and Washington physical address
• Your principal office address
• The executor's name, address, and signature
• An email address for the registered agent and principal office

If your LLC already exists in another state and you want to do business in Washington too, you do not file a Certificate of Formation. Instead, you register as a foreign LLC through the foreign qualification process.

Step 4: File Your Washington Initial Report

Washington requires every new LLC to file an Initial Report with the Secretary of State within 120 days of the formation date. This step is separate from the Certificate of Formation and is where the state collects information about who actually runs your LLC.

The Initial Report is free if you file it at the same time as your Certificate of Formation through the online filing system. If you file it separately, the state charges a $10 fee.

The report requires you to list your LLC's "governors." This is Washington's term for the people who manage the company, whether they are members (in a member-managed LLC) or managers (in a manager-managed LLC). You also confirm your LLC's principal address, registered agent information, and Unified Business Identifier (UBI), which is the number the state assigns during formation.

If you formed your LLC online, you can access the Initial Report filing page right after your Certificate of Formation is approved. Use your Application ID and UBI to log in and submit. Missing the 120-day deadline can put your LLC out of good standing, which may affect your ability to do business in the state.

Let Swyft Filings handle the Initial Report filing for you, so you don't have to navigate the state filing process yourself.

Step 5: Create a Washington Operating Agreement

An LLC operating agreement helps to define ownership roles, profit-and-loss distribution, and entry and exit rules for members. Washington does not legally require you to have a written operating agreement, but it is still worth having. Without it, a court applies the state's default rules under the Washington Uniform Limited Liability Company Act, which may not match how you actually want to run things.

You can write your operating agreement using clear, simple language. If you need something built specifically for your state and situation, Swyft Filings walks you through a short questionnaire and generates a customized operating agreement. Either way, make sure every member signs it, and keep a copy somewhere safe.

Main terms to add in a Washington LLC operating agreement:

• Start with the general business information about your business. This includes the business address, member details, and LLC term.
• Specify LLC structure (member-managed or manager-managed) and outline the specific voting rights of members.
• Write the names and addresses of the members, their specific roles, and what percentage of ownership each member holds.
• State the current tax status of your LLC and mention the process to change the tax status in the future. Name which members have the authority to make those decisions.
• List a clause on how membership gets transferred to a new member and how a member leaves.
• Provide clear instructions on business dissolution and how any remaining assets will be distributed.

Swyft Filings offers a free operating agreement template to start from, and we can also build a custom one around how your business actually runs if you would rather not draft it yourself. Our Washington operating agreement guide walks through the full process in more detail.

Step 6: Get an EIN

You may need an EIN to open a business bank account, hire employees, and file federal taxes. Apply directly on the IRS website, and you can typically get your number within minutes at no cost. The application requires the following details:

• SSN or ITIN of the responsible party
• Business name or any DBA names
• Mailing address
• Entity details
• Reason for applying

If you cannot obtain an SSN or ITIN, you may need to apply for an EIN using Form SS-4 rather than the IRS online application.

What Are the Post-Formation Requirements for a Washington LLC?

File Your Washington LLC Annual Report

Washington requires every LLC to file an Annual Report with the Secretary of State each year to remain active and in good standing. The filing fee is $70, and your report is due by the last day of the month in which your LLC originally registered with the Business Licensing Service. For example, if you formed your LLC in October, your Annual Report is due by October 31 each year.

Missing the deadline can result in a $25 late fee, and continued failure to file may lead to the administrative dissolution of your LLC. If you want to avoid tracking deadlines and handling the paperwork yourself, let Swyft Filings file your annual report. We’ll track your filing deadline and handle the filing for you, helping you keep your LLC in good standing.

Obtain a Business License for Your LLC in Washington

Washington requires nearly all businesses operating in the state to have a Washington Business License (WBL), which is really a registration with the Department of Revenue tied to your Unified Business Identifier (UBI).

Any company that hires employees, collects sales tax, or pays state taxes needs a WBL. The application fee starts at $50, though it may increase depending on your city and any additional registrations. File your Certificate of Formation with the Secretary of State before you apply for your WBL, since filing in the wrong order can result in your business getting two separate UBI numbers.

Swyft Filings offers business license research for owners who don't want to waste time and want to act fast.

Open a Bank Account for Your LLC in Washington

Once your Washington LLC is approved, bring your Certificate of Formation, your EIN, and your operating agreement to the bank to open your account. Most banks let you start the application online or in person, and some may also ask for a government-issued ID and an initial deposit. Compare a few banks first, since minimum balance requirements, monthly fees, and online banking features vary quite a bit. Read how to open a business bank account for more information.

How Much Does an LLC Cost in Washington State?

Washington sits in the mid-range of the cost spectrum compared to a lot of states. Here is what to actually budget for.

DIY vs. Swyft Filings: Washington LLC Formation Differences

Starting an LLC in Washington yourself is possible, but it requires time, research, and follow-up. Here's how forming a Washington LLC on your own compares with using Swyft Filings:

*Disclaimer: This guide provides general information about forming an LLC in Washington and is not a substitute for legal, tax, or financial advice.*