Forming a Wyoming limited liability company
Forming your own LLC isn’t rocket science, but can be tricky. If you need some assistance getting your limited liability company formed in Wyoming, we have a couple of options for you. You can continue reading below for step-by-step instructions on what to fill out and where it needs to go in order to create your new LLC. If you’d like a little more information, like a discussion on the benefits and drawbacks of utilizing an LLC for your entity, directions on acquiring an EIN for bank account and tax purposes, as well as samples of the forms you will need to fill out and operating agreements, our state kit, available for $34.95, may be worthwhile.
1. Check if the LLC name you want is available
Your first step in setting up an LLC is to check if the name you want to use is even available. To do this, you can use the Wyoming Secretary of State’s corporations search form at:
https://wyobiz.wy.gov/Business/FilingSearch.aspx
By entering the name you want to use in the search form, you’ll be able to see if there’s another business already using the name that you want. You can’t use a name, by the way, that’s the same or deceptively similar to another existing LLC’s name.
2. Download the Articles of Organization form from the Wyoming Secretary of State’s web site, then print this form
The URL, or web page address, for this form is as shown below.
http://soswy.state.wy.us/Forms/Business/LLC/LLC-ArticlesOrganization.pdf
3. Identify the name you want to use for your new LLC
After you download and print the LLC application form, you’re ready to fill the form out.
Enter your business or investment name into the box labeled, “Name of Limited-Liability Company.” The name must include one of the phrases or acronyms, “Limited Liability Company,” “LLC,” “L.L.C,” “limited company,” “LC,” “L.C.,” “Ltd. Liability company,” “Ltd. Liability co.,” or “limited liability co.”
For example, all of the following names should be acceptable:
- Acme Explosives Limited Liability Company
- Acme Explosives Limited Liability Co.
- Acme Explosives LLC
- Acme Explosives L.L.C.
4. Identify the registered agent
Wyoming wants to know the name and contact information for a real person within the state of Wyoming whom can act as the contact person should the state have questions or concerns about an LLC’s operation. You can pay someone else to be this registered agent, but it’s really easiest and cheapest to just be your own registered agent. This must be a physical address. A Post Office or Mail Drop box will not be accepted.
Accordingly, enter your name and address information into the box labeled “Name and Physical Address of Registered Agent.”
Note: If you do want or need someone else to be your registered agent, just Google on the phrase, “Wyoming registered agents.” Note, too, that if you use a Wyoming accountant or bookkeeper to do your tax returns, he or she will probably happily provide a registered agent service along with the tax preparation services.
5. Provide the LLC’s mailing and office addresses
Use the box labeled “Mailing address of the limited liability company” to provide the address you would like correspondence and annual report forms sent to. Use the box labeled “Principal office address” to provide the main location of the LLC’s operation.
6. Sign and date the form
Sign and date the form as the LLC’s organizer.
7. Accept appointment of resident agent
You also need to formally consent to be the LLC’s registered agent (or have someone else consent to be the registered agent). To provide this consent, use the link below to download a consent form:
http://soswy.state.wy.us/Forms/Business/RA/RAConsent.pdf
Then fill in your name and address on the form, identify the LLC you’re consenting to function as registered agent for, and provide the requested signatures and dates.
Our downloadable kit shows an example, completed Wyoming LLC application as well as the consent to appointment by registered agent form.
8. Mail in the application
After you complete the application to form a limited liability company, mail the completed form, the consent to appointment by registered agent form, an exact photocopy of both the completed LLC form and the consent form, and a check for $100 to:
Wyoming Secretary of State
The Capitol Building, Room 110
200 W. 24th Street
Cheyenne, WY 82002-0020
Fax: 307/777-5339
Processing lead times vary, but in general, it takes several weeks to get your LLC certificate back from the Secretary of State’s office.
