Do I need an attorney to help me start an LLC?
An attorney can certainly help if you are unsure about how to file your LLC application in your state, but in many states you can file online or through a simple mail-in document. You can form a limited liability company without an attorney, by filing the Articles of Organization with your state, unless your LLC is very complex. (In some states, you file a Certificate of Organization instead.) You should have an attorney help you prepare the Operating Agreement of the LLC to be sure you have not forgotten anything.
After the limited liability company is formed, what are the Record keeping Requirements?
In the same manner as a corporation, minutes need to be kept of meetings of the limited liability company. You may also have to file periodic reports with your state Secretary of State.
What is the cost to form an LLC?
You will need to pay a fee for filing your Articles of Organization/Certificate of Organization. This fee varies by state, but it is usually between $50 and $200. If you have an attorney do this filing, it can cost you an additional $500 or more. If the attorney prepares the Operating Agreement, that will be another cost, probably $1000 or more.
If I file articles of organization, do I also need to register the limited liability company's name?
In most states, the registration of the LLC also serves to register the name. Check with your state Secretary of State to be sure.
