Attorney Explains: How to Start an LLC in Wyoming

To start an LLC in Wyoming, you must file with the Secretary of State and appoint a registered agent with a physical address in the state.

It’s important to remember that LLC formation is the foundation of your business. It will also influence how you apply for a business bank account. Many banking providers now require the Articles of Organization, EIN, and a utility bill. 

To have an attorney form and maintain your LLC, choose our Wyoming LLC Formation. It includes a registered agent service, BOI filing, and annual report filling.

For those who want a done-for-you service, our Complete Package also includes attorney-client privilege, EIN filing, and a separate address with a utility bill for banking access. 

Get a Wyoming Registered Agent

A registered agent will receive legal documents and official correspondence for your Limited Liability Company. For example, if your LLC were to be sued, the service of process would be delivered to the registered agent. This makes who you choose as your registered agent an important choice. 

To be a registered agent you must have a physical Wyoming address and be available during business hours to accept documents in person. The agent’s address cannot be a PO box. For this reason, a registered agent service is recommended for most LLCs in Wyoming.

Choose our Wyoming Registered Agent Service to have your registered agent managed by a local attorney. We offer a real physical office address that can be used as your business address on all government forms. We send official documents to you digitally while you’re anywhere in the world. 

A registered agent service also allows your personal information to be kept confidential. The name and address of the registered agent will be available on a public record. One of the benefits of a Wyoming LLC is that owners don’t need to disclose personal information during the state filing. 

File the Articles of Organization

To create a Wyoming LLC, you need to register your business with the Secretary of State. This is called forming the Articles of Organization. This guide will show how to form an LLC in Wyoming correctly. 

The Wyoming Secretary of State Filing Process 

We recommend everyone file online as you receive your LLC immediately. This process can be confusing and all the information on this form will be available publicly. When you use our formation service, our information will be public not yours, allowing you to form an anonymous LLC. 

Business Entity Name

When forming your Wyoming LLC, you must choose a business name that complies with state requirements and is available for use.

Check Your Wyoming LLC Name Availability

Visit the Wyoming Secretary of State’s Business Entity Search tool and do a Wyoming business search to check if your business name is available. 

Enter your proposed LLC name, excluding identifiers like “LLC” or “Limited Liability Company”, and review the search results to see if any existing businesses have similar names.

Wyoming LLC Name Requirements

You’ve verified that your desired business name is available in Wyoming. Now, it must also meet the Wyoming LLC name requirements.

Your LLC name must include a designator such as “Limited Liability Company,” “LLC,” or “L.L.C.” and be distinguishable from other Wyoming registered businesses.

The Secretary of State describes distinguishable as:

“Add at least one distinguishable character such as a numeral, a distinguishable letter, or an additional word.”

Avoid restricted words that imply a government agency or educational institution such as “bank” or “university”. Including these words in your name means you can’t file online and will require additional approval. 

For more information on naming requirements see the Wyoming Secretary of State naming information PDF. 

Delayed Effective Date

Most business owners want their LLC to become active immediately after filing, but Wyoming allows you to specify a future date if needed. This is known as a delayed effective date. This can be useful if you need time to form your business or are waiting for a specific event or deadline.

Search or Enter a Registered Agent

This is where you enter your registered agent. If you’re using our registered agent service you will search for us using the information we provide. 

What’s the Difference Between a Principal Address and a Mailing Address?

You’ll need to provide a principal address and a mailing address when registering your LLC in Wyoming.

	Principal Address	Mailing Address
Type	Must be a physical location (no P.O. boxes).	Can be a physical location or a P.O. box.
Purpose	The address designated as the company’s main office.	Used for receiving mail.
Note	This will be the address that appears on your Article of Organization. This will be used for setting up a bank account so choose a quality address to avoid causing banking issues.	This address will likely only receive junk mail. For users of our LLC service, we’ll discard your junk mail and scan important mail to you digitally.

Both addresses will be on public record. You can use the same address for both. Some registered agents will allow you to use their address, others don’t. Start in Wyoming customers can use our address here. 

Who is the Organizer?

The organizer is the person responsible for filing the LLC. The organizer doesn’t have to be part of the LLC and they have no control over the LLC. This name will be available on public records. 

• The organizer can be a member of your LLC.
• A manager of your LLC can also serve as the organizer.
• Or, you can hire a third party. For example, Start in Wyoming customers receive our law firm as their organizer. 

Additional Articles

The Additional Articles section is optional and not needed for almost all LLCs. Our lawyer can advise you whether your LLC needs this. 

Unlike other states, LLCs in Wyoming don’t file an operating agreement with the government as part of the Articles of Organization. 

Confirm and Pay

Once the Articles of Organization are filed and paid for, you’ll receive a confirmation email with a link to download and print your filed documents. The Articles of Organization will be processed immediately if filed online.

File a BOI Report in 30 Days

As of January 2024, every LLC formed must file a BOI report with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) within 30 days of formation. BOI stands for Beneficial Ownership Information and means anyone who owns 25% or more of a company must share their information with FinCEN. 

This information is used to identify ownership for LLCs involved in illegal activities. The information will never be shared publicly and is required by every state in the U.S.

Visit the FinCEN website to fill out the form. Everyone starting an LLC with us will have BOI filing included as part of our service.

Do I need a Wyoming Address for an LLC?

You don’t need a Wyoming address if you use a registered agent in Wyoming. However, your LLC’s principal address will be required to open a business bank account. 

Most banks require the Articles of Organization and a utility bill to open a business account. If the addresses don’t match your account could be declined. 

Our Complete Wyoming LLC Formation includes a separate Wyoming address with a lease agreement and utility bill that can be used to open a bank account. We help customers access secure banking through a high-quality street address. 

Draft a Wyoming LLC Operating Agreement

Although not required by Wyoming law, having an operating agreement is highly recommended.

This document clarifies your company’s inner workings, helping prevent member misunderstandings and disputes. 

• Ownership structure: Define the percentage of ownership for each member.
• Member roles and responsibilities: Establish the duties and obligations of each member.
• Profit distribution: Outline how profits and losses will be allocated among members.
• Decision-making processes: Determine the procedures for making key business decisions.

Even if you have a single-member LLC, the operating agreement is a useful document to establish your ownership. All Wyoming single-member LLCs formed with us receive a free operating agreement. 

How to get a Wyoming LLC EIN

To get a Wyoming LLC EIN, apply online via the IRS website with an SSN. If you don’t have an SSN you must use form SS-4 and apply via mail, fax, or phone. 

Non-U.S. residents won’t have an SSN so they’ll need to apply using the second method. An EIN isn’t needed to start an LLC in Wyoming, but it will be needed for tax forms, hiring employees, and opening a business bank account. 

For non-residents, we recommend applying for an EIN upon forming due to the time it takes to arrive by mail. The IRS assigns an employer identification number immediately for online applications or four weeks for mail. 

For customers of our complete package, we request your EIN from the IRS.

Wyoming LLC Requirements

One of the benefits of starting an LLC in Wyoming is the limited requirements for an LLC. Once you’ve formed your LLC the upkeep is minimal. 

The Wyoming LLC requirements include:

• Maintain a registered agent in Wyoming to receive important documents and notices.
• File an annual report and pay the associated fee to keep your LLC in good standing.
• Compliance with tax laws and obtaining business licenses and permits.

Do I need a Business License or Permit?

A business license isn’t needed to operate for most businesses. If your LLC is operating in Wyoming in sectors such as food or transportation, you may need to apply for an industry-specific license. 

How Much Does a Wyoming LLC Cost?

A Wyoming LLC costs a $100 state fee to file the Articles of Organization plus a $3.75 online payment fee. Additional costs include an annual report fee and registered agent fees. 

A Wyoming LLC Cost breakdown:

• $100 state filing fee
• $3.75 online payment fee
• $125 registered agent

Another ongoing expense to factor in is the annual report fee, which starts at a minimum of $60, based on your LLC’s assets. Read our Wyoming LLC annual fee guide to understand the annual costs of forming an LLC in Wyoming.

Can I Start an LLC in Wyoming If I Don’t Live There?

Yes, you can start an LLC in Wyoming even if you don’t live there. Wyoming allows non-residents to form LLCs. You must appoint a registered agent with a physical address in Wyoming to handle legal correspondence.

The LLC formation process is the same for everyone. Wyoming is the most popular state in the U.S. to register an LLC and we’ve helped many non-residents start a Wyoming LLC. 

How Long Does it Take to Form an LLC in Wyoming?

Forming an LLC in Wyoming is immediate if filed online. Mail filings take up to 15 business days. Processing times may vary based on the Secretary of State’s workload. 

Want a Lawyer to Form Your Wyoming LLC?

Registering a Wyoming LLC with Start in Wyoming means you benefit from a lawyer filing and maintaining your LLC. This ensures everything is formed correctly, saves time, and includes a registered agent, BOI reporting, and annual reports.

For our Complete Wyoming LLC Formation Service, you also get attorney-client privileges, a separate Wyoming address for banking, and done-for-you EIN filing. It’s the option for entrepreneurs serious about Starting in Wyoming the right way.

If you still have questions, send our team a message and we’d be happy to help.