Step 1: Choose a name DC will accept
The name has to end with “Limited Liability Company”, “Limited Company”, “L.L.C.” or another form the District accepts. It also has to differ from the names already on the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection's records, and some words need another agency's approval. Check an LLC name in DC 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: $50, 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 District of Columbia who receives lawsuits and official notices for the LLC during business hours. You can usually serve yourself if you live in the District, or pay a commercial agent a yearly fee.
Our sister site lists the registered agents DC companies use most, with how many companies each one serves.
Step 3: File the Articles of Organization
File it with the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection. The fee is $99. File online, or on paper. The LLC exists once the District accepts the filing.
How long it takes. Within 5 business days for online filings. Faster service: $50 for three-day service, $100 for one-day service (by the end of the next business day); walk-in filings pay the $100. (The office's page.)
Step 4: Write an operating agreement
District of Columbia doesn't require one (D.C. Code § 29-801.07(a)-(b)), but without it the District'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 DC 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 DC has accepted the Articles of Organization.
Step 6: File the DC LLC annual report
Fee: $300 Two-Year Biennial Report (form BRA-25); late fee $100. Due: First report due April 1 of the calendar year after registration, then by April 1 every two years. (Source: Corporations division fees limited liability company, dlcp.dc.gov.)
| After formation | District of Columbia |
|---|---|
| Recurring report | $300 every two years |
| State tax or fee on LLCs | Unincorporated business franchise tax, $250 minimum a year once DC gross receipts pass $12,000 |
| Proof of good standing | Certificate of Good Standing, $50 |
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 DC certificate of good standing.
What it costs to start an LLC in DC
| State fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Formation filing | $99 |
| First year, state fees | $99 |
| Each year after (unincorporated business franchise tax: the $250 minimum once DC gross receipts pass $12,000; none at $12,000 or less) | $400 |
Over five years, DC's state fees come to $1,699. 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 0, dlcp.dc.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Corporations division fees limited liability company, dlcp.dc.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Corporations division business registration FAQs, dlcp.dc.gov, checked 2026-10-09
D.C. Code § 29-103.01, code.dccouncil.gov, checked 2026-10-07
D.C. Code § 29-103.02, code.dccouncil.gov, checked 2026-10-07
D.C. Code § 29-103.03, code.dccouncil.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Trade name, dlcp.dc.gov, checked 2026-10-08
DC business franchise tax rates, otr.cfo.dc.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Fees corporate registration services 0, dlcp.dc.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Apply for an EIN online, irs.gov
How to start an LLC in DC
- Choose a name DC will accept and check it against the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection's records.
- Appoint a registered agent with a street address in District of Columbia.
- File the Articles of Organization with the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection ($99).
- 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 DC?
$99 to file the Articles of Organization. The District's fees come to $99 in the first year and $400 a year after that; a registered agent service or a newspaper notice costs extra.
How long does it take to start an LLC in DC?
The DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection gives within 5 business days for online filings. Faster service: $50 for three-day service, $100 for one-day service (by the end of the next business day); walk-in filings pay the $100.
Do I need an operating agreement in DC?
District of Columbia doesn't require one (D.C. Code § 29-801.07(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 DC online?
Yes. The DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection takes the Articles of Organization online, for $99.
When is the DC LLC annual report due?
First report due April 1 of the calendar year after registration, then by April 1 every two years.
Does DC require an annual report for LLCs?
Yes. District of Columbia's recurring filing: $300 every two years.