Form an LLC in Connecticut with Inc Authority for Free
Inc Authority is a leading business formation service provider with over 30 years of experience. It has helped 250k businesses get started and can help you too.The best part is that its LLC formation services are completely free.
1 Year Registered Agent Service Free
Free LLC and C-Corp formation services, with an in-depth review and accurate application filing.
Complimentary registered agent services by a local Connecticut agent for one whole year.
Free S-Corp election services to convert your LLC or C-Corp to an S-Corp via filing Form 2553.
Things to Know Before Starting an LLC in Connecticut
The cost of starting and running an LLC varies from state to state. If you’re planning on starting an LLC in Connecticut you should know of these costs and the various compliance requirements you will need to meet.
Let’s discuss some of the important things briefly.
- You can form a domestic or foreign LLC in Connecticut, and depending on your choice, the cost of forming and running your business will differ.
- If you want to reserve a business name, you can do so by submitting an application and paying $60 to reserve it for up to 120 days.
- To start a domestic LLC in Connecticut, you need to file a Certificate of Organization to the Connecticut Secretary of State along with $120.
- All LLCs in Connecticut must file an annual report between January 1 and March 31 of each year. Filing the annual report costs a $80 filing fee.
Forming an LLC in Connecticut is fairly easy and does not cost a lot. After COVID-19, the state also offers some tax relief for certain types of businesses, so find out if you’re eligible and save further.
18,000+
Trustpilot Reviews
Inc. 5000
Company
7-Day
USA Based Support
24-Hour
Processing Time
How to Form an LLC in Connecticut
Starting an LLC in Connecticut is a simple process. Still, you need to know the exact steps you must follow to ensure that you don’t overlook anything important.
Here is a step-by-step guide to starting a Limited Liability Company in Connecticut.
Choose a Name for Your Business
Your first order of business when forming an LLC in Connecticut is to select a unique, memorable, and relevant business name. It should follow Connecticut LLC naming guidelines, so make sure you find out the requirements.
To check whether your chosen name is available for use within the state, you can check the state database. If any other business is using the same name, you will need to find another name for your new LLC in Connecticut.
Reserve a Business Name and Domain
Sometimes, it may take you months before you’re ready to file your LLC application and get your business started. In such cases, if you have a particular business name in mind, it’s better to get it reserved so no one else can use it.
In Connecticut, you can reserve your business name for 120 days, by filing a $60 state filing fee. Apart from that, you should also consider choosing and buying a matching domain if you plan on launching a website for your business.
Appoint a Connecticut Registered Agent
When filing your Certificate of Organization, you will be required to fill out the name, address, and contact information of your registered agent. That’s why it’s a good idea to hire a local agent before you start the application process.
The registered agent can be an individual (over 18 years of age) or an organization with a physical address in the state of Connecticut. The resident agent for the service of process will receive and forward your business correspondence.
Create a Connecticut LLC Operating Agreement
Though it’s not necessitated by the state of Connecticut, it’s still a good practice to draft a written LLC operating agreement. This will ensure that your business will have clear rules on how it should be governed and decisions are taken.
An LLC operating agreement is prepared after all LLC owners discuss and agree upon a set of rules and codes of conduct. Having a written operating agreement ensures that there’s no conflict and that the LLC operates smoothly.
File Your Connecticut Certificate of Organization
The most important step when forming an LLC is to submit your Articles of Organization to the Secretary of State. This document is called the Certificate of Organization in Connecticut and costs $120 to file and submit.
Connecticut offers an online document filing option, which saves time and effort. You simply need to fill out the required information and submit it. This includes all important details about your business and resident agent.
Get a Federal Employer Identification Number
An EIN is the identification number of a business through which the Internal Revenue Service and the government recognize it. It’s like the social security number of an individual, which distinguishes them from anyone else.
This is an important identification that every business should acquire. It will help you with various other business processes, such as opening a business bank account, paying business taxes or employee taxes, and much more.
Open a Bank Account for Your Business
Every business, whether it’s a Sole Proprietorship or a Corporation, should have a separate bank account. This ensures that the personal finances of the owners don’t mix with the business finances, which can be quite messy.
That’s why you should open a business bank account that can help you better manage your finances. Make sure you go through several options and choose one that suits your specific business needs and offers the best services.
Find Your NAICS Code and Obtain Business Permits
When you file your Certificate of Organization, you will need to fill out your NAICS code. It’s a five-digit industry code that helps categorize your business. You will also need to find out the industry-specific business permits you’ll need.
That’s why you should find out your exact NAICS code and research the business licenses and permits you’ll need. These may also differ from state to state, so check for your state-specific requirements and get everything you need.
Choose Your Tax Structure
An LLC has the most tax flexibility of all business entities. It can choose to be taxed as a Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, S-Corporation, or C-Corporation. The choice depends on the number of members and their business preferences.
If you form a single-member LLC, it will be treated as a Sole Proprietorship by default. For a multi-member LLC, you can choose the pass-through taxation of a Partnership or choose to be taxed as a C-Corp and pay corporate taxes.
File for a DBA (Optional)
More often than not, the official name of an LLC is not the name that it uses for day-to-day business operations and not the name its customers know. Many LLCs opt for an assumed name or a fictitious name by filing for a DBA.
The reason for this is that many states require LLCs to add words like ‘Limited” or “LLC” to their names, which makes them long and not memorable. If you want a shorter LLC name, you can file for a DBA (doing business as).
Launch a Business Website (Optional)
In today’s digital world, every business needs an online presence and a website is the best way to do that. It is the face of your business and the first place a prospective customer will go to find more information about your business.
We recommend choosing a good partner for web design and marketing services and launching your website even before your business starts. This will build confidence and trust in your business and help people find your new business.
Stay in Good Standing with the State
Your job is not done once you register your business and start operations. You need to follow the state’s rules and regulations to maintain your LLC status and stay in good standing with the state. Otherwise, you may face consequences.
The two most important requirements for doing that are paying your taxes on time and filing your annual report, along with the filing fee. Find out all other compliance requirements for an LLC in Connecticut and follow those.
Why Should You Outsource LLC Formation Services?
For a new entrepreneur, starting a business can be a time-consuming and overwhelming process that requires too many documents and legal hassles. Outsourcing the process to a professional makes things simpler for you. Here’s why.
It’s Convenient
Hiring a professional to take care of all the tedious tasks, makes things more convenient for you. All you need to do is provide the required information and documents and they’ll do the rest
It’s Error-Free
When dealing with numerous forms and documents, it’s very easy to make a mistake. But when a professional does it, they will ensure 100% accuracy as they’re used to doing it day in and day out.
It’s Quicker
When you take on the challenge yourself, you may take a lot of time to prepare and file the documents. Outsourcing can help make the process more streamlined and much quicker.
Benefits of Starting an LLC in Connecticut
LLC is one of the most popular business entities in the US, preferred by many small and midsized businesses. It offers a lot of flexibility, tax advantages, and other benefits.
Here are some key benefits of LLCs that you should know about.
Personal Liability Protection
LLCs offer the personal liability protection of a C-Corp, while still providing management flexibility. This means that the LLC members are not held personally liable for covering business debts and their personal assets will remain safe.
Only the business is liable for its debts and liabilities and its assets can be seized to recover the debt. Even if the LLC has to be dissolved and it completely goes bankrupt, the members of the LLC will remain protected.
Flexible Tax Structure
Unlike most business entities, an LLC has the flexibility to choose how it wants to be taxed. It can choose to be taxed as a Corporation, a Sole Proprietorship, or an S-Corporation and be recognized as such for tax purposes.
By default, an LLC is considered a pass-through business entity and the business income is passed to the owners who then pay personal income taxes. However, if this structure isn’t working for a business, it has the option to switch.
Affordable to Form and Run
Forming a Limited Liability Company in Connecticut doesn’t cost a bomb. You simply need to pay state filing fees, fill out an application, and get your LLC registered. It costs just $120 to get your LLC registered in Connecticut.
Several states have even lower filing fees for LLCs, making them even more affordable. And the annual maintenance and running costs of LLCs are lower than those of Corporations. Staying compliant is also easier for LLCs.
Ease of Formation and Management
Forming an LLC typically requires fewer steps and legal hassles than forming a C-Corporation or an S-Corporation. Less paperwork is involved as well. This makes Limited Liability Companies super easy to form.
Running an LLC is also much easier. In fact, members can decide among themselves how they want to run their business. Corporations, on the other hand, are guided by predefined rules and regulations that they must follow.
Ownership Flexibility
Several business entities like Partnerships or S-Corps have strict rules on the number and type of owners they can have. S-Corps, for example, can have no more than 100 shareholders and they should not be a non-resident.
LLCs have no such restrictions imposed on the ownership structure. Connecticut LLCs can have a single member or multiple members. The members of an LLC can be both individuals (foreign or domestic) or organizations.
Ability to Hold Assets and Enter Contracts
An LLC, like a Corporation, is an entity separate from its owners, even if it’s a pass-through entity. This means that it has the ability to enter into business contracts with vendors, investors, and other stakeholders.
It makes it easy for an LLC to hold assets and secure business funding in its own name. This helps protect LLC members as they’re not the ones taking loans or entering into contracts and are, therefore, not liable for them.
Inc Authority Connecticut LLC Formation Services: Free + Paid Plans
Inc Authority is a trusted LLC formation services provider known for its free services. But it also offers two paid business services bundles that you can consider for additional services.
Here are the details of what each plan offers.
Free
Here’s what you’ll get with the free LLC formation plan:
- Business name search: You can use the search tool on its website to see if your chosen business name is available for use or taken by some other business.
- 1-year registered agent services: You will get free services from a local Connecticut registered agent for service of process for one year.
- Online document management: You can securely store your business documents online and easily access them from anywhere, anytime.
- Tax planning consultation: You’ll get a brief consultation with a tax specialist on how to realize the most tax advantages and maximum tax savings.
- LLC formation: This, of course, is the core service offered by Inc Authority where you’ll get access to experts who’ll prepare and file your LLC application.
- S-Corp election and filing: You can get the special tax status of an S-Corp by filing Form 2553, and Inc Authority’s team will help you with that.
- Business funding analysis: You will get advice from an expert on your future funding requirements and the best sources of funding for your business.
Price: Free
Starter
Here are the additional services you’ll get with the Starter plan:
- LLC operating agreement: If you’re a new entrepreneur who needs help preparing an operating agreement, Inc Authority’s team will help you.
- Employer Identification Number: You will need a Tax ID number for your business and Inc Authority’s team will assist you with the entire process.
- Corporate forms and documents package: This gives you access to numerous templates for creating various types of business documents.
- Compliance notifications: As part of this service, Inc Authority’s team will notify you of all upcoming deadlines and compliance requirements for your business.
- Detailed tax consultation: With the Starter plan, you will get a more detailed tax consultation with an expert on how to maximize your business tax savings.
- Web domain + 5 business email addresses: This plan also comes with website design services from an expert, along with business email addresses.
Price: Custom
Fasttrack
This includes everything in the Starter plan plus:
- Customer success advisor: You’ll get a dedicated advisor who will guide you through the entire process of starting and running your business. You can ask them any questions on how to best use Inc Authority’s services.
- Private banking expert: A banking specialist will be at your disposal and will assist you with your business banking needs. They’ll guide you on which accounts to open and also provide you with a list of the best banking options.
- Personalized business advisory: With Inc Authority’s top-tier plan, you get access to experts in various fields, from tax to business funding. You can seek consultation from them regarding all aspects of your business.
- Expedited preparation & filing: Lastly, the biggest benefit of choosing this plan is that your application gets the highest priority. Inc Authority’s team will prepare, review, and process your application within the same day.
If you want more personalized services and access to experts who can guide you on your entrepreneurial journey, then this is the best plan for you. But if you’re only looking for essential LLC formation services then you can start with the free plan.
Price: Custom
Why Choose Inc Authority to Form an LLC in Connecticut
Starting a new business can be taxing, but Inc Authority makes things easier for you. With its unmatched expertise, you’re bound to get a hassle-free experience. Here’s why you should choose Inc Authority.
100% Free
Inc Authority’s LLC formation services are completely free. There are no hidden costs, no service charges, nothing. Just pay the state filing fees and that’s it.
Professional
You’ll get expert services from professionals who do this work day in and day out. They’ll take care of everything and you’ll get your application approved in no time.
Hassle-Free
When you work with professionals, you get a streamlined and stress-free experience. You just need to provide all the information and they’ll do the rest.
FAQ
To start an LLC in Connecticut you need to fill out and submit an application, along with all the required documents, to the Connecticut Secretary of State. For processing this application, the state charges a filing fee of $120.
However, if you seek outside counsel or any third-party services, you may need to pay more for their services. A good alternative is to use Inc Authority’s free LLC formation services to keep the costs low.
According to CNBC’s Top States for Business report for 2023, Connecticut ranks 31 among the various states in the US. This shows that in terms of business-friendliness, it lies somewhere in the middle range.
While it’s not one of the best states to form an LLC, it’s not the bad either.
In terms of costs, you need a $120 initial filing fee and an $80 annual report filing fee to keep your business in good standing with the state.
Here are some of the key benefits of forming a Connecticut Limited Liability Company:
- Personal Liability Protection: LLC members are not personally responsible for the liabilities and debt of an LLC and their personal assets are protected.
- Flexible Tax Structure: An LLC can choose to be taxed as a Partnership, Sole Proprietorship, S-Corp, or a C-Corp to get different tax structures and benefits.
- Affordable to Form and Run: The formation and annual maintenance costs of a Limited Liability Company are typically lower than those of a Corporation.
- Ease of Formation and Management: Forming an LLC in Connecticut is a simple and hassle-free process that doesn’t require too many steps to complete.
- Ownership Flexibility: Compared to entities like S-Corps, an LLC offers a lot of flexibility on who can be a member and how many members it can have.
- Ability to Hold Assets and Enter Contracts: Being a separate legal entity from its owners, an LLC can enter contracts and buy assets in its own name.
Unless you choose your LLC to be treated as a C-Corporation, it doesn’t need to pay any corporate taxes or face double taxation. Your Connecticut LLC’s income will pass through to the owners, who will then pay personal income taxes on their total incomes.
The members will also need to pay a self-employment tax, over and above their personal income tax returns.
An LLC needs to pay a corporate tax only when it chooses to be taxed as a C-Corporation. The current corporate tax rate for Connecticut is 7.5%. Such LLCs will also need to pay a sales tax.
Here is the step-by-step process for starting an LLC in Connecticut:
- Choose a unique and memorable name for your business
- Reserve your chosen name and secure a matching web domain
- Appoint a Connecticut registered agent for service of process
- Create an LLC operating agreement with clear governance rules
- File your Connecticut LLC Certificate of Organization
- Get a Federal Employer Identification Number for your business
- Open a bank account for your new business
- Find your NAICS code and obtain business permits
- Choose how you want your LLC to be taxed by the IRS
- File for a DBA if you want a shorter and more marketable name
- Launch an SEO-friendly business website
- Follow compliance requirements to maintain your LLC’s status
Sounds overwhelming? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Use Inc Authority’s free LLC formation services and let experts take care of the process for you. All you need to do is pay the state filing fee and provide all the required information and they’ll take care of the rest.
Form an LLC in Connecticut for Free with Inc Authority
Inc Authority has been helping businesses for three decades and offers unmatched services and hassle-free experiences. It makes starting a business a breeze.
$0 + State Filing Fees