Kansas LLC
Kansas LLC Cost
We’ve compiled the most common fees so you know exactly what to expect when starting your Kansas LLC.
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FAQs on how to determine Kansas LLC costs
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Forming a new business requires the business owners to fill out paperwork and pay filing fees. You’ll start by drafting and filing the LLC Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State. Let us help you complete the process with our Kansas LLC Formation Service and quickly get back to business.
We can help you file your LLC documents in Kansas for just $0 plus state fees.
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When you form an LLC, the new legal entity separates the owner’s personal interests from the business obligations. To register for this liability protection, you’ll need to pay a few fees and complete the filing requirements. What does it cost to start a business in Kansas? Consider these as the top three fees for a Kansas LLC.
Kansas LLC Filing Fee
$166: The filing fee for a Kansas LLC Articles of Organization is $166 if you file online using your KanAccess login. You may choose to mail your Articles to the Secretary of State for $166. Or, you can fax your filing for an additional $20 fee.
Annual Report Fee
$50 to $55: Kansas doesn’t require LLCs to pay a franchise fee or privilege tax for doing business in the state. However, you’ll need to file an annual report with the Secretary of State within the 15th day of the 4th month after the end of the tax year (usually April 15). You’ll pay a $50 fee if you file your annual reports online or $55 for a paper form.
Resident Agent and Registered Office Fee
Free: When you complete your Articles of Organization, you’ll include the name and address of a Resident Agent (a.k.a Registered Agent) and their Registered Office. You can name yourself the LLC’s Resident Agent. However, Resident Agents must be at their physical address in Kansas to receive legal notices during business hours.
Many small business owners hire a commercial registered agent to avoid being tied to an office all day. We can help connect you with a reliable Resident Agent with our Kansas Registered Agent Service.
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As a new business owner, your LLC may have to pay other one time-fees. The average cost to start a business in Kansas depends on your business industry and location.
Certificate of Good Standing
You may need to request a Certificate of Good Standing (a.k.a. Certificate of Existence) when you apply for loans, renew your business licenses, or pay taxes. The Certificate confirms that your business is in compliance with the state’s business laws, in good standing, and authorized to transact business within the state.
To obtain your Certificate of Good Standing, you’ll find your LLC on the Secretary of State’s Business Entity Search. Click the button to order your Certificate for $10. You can also order by mail or phone for $15.
Tax Clearance Certificate
When you apply for a business loan, sign a contract, or sell part of your business, you may need to produce a Tax Clearance Certificate. Kansas issues the Certificate that will confirm that the business is in compliance with all:
- Kansas tax laws overseen by the director of taxation within the Kansas Department of Revenue
- Taxes, fees, and payments collected by the Kansas Department of Labor
- Other various fees applied by Kansas state agencies
There is no fee to apply for a Tax Clearance Certificate from the Department of Revenue.
DBA Name in Kansas
Unlike most states, Kansas doesn’t register “doing business as,” d/b/a, assumed name, trade name, or fictitious name entities (BESS). If you want to protect your brand name, logo, or slogan, you can apply for a trademark with the Secretary of State.
Registering a trademark doesn’t guarantee that no one else has a superior right to use that mark in commerce. Instead, your registration is evidence of your LLC using the mark. The filing fee for a trademark application is $40, and you’ll need three examples of the mark’s use in commerce.
Foreign LLC
Suppose you formed your LLC in another state and now want to do business in Kansas. In that case, you’ll need to register as a foreign covered entity. You’ll submit a Foreign Entity Application for Registration to the Kansas Secretary of State. Kansas doesn’t offer online filing for this form. Submit a $165 filing fee with your application by mail.
Business Licensing
Kansas doesn’t require a general business license. Still, your LLC might need to apply for licenses, permits, and registrations if you engage in certain business activities, like:
- Technical professions (engineering or architecture)—$170 application fee
- Retailer’s sales tax—6.5% plus local sales tax if applicable
- Privilege tax for financial institutions only
- Transient guest tax on hotels
- Vehicle rental excise tax on car rentals
- Dry cleaning surcharge on dry cleaning business
- Taxes on sales of cigarettes and liquor
There is no registration fee to set up your tax account with the Department of Revenue unless your business sells tobacco (then $25). You might also need to register at the local and federal levels. Let us complete the search for you. When you request a Business License Report, our partners at Avalara will provide you with a comprehensive list of the specific licenses, permits, and registrations your business needs.
For just $0 plus state fees, we can form your Kansas LLC for you in just minutes. No LegalZoom promo code required: Pay just $0 plus filing fees for fast LLC formation in Kansas.
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Yes. If you don’t pay your fees on time, you could be responsible for a $75 late fee, interest payments, and other legal consequences. In addition to any other penalties, failing to file your annual report within 90 days of the due date forfeits your Articles of Organization. Without the Articles in effect, your LLC won’t legally exist, and you won’t be protected from liability.
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If you try to submit your documents without including the fee, the Secretary of State can refuse to file them. Your LLC does not exist until the Secretary of State files your Articles of Organization. Without these documents, you’ll be at risk of increased liability like the owners of a sole proprietorship or general partnership.
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When you file your Articles of Organization, you pay a fee to the Secretary of State.
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The biggest cost to start a business in Kansas is the filing fee for your Articles of Organization, which is $166. The amount of fees you’ll need to pay depends on the type of business you run, the location of your business, and the needs of your business.
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The Secretary of State accepts filing fees paid by check, money order, or credit card. Additionally, you can pay with an electronic check if you file online.
How do I form my LLC in Kansas?
1. Name your LLC
Before you can register your business, you need a name. The best business name is the one that reflects your goals and your business purpose. You can name your LLC however you’d like, but the name must:
- Contain the words or abbreviations “limited liability company,” “limited company,” “L.L.C.,” “LLC,” “L.C.,” or “LC”
- Not include words that suggest your LLC has an unauthorized purpose
- Be distinguishable from other names on file with the Secretary of State
Once you’ve selected your new name, you can submit a Business Entity Name Reservation to the Secretary of State, which will reserve your name for 120 days.
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2. Select a Resident Agent
The LLC’s Resident Agent is a person or company who will receive service of process on behalf of the LLC. Kansas law requires every registered entity to name a Resident Agent and report their Registered Address where it can receive notices. You can be your own Resident Agent, but you’ll need to be available at the office during business hours. Most small business owners choose to hire a Registered Agent service to help them comply with the legal requirement.
3. File your LLC’s Articles of Organization
Your LLC becomes its own legal entity once you file your Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State. You can file online, by mail, or by fax. Add $5 for a paper filing and $20 if sent by fax. Mail your Articles of Organization and filing fee to:
Memorial Hall, 1st Floor
120 S.W. 10th Avenue
Topeka, KS 66612-1594
4. Create an Operating Agreement
You likely have an idea about how your LLC should be run when you draft your LLC Operating Agreement, you and your co-owners (a.k.a. the members) will decide on the rules for your LLC. Your Operating Agreement may dictate the process for:
- Admitting members
- Management authority
- Share classes and voting rights
- Member meetings
- Distributing profits and losses
- Resolving disputes between owners
Kansas requires new LLCs to enter into an Operating Agreement, effective on the date of filing the Articles of Organization. If you don’t cover a specific issue in your Operating Agreement, you’ll have to resolve the problem under the default rules under Kansas law. Although Kansas has comprehensive default rules for limited liability companies, it’s a good idea to write your own Operating Agreement that is tailored to your needs.
To help you draft a complete Operating Agreement, we offer an LLC Operating Agreement Template to get you started today.
5. Get an EIN
When you register your LLC, you’ll need to pay taxes to the state and federal government. You need an Employer Identification Number (EIN) if:
- Your LLC has more than one member
- You’re operating as a corporation
- You have employees
The IRS issues EINs to new businesses to pay federal taxes and report wage withholdings.
Even if you aren’t required to have an EIN, you might want to apply for one anyway. You can use your EIN instead of your social security number when you file your taxes. You’ll also need an EIN to apply for business bank accounts or insurance policies.
You’ll need to file an application with the IRS to get your EIN. We can handle this step for you with our Employer ID Number Service.
Check Kansas Annual Requirements
Kansas requires LLCs to file an annual report every year. It’s due to the Kansas Department of Revenue at the same time as your tax return. Although the LLC won’t pay a corporate income tax at the entity level, you’ll file an informational return and account for any taxes on business activities.
If you don’t file your annual report on time, you can face interest and penalties. To avoid repercussions, use our Annual Report Service to remind you of important deadlines and remember to file.
Stay Legally Compliant
As your business grows and changes, you might need to update the Secretary of State on your business. We offer an Amendment Filing Service to change your Articles of Organization details and keep the government up to date. You can also try our Worry-Free Compliance Service for a complete solution to your legal obligations. It includes up to two amendments a year. Plus, we’ll keep your documents organized on your dashboard and remind you of upcoming deadlines.
We can help!
We know starting a business has a lot of steps and details. When you form your business with us, you’ll get access to our team of business experts who will guide you through every stage of your business. Let us complete the paperwork for you and help you get your business up and running quickly and easily.
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.
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