Massachusetts LLC Cost

How do I form my LLC in Massachusetts?

1. Choose a Business Name

Prior to filing any documents, you need to select a name for your LLC and see if it’s available. If another Massachusetts company is using the name or a similar version of the name, it’s off-limits. Your LLC name must also contain one of the following phrases or abbreviations:

• Limited liability company
• Limited company
• L.L.C.
• L.C.
• LLC
• LC

After you find the perfect name, you may want to reserve it while you get your formation documents together. You can either apply through the Secretary’s website or let us handle this for you with our Name Reservation Service. 

2. Select a Resident Agent

Your LLC must have a resident agent (also known as a registered agent in other states). This person or entity is responsible for accepting important legal documents and correspondence on behalf of the company. You can serve as your LLC’s resident agent, but you need to be available during regular business hours. If you want help finding a good agent, we can help with our Registered Agent Service. 

3. File your LLC’s Certificate of Organization

Filing the Certificate of Organization is what makes your business official! Let us do this part for you with our Massachusetts LLC Formation Service. We want you to feel confident knowing the Certificate is accurately completed and properly filed with the Secretary’s office. 

Here’s the information needed to fill out the Certificate of Organization:

• The Federal Identification Number (also known as an Employer Identification Number or EIN) if you have one
• LLC name
• LLC’s street address
• General character, or purpose, of the business
• The latest date to dissolve the LLC, if applicable
• Resident agent’s name and business address
• Name and business address of each manager, if any
• Name and business address of persons authorized to execute documents filed with the Corporations Division, if any
• Name and business address of each person with authority to sign documents for LLC for real estate transactions
• Resident agent’s consent

You can file online, in person, by mail, or by fax to the Corporations Division of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Don’t forget to include the $520 filing fee!

4. Create an Operating Agreement

An LLC Operating Agreement outlines the rules and procedures for your business. Only certain states require LLCs to have an Operating Agreement, but Massachusetts isn’t one of them. Still, it’s a wise business practice to create one to save yourself time, money, and headache down the road. 

A comprehensive Operating Agreement will include information about: 

• Splitting profits and losses
• Voting in new members
• Duties of members and managers
• Dissolution events
• Conflict resolution procedures
• Tax treatment

We offer a customizable Massachusetts Operating Agreement template that can help you create an effective and useful document. 

5. Get an EIN 

If you want to do things like open a business bank account, hire employees, or get a business loan, you need an Employer Identification Number (EIN). This is also known as a Tax ID Number. The IRS assigns and uses this unique nine-digit number to identify your LLC for tax purposes. While you can apply on the IRS’s website for one, consider our EIN Service instead. We can deal with the IRS and get you an EIN quickly. 

Check Massachusetts Annual Requirements

All Massachusetts limited liability companies have to file an annual report with the Corporations Division. This filing is an opportunity to report any changes to the information contained in the Certificate of Organization. The cost is $500 to file the annual report. 

We can help you with your reporting requirement through our Annual Report Service.

Stay Legally Compliant

As mentioned earlier, when certain information about your LLC changes, you have to amend your documents. When you purchase our Worry-Free Compliance Service, we’ll file up to two amendments per year to reflect any changes. We also send important compliance reminders so you can stay in good standing with the state. 

We can help!

We want you to feel confident going into your new business venture. So let us do some of the heavy lifting. All of our products and services are meant to help small businesses start, grow, and thrive. 

Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only, and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.