How to Form an LLC in Wyoming

Filing fee: $100 (plus 2.4% credit card processing fee, minimum $1, when filing online)

Processing time: [PROCESSING_TIME]

State agency: Wyoming Secretary of State — WyoBiz Online Services

Annual report due: First day of the LLC's anniversary month each year

State tax rate: No state income tax; annual report license tax of $60 or $0.0002 per dollar of Wyoming assets, whichever is greater

To form an LLC in Wyoming, you file Articles of Organization with the Wyoming Secretary of State, pay the $100 state filing fee, and designate a registered agent with a physical Wyoming address. Wyoming has no state income tax, a straightforward annual report requirement, and one of the most business-friendly tax climates in the country.

Wyoming was the first state in the U.S. to recognize LLCs, and it has kept building on that foundation. The state has no personal or corporate income tax, a $100 formation fee, and consistently ranks at or near the top of the Tax Foundation's State Business Tax Climate Index — it has held the number one spot every year since 2011.

For most entrepreneurs, those advantages add up fast. You get the liability protection of a corporation with simpler rules, lower costs, and a tax structure that doesn't take a cut of what you earn at the state level.

• No Wyoming state income tax on LLC earnings
• Low $100 formation fee
• Personal asset protection from business debts and liabilities
• Flexible management structure — member-managed or manager-managed
• Annual report fee of $60 minimum, based on Wyoming assets

Forming a Wyoming LLC takes 6 steps: check name availability, designate a registered agent, file Articles of Organization, create an operating agreement, get an Employer Identification Number (EIN), and handle any required licenses. Most of the process happens online through the Wyoming Secretary of State's WyoBiz portal.

Step 1: check your business name

Your LLC name must be distinguishable from existing entities on record with the Wyoming Secretary of State and must include a designator like "LLC" or "Limited Liability Company." Use the Wyoming Business Entity Search at wyobiz.wyo.gov to check availability before you file. Results show entity name, filing ID, type, status, and formation date.

Step 2: designate a registered agent

Every Wyoming LLC must have a registered agent — a person or business entity that accepts legal documents on the LLC's behalf. The agent must have a physical street address in Wyoming (no P.O. boxes). An individual agent must be at least 18 years old and a Wyoming resident. If you don't have a Wyoming address, a registered agent service covers this requirement.

Step 3: file Articles of Organization

File your Articles of Organization with the Wyoming Secretary of State through the WyoBiz Online Services portal or by paper form. The state filing fee is $100. Online filers pay an additional 2.4% credit card processing fee (minimum $1). The Articles must include your LLC name, registered agent information, and management structure.

Step 4: create an operating agreement

Wyoming doesn't require LLCs to file an operating agreement with the state, but having one is worth the effort. It sets out how the business is owned, how decisions get made, and how profits are split. Without one, Wyoming's default LLC statutes fill in the gaps — and those defaults may not match what you actually want.

Step 5: get an EIN from the IRS

An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is your LLC's federal tax ID. You'll need one to open a business bank account, hire employees, and file federal taxes. Apply online at irs.gov/ein — the IRS issues the EIN immediately upon completion. If you don't have a Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, file IRS Form SS-4 by fax or mail instead.

Step 6: get any required licenses and permits

Wyoming doesn't have a general state business license, but your industry or local municipality may require one. Check with your city or county clerk and any relevant state licensing board for your specific business type. A tax professional can help you figure out whether your business has any additional state or local tax registration requirements.

Wyoming's formation costs are low compared to most states, and the ongoing requirements are straightforward. The $100 Articles of Organization fee gets your LLC on record. After that, the main recurring obligation is the annual report.

Formation fee

• Domestic LLC Articles of Organization: $100
• Online filing surcharge: 2.4% of the filing fee, minimum $1
• Foreign LLC registration (out-of-state LLC registering in Wyoming): $150

Annual report

Wyoming LLCs must file an annual report with the Secretary of State every year. The report is due on the first day of the LLC's anniversary month — the same calendar month the LLC was originally filed. The fee is $60 or $0.0002 per dollar of assets located in Wyoming, whichever is greater. File online through the WyoBiz Annual Report system using your LLC's Filing ID.

Wyoming LLCs can be member-managed or manager-managed. The choice determines who has authority to run day-to-day operations and should be specified in your Articles of Organization. Getting this right at formation is easier than amending it later.

Member-managed

In a member-managed LLC, the owners run the business directly. Every member has authority over day-to-day decisions and can act as an agent of the LLC for ordinary business activities. This is the most common structure for small LLCs where all owners are actively involved.

Manager-managed

In a manager-managed LLC, one or more appointed managers handle day-to-day operations. Managers don't have to be members — they can be outside hires or another business entity. This structure works well when some members are passive investors who want ownership without operational responsibility.

Most entrepreneurs form a standard domestic LLC in Wyoming. But depending on your situation, one of these variations may apply.

Professional LLC (PLLC)

A Professional LLC is for licensed professionals — things like doctors, attorneys, accountants, and engineers. Wyoming requires that all members of a PLLC hold the relevant professional license. Talk to a legal professional to confirm whether your occupation requires this structure.

Foreign LLC

If your LLC was formed in another state but you want to do business in Wyoming, you need to register as a foreign LLC with the Wyoming Secretary of State. The registration fee is $150. You'll still need a Wyoming registered agent.