How to Start an LLC in Kansas

Step 1: Name Your Kansas LLC

Naming your Kansas LLC comes early in the business formation process. You’ll need a name before you file your Articles of Organization. Consider the following when choosing a name for your LLC in Kansas:

• What are Kansas’s business name requirements?
  K.S.A. 17-7920 says your name must include “LLC,” “Limited Liability Company,” or another approved variation. The words/abbreviations can be in any language that uses Roman characters.
• Is the name unique in the state?
  To register your LLC, it needs a name that’s unique among registered Kansas businesses. Check it’s availability to find out whether it’s in use.
• Are others using the name online?
  Once you’ve ensured the name is available and meets Kansas’s naming requirements, see whether it’s in use as a domain name or social media handle. Creating a cohesive business presence means using the same or similar names across platforms.
• Can you register the name as a trademark?
  If you’re thinking about trademarking your business name someday, you’ll want to confirm its availability right at the start. When we form your LLC, you can also hire us to register a trademark at the federal level. Our attorney-led service includes a clearance search and recommendations if we find impediments to registration.

When you hire us to form your Kansas LLC, we’ll register your domain for free and give you three free months of email and website services.

Step 2: Choose a Resident Agent

LLCs are required to appoint and maintain a Kansas resident agent to accept legal mail on the business’s behalf. The agent can be:

• the LLC itself
• an individual Kansas resident
• a business authorized to conduct business in Kansas

Regardless of who the agent is, they must have a physical Kansas address—known as the registered office—where they’re regularly available during business hours to accept service of process.

What’s the difference between a resident agent and registered agent?

There is no difference between resident and registered agents. They both exist as an intermediary between businesses and legal action. They are different in name only.

Step 3: File Kansas Articles of Organization

Filing Articles of Organization for your Kansas LLC is what registers your business with the state. You can file online for $160 or by mail for $165. To expedite the process, gather the following required information before preparing to file:

1. Company name
   Make sure to include an identifier like “LLC” and confirm that the name isn’t in use by another registered Kansas business.
2. Resident agent
   List the agent’s name if an individual. If the resident agent is an entity, include the name it’s registered under with the Kansas Secretary of State. If your LLC is its own resident agent, write out the exact business name if filing by paper or select “the business entity you are currently forming” from the drop-down if filing online.
3. Registered office
   This is the physical Kansas address at which your resident agent is available to accept legal mail. No PO Boxes allowed.
4. Signature
   Whoever is filing the Articles will need to sign.
5. Contact info
   If you’re filing by mail, you’ll include a cover page that contains a contact name and phone number. Online filings will include the name of an organizer, as well as an email address.

How long does it take for an LLC to be approved in Kansas?

Your Kansas LLC formation documents are processed immediately if filed online. It can take 3-5 days for the filing to process if submitted by mail.

Step 4: Set Up Business Operations

Now that your Kansas LLC is registered, there are a few more actions to take to keep your business running smoothly.

• Create an operating agreement.
  An operating agreement lays the groundwork for your Kansas LLC’s business operations. It establishes processes and rules for things like adding members, dividing ownership, and management structure. Without an operating agreement, your LLC will default to any relevant rules set forth in Kansas statute, and solving problems will be a clunkier ride.
• Get an EIN.
  An EIN acts like your LLC’s social security number. You’ll likely need one to set up a business bank account and if you hire employees.
• Manage your company’s money.
  To help maintain your Kansas LLC’s limited liability, you need to keep your business and personal funds separate. Establishing a business bank account is one of the most important steps in that process.
• Obtain licenses and permits.
  Depending on your exact location and industry, your Kansas LLC may need to apply for permits and/or licenses in order to legally operate. Consult your city/county website(s) and explore your industry’s licensing requirements to determine what action to take.

Step 5: File BOI Report

Most LLCs are required to file a Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) Report following business registration. The report asks for information about the company itself, as well as owners who have substantial control over the company and/or own at least 25% of the business.

This federal filing is submitted to FinCEN and went into place in 2024. LLCs formed in 2024 have 90 days from registration to file their BOI Report. If you form your LLC in 2025 or later, you’ll have just 30 days to file.

Add on BOI Report filing when you hire us to form your Kansas LLC.