Start a District of Columbia LLC

Step 1: Name your District of Columbia LLC

Find a unique name. Naming your LLC in Washington, DC, is often the most enjoyable and creative part of the setup process. When selecting an official name, consider one that helps market your brand by easily communicating the goods or services you offer. It’s a good idea to come up with a few memorable names and jot them down on a list during this step.

Once your list is ready, you can go online to the DC government website to do some research so you can lock in your company’s name.

Ensure your DC LLC name is unique

Washington, DC, LLC names must be unique within the District, so if another company has already registered the name you want, you’ll need to choose another one.

To conduct a search to see if your desired name is available, you’ll need to create a login to the District of Columbia Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) (formerly the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs) web portal. From there, you can search if the name you’ve chosen is available. For more detailed instructions, see our District of Columbia name search page.

Once you’ve found a name you like, you can move on to the next step. Be sure to also review the statute on naming your LLC and ensure you don’t include words that aren’t allowed, such as words that could cause your LLC to be mistaken for a financial institution or a government agency.

Choose an LLC designator

Next, choose an official LLC designator. This is a suffix at the end of your business name that identifies it as an LLC. For instance, if you chose the name “Lisa’s Designs,” you’ll need to add a designator at the end, such as “Lisa’s Designs, LLC.” You can choose from the following list of approved designators:

• Limited Liability Company
• Limited Company
• L.L.C.
• LLC
• L.C.
• LC

Check your business name and logo with the USPTO

Visit the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) website to see if your business name or logo is federally trademarked. Trademarks can also happen at the state level. However, in DC, you can only do this at the federal level since there is no DC trademark law.

Get a website for your new LLC in DC

Consider a website domain name for your Washington, DC, LLC. When coming up with a business name, it’s wise to consider if you can secure a matching domain name so that your future website can be easily found online.

We have a tool to help you do a preliminary domain name search, and our domain name registration service can help you secure an online name that will best serve your company.

Reserving a Business Name for Your LLC

By now, you hopefully have your company’s official name. But if you’re not ready to file your LLC paperwork yet, it’s a good idea to reserve your name with the DC government. You can do this by completing a Name Reservation Registration and Transfer Form and paying a filing fee. The reservation is good for 120 days.

Filing a DBA in DC

While searching for a name, you might come across a DBA form. A DBA, or “doing business as” form, is paperwork you’ll fill out if you choose to operate under a name other than your registered LLC name. In DC, the term for a DBA is “trade name.” For instance, if your company’s registered name is “Custom Concepts Agency, LLC,” but you sell your services as “CC Agency,” you’ll need to register this secondary name as a trade name. You’ll need to pay a fee to register your trade name with the DC government.

Step 2: Appoint a registered agent in the District of Columbia

Designate your LLC’s registered agent. Once your Washington, DC, LLC has been officially named, you’re ready to appoint a designated registered agent. All states require LLCs to choose a registered agent, and so does DC.

What is a registered agent?

A Washington, DC, registered agent is the person or company that works on your behalf to receive and pass on certain government correspondence and legal notices, such as subpoenas. This means that your registered agent in DC might receive sensitive paperwork at any point throughout the business day.

As a result, your Washington, DC, registered agent will need to hold regular office hours at a physical street address in DC. They must be present during the workday, and their operating address cannot be a P.O. box. The agent can be either a resident of DC or a for-profit corporation with an office in DC.

Using a Registered Agent Service

Some Washington DC LLC owners decide to act as their own registered agent, and you might wonder if you should do the same. While it’s perfectly legal to be your own registered agent, there are some important things to consider before making this decision.

Being your own agent ties you to the office all day, and being served with a lawsuit in front of clients can be bad for business. A registered agent service like ours can help you avoid that.

Step 3: File District of Columbia Articles of Organization

Complete and submit your Articles of Organization. Now that your name is ready and you’ve chosen a registered agent, it’s time to file your Washington, DC, LLC’s official paperwork. Your Articles of Organization, sometimes referred to as a Certificate of Organization in some states, will officially register your company with the District of Columbia’s government.

Filing official government documents like this can be intimidating and/or complicated for many people. With our business formation plans, our professionals handle the filing for you to make sure it’s done quickly and correctly the first time. Although we can handle this for you, we’ll show you how the process works below.

You can register your Washington, DC, LLC by filling out the Articles of Organization form, paying a $99 fee, and submitting it online or by mail via a check. Note that if you mail your forms, you’ll also need to include Form RA-1, which is the registered agent’s written consent form. If you file online, you don’t need to worry about this.

Washington, DC, LLC Articles of Organization requirements

You’ll need to fill out the following fields when completing this form:

• Your business’s official name (with the LLC designator included).
• Your company’s street address. This is your LLC’s office address. If you don’t have an office, you can use your home address.
• The name and address of your registered agent. This is the name of the person or company you’ve designated to act as your registered agent, along with their official office address (which must be in the DC).
• Effective date of the Articles. Ordinarily, the date you file would be the effective date of the Articles of Organization. However, you have the option to make the effective date a future date not exceeding 90 days. Sometimes, an LLC organizer who’s filing toward the end of the year will want to delay the effective date until the upcoming year for tax reasons.
• Miscellaneous information. Here, you’ll include any additional information the DC government might need to know about your LLC, such as whether it’s part of a Series LLC.
• The members’ names and addresses. Members (owners) of your Washington, DC, LLC or other parties who have a financial interest in your company should include their names and addresses here.
• The LLC organizer’s name, address, and signature. Lastly, you’ll sign and date the form before submitting it.

Keep all your new Washington, DC, LLC paperwork in one digital dashboard

You can have us handle filing your Washington, DC, Articles of Organization. Once the DLCP approves your Washington, DC, LLC, your paperwork will be available from your ZenBusiness dashboard, where you can keep it and other important paperwork digitally organized.

Once you get your physical paperwork back from the DLCP approving your new Washington, DC, LLC, you’ll want to keep it in a safe location along with your other important documents, such as your operating agreement, member certificates, contracts, compliance checklists, transfer ledger, etc.

We offer a customized business kit to help you keep these important documents organized and looking professional.

Step 4: Create an operating agreement

Adopt an operating agreement. An operating agreement is a contract that details your Washington, DC, LLC’s structure and key rules and regulations about company operations. In Washington, DC, you’re not required to have an operating agreement, but getting one can help your company run more smoothly and prevent and resolve conflicts between members and other vested parties.

Your District of Columbia LLC’s operating agreement lays out how your company will be run, detailing your management style and member powers and limitations. It can even explain member voting structures to help handle disagreements if they arise. You’ll want to make sure all members read, agree to, and sign the operating agreement.

The benefits of an operating agreement

Although operating agreements are considered a smart move for Washington, DC, LLCs with multiple members, they can also be beneficial even if you’re the only member. Here’s why:

• Your agreement can detail how your business should be run if you’re incapacitated or unable to manage the company.
• Without an agreement, the way your company is managed will be handled by the DC government, which might not reflect your wishes.
• This agreement can further demonstrate the separation of your personal and business assets, giving you additional protection from legal liability that might occur if your Washington, DC, LLC is sued.

Using an Operating Agreement Template

Creating an operating agreement requires some time since it details how your LLC will be run. Luckily, you don’t have to construct this all from scratch. If you’re unsure of how to create an operating agreement, we offer a customizable template to help get you started.

Step 5: Apply for an EIN

Get an Employer Identification Number (EIN). Now that you’ve officially registered your company as an LLC in Washington, DC, you’re ready to get your tax information set up with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). To do this, you’ll apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN).

Think of an EIN like your business’s Tax ID Number (also referred to as a Federal Tax Identification Number). It helps identify your limited liability company to the government and can be used when filing taxes and hiring and paying employees.

In DC, you’re legally required to have an EIN so that you can get a Basic Business License (more on that later). Also, most banks require an EIN to open a business bank account.

You can get your LLC’s EIN through the IRS website, by mail, or by fax, but if you’re unfond of dealing with that particular government agency, we can get it for you. Our EIN service is quick and eliminates the hassle.

Register your DC business

You must also register your new business with the DC government. You’ll do this by completing the tax registration form on the District’s online tax portal, MyTax.DC.gov. You’ll need the following information:

• Your EIN or Social Security number
• Your legal form of business (LLC)
• Your business address
• The names, titles, home addresses, and Social Security numbers of the members or principal officers
• The business addresses for all locations where you’ll collect sales tax in DC

A business license is also required before you can start doing business in DC. See the question “Which licenses and insurance are required for an LLC in the District of Columbia” in the FAQ below for more information or go to the DC Business Licensing Portal.

Open a business bank account for your Washington DC LLC

Once you’ve secured an EIN, you’ll be able to open a business bank account. Having separate accounts for your business and your personal banking is critical for sorting out your finances at tax time and helps you avoid commingling funds.

Commingling funds can not only make your taxes more difficult, but could also be used against you if someone takes you to court to challenge whether you and your LLC are truly separate entities.

Banking Payment and Invoice Solutions for Your Washington DC LLC

We offer a discounted bank account for your business. This allows for unlimited transactions, online banking, a debit card, and more. If you want to authorize others in your business to use the account, then we offer a banking resolution template to simplify the process.

For further help managing your business’s finances, try ZenBusiness Money. It can help you create invoices, receive payments, transfer money, and manage clients all in one place.

We can help

At ZenBusiness, we believe every aspiring entrepreneur should have the tools and support necessary to create a business, which is why we’ve made it easy with our free LLC service. We handle the complexities of starting an LLC in DC, while you focus on your business. Along with LLC formation, we provide Worry-Free Compliance services and more to keep your business in good standing.

With expert support on hand every step of the way, we have what you need to run and grow your business effortlessly. Contact us today to get started and join the hundreds of thousands of businesses we’ve helped launch.