Step 1: Choose a name Connecticut 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 Connecticut Secretary of the State's records, and some words need another agency's approval. Check an LLC name in Connecticut 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: $60, for 120 days. See how to reserve an LLC name.
Step 2: Appoint a registered agent
The Certificate of Organization names a registered agent: a person or company with a street address in Connecticut 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 Connecticut companies use most, with how many companies each one serves.
Step 3: File the Certificate of Organization
File it with the Connecticut Secretary of the State. The fee is $120. File online, or on paper. The LLC exists once the state accepts the filing.
How long it takes. Most online filings are accepted automatically. Faster service: $50 a transaction, online filings only. (The office's page.)
Step 4: Write an operating agreement
Connecticut doesn't require one (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 34-243d(a)-(b)), 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 Connecticut 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 Connecticut has accepted the Certificate of Organization.
Step 6: File the Connecticut LLC annual report
Fee: $80 (for years on or after July 1, 2020; C.G.S. § 34-243u(a)(15)). Due: Annually; LLC filing period runs January 1 through March 31. (Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. chapter 613a, cga.ct.gov.)
| After formation | Connecticut |
|---|---|
| Recurring report | $80 each year |
| State tax or fee on LLCs | None |
| Proof of good standing | Certificate of Existence, $50 (express or short form; long form $100) |
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 Connecticut certificate of good standing.
What it costs to start an LLC in Connecticut
| State fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Formation filing | $120 |
| First year, state fees | $120 |
| Each year after | $80 |
Over five years, Connecticut's state fees come to $440. 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
Conn. Gen. Stat. chapter 613a, cga.ct.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Conn. Gen. Stat. chapter 601, cga.ct.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Domestic limited liability companies forms and fees, business.ct.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Purpose of reserving a name, business.ct.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Certificate of legal existence forms and fees, business.ct.gov, checked 2026-10-08
Tradename, portal.ct.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Annual Report Frequently Asked Questions (PDF), portal.ct.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Expedited services, business.ct.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Apply for an EIN online, irs.gov
How to start an LLC in Connecticut
- Choose a name Connecticut will accept and check it against the Connecticut Secretary of the State's records.
- Appoint a registered agent with a street address in Connecticut.
- File the Certificate of Organization with the Connecticut Secretary of the State ($120).
- 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 Connecticut?
$120 to file the Certificate of Organization. The state's fees come to $120 in the first year and $80 a year after that; a registered agent service or a newspaper notice costs extra.
How long does it take to start an LLC in Connecticut?
The Connecticut Secretary of the State gives most online filings are accepted automatically. Faster service: $50 a transaction, online filings only.
Do I need an operating agreement in Connecticut?
Connecticut doesn't require one (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 34-243d(a)-(b)), 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 Connecticut online?
Yes. The Connecticut Secretary of the State takes the Certificate of Organization online, for $120.
When is the Connecticut LLC annual report due?
Annually; LLC filing period runs January 1 through March 31.
Does Connecticut require an annual report for LLCs?
Yes. Connecticut's recurring filing: $80 each year.