You’re finally making moves—and we’re here to make sure they’re the right ones. We’ve gathered the most common questions our customers ask and included them here to make things easy. (And if there’s an answer you still need, contact us here.)
Whether you’re going it alone or making a major career shift to become your own boss, you’ve probably run into more questions than answers. There’s no shortage of advice online, but too often it’s conflicting, complicated, or just not written for someone like you.
That’s why we created this FAQ page—to give you clear, attorney-backed answers to the most common questions we hear, all in plain language. And if you don’t find what you’re looking for or would rather talk it through, our Business Success Advisors are just a call or click away—real people, trained by attorneys, here to support real entrepreneurs with big goals.
Remember this: you can do this. Millions of people start businesses every year and most of them were just as confused as you might be.
There are four big reasons people form LLCs—and you don't need a law degree to understand them. We’re breaking them down in plain English.
Want to go deeper? We go through them in detail in our Ultimate Guide to LLC Formation.
To start your LLC, we’ll file the following paperwork the Secretary of State and handle the administrative details, including:
Articles of Organization (or Certificate of Formation)
This is the primary document that legally creates your LLC. It includes your business name, registered agent, principal address, and sometimes your business purpose or management structure.
Your Registered Agent Information
To protect your privacy, by default we designate a registered agent who will be listed on all public-facing information. This designation prevents your personal name and address from being available online.
Filing Fee Payment
We pay the state’s required filing fee, which varies by state.
Access A Free Business Bank Account*
If you choose to open a bank account, we will submit your application to our banking partner, Relay.
*Pending approval by Relay
Great question!
Filing your LLC or Corporation is easier when you know what to gather ahead of time. Here’s what you’ll typically need:
Yes, you can. There are some key differences between starting a business as a non-resident, and you’ll want to be aware of them.
For instance, foreign EINs take significantly longer to obtain. FEINs can take 4-6+ weeks to get, while EINs are instant.
To simplify the process for non-citizens, we offer an international formation bundle tailored to meet your unique needs.
Once you’ve completed your Start My Business form, we file your paperwork within 24 business hours. Sometimes we do it within a few minutes of receiving your information. It then goes to the Secretary of State to process. The time that it takes them to process the application can vary by state, but our commitment to you is that once we are notified that it's ready, we’ll get it uploaded into your portal where you can access it almost instantly — without charging you extra. Our goal is to get you up and running as quickly as possible.
After you submit your business form through our website, you'll answer a few more questions and then you can sit back with a cup of tea and relax because you know the rest of the process will be handled by our experts. We pride ourselves in the accuracy of our work and the speed in which we do it.
As soon as your company has been formed, you'll be notified that the process is complete. Your documents will be uploaded to our secure portal where you can access them anytime you need to, from anwhere you are. You can also provide accountant access to your documents so they have everything they need to do your taxes.
Once logged into the portal, which we call our Business Success Platform™, you'll gain access to other important services to help you manage your business more smoothly.
Yes! We form corporations in Delaware, Wyoming, New York, and Virginia.
However, we recommend speaking with an attorney before forming a corporation to ensure it's the best choice for your specific situation.
Corporations come with more formalities and ongoing requirements than LLCs, which can create extra hurdles for staying compliant—especially for small business owners. Things like mandatory annual meetings, shareholder recordkeeping, and stricter governance rules can add complexity that many new entrepreneurs aren’t expecting. That’s why we typically recommend forming an LLC—it offers liability protection and flexibility with fewer hoops to jump through. That said, we’re happy to help you form either structure, and we’ll guide you through whichever path fits your business best.
We care about our customers and want to ensure you're getting what you need (and not more than you need).
Attorney-client privilege is granted only when you engage in a paid consultation with one of Trusted Attorneys specifically for your LLC formation or other legal matters. Booking a consultation is necessary to establish this confidential relationship. Please note that while LLC Attorney prioritizes your privacy and security, not all interactions with us automatically provide attorney-client privilege, as LLC Attorney is not a law firm.
A registered agent is a person or company you choose to receive legal papers and official documents on behalf of your business. They receive all formal documents and legal communications directed to your business, ensuring your business stays compliant with all state laws.
Yes, all states legally require you to have a registered agent. Good news! LLC Attorney can act as your registered agent in any state you choose, and we’ll take care of everything. You can also be your own registered agent if you meet your state’s requirements.
There are two main entities -- LLCs and Corporations, and each has its own benefits depending on how you plan to run and grow your business. Knowing the type of business entity that is right for you can be overwhelming, although we generally recommend an LLC.
To help you get started, check out our Small Business Blog for clear, straightforward guidance on choosing the right structure or if you want personalized help, our Business Success Advisors are just a call away—and it’s completely free to talk to them. You can also complete the form on our contact us page.
Need deeper legal insight? We also offer affordable access to experienced attorneys who can walk you through your options with confidence.
Absolutely! Many people do, and we’ll even teach you how to do it.
One aspect that most people don’t realize, however, is that when filing the formation paperwork yourself and acting as your own registered agent, your name and address are listed publicly on the Secretary of State’s public database.
This means anyone with internet access can find out who you are and where you live. For many business owners—especially those in the public eye or running high-profile businesses—that’s a major privacy concern.
When you form your LLC with us, we act as your registered agent. That means we provide our address—not yours—and we take on the responsibility of being available during all business hours to receive important mail and legal documents on your behalf. We scan and upload everything to your secure online portal so you can view it from anywhere. It’s a perfect solution for anyone who values privacy, travels frequently, or runs their business remotely.
Staying compliant is crucial, and when you work with us, we take that responsibility seriously. Our team stays on top of both current requirements and any changes in the law, so you don’t have to worry about missing deadlines or falling out of good standing.
That’s why we recommend choosing a professional, compliance-focused formation and registered agent service like LLC Attorney—to help protect your business long after it’s been formed.
Forming your LLC or Corporation is just the beginning—staying compliant means keeping your business in good standing with the state and the IRS year after year.
That includes filing required documents like annual reports, maintaining a registered agent, keeping up with federal and state tax obligations, and following any rules specific to your business type or location. Missing a deadline or skipping a step could lead to penalties, loss of liability protection, or even having your business dissolved by the state.
Staying compliant is what keeps your business legal, protected, and running smoothly—and we’re here to help make sure you don’t miss a thing.
