How to Start an LLC in Pennsylvania

It’s easy to form an LLC in Pennsylvania online yourself. Just follow these steps:

Name Your LLC
Choose A Registered Agent
File PA Certificate of Organization
Create an Operating Agreement
Get an EIN

Or, use a professional service:

Northwest Registered Agent $39 (plus state fees).

Starting an LLC in PA is Easy

You can start a Pennsylvania LLC online yourself by registering the Certificate of Organization with the PA Department of State. The cost to create an LLC in Pennsylvania is $125.

Follow our free How to Start an LLC in Pennsylvania guide below to get started.

To learn how to form an LLC in any state, visit our How to Start an LLC guide.

Step 1: Create A Name For Your Pennsylvania LLC

Before you register your LLC, you'll need to come up with a name. Your business name needs to be catchy for branding purposes and legitimate for legal purposes.

We go into depth on this topic in our LLC naming guide. We’ll go over the basics below.

Naming Your LLC

First, brainstorm some possibilities. Use our LLC name generator to get the ideas flowing.

Next, make sure your name meets Pennsylvania guidelines:

it contains the words limited liability company, limited company, or LLC or L.L.C.
it doesn't contain the words bank, engineer, pharmacy, or doctor, or imply that the business is an insurance company
it's distinguishable from any other entity or trade name (DBA) registered in Pennsylvania.
full list of Pennsylvania naming guidelines

Next, do a Pennsylvania LLC name search with the Department of State to find out if your name is available in Pennsylvania.

If your business name is available and meets guidelines, you’ll be able to register it when you file your Pennsylvania Certificiate of Organization with the Department of State.

Is the URL available? Before you commit 100% to a name, check to see if there’s a good web domain available.

We recommend buying your domain right away because even if launching a business website isn’t on your radar right now, it will be soon.

Find a Domain Now

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Once you register a domain name for your LLC, consider setting up a business phone system to establish credibility and enhance your customer service. Nextiva provides a plethora of useful features and a quick, easy setup. Try Nextiva.

Using a Pennsylvania Fictitious Name (DBA)

A Pennsylvania DBA (doing business as), also known as a fictitious name, is any registered name that a business operates under that isn't its legal business name. A fictitious name can be used by any type of business, including a sole proprietorship, partnership, or limited liability company (LLC).

Learn how to get a DBA in our Pennsylvania DBA guide.

Step 2: Choose Your Pennsylvania Registered Office

When you file your Certificate of Organization, you'll need to list a registered agent, known as a registered office in Pennsylvania.

A registered office is the address where there will be someone present to accept legal documents like service of process and tax notices for your LLC. To learn more about Pennsylvania Registered Agents, read our guide.

Your registered office can be the address of your business, the address of an individual that has agreed to accept service of process for your LLC, or the address of a registered agent service.

Here are a few things to think about before you decide to use your own address or a colleagues address:

A person will need to be available during normal (9 am - 5 pm) business hours at the address you provide
If you run your business from home, you’ll have to make your personal address public
You could be served with a lawsuit in front of your family or coworkers

Recommended: Northwest Registered Agent offers a free year of registered agent service when you form your LLC ($39 plus state fees).

Step 3: File A PA Certificate of Organization

It’s time to officially form your LLC by filing your Certificate of Organization and with the Pennsylvania Department of State.

You can file online with the Department of State or fill out a hard copy of the Certificate of Organization and docketing statement and mail it in. The filing fee is $125.

Recommended: Now is a good time to decide if your LLC will be member-managed vs manager-managed.

You'll need to know the following information to complete the form:

Entity Name
Registered Agent Name and Registered Office Address
Organizers
Effective Date
Business Purpose (for restricted professional companies only)
Description of Business Activity
Employer Identification Number (EIN)

For more detailed help with completing the form, visit our Pennsylvania Certificate of Organization guide.

Mail Your Certificate of Organization:

If you choose to mail in a hard copy, send the Certificate of Organization, docketing statement, and payment (payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania) to:

Pennsylvania Department of State
Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations
P.O. Box 8722
Harrisburg, PA 17105

How long does it take to get an LLC approved? The LLC processing time is 2 to 3 days.

Step 4: Create A PA LLC Operating Agreement

Creating a Pennsylvania LLC operating agreement is the only way to legally lock down your LLC’s management and ownership structure. Having this document in place will give you something to return to if a dispute or lawsuit arises.

Even single-member LLCs benefit from having an operating agreement.

Your operating agreement should outline the following:

Each member’s responsibilities
How new members will be admitted
How existing members may transfer or terminate their membership
How profits and dividends will be distributed

You can add as many provisions as you want, as long as they don't conflict with Pennsylvania business law. Take a look at our What is an Operating Agreement guide to learn more.

Download a template or create a custom Free Operating Agreement using our tool.

Step 5: Get An EIN

An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is like a Social Security number (SSN) for your company. The IRS and the state of Pennsylvania will use this number to track your business activity.

Your EIN will come in handy when it’s time to:

Open a business bank account
File Federal and State taxes
Hire employees

The best way to get an EIN for your LLC in Pennsylvania is by using the free online application on the IRS website.

Read our Get an EIN guide for instructions.

Need Help Forming an LLC?

We’ve reviewed and ranked the Top 7 LLC formation services.

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Steps After Forming an LLC

After forming your LLC, it's important to:

Open a business bank account. A business bank account helps separate personal expenses and company expenses, which is required to maintain your LLC's corporate veil. A corporate veil protects your personal assets from creditors in potential lawsuits against your LLC or Business.

Learn more by reading this guide to Banking for Entrepreneurs. For a multi-member LLC, you'll also want to set up capital accounts for members. We also recommend checking out our review of the best business bank accounts.
Get a business credit card. A business credit card will help separate personal and business expenses while building your company’s credit history. A strong credit history will be useful for raising capital in the form of small business loans.
Hire a business accountant. A business accountant will help you save on taxes and avoid penalties and fines. An accountant makes bookkeeping and payroll easier. Find out how much you could be saving with a consultation with a business accountant.
Get business insurance. Business insurance helps manage risk. The most common forms of business insurance are general liability, professional liability, and workers’ compensation.

Find out the real cost of getting insurance for your business. Get a free quote or call 855-602-1925.

Keep Your Company Compliant

Research Pennsylvania business licenses and permits. For help, visit our How to Get a Pennsylvania Business License guide. There are also business license services that can help.
File your Pennsylvania decennial report. File online with the Pennsylvania Department of State.
Understand Pennsylvania state tax requirements. Visit our Pennsylvania Sales Tax guide to learn more about seller's permits and Pennsylvania sales tax.
Understand federal tax requirements. Most LLCs will need to report their income to the IRS each year using Form 1065 Partnership Return (multi-member LLCs) or Form 1040 Schedule C (single-member LLCs).
- How you pay yourself will affect your federal taxes. Visit our guide to learn more about how to pay yourself from your LLC.

More LLC Resources

- Pennsylvania Foreign LLCs: Forming a foreign LLC allows your company to operate as one entity in multiple states. Download the Pennsylvania foreign LLC form to get started.
- Pennsylvania Certificate of Good Standing: A certificate of good standing verifies that your LLC was legally formed. To order, follow our Pennsylvania certificate of good standing guide.
- Dissolving a Pennsylvania LLC: If you are ready to dissolve your LLC, follow the steps in our Pennsylvania LLC Dissolution Guide.
- LLC Legal Forms: TRUiC offers a number of free LLC legal forms including operating agreements, LLC resolutions, and hiring documents.