Here we are on the State's website.
Again, the link below this video will take you here.
Let's scroll down, and in the sidebar, underneath "Online Filings", we're going to click "LLC
Formation".
On the next page under "Online Filings", we're going to click "Domestic Business Corporation
and Domestic Limited Liability Company", then we're going to click down here where it says
"Articles of Organization for a Domestic Limited Liability Company".
The first step here, you're going to enter your LLC name.
You need to enter your LLC name with proper capitalization and the designator "LLC" or
"L.L.C.".
I'm going to use a sample company for demonstration purposes.
You can see here I have a comma after "Widgets".
The comma is optional; you can use one if you like, or leave it out if you prefer.
Please make note of the capitalization of the LLC name, as you're going to need to enter
it again exactly as it appears here.
Once you enter your name, go ahead and click the "Continue" button.
If for some reason you're not able to get to the next page, it means your name is not
distinguishable.
Please go back and watch the 1st lesson on name availability.
Moving forward, the 1st section (the "Opening Statement"), this is optional; we're not going
to check this box off.
Next, under "Limited Liability Company Name", you're going to enter your LLC name again.
You don't need to enter anything for "English Translation".
Next, under the "Purpose Clause", we do not need to check this off (this is optional);
you can use your LLC for any lawful purpose, but we don't need to include that here.
Scrolling down under "County", we're going to list the county where the LLC office address
is located.
For this example, let's say that I've hired Northwest Registered Agent to use their address
for the Newspaper Publication Requirement.
If that's the case, I'm going to enter "Albany".
However, if you're publishing your actual county, just select your county from this
drop-down.
Next, under the "Service of Process" address (this is your address where the State can
mail you Service of Process), what that means is if you're sued the State will first receive
notice and then mail that to you.
Please enter your name and address in this area.
I've entered the address, and now I'm going to go down to the Registered Agent section,
and for this example, we've hired Northwest Registered Agent.
However, if you did not hire a Registered Agent (and you're just publishing ads in your
own county), you're just going to leave this as is and you're not going to check anything
off.
For this example, I'm going to check this off, and then instead of listing it out right
here, it should already be populated over here if I do select a Registered Agent company
in the drop-down list if I scroll down (we have Northwest Registered Agent, and it will
auto-populate their address).
If for some reason that doesn't work, please go ahead and enter their address manually.
Scrolling down in the next section under "Management Structure", you're going to check
this off and then select the first 1 ("One or more members").
That means that the members and the owners of the LLC run the day-to-day and weekly business
operations.
Next, under "Effective Date", you can check this off.
This means that your LLC becomes effective once it's approved by the State.
Under "Dissolution", you can check this off and leave the 1st box checked off.
It states "the LLC shall have a perpetual existence".
What that means is that the LLC will remain in existence until it is dissolved or shut
down by its members.
Scrolling down next, we have the "Liability Statement".
This is an indemnification clause stating that the LLC will indemnify and hold harmless
its members in case of a lawsuit.
What this means is that if you as a member are sued personally and you have to defend
that lawsuit (or you have to pay damages), the LLC will indemnify or reimburse you.
For this example, I'm going to check off the "Include the liability Statement".
However, if you're not sure if you need it for your LLC, you can leave it unchecked.
In the next few sections, it's going to get a little repetitive here since we are both
the Organizer and the Filer.
In the 1st box under "Organizer" where it says "Organizer Name", you're going to enter
your name.
I have listed a sample name here.
Next, under "Signature", we're going to electronically sign this document by typing out our full
name here.
And then under "Capacity of Signer", you're going to list "Managing Member".
Next, onto the "Filer" box, you're going to list your name and your address.
Once you fill in your name and address, go ahead and click the "Continue" button.
On the next page, you'll see that it formats all the information that you entered.
If you scroll down to the bottom, you can then click "Continue".
On the next page here at the top, it says "Optional Information" (your "Federal Employee
Identification Number"), you can leave that blank since you don't have an EIN yet.
The State doesn't need it (plus you want to form the LLC first and then get your EIN afterwards).
Again, you can leave that blank.
Under "Additional Services", you can request a "Plain Copy", a "Certified Copy", or a "Certificate
of Existence" for an additional fee.
You may or may not need a Certified Copy of your Articles of Organization when you open
your business checking account, so if you don't mind spending the extra $10, we recommend
getting a Certified Copy.
If you don't want to spend the extra $10 right now, you can always do this at a later time.
It will now calculate the new fee.
In the next section under "Payment", you're going to enter your credit card number, its
expiration date, and your 5-digit zip code that's used for your billing address.
Once you fill in your credit or debit card information, under "Payment Authorization",
you're going to check this box authorizing the State to charge your card.
Next, under "Email", please enter your email address and then enter it again for confirmation.
Once you've entered your payment information and your email address, you can go ahead and
click "File Document".
On the next page, you receive a confirmation success message that your LLC has been filed
and it's been approved, and shortly thereafter within a few minutes you'll get your Filing
Receipt emailed to you.
Again, your final receipt has your DOS ID Number, your Department of State ID number.
and you'll want to keep a copy of that with your business records.
And that concludes this video for filing your LLC online.
Once your LLC is approved, you can then proceed to the next Lesson.