Step 1: Choose a name Kansas will accept
The name has to end with “L.L.C.”, “L.C.”, “LLC” or another form the state accepts. It also has to differ from the names already on the Kansas Secretary of State's records, and some words need another agency's approval. Check an LLC name in Kansas 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: $35, 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 Kansas 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 Kansas companies use most, with how many companies each one serves.
Step 3: File the Articles of Organization
File it with the Kansas Secretary of State. The fee is $85 online ($90 by mail). File online, or on paper. The LLC exists once the state accepts the filing.
Step 4: Write an operating agreement
Kansas law requires an LLC to have an operating agreement (K.S.A. 17-7673(c), 17-7663(m)). It stays in the company's records; it isn't filed with the state.
Make a free Kansas 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 Kansas has accepted the Articles of Organization.
Step 6: File the Kansas LLC annual report
Fee: Information report every two years: $90 online or $110 on paper (form ILC), the $80 statutory fee plus the information and services fee ($5 online, $25 on paper) and the $5 technology fee (K.S.A. 17-76,139(f); K.A.R. 7-16-1 and 7-16-2). A late report costs a $10 penalty. Due: Every two years by April 15 - even-numbered years if formed in an even year, odd-numbered years if formed in an odd year; 3-month delinquency period before forfeiture. (Source: K.S.A. 17-76,139, ksrevisor.gov.)
| After formation | Kansas |
|---|---|
| Recurring report | Information report every two years, $90 online ($110 on paper) |
| State tax or fee on LLCs | None |
| Proof of good standing | Certificate of Good Standing, $10 online |
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 Kansas certificate of good standing.
What it costs to start an LLC in Kansas
| State fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Formation filing (online) | $85 |
| First year, state fees | $85 |
| Each year after | $45 |
Over five years, Kansas's state fees come to $265. 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
Register a business, sos.ks.gov, checked 2026-10-07
sos.ks.gov, checked 2026-10-07
sos.ks.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Information reports, sos.ks.gov, checked 2026-10-08
K.S.A. 17-76,139, ksrevisor.gov, checked 2026-10-07
sos.ks.gov, checked 2026-10-08
05 26 26 secretary of state reduces fees for kansans, sos.ks.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Copies and certifications, sos.ks.gov, checked 2026-10-09
sos.ks.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Apply for an EIN online, irs.gov
How to start an LLC in Kansas
- Choose a name Kansas will accept and check it against the Kansas Secretary of State's records.
- Appoint a registered agent with a street address in Kansas.
- File the Articles of Organization with the Kansas Secretary of State (from $85).
- 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 Kansas?
From $85 to file the Articles of Organization. The state's fees come to $85 in the first year and $45 a year after that; a registered agent service or a newspaper notice costs extra.
How long does it take to start an LLC in Kansas?
The Kansas Secretary of State doesn't publish a processing time; its site shows how to file and check on a filing.
Do I need an operating agreement in Kansas?
Yes. Kansas law requires one (K.S.A. 17-7673(c), 17-7663(m)), though it isn't filed with the state.
Can I start an LLC in Kansas online?
Yes. The Kansas Secretary of State takes the Articles of Organization online, for from $85.
When is the Kansas LLC annual report due?
Every two years by April 15 - even-numbered years if formed in an even year, odd-numbered years if formed in an odd year; 3-month delinquency period before forfeiture.
Does Kansas require an annual report for LLCs?
Yes. Kansas' recurring filing: Information report every two years, $90 online ($110 on paper).