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How to Start an LLC in Wyoming: Step-by-step

Amber Ornelas

Estimated reading time: 14 minutes

Creating an LLC in Wyoming  

There is no question that Wyoming is a great place for entrepreneurs. First, the tax climate in the state is incredibly business friendly. Wyoming does not have a corporate income tax, nor does it have an individual income tax or gross receipts tax. Not only that, Wyoming’s sales tax rate is in the top 25% in the United States.

Wyoming also has the fourth-highest rate of new entrepreneurs in the country – meaning there’s a thriving community for you to join. There’s a huge opportunity share, and plenty of chances to find business partners and mentors alike.

Additionally, of all 50 states, Wyoming has one of the best records of business survival. The ratio of businesses created to those that shutdown is 1.61. Given how rare it often is for startups to survive, that’s an impressive number.

So, let’s dive into how to start an LLC in Wyoming step by step.

Choose a Business Entity for Your Wyoming LLC 

To understand how to start a business in Wyoming, you need to understand entity formation.  Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) and Corporations are the most popular business types.

Business formation is important because it sets your company apart as a professional company and not just a hobby.

Corporation

A corporation is a legal entity created separately from those who own and operate it. A corporation’s debts and taxes are separate from its owners, thereby offering the greatest personal liability protection of all business structures. The two most common types of corporations are S and C corporations.

Limited Liability Company (LLC)

LLCs are the most popular business structure, blending the aspects of corporations, partnerships, and sole proprietorships into a simple and flexible business entity. Like corporations, LLC formation protects the owner’s personal assets and also shields them from personal liability similar to a corporation. They also possess the “pass-through” tax benefits of a partnership.

There are two types of LLCs. LLC run by just own person (single-member LLC) and LLCs run by multiple people (multi-member LLCs)

Forming an LLC in Wyoming can be difficult and confusing, especially as a first time business owner. But with a company like Inc Authority in your corner, you’ll not only have your LLC formed for you, but you’ll also get expert guidance beyond business formation, so you never have to wonder or worry about what to do next!

What About DBAs?

DBAs (which stands for “doing business as”) grant business owners the ability to conduct business under an assumed name. A DBA is also referred to as a fictitious business name and is an authorization by the state for your business to operate under an assumed name. 

For sole proprietors and owners of LLCs, DBAs offer an affordable way to gain legal recognition for the secondary name of your choice.

A DBA provides privileges like the ability to open a bank account, create enforceable contracts and establish federal employer tax status (getting an EIN). It’s possible to file multiple DBAs, allowing a single LLC to operate different businesses under the same legal umbrella. If you’re starting a business or expanding your LLC in Wyoming, get the proper legal recognition early on to start off on the right legal footing. 

Wyoming State Filing Fee

The Wyoming Secretary of State charges a $100 fee to file the Articles of Organization by mail and $102 to file online. You can reserve your business name by filing an LLC name reservation for $50. Wyoming LLCs are also required to file an annual report license tax, which is a minimum of $50. When you compare this cost to Massachusetts’ $500 filing fee, you’ll realize how lucky you are to be in such an affordable state.

Create a Business Name

Under Wyoming law, an LLC name must contain the words “Limited Liability Company,” or the abbreviations “LLC” or “L.L.C.,” “Limited Company,” or the abbreviations “LC” or “L.C.,” “Ltd. Liability Company,” “Ltd. Liability Co.,” or “Limited Liability Co.” The name of a low profit SMLLC must contain the words “Low Profit Ltd. Liability Company,” “Low Profit Ltd. Liability Co.” or “Low Profit Limited Liability Co.” or the abbreviations “L3C” or “l3c.”

Your LLC’s name must be distinguishable from the names of other business entities already on file with the Wyoming Secretary of State. See the Secretary of State’s guide How to Choose a Company Name. Names may be checked for availability at the Wyoming Secretary of State business name search database.

You may reserve a name for 120 days by filing an Application for Reservation of Name with the Wyoming Secretary of State. The reservation must be filed by mail. The filing fee is $50.

Using a Trade Name

You don’t have to use your LLC’s official legal name registered in your Articles of Organization when you do business. Instead, you can use a trade name, also called a “DBA” (short for doing business as), assumed name, or fictitious business name.

To do so in Wyoming, you simply start using the trade name to identify your LLC in the state. You may also file an Application for Registration of Trade Name with the Secretary of State by mail and pay a $100 fee. Your business must be physically located in Wyoming to register. Registration is not mandatory, but does alert others the name is in use in Wyoming. To use a trade name for your LLC outside of Wyoming, you must comply with the requirements of the state involved.

Wyoming LLC Registration  

Let’s take a look at how to register a business in Wyoming, including payables such as the cost, government fees, and so on.

File Articles of Organization

A Wyoming LLC is created by filing Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State. The articles must include:

The articles must be accompanied by a written consent to appointment signed by the registered agent (this form is included with the Wyoming Articles of Organization form). The articles may be filed by postal mail or online. The filing fee is $100 and $102 for online filing.

Wyoming LLC Operating Agreement

An LLC operating agreement is not required in Wyoming, but creating one is highly advisable. The Operating Agreement is the primary document that establishes the rights, powers, duties, liabilities, and obligations of the members among themselves and to the LLC.

The Operating Agreement is an internal document and is not filed with the Department of State. If an existing or newly created LLC does not adopt an operating agreement, its existing articles of organization, bylaws or operating agreement, and/or its member control or limited liability company agreement will collectively become its operating agreement.

Issues that should be defined by your LLC Operating Agreement include:

Once the operating agreement has been adopted, it will provide protection for the members of your LLC. When the members of your LLC have agreed on the terms of your operating agreement and have signed the document, you should keep the agreement in a secure location.

Inc Authority can remind you to do or do for you if you choose to have us handle the paperwork.

Get Your Employer Identification Number or EIN

The next step you’ll want to tackle is getting your EIN or Tax ID number (TIN). This number is like your business’s social security number, separating you from your business. This protects you from fraud and identity theft.

Additionally, an EIN is required by your bank to open a Business Checking Account, file tax returns, obtain payroll services and credit cards, and pay for any LLC cost that Wyoming laws require.

To apply for your EIN, you’ll need to complete form SS-4, which can be found on the IRS website.

Assign a Wyoming Registered Agent for your LLC

There are an estimated 38 million home-based businesses in the U.S., so if you’re thinking about starting a small business in your home, you’re definitely not alone.

But did you know that all businesses are required by law to have an address where they can accept service of legal documents (like a service of process) from the state or government agencies during normal business days and hours? Without an office, that would be your street address or P.O. box.

As you can imagine, that’s not always possible (or advisable) with a home-based or foreign-filed business. That’s where a registered agent comes in.

A registered agent is a responsible third-party in the same state as your business who receives official government notifications (usually tax forms and notice of lawsuits) on behalf of your LLC in Wyoming.

Even if you aren’t planning on starting a home-based business or foreign LLC, having a registered agent is still advisable because it will:

Setting up a Registered Agent Service

Every Wyoming LLC must have an agent for service of process in the state. This is an individual or business entity that agrees to accept legal papers on the LLC’s behalf if it is sued. The resident agent (called registered agent in most states) must be a Wyoming resident or a business entity authorized to do business in Wyoming. The registered agent must have a physical street address in Wyoming.

Learn more about our registered agent services here.

Open a Business Bank Account

To keep your personal and business expenses separate and to stay in good standing with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), you need to open a business bank account for your LLC or corporation.

Setting up a separate bank account for your company makes it easier to for you do business, manage a cash balance, complete, and file your federal income tax returns with the Department of Revenue, deduct business expenses for taxes, conduct proper accounting, and execute employee payroll. Bank accounts also provide better protection in the event of legal action.

Additionally, business bank accounts create historical relevance through the relationship established with the bank, and can create unrestricted access to long-term funding options, business credit cards, and other financial solutions.

Types of Business Bank Accounts

Not all business bank accounts are created equal. That’s why it’s important to distinguish between the good, the bad, and the best business bank accounts.

Checking Accounts

A business checking is the most common type of business bank account and the first one you’ll want to open for your business. This because business check accounts allow you to: 

Savings Accounts

This one should come as no surprise. A business savings account (like a personal savings accounts) lets you safely save money in a bank.  You don’t need this right away though, only when you have an abundance of capital sitting in your business checking account, will you need to open a savings account. It allows you to: 

Business Certificate of Deposits

A business certificate of deposit (CD) is a term account that offers maximum security and a guaranteed rate of return. You agree to lend your business’s money to the bank for a set period of time at an agreed-upon interest rate. The interest rates are usually higher than you’d receive from a business savings account or interest-bearing business checking account. 

Here are the main features of a business certificate of deposit:

Money Market Accounts

This is a lesser-known type of business a bank account and isn’t for every business owner. You’ll want this type of account if you have a lot of money saved, want higher interest rates than a business savings account or interest-bearing business checking account, but still want some access to your money.

Here are the main features of a business money market account:

How to Open a Business Bank Account

Opening a business bank account is as simple as gathering some information together and completing an application. Here are the steps to open a business checking account:

  1. Do your due diligence. Research different banks and discover what each one offers. Then decide which one will work best for your business type. An easy way to do this research is to check out some of our business bank reviews.
  2. Get a tax ID number. You can get one free EIN from the IRS. If you think you already have one, here’s how to look up an EIN.
  3. Gather your business formation documents (for LLCs and Corporations).
  4. Gather your business license or business name filing paperwork.
  5. Call the bank and find out what other items you’ll need to open a business bank account. Every bank has different requirements, so make sure you check with them first before attempting to open a business bank account. Sometimes this information will be listed on the bank’s website.
  6. Go in person or online to complete all necessary paperwork and submit your business documents.

At Inc Authority, we make getting a business bank account easy. How so? Well, when you form your business with us, you gain access to a free Bank of America business checking account. So, don’t wait! Form your LLC in Wyoming today!

Tax and Regulatory Requirements

Additional tax and regulatory requirements may apply to your Wyoming LLC. These may include:

EIN: If your LLC has more than one member, it must obtain its own IRS Employee Identification Number (EIN), even if it has no employees. If you form a one-member LLC, you still need to obtain an EIN or elect to have it taxed as a corporation instead of a sole proprietorship (disregarded entity). You may obtain an EIN by completing an online EIN application on the IRS website. There is no filing fee.

Business Licenses: Depending on its type of business and where it is located, your LLC may need to obtain other local and state business licenses. For more information, visit the Wyoming Business Council website.

Department of Revenue: In some cases, for example if you will be selling goods and collecting sales tax, you’ll need to register with the Wyoming Department of Revenue (DOR). You can download forms for sales tax and other registrations from the DOR website.

Annual Report: All Wyoming LLCs and foreign LLCs authorized to do business in the state must file an annual report with the Secretary of State. All LLCs must pay an annual report license tax equal to the greater of (1) $50, or (2) two-tenths of one mill on the dollar ($.0002) based on the company’s assets located and employed in the state of Wyoming.

The report and tax may be filed online or by mail. The report and tax payment are due on the first day of the anniversary month of the LLC’s formation. For example, if an LLC were created on June 15, the annual report is due each year on June 1. If the report is not filed and annual taxes are not paid within 60 days from the due date, the LLC will be subject to dissolution/revocation. 

Getting Started with Your Wyoming LLC

Forming a professional LLC or corporation in Wyoming is an exciting opportunity, but like starting any business it can be overwhelming. Why not let the business experts at Inc Authority do all the heavy lifting for you?

We’ll form your LLC or corporation, run a business name check, get your EIN, and make sure you have all the licenses and permits needed to run your business. We can also advise you on the things you need to pay, such as LLC cost, Wyoming state fees, and other payables.

Not to mention we offer a ton of free management and report tools to help make running your business as simple as possible. Please contact us or visit our website today to get started!

GET STARTED

Incorporating is the most powerful thing you can do to legitimize your business. And at IncAuthority.com, our setup LLC services are 100% free. Always. So, don’t wait. Form your free LLC today and enjoy the protection due to you and your business under the law.

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