Step 1: Choose a name Alaska will accept
The name has to end with “Limited Liability Company”, “L.L.C.” or “LLC”. It also has to differ from the names already on the Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing's records, and some words need another agency's approval. Check an LLC name in Alaska against those rules and the registered names we hold, then confirm it on the official search.
Not ready to file? A reservation holds the name: $25, for 120 days. See how to reserve an LLC name.
Step 2: Appoint a registered agent
The Articles of Organization names a registered agent: a person or company with a street address in Alaska who receives lawsuits and official notices for the LLC during business hours. You can usually serve yourself if you live in the state, or pay a commercial agent a yearly fee.
Our sister site lists the registered agents Alaska companies use most, with how many companies each one serves.
Step 3: File the Articles of Organization
File it with the Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing. The fee is $250. File online, or on paper. The LLC exists once the state accepts the filing.
Step 4: Write an operating agreement
Alaska doesn't require one (AS 10.50.095), but without it the state's default rules decide how the LLC is run and how profits and votes are shared. It stays in the company's records; it isn't filed.
Make a free Alaska LLC operating agreement and download it as a Word file.
Step 5: Get an EIN
An EIN (employer identification number) is the LLC's federal tax ID: banks ask for it to open a business account, and the LLC needs one to hire. The IRS issues it free; apply online at irs.gov once Alaska has accepted the Articles of Organization.
Step 6: File the Alaska LLC annual report
Fee: $100 biennial report (domestic LLC; foreign $200) (3 AAC 16.065(c)); late penalty applies if filed after February 1. Due: Biennial: due before January 2 of the filing year - even-numbered years if the LLC was organized in an even year, odd-numbered years if organized in an odd year (AS 10.50.760). (Source: Alaska Stat. § 10.50, akleg.gov.)
| After formation | Alaska |
|---|---|
| Recurring report | $100 every two years |
| State tax or fee on LLCs | None |
| Proof of good standing | Certificate of Compliance, $10 |
Missing the recurring filing is the most common way an LLC loses its good standing, and in time its existence. On our sister site, look up an LLC's status or see how to get a Alaska certificate of good standing.
What it costs to start an LLC in Alaska
| State fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Formation filing | $250 |
| First year, state fees | $250 |
| Each year after | $50 |
Over five years, Alaska's state fees come to $450. These are state fees only: a commercial registered agent, a publication notice and income taxes are extra. Compare every state's fees, with the options to reserve the name or file faster.
Sources
Corporations, commerce.alaska.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Corporation forms fees, commerce.alaska.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Alaska Stat. § 10.50.020, akleg.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Alaska Stat. § 10.06.105, akleg.gov, checked 2026-10-07
3 AAC 16.010, akleg.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Corporations statutes and regulations (PDF), commerce.alaska.gov, checked 2026-10-07
commerce.alaska.gov, checked 2026-10-07
commerce.alaska.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Entities, commerce.alaska.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Certificate of Compliance, commerce.alaska.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Articles of Organization (form 08-484) (PDF), commerce.alaska.gov, checked 2026-10-09
3 AAC 16.065, akleg.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Apply for an EIN online, irs.gov
How to start an LLC in Alaska
- Choose a name Alaska will accept and check it against the Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing's records.
- Appoint a registered agent with a street address in Alaska.
- File the Articles of Organization with the Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing ($250).
- Write an operating agreement.
- Get a free EIN from the IRS.
- Keep up with the recurring filings and fees.
Common questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Alaska?
$250 to file the Articles of Organization. The state's fees come to $250 in the first year and $50 a year after that; a registered agent service or a newspaper notice costs extra.
How long does it take to start an LLC in Alaska?
The Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing doesn't publish a processing time; its site shows how to file and check on a filing.
Do I need an operating agreement in Alaska?
Alaska doesn't require one (AS 10.50.095), but it's the document that says who owns the LLC and how it's run; banks and partners often ask for it.
Can I start an LLC in Alaska online?
Yes. The Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing takes the Articles of Organization online, for $250.
When is the Alaska LLC annual report due?
Biennial: due before January 2 of the filing year - even-numbered years if the LLC was organized in an even year, odd-numbered years if organized in an odd year (AS 10.50.760).
Does Alaska require an annual report for LLCs?
Yes. Alaska's recurring filing: $100 every two years.