With careful planning, you can start an LLC in Wyoming in no time. If this is your first business venture or time forming a Wyoming limited liability company, you might wonder where to begin. We’ll help you launch your Wyoming LLC by walking you through the process.

Our guide on how to start a Wyoming LLC will give you everything you need to succeed. LLC formation doesn’t have to be hard. Follow these instructions to get your Wyoming LLC formed. Soon, you’ll be on your way to growing your new business.

Starting a Wyoming LLC

To start a Wyoming LLC, you’ll need to do a few things. You’ll have to file paperwork with the state, appoint a registered agent, and decide on an operating agreement. But before starting an LLC in Wyoming, you’ll need to pick a name for your new business.

Don’t you wish there was a “Create LLC Wyoming” button you could push? We’ve got you covered. Our step-by-step guide will simplify the process of forming a limited liability company in the Equality State. As you complete the steps below, your Wyoming LLC formation will be closer to success. Along the way, we’ll show you how our services can ease the process.

Step 1: Name your Wyoming LLC

Choosing a company name is the first step in starting an LLC. While thinking about your Wyoming LLC, you’ve likely thought of a name. A limited liability company name is more than just a creative way to market your services. It also has to comply with state regulations. Among other things, you’ll need to find a name not used by other Wyoming businesses.

Start by creating a list of possible names. Follow the instructions on our Wyoming Business Entity Search page to see if it’s available in the state. Remember that slight changes in spelling, punctuation, and suffix will not be enough to distinguish your business. This is why a thorough name search is crucial. It’s helpful to check for more detailed requirements for naming your Wyoming LLC to avoid trouble while applying. 

Name requirements for an LLC in Wyoming

To comply with Wyoming state law, your company’s name must end with the proper designator. In this case, you have a few options. The entire phrase “Limited Liability Company” or “LLC,” “L.L.C.,” “Limited Company,” “LC,” “L.C.,” “Ltd. Liability Company,” “Ltd. Liability Co.,” or “Limited Liability Co.” will work. Regardless of what you choose, it must be at the end of your company’s name.

Reserve a Business Name for a Wyoming LLC

Once you’ve found a name that works for you and meets Wyoming’s requirements, you can lock it in. Wyoming allows you to reserve a business name for 120 days for a fee. This allows plenty of time to finish establishing your Wyoming LLC. If you don’t want to deal with this yourself, we have a business name reservation service. As part of the service, we also run a search to see if your desired name is available.

When coming up with a business name, consider a matching domain name for a future LLC online. We have a tool to help you with a domain name search. Also, our domain name registration service can help you secure an online name to form a Wyoming LLC. 

File a DBA in Wyoming

Remember that you can also register a trade name or “Doing Business As” (DBA) name for your Wyoming LLC. This is simply another name you can use for your business. A DBA is a good idea if the official name of your Wyoming LLC doesn’t necessarily match your business’s purpose. To get a DBA in Wyoming, visit the Wyoming Secretary of State website and search for your new DBA name to make sure it isn’t taken.

If it’s available, you can file it via the Application for Registration of Trade Name. It’s important to note that the trade name has to be in use in Wyoming before you can register it. You’ll also need to submit a filing fee.

Finally, make sure you’re entirely in the clear with your desired name for your Wyoming LLC. Visit the US Patent and Trademark Office website to make sure your business name or logo aren’t already federally trademarked. Trademarks can also happen at the state level. To find out more and/or to apply for a state trademark, visit the Wyoming Secretary of State’s website.

Step 2: Appoint a registered agent in Wyoming

Wyoming requires every LLC to appoint a registered agent. This person or business entity will be the point of contact for all legal matters. If your company is subpoenaed or sued, the state will deliver papers to your Wyoming registered agent. The agent must be a resident of Wyoming or a business entity authorized to do business in Wyoming. The agent must also have a physical street address in the state (not just a P.O. box).

The company owner can be the registered agent, but this is not always the best option. Being served in front of customers is a sure way to deter business, so hire an outside registered agent.

Benefits of Hiring a Wyoming Registered Agent Service

Some additional benefits of hiring an outside registered agent service like ours include:

• You must be available during standard business hours if you serve as your own registered agent. If working outside the office or taking business trips, this requirement could be a problem. You won’t have to worry about this with a Wyoming registered agent service.
• If you provide your personal or business address as your registered agent address, you’ll need to update your registered agent paperwork each time you move. At fast growing companies, this step can be overlooked. You won’t need to do this with a Wyoming registered agent service.
• If you use our registered agent service, we’ll accept your important legal documents and store them in your digital dashboard so you can view, download, or print them any time online.

Step 3: File Wyoming Articles of Organization

To start doing business, you need to complete your Articles of Organization and file it with the Wyoming Secretary of State.

Filing official government forms can be hard for many new entrepreneurs. With our business formation plans, we handle the filing for you to make sure it’s done correctly the first time. We’ll still show you how the process works below.

File with the Wyoming Secretary of State

Before filling in the Articles of Organization form, make sure you have all of the necessary information, including:

• The name of your LLC
• The mailing address of your LLC
• The name and address of your registered agent
• The date when you’d like to begin operations
• Whether you choose to be a Close LLC

In Wyoming, there’s a box on the form asking whether you want to form a “Close Limited Liability Company.” A Close LLC gives you a tighter business structure. It’s geared toward small, family businesses.

When filing Articles of Organization for your Wyoming LLC, you’ll need to include a nonrefundable fee. This applies whether you prefer to go in person, send your paperwork by mail, or submit and file online.

Digitally Store your Wyoming LLC Paperwork

If we do the filing for your Articles of Organization, your paperwork will be available from your ZenBusiness dashboard. Here, you can keep it and other important paperwork digitally organized. It will become available once the state approves your Wyoming LLC.

When you get your physical paperwork back from the state after it approves your Wyoming LLC, keep it in a safe location with your other important documents. This includes your operating agreement, member certificates, contracts, compliance checklists, transfer ledger, etc. We offer a customized business kit to help you keep these documents organized and looking professional.

Step 4: Create an Operating Agreement for your Wyoming LLC

An operating agreement is not always required. It also isn’t mandatory according to Wyoming law. They do help create governance for an LLC, however. This document outlines your business structure and covers the rules your company will follow. It also highlights how finances will be handled, lists specific LLC members, details how decisions will be made (including member voting structure), and details any additional regulations.

If you’re starting your Wyoming LLC alone, you may feel that an LLC operating agreement is unnecessary, especially since Wyoming doesn’t require one. However, a Wyoming LLC operating agreement can also outline what happens to your company if you leave or become incapacitated. It can also help protect you and your assets in case of dissolution or bankruptcy. If you’re starting your Wyoming LLC with other members, each will need to agree to the terms and sign the document.

Unsure of how to write an operating agreement? Let us help you create your Wyoming LLC operating agreement with our interactive template today.

Step 5: Apply for an EIN

To finalize your Wyoming LLC, you’ll need a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN), also known as an EIN. This nine-digit number is required for tax and financial paperwork when filing taxes, hiring new employees, and opening business bank accounts.

You can get your Wyoming LLC’s Employer Identification Number through the Internal Revenue Service website, by mail, or by fax. We can also get it for you. Our Employer Identification Number service is quick and eliminates the hassle. Find out how it works.

Once you have an EIN, you’ll be able to open a business bank account. Having a business checking account separate from your personal banking is critical for sorting out your finances at tax time. And it helps you avoid commingling funds. Commingling funds can make your taxes more difficult and can be used against you if someone takes you to court to challenge whether you and your Wyoming LLC are truly separate entities. This means if they want to sue you not just for your business assets, but also your personal assets.

Open a Business Bank Account for your Wyoming LLC

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

For more help on managing your new business’s finances, try ZenBusiness Money. It can help you create invoices, receive payments, transfer money, and manage clients all in one place. From here, your LLC formation is complete.