How to Register in Your State
Choose a state, check name availability, appoint a registered agent, and file the right formation documents — what it costs and how long it takes.
Most founders should form in their home state — where they live and work. File in another state (DE, WY) only if you have a specific reason. The process takes 1–10 business days and costs $70–$500 depending on the state.
Home state vs Delaware vs Wyoming
Right for ~90% of founders
If you operate in one state, form there. If you form out-of-state but operate in your home state, you'll have to register as a "foreign LLC" in your home state anyway — paying fees in both.
Right for VC-backed Corps
Best-developed corporate law, well-known to investors and acquirers. Worth the extra cost ONLY for C-Corps raising venture capital — not for typical LLCs.
Right for asset protection
Strong charging-order protections, no state income tax, more privacy. Mostly useful for holding companies and asset-heavy structures.
The six steps
Choose your state and entity type
Home state + LLC for most founders. See our LLC vs Corporation guide for the structure decision.
Check name availability
Search your secretary of state's business name database. Most states require a unique name + an entity suffix ("LLC", "Inc."). Optional: reserve the name for 30–120 days while you finalize paperwork ($10–$50).
Appoint a registered agent
Every entity needs one with a physical street address in the state. You can be your own RA — but that puts your home address on public record and requires being available during business hours.
File the formation documents
Articles of Organization (LLC) or Articles of Incorporation (Corp), filed with the secretary of state. Most states have online portals; expedited filing is usually $50–$200 extra.
Get an EIN
Once your state approves the formation, apply for an EIN from the IRS. See our EIN guide.
Operating agreement + ongoing compliance
Draft an operating agreement (LLC) or bylaws (Corp). Set calendar reminders for the annual report and franchise tax deadlines. See Ongoing Compliance.
State-by-state quick reference
LLC fees + processing time for major states. Corp fees and timelines are usually similar.
The registered agent question
Being your own RA
- Your home address becomes public record on the state website
- You must be available 9–5 Mon–Fri to accept legal mail
- If you move, you must amend your filing in every state
- Free upfront, but eats time and exposes you
Using a service ($50–$300/yr)
- Keeps your home address off public records
- Mail is scanned and uploaded to a dashboard
- Same address across all 50 states — no amendments when you move
- Pixelbase RA service is $5/month — read our Registered Agent guide
Operating in another state? Foreign-qualify.
If you form in Delaware but live and work in California, you must register your DE entity as a "foreign LLC" in California — paying CA's $800 minimum franchise tax plus the foreign registration fee. This is why home-state formation is almost always cheaper.
File in any state. We handle it.
Pixelbase forms LLCs and Corps in all 50 states. Name check, registered agent, articles, EIN, operating agreement — and ongoing compliance afterwards. State fee + a flat service fee, no upsells.