Step 1: Choose a name Idaho will accept
The name has to end with “Limited Liability Company”, “Limited Company”, “L.L.C.” or another form the state accepts. It also has to differ from the names already on the Idaho Secretary of State's records, and some words need another agency's approval. Check an LLC name in Idaho 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: $20 online ($40 by mail), for 4 months. 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 Idaho 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 Idaho companies use most, with how many companies each one serves.
Step 3: File the Certificate of Organization
File it with the Idaho Secretary of State. The fee is $100 online ($120 by mail). File online, or on paper. The LLC exists once the state accepts the filing.
How long it takes. About 7 to 10 days from filing, as the office currently states; it also posts the date it has processed through. (The office's page.)
Step 4: Write an operating agreement
Idaho doesn't require one (Idaho Code § 30-25-105(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 Idaho 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 Idaho has accepted the Certificate of Organization.
Step 6: File the Idaho LLC annual report
Fee: No filing fee. Due: Each year by the end of the month in which the LLC was formed (anniversary month), beginning the year after formation (Idaho Code § 30-21-213). (Source: Idaho Code § 30-21-213, legislature.idaho.gov.)
| After formation | Idaho |
|---|---|
| Recurring report | Free annual report each year |
| State tax or fee on LLCs | None |
| Proof of good standing | Certificate of Existence, $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 Idaho certificate of good standing.
What it costs to start an LLC in Idaho
| State fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Formation filing (online) | $100 |
| First year, state fees | $100 |
| Each year after | $0 |
Over five years, Idaho's state fees come to $100. 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
Business forms, sos.idaho.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Business FAQ, sos.idaho.gov, checked 2026-10-08
Idaho Code § 30-21-302, legislature.idaho.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Idaho Code § 30-21-213, legislature.idaho.gov, checked 2026-10-08
Business resources, sos.idaho.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Annual report help, sos.idaho.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Processed through date, sosbiz.idaho.gov, checked 2026-10-08
Idaho Code § 30-21-214, legislature.idaho.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Certificate request (PDF), archive.sos.idaho.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Apply for an EIN online, irs.gov
How to start an LLC in Idaho
- Choose a name Idaho will accept and check it against the Idaho Secretary of State's records.
- Appoint a registered agent with a street address in Idaho.
- File the Certificate of Organization with the Idaho Secretary of State (from $100).
- 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 Idaho?
From $100 to file the Certificate of Organization. The state's fees come to $100 in the first year and nothing in later years; a registered agent service or a newspaper notice costs extra.
How long does it take to start an LLC in Idaho?
The Idaho Secretary of State gives about 7 to 10 days from filing, as the office currently states; it also posts the date it has processed through.
Do I need an operating agreement in Idaho?
Idaho doesn't require one (Idaho Code § 30-25-105(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 Idaho online?
Yes. The Idaho Secretary of State takes the Certificate of Organization online, for from $100.
When is the Idaho LLC annual report due?
Each year by the end of the month in which the LLC was formed (anniversary month), beginning the year after formation (Idaho Code § 30-21-213).
Does Idaho require an annual report for LLCs?
Yes. Idaho's recurring filing: Free annual report each year.