Step 1: Choose a name Kentucky will accept
The name has to end with “Limited Liability Company”, “Limited Company”, “LLC” or another form the state accepts. It also has to differ from the names already on the Kentucky Secretary of State's records, and some words need another agency's approval. Check an LLC name in Kentucky 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: $15, 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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky companies use most, with how many companies each one serves.
Step 3: File the Articles of Organization
File it with the Kentucky Secretary of State. The fee is $40. File online, or on paper. The LLC exists once the state accepts the filing.
How long it takes. Usually the same day it's received, up to three business days (annual reports excepted). (The office's page.)
Step 4: Write an operating agreement
Kentucky doesn't require one (KRS 275.015(21)), 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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky has accepted the Articles of Organization.
Step 6: File the Kentucky LLC annual report
Fee: $15. Due: Between January 1 and June 30 each year; domestic entities that miss June 30 are administratively dissolved. (Source: Annual reports, sos.ky.gov.)
| After formation | Kentucky |
|---|---|
| Recurring report | $15 each year (by June 30) |
| State tax or fee on LLCs | Limited liability entity tax, $175 minimum a year (Department of Revenue) |
| 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 Kentucky certificate of good standing.
What it costs to start an LLC in Kentucky
| State fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Formation filing | $40 |
| First year, state fees | $40 |
| Each year after (limited liability entity tax: the $175 minimum; more only above $3 million in Kentucky gross receipts) | $190 |
Over five years, Kentucky's state fees come to $800. 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
Fees, sos.ky.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Annual reports, sos.ky.gov, checked 2026-10-07
sos.ky.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Statute, apps.legislature.ky.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Statute, apps.legislature.ky.gov, checked 2026-10-07
FAQs, sos.ky.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Form 725 instructions (2025) (PDF), revenue.ky.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Guidelines, sosbes.sos.ky.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Apply for an EIN online, irs.gov
How to start an LLC in Kentucky
- Choose a name Kentucky will accept and check it against the Kentucky Secretary of State's records.
- Appoint a registered agent with a street address in Kentucky.
- File the Articles of Organization with the Kentucky Secretary of State ($40).
- 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 Kentucky?
$40 to file the Articles of Organization. The state's fees come to $40 in the first year and $190 a year after that; a registered agent service or a newspaper notice costs extra.
How long does it take to start an LLC in Kentucky?
The Kentucky Secretary of State gives usually the same day it's received, up to three business days (annual reports excepted).
Do I need an operating agreement in Kentucky?
Kentucky doesn't require one (KRS 275.015(21)), 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 Kentucky online?
Yes. The Kentucky Secretary of State takes the Articles of Organization online, for $40.
When is the Kentucky LLC annual report due?
Between January 1 and June 30 each year; domestic entities that miss June 30 are administratively dissolved.
Does Kentucky require an annual report for LLCs?
Yes. Kentucky's recurring filing: $15 each year (by June 30).