- Filing fee
- $200
- Annual Report
- $70
- First-year gov. cost
- $250
- Publication
- Not required
The steps, in order
Pick a name Washington will accept
Restricted words include banking, cooperative, trust, and insurance terms without specialized authorization.
Search existing Washington business names before you commit. Washington naming rules in detail.
Appoint a registered agent
Physical Washington address is mandatory.
You can serve as your own agent, but your address will be public. Compare Washington registered agent options.
File the Certificate of Formation
Submit it to the Washington Secretary of State, Corporations and Charities Division through the official filing portal and pay $200. Filing by mail costs $180, while filing online costs $200 (includes an online processing fee).
Processing: online 3 to 5 business days; by mail 7 to 10 business days. Expedite: Priority service costs an additional $100 (processed within three working days). Same-day service is available for $150..
Write an operating agreement
Not filed. The state explicitly warns business owners not to upload operating agreements or internal governance documents to the portal.
Get an EIN from the IRS
An Employer Identification Number is free from IRS.gov. You'll need it for a business bank account and, if you hire, for payroll.
Stay in good standing
File the Annual Report ($70), due Last day of the LLC's anniversary month. $25 delinquency fee Washington report deadlines.
Every Washington LLC fee
| Filing | State fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Formation | $200 | Filing by mail costs $180, while filing online costs $200 (includes an online processing fee). |
| Annual Report | $70 | annual, Last day of the LLC's anniversary month |
| Name reservation (optional) | $30 | Not specified |
| Certificate of good standing | $20 | |
| Certificate of Dissolution | $0 | |
| DBA / assumed name | UNCONFIRMED | state (Department of Revenue) |
How Washington compares nationally
- Washington's filing fee of $200 is the 7th highest of 51 jurisdictions (median $104).
- Washington's first-year government cost of $250 is the 8th highest of 51 jurisdictions (median $125).
- Washington's yearly cost after that of $70 is the 20th highest of 51 jurisdictions (median $45).
See every state side by side in our LLC cost by state table.
File it yourself or use a service?
Filing directly with the Washington Secretary of State, Corporations and Charities Division costs $200 and nothing else, but you'll need a registered agent with a Washington street address, and that address goes on the public record. A formation service files for you and acts as your agent. Here's what that adds over three years, before Washington's own fees:
| Route | Year one with Washington fee | 3-year service fees |
|---|---|---|
| File yourself, be your own agent | $200 | $0 |
| Northwest | $239 | $289 |
| Bizee Basic | $200 | $298 |
Bizee vs Northwest, compared · All LLC services ranked
State taxes to plan for
No corporate or personal state income tax. Department of Revenue enforces a Business and Occupation (B&O) tax based on gross receipts. State business license application mandates a $50 processing fee.
What's different about Washington
- Assigns a 9-digit Unified Business Identifier (UBI) that ties all state agency records together.
- State explicitly warns not to upload operating agreements to the portal.
- Penalizes online filers with a $20 processing fee compared to paper.
More Washington LLC guides
Washington LLC questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Washington?
The Washington Secretary of State, Corporations and Charities Division charges $200 to file the Certificate of Formation. Counting mandatory first-year items, expect about $250 in government fees ($180 to $210 in the first year (depending on filing method and Initial Report timing), plus the $50 state business license fee.).
How long does it take to form an LLC in Washington?
Online: 3 to 5 business days. By mail: 7 to 10 business days. Expedited: Priority service costs an additional $100 (processed within three working days). Same-day service is available for $150..
Does a Washington LLC have to file an annual report?
Yes. Washington requires the Annual Report, which costs $70, filed annual. Due: Last day of the LLC's anniversary month. $25 delinquency fee
Can I be my own registered agent in Washington?
Yes. Physical Washington address is mandatory. Your agent's address becomes public record.
Does Washington require publishing a notice for a new LLC?
No. Washington has no newspaper publication requirement for LLCs, based on our latest check.
Is an operating agreement required in Washington?
Not filed. The state explicitly warns business owners not to upload operating agreements or internal governance documents to the portal.
What taxes does a Washington LLC pay to the state?
No corporate or personal state income tax. Department of Revenue enforces a Business and Occupation (B&O) tax based on gross receipts. State business license application mandates a $50 processing fee.
Sources and verification
Last checked against official state sources on . States change fees with little notice, so confirm on the filing portal before you pay. How we verify.
Still being confirmed with the state: name reservation.duration, ra.change fee, foreign.fee, dba.fee, amendment fee, report.dissolution note.