How to Start an LLC in Idaho

To start a limited liability company in the state of Idaho, you’ll need a unique name, a registered agent, and the Idaho Certificate of Organization filed with the Secretary of State. These three things will get your LLC formed in the state, but we’ll also walk you through a few additional business operations that will prepare you for business.

Create an Idaho LLC in 5 steps:

1. Name Your Idaho LLC
2. Choose a Registered Agent
3. File Idaho Certificate of Organization
4. Complete Your BOI Report
5. Next-Step Business Operations

Step 1: Name Your Idaho LLC

Naming your business is the first step to form your LLC. To be in line with Idaho Code 30-21-301, your LLC’s name must follow these guidelines:

• Be unique in the state of Idaho
• Include “limited liability company,” “limited company,” or any appropriate abbreviations, like “LLC,” “L.L.C.,” “LC,” or “L.C.”

It’s wise to check with Idaho Secretary of State’s Business Search to see if your desired name is already taken in the state. If your name is available, but you’re not quite ready to file, you can reserve that name for up to 120 days with the Application for Reservation of Legal Entity Name. Filing costs $20 online, and $40 by mail.

Check Online Availability

Even if your LLC’s name is available in the state of Idaho, it may already be in use somewhere online. Whether it’s social media handles or a website domain, you may want to check if your desired name is circulating. If it is, consider what variations of the name you could use for your business’s platforms, or choose a different name. Even further—if your LLC’s name is trademarked, that could pose legal problems for you later on.

Step 2: Choose a Registered Agent

LLCs in Idaho are required to designate a state registered agent. Registered agents have a few duties outlined in § 30-21-413, but their main purpose is to act as an available party to accept legal mail and service of process on behalf of a business.

Your registered agent can be:

• An individual
• An entity registered with an Idaho address
• A commercial agent, like Registered Agents Inc

Your registered agent must have a physical address in the state, where they can receive service of process in person during normal business hours—this means no PO boxes can be listed as your agent’s address.

Can I be my own registered agent in Idaho?

Yes. Note that your name and Idaho address are on public records when acting as your own registered agent, though. To keep their personal details private, and add a layer of convenience, some people choose to hire a registered agent service, like us.

Step 3: File Idaho Certificate of Organization

The Certificate of Organization is the document filed with the Idaho Secretary of State that makes your entity official with the state. You’ll come across the following information as you fill out the form—remember that this becomes public once you file.

• Name.
  Remember to include one of the appropriate phrases to specify your company as a limited liability company.
• Principal office.
  This line includes both street address and mailing address. Your street address must be a physical address, like an office or a residence. If your business’s mailing address is the same as its physical address, you can ignore this line. Otherwise, specify—this can be a PO box.
• Registered agent.
  Include both your registered agent’s name and Idaho address.
• Governor of the LLC.
  A governor is either a member or a manager of the LLC, depending on which management style you’ve elected for your business. If you’re member-managed, list at least one of your members in this section, and vice-versa.
  
  The form will ask for the governor’s name and address.
• Signature of the organizer.
  The organizer is the person who is filing the form to the state. It can be you or another person.

How much does an LLC cost in Idaho?

Filing your Certificate of Organization online costs $100. To file by mail, there is an additional $20 fee.

Step 4: Complete Your BOI Report

A Business Ownership Information (BOI) Report is a federal filing with FinCEN that reports information on who has ownership and control of your company, both directly and indirectly.

New businesses registered in 2024 have 90 days to file their BOI before penalties ensue. This can be done online, or we can file your BOI Report for you for $25 when you hire us for our registered agent or company formation services.

Step 5: Next-Step Business Operations

Once you’ve filed your Certificate of Organization and the Secretary of State has approved it, your LLC is official. But, this doesn’t mean you’re quite ready for business in the state of Idaho. Here are some best-practice next steps to follow once your LLC is formed.

Obtain an EIN

An EIN identifies your LLC as a business entity with the IRS. It is a federal tax ID that most businesses will eventually need to obtain for standard business activity: establishing a business bank account, hiring employees, apply for loans, and more.

Apply for Idaho Business Licenses

Some businesses need industry-specific and occupation-specific licenses. The state of Idaho has a resource called Business Wizard that can help you determine which agency your business may need licensing from.

Complete form IBRS

Idaho requires all businesses selling a product, hiring employees, or operating in the lodging industry to complete form IBRS to register themselves with three specific state agencies. If your business plans on doing none of these things, you can ignore the form. Otherwise, the form will grant your business a sales and use tax permit and establish tax accounts, among other things.

Draft an operating agreement

Idaho doesn’t mandate LLCs to have an operating agreement, but creating one for your business is best practice. Operating agreements outline many things related to finances and the way the LLC is run, including percentages of the members’ ownership and member responsibilities.

Secure a domain

Once your LLC’s name has been approved, it’s wise to claim that name across other avenues of business. Your domain, or website name, is a great place to start. Securing your LLC’s domain will create consistency across platforms and make it easier for your customers to find you later on. If you hire us to form your LLC or be your registered agent, you get a year free of a domain name through us.

File your annual report

In Idaho, your LLC’s annual report is due at the end of the month your business was formed in every year. An annual report is a document outlining important details about your company, such as your principal office address, your registered agent, and your LLC’s members. Filing your annual report is free online through Idaho’s SOSbiz platform. When you hire us to act as your registered agent, we’ll take care of the filing for you at no extra cost.