What are LLC articles of organization?

Alana Rudder

BLUEPRINT

Updated 1:53 p.m. UTC Oct. 24, 2023

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What are articles of organization and what are they for?

An articles of organization form is used to register your LLC in your state. To fill it out, you must provide core information about your LLC, such as your LLC’s name and purpose, your chosen registered agent and your managing members’ names and contact information.

Most states offer fill-in-the-blank articles of organization forms on their secretary of state or corporations division websites. However, some, like Iowa, require you to create your own and upload the document using a secretary of state website account.

Once you have filed this document, you receive a certificate of formation or can access one by signing into your secretary of state account. This certificate serves as proof of your LLC’s legal existence. It can also be used to complete key business tasks, such as:

Opening an LLC bank account.
Obtaining an employer identification number (EIN).
Applying for business funding.
Obtaining the necessary permits or licenses to operate your business.

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What do I need to include in articles of organization for an LLC?

The information you’re required to include in your LLC articles of organization is dictated by your state’s secretary of state. However, the required information to fill out an articles of organization form generally includes:

Your LLC’s name.
The LLC’s purpose.
The duration of your LLC (often “perpetual”).
The person to whom correspondence concerning the LLC’s articles of organization or annual reports should be sent, as well as their address, phone number and email address.
The LLC’s principal office address and mailing address.
The name and street address of the LLC’s registered agent.
The registered agent’s signature.
The name and address of your LLC’s organizer.
The names and addresses of your LLC’s controlling and managing members.
The date you wish your LLC to form.
The name and signature of your LLC’s authorized representative.

How to file articles of organization for an LLC

1. Name your business

To name an LLC, you must follow your state’s naming guidelines. You must also ensure the name is not already in use within your state or protected against infringement on a national level. To learn more about this process and best naming practices, read our guide on how to name a business.

2. Choose a registered agent

All states require businesses to appoint a registered agent. A registered agent receives important legal documentation, such as notices of a lawsuit against the company, on the business’s behalf. They must be available during all regular business hours at a listed physical address within the state. Read our registered agent guide to learn more about registered agent requirements and how to choose the right registered agent for your LLC.

3. File your articles of organization

Most states offer a means to file your articles of organization on their secretary of state or corporations division websites. Some require you to set up a business account before you can file. All, however, require you to pay a filing fee ranging from $40 to $500, depending on the state.

For example, in Kansas, you must first set up a KanAccess account on the Kansas state website. You can then file your articles of organization using this account. When you do, you save $5 on your filing fee, which is $160 when filing online. However, to file by mail, you must send your limited liability articles of organization form to the Kansas Secretary of State along with a $165 filing fee.

To file your articles of organization in Iowa, you must first create a fast track filing account online using the Iowa Secretary of State website. However, it does not offer an articles of organization template or online form. Instead, you must create your own using an Iowa articles of organization template such as those offered for free by Northwest Registered Agent. From there, you must use your fast track filing account to upload your document and pay the $50 filing fee.

To learn more about how to file LLC articles of organization in your state, visit your state’s secretary of state or corporations division website. Or, you can more easily file through an LLC formation service. Many, such as Bizee and Inc Authority, file your articles of organization paperwork for free as long as you cover the state filing fees.

Examples of LLC articles of organization

Arkansas

The Arkansas articles of organization form is located on the Arkansas Secretary of State website. It is called a certificate of organization for domestic LLC. It asks for the LLC’s name and contact information, the LLC’s registered agent name and contact information, a list of the LLC’s organizers and officers and their contact information and the submitter’s contact information. It requires a $45 filing fee to submit it.

Michigan

Michigan’s articles of organization form asks for the LLC’s name, purpose, duration, registered agent name and contact information, date of filing and the LLC organizer’s name and signature. It costs $50 to file and must be submitted to the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Corporations, Securities and Commercial Licensing Bureau Corporations Division.

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Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

The filing fee to submit LLC articles of organization ranges from $40 to $500, depending on the state. To learn more about the filing fee in your state, visit your state’s secretary of state website.

Other names for the articles of organization form include “certificate of formation” and “certificate of organization,” depending on the state.

Articles of organization may be rejected if the name you’ve chosen for your LLC is already taken or doesn’t follow the state’s naming guidelines, you did not list key information (such as your registered agent’s name or contact information), you did not pay the filing fee or you did not follow state-provided filing guidelines.

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

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Alana Rudder

BLUEPRINT

Alana is the deputy editor for USA Today Blueprint's small business team. She has served as a technology and marketing SME for countless businesses, from startups to leading tech firms — including Adobe and Workfusion. She has zealously shared her expertise with small businesses — including via Forbes Advisor and Fit Small Business — to help them compete for market share. She covers technologies pertaining to payroll and payment processing, online security, customer relationship management, accounting, human resources, marketing, project management, resource planning, customer data management and how small businesses can use process automation, AI and ML to more easily meet their goals. Alana has an MBA from Excelsior University.

Bryce Colburn

BLUEPRINT

Bryce Colburn is a USA TODAY Blueprint small business editor with a history of helping startups and small firms nationwide grow their business. He has worked as a freelance writer, digital marketing professional and business-to-business (B2B) editor at U.S. News and World Report, gaining a strong understanding of the challenges businesses face. Bryce is enthusiastic about helping businesses make the best decisions for their company and specializes in reviewing business software and services. His expertise includes topics such as credit card processing companies, payroll software, company formation services and virtual private networks (VPNs).