How to Form an LLC in Massachusetts

Introduction

LLCs are a great way to protect your personal and business assets. They offer limited liability for owners and their business and can provide many other advantages as well. We’ll walk you through the steps of forming an LLC in Massachusetts, including: choosing your business name, filing the application with the secretary of state, filing your formation documents with the secretary of state (this is also referred to as organizing), establishing a registered agent, and filing the Certificate of Assumed Name with the secretary of state.

1. Choose a name

• Choose a name

After you decide to form an LLC, the next step is to choose the name for your company. The name you choose must be:

• Not too similar to other names already in use;
• Easy to spell and pronounce;
• Not offensive or scandalous; and, most importantly…

2. Get and file an Application of Reserved Name

Next, you will need to reserve your company’s name for 180 days. You can reserve a name by completing the Application of Reserved Name and filing it with the Massachusetts Division of Corporations (DOC). The application must be filed within three months from when you decide on your LLC name.

You may also file this document by mail or fax at:

• Division of Corporations
• One Ashburton Place, Room 1301 Boston MA 02108-1526
• 617-727-9523

3. Select and file your formation documents

You can now select the type of LLC you want to form and file the required documents with the secretary of state. The process varies, depending on whether you’re forming a regular or professional LLC. For example, if your business will be actively involved in real estate development, then you might choose a professional LLC (as opposed to “regular).

• To form a regular LLC:

Select the appropriate formation document from our website or by contacting us directly at (800) 882-8946. Our forms have been approved by Massachusetts Secretary of State and are accepted by all counties in Massachusetts where corporations files their annual reports.

• To form a professional corporation:

Select the appropriate formation document from our website or by contacting us directly at (800) 882-8946. Our forms have been approved by Massachusetts Secretary of State and are accepted by all counties in Massachusetts where corporations files their annual reports.

4. Establish a registered agent

When you establish your LLC, you will need to appoint a registered agent. A registered agent is the person or entity that accepts legal service of process on behalf of your LLC. The State of Massachusetts requires businesses to have an address in the state where they can be served. You can use any person or business as your registered agent, including yourself if you want to act as the agent for all three entities (your company and its two subsidiaries).

When choosing a registered agent, here are some factors to consider:

• Registered agents must be located in Massachusetts.
• Some people may charge more than others because they’re well known or provide additional services like forwarding mail and processing payments from clients.

5. File the Certificate of Assumed Name with the secretary of state

• File the Certificate of Assumed Name with the secretary of state

The Secretary of State’s website will walk you through all the steps to file your LLC, but here’s a quick overview:

• Go to www.sec.state.ma.us/corp/ and look for “Certificate of Assumed Name” under “Filings.”
• Select “Online Application” and click “Continue.”
• Enter your information and click “Continue.” You’ll get an error message if there’s a problem with any part of your filing or payment info (usually due to errors in entering numbers). Correct it and try again until it works! The page should look like this:

Takeaway:

Now that you know how to form an LLC in Massachusetts, it’s time to get started.

• First, you’ll need to choose a name for your company. Your registered agent will help you with this.
• Next-up is filing and paying the state fee of $105 by mail or online at the Secretary of State website using a credit card or checking account (or both). You can also pay by money order at any branch office location throughout the state.
• Then, you’ll need a registered agent for your business—a person or entity who does business under their own name but is not considered part of the LLC itself–to serve as its representative on official documents such as tax forms and filings with government agencies like DOR (Department of Revenue) or WCB (Workers’ Compensation Board). This can be anyone from an attorney to an accountant or even yourself if there’s no one else available! The only requirement is that they’re located within Massachusetts’ borders; otherwise, use our free service where we’ll find someone else who meets these criteria!”

Conclusion

Hopefully, this guide has been helpful in getting your LLC started. If you have any questions or need help with the process, don’t hesitate to contact us at [email protected] We’ll be happy to assist you!