The Articles of Organization is the legal document you file with the Nevada Secretary of State in order to officially form your limited liability company (LLC).
In this guide, we’ll give you the links to the form and we’ll help you fill it out. You can also have a professional LLC service do the work for you.
Recommended: Northwest will form an LLC for you for just $29 plus state fees.
How to File the Articles of Organization in Nevada
You can download the Articles of Organization form from the Nevada Secretary of State website to file by mail or in person OR file online using Nevada’s Business Portal SilverFlume.
The Articles of Organization include a section to provide an initial list of officers of the LLC. Officers of the LLC are those that hold management positions or special positions such as Treasurer.
There is also a section for a Business License Application. An application for a general business license must be made at the time the Articles of Organization are filed.
In addition, in order to file your LLC’s Articles of Organization, you will need to fill out the following information:
Article 1: Name Being Registered in Nevada
Your LLC’s name will have to be both creative and legally compliant.
You will need to make sure that your business name:
- Satisfies Nevada naming guidelines
- Is not already taken by another business in Nevada
There are certain guidelines that you will need to follow when naming your LLC:
- You must include the words “Limited-Liability Company,” “Limited Liability Company,” “Limited Company,” or “Limited” or the abbreviations “Ltd.,” “L.L.C.,” “L.C.,” “LLC” or “LC.” The word “Company” may be abbreviated as “Co.”
- The name must be distinguishable in the records of the Secretary of State from the names of all other artificial persons formed, organized, or registered in the state.
- You cannot use any words that suggest your LLC is a bank or insurance company.
For a full list of naming guidelines see the Nevada naming statute.
Check Name Availability:
Do a name search at the Nevada Business Search page at SilverFlume to check your LLC name’s availability. If you are unsure about what to name your LLC, use our business name generator to brainstorm business names.
Register Your Domain Name:
You’ll want to check that your business name (or something very similar) is available as a web domain.
Article 2: Foreign Entity Name
This form is also used to register a foreign LLC.
Article 3: Jurisdiction of Formation
The jurisdiction of formation is the state where the foreign LLC was first registered or formed.
Article 4: Registered Agent for Service of Process
Your Nevada registered agent can be either an individual or business entity, like a registered agent service.
If it is a business entity, it can be both a domestic entity or a foreign entity, as long as they are registered to do business in Nevada.
When it comes to individuals, keep in mind that they are legally required to be Nevada residents in order to act as your business’s registered agent.
This means that your LLC’s registered agent can be:
- Yourself
- Another LLC member
- A specialized registered agent service
Recommended: Get a year of free of registered agent services when you form your LLC with Northwest ($29 + State Fees).
Article 4a: Certificate of Acceptance of Appointment of Registered Agent
The registered agent must sign the Articles of Organization to indicate it will act as registered agent for the LLC.
Article 5: Management
You must state whether your LLC will be member or manager-managed.
Article 6: Name and Address of each Manager or Managing Member
You will need to provide the name and address of all managers of the LLC. This information is required regardless of whether the manager is a member of the LLC or an employee of the LLC.
Optional: Supplemental Provisions/Information
Your LLC will exist in perpetuity (i.e., forever.) unless otherwise specified. If you want your LLC to exist for a specified period, you will need to note this in your Articles of Organization.
In addition, you may also include in the articles any matter, not inconsistent with law, for the regulation of the internal affairs of the company.
Organizer, Effectiveness of Filing, and Execution
Finally, you will need to note who the organizer of the LLC will be. Your organizer will be required to sign your Nevada LLC Articles of Organization before filing it with the Secretary of State.
How to Submit the Articles of Organization
You can mail or hand-deliver this form to:
Secretary of State
202 North Carson Street
Carson City, NV 89701-4201
To file online, use the Nevada SilverFlume online portal. You will need to create an account.
Steps After Filing the Articles of Organization
After you have filed your Articles of Organization, we recommend taking the following steps:
1. Get an EIN
An Employer Identification Number (EIN), also known as a Federal Tax ID Number, can be thought of as your business’s Social Security number. It is used by the IRS to identify your business and ensure that it is operating legitimately.
According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), an LLC is required to obtain an EIN if:
- It hires employees
- It is required to file excise tax forms
- It is a multi-member LLC
- It withholds taxes for non-wage income paid to nonresident aliens
That being said, we recommend that all LLCs get an EIN so that they can open a business bank account.
You can apply for an EIN for your LLC by filing Form SS-4.
2. Create an Operating Agreement
LLC operating agreements are legal documents that outline the responsibilities, duties, and rights of all members of your LLC.
Even though Nevada law does not require you to draft a Nevada LLC operating agreement, it is still highly recommended. This is the case even if you operate as a single-member LLC (e.g., to avoid piercing your corporate veil, etc.).
Recommended: Use our free LLC operating agreement template to create your very own LLC operating agreement quickly.
3. Apply for Business Licenses
After you have registered your LLC and applied for your EIN, you will want to ensure that your business remains “legitimate”. You can do this by applying for any local, state, and federal business licenses that you may need.
For a more in-depth overview, see our guide on how to get business licenses in Nevada.
4. Create a Business Website
Now is a good time to build a business website. A business website adds to your credibility, branding, marketing, and customer experience.
Your website can also be a gateway to your other platforms, including your LLC’s social media accounts, online stores, and contact information.
Recommended Service: Check out the GoDaddy Website Builder to get started.
5. Get a Business Bank Account
Next, you will want to open a separate bank account. This can offer both legal and financial benefits.
Choosing to open a business bank account can allow you to:
- Build your business credit
- Access larger business loans
- Allow you to accept credit card payments
- Offer high-yield savings accounts
Most premium online banks also come with third-party integrations, including accounting and ecommerce tools. These can help you manage your budget, automatically detract a percentage of your revenue for your LLC taxes, and expedite your online payments.
Besides the financial benefits, opening a business bank account can allow you maintain your LLC’s corporate veil by separating your personal and business finances.
Recommended: Interested in getting started? See our in-depth review of the best banks for startups and entrepreneurs in 2024.
6. Build Business Credit
When you are just starting your business, you will need to build your business credit from the ground up. The fastest way to do this is by opening net 30 accounts and getting a business credit card:
- First, you will want to open at least five net 30 accounts that report to business credit bureaus.
- Then, you can apply for an easy-approval business credit card from a company like BILL.
Taking these steps will help you increase your business’s cash flow and build business credit fast, which will be essential when you are applying for higher-end business credit cards and large business loans in the future.
See our How to Build Business Credit guide for more information.
7. Find a Business Phone System
You will also likely want to invest in a business phone system. This can go a long way in improving your credibility and can ensure that you have placed yourself in a position that always allows you to provide adequate customer service.
Most high-end business phone systems will include the following features:
- Unlimited calling
- Conference calling
- Voicemail transcription
- Toll-free and vanity phone numbers
- Team collaboration tools
- Hold music
Recommended: Check out our review of the best business phone systems to get started.
8. Get Business Insurance
As a business owner, you will also want to consider whether you will benefit from purchasing business insurance.
This will be highly dependent on your industry, amount of risk, and business operations. It can also depend on the existence — and number — of employees in your LLC.
There are several business insurance policies that you may want to consider, although this can be highly situational. Below we have provided an overview of the most common small business insurance policies:
See our Small Business Insurance article for more information.
9. Taxes and Accounting
Next, you will want to learn everything you need to know about how LLCs are taxed. This is important because LLCs are a very flexible business entity, and — depending on the situation — can choose to be taxed as:
- Pass-through entities
- C corps
- S corps
Generally speaking, we recommend talking to a professional attorney or law firm if you are in need of the most up-to-date tax advice (e.g., whether you need to pay sales tax, etc.).
Working with an accountant can help you manage all your business expenses and taxes effectively and on time, and ensure you do not face any penalties or back taxes when starting out.
Need help with accounting? Check out our review of the best accounting software.