How to Form a Wyoming LLC, Step by Step

October 24, 2023 · All articles

The whole process, start to bank account

Forming a Wyoming LLC is not complicated, but the order matters and a couple of steps trip people up. Here is the actual sequence, from name to a working company.

1. Pick and clear a name

Choose a name that is available in Wyoming and meets the state's rules, which includes an LLC identifier such as "LLC." A name check against the Secretary of State's records confirms it is free before you file, so you are not rejected after submitting.

2. Name a registered agent and file the Articles

Every Wyoming LLC needs a registered agent with a physical Wyoming address. With that in place, you file Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State. Standard processing takes about five business days including the state's own time; expedited service completes the filing within one business day.

3. Write an operating agreement

Wyoming does not require you to file an operating agreement, but you should have one. It sets out who owns what, how the company is managed, and how decisions and distributions work. Skip it and you are left with the state's default rules and, in a dispute, nothing that reflects what the owners actually agreed.

4. Get an EIN and open a bank account

Get an EIN from the IRS, which you need to open a business bank account and to handle federal tax. Non-residents can obtain one without a Social Security number by filing Form SS-4. Then open a dedicated business account and use it only for the business, because that separation is what keeps your liability protection real.

5. Set up ongoing compliance

After formation the recurring job is small but real: the annual report each year and a current registered agent. Our corporate compliance program handles both. We form a Wyoming LLC for $1,495 including first-year state fees, or you can order online and have it underway the same day.