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if your business name is available in Kentucky!
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There are many reasons to form an LLC in Kentucky. Here are the main ones:
Legal protection in case of bankruptcy or lawsuits
Separation of personal and business assets
Tax benefits: flexibility & pass-through taxation
Increasing credibility and trust for your business
Check if your LLC name is available in Kentucky
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Kentucky offers a variety of incentives to businesses, including tax credits, business loans, and other forms of financial support. Business-friendly tax laws and a relatively low cost of living have attracted many new and existing businesses to Kentucky. If you plan to start a business in Kentucky, forming a limited liability company (LLC) can help protect your personal assets from business liabilities. Forming an LLC can also help you streamline the management of various business matters, such as regulatory compliance and taxes.
The main form that you need to create an LLC in Kentucky will ask you about the management of your company and the company’s registered agent. You must state whether the company owners, known as members, will run the company, or if they will select managers to run it for them.
The following fuve steps will help you obtain the information you will need and file the necessary paperwork to get your Kentucky LLC started.
Each step is discussed in more detail below.
You will need to choose a unique name for your LLC. The name must not be in use for another business in Kentucky. It must end with one of the following:
You can search for Kentucky business names on the Kentucky Secretary of State’s website to see if the name you want is available. Once you have confirmed that it is available, you have several options for protecting your use of that name.
If you are not ready to form your LLC quite yet, you can reserve the name you chose for up to 120 days by filing Form RES, “Reservation or Renewal of Reserved Name” and paying a $15 fee. You may use the same form to renew your reservation for another 120 days. You must submit the form at least 30 days before the 120-day reservation period expires.
In order to do business in Kentucky with an LLC or any other type of entity, you must designate an individual or business to serve as your Kentucky registered agent. A registered agent’s job is to provide a consistent location, known as the registered office, for the following:
The state will send important correspondence to your LLC’s registered agent. If someone files suit against your company, the process server will pay the registered agent a visit at the registered office. The registered agent is responsible for passing these materials on to you.
An individual or business may serve as a registered agent. Individuals must be at least 18 years old. A registered agent must have a physical address in Kentucky. They may not use a P.O. Box as a registered office location. You may serve as the registered agent for your LLC. Numerous companies serve as registered agents for others for an annual fee, which typically ranges from $199 to $400.
Once you have chosen a name for your company and confirmed that it is available, you can form your LLC. You may do this by filing articles of organization with the Kentucky Secretary of State. Three different forms are available, depending on the type of company you plan on forming:
The filing fee for articles of organization is $40. You can pay it by credit card if you file online or by check made payable to the Kentucky State Treasurer if you file by mail. Check out this article for a full breakdown of Kentucky LLC costs.
The articles of organization form asks for the following information:
You can file the articles of organization online through the Kentucky Secretary of State’s online portal. You may file in person or by mail instead.
To file in person, you may go to Room 154, Capitol Building, 700 Capital Avenue, Frankfort, KY 40601 between 8:00 a.m. at 4:30 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. Before heading to the Capitol, you might call the office at (502) 564-3490 to see if they have any restrictions in place for in-person visits.
You can file by mail by sending the original and one copy of the articles of organization, along with the filing fee, to the Office of the Secretary of State, P.O. Box 718, Frankfort, KY 40602-0718.
An LLC operating agreement represents the agreement of the initial members about how they will run the company. If the Articles of Organization state that managers will run the company instead of members, the operating agreement can establish procedures for how the members will select managers.
Kentucky law does not require an LLC to have an operating agreement, nor does it set any requirements for an agreement’s form or content. In the absence of an operating agreement, the provisions of Kentucky law apply to the company, its members, and its managers.
The next step in forming your LLC is to obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS. Even if your LLC will not have employees, you will need an EIN for a variety of reasons. We can assist you in obtaining an EIN for your business.
Your LLC’s EIN will identify it on all tax filings with the IRS. You will also need an EIN to open a company bank account. You may obtain an EIN from the IRS online, by fax, or by mail. You can begin by filling out Form SS-4. Even if you obtain your EIN online, and therefore do not need to file an SS-4, it serves as a useful record of the number.
This step-by-step guide details the steps you need to name your Kentucky LLC properly by searching if it is unique.
There are different costs to form an LLC in Kentucky and maintain it. We’ve listed all of them in this post.
Appointing registered agent is a mandatory step in your LLC formation process in Kentucky – learn more about it.
This post details which licenses and permits your Kentucky LLC may require and how to obtain them.
We love helping people start their business. We take care of the LLC filing and offer additional services so you can focus on launching and growing your business, while remaining compliant with state regulations.
Here’s why people choose to form their LLC with us:
Our products are user friendly, all you need to do is answer a few questions about your business and let us take care of all the rest.
Our platform is easy to use and is optimally designed to guide you through your LLC formation process and business journey.
We offer more products to help you set and manage your business like registered agent, business licenses, and annual report.
For more reviews from our customers, visit our reviews page.
Start an LLC in Kentucky, Hassle-Free
This portion of our website is for informational purposes only. Tailor Brands is not a law firm, and none of the information on this website constitutes or is intended to convey legal advice. All statements, opinions, recommendations, and conclusions are solely the expression of the author and provided on an as-is basis. Accordingly, Tailor Brands is not responsible for the information and/or its accuracy or completeness.
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