Step 1: Choose a name Vermont will accept
The name has to end with “Limited Liability Company”, “LLC”, “Ltd. Liability Co.” or another form the state accepts. It also has to differ from the names already on the Vermont Secretary of State's records, and some words need another agency's approval. Check an LLC name in Vermont 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: $25, 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 Vermont 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 Vermont companies use most, with how many companies each one serves.
Step 3: File the Articles of Organization
File it with the Vermont Secretary of State. The fee is $155. File online, or on paper. The LLC exists once the state accepts the filing.
How long it takes. Online usually under one business day; by mail 7 to 10 business days. (The office's page.)
Step 4: Write an operating agreement
Vermont doesn't require one (11 V.S.A. § 4003(a)), 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 Vermont 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 Vermont has accepted the Articles of Organization.
Step 6: File the Vermont LLC annual report
Fee: $45 (11 V.S.A. §§ 4033, 4012). Due: Each fiscal year, within the first three months after the fiscal year end on record; filed online. (Source: Annualbiennial reports, sos.vermont.gov.)
| After formation | Vermont |
|---|---|
| Recurring report | $45 each year (due within 3 months after the fiscal year ends) |
| State tax or fee on LLCs | $250 minimum business entity tax each year |
| Proof of good standing | Certificate of Existence, $35 |
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 Vermont certificate of good standing.
What it costs to start an LLC in Vermont
| State fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Formation filing | $155 |
| First year, state fees | $155 |
| Each year after | $295 |
Over five years, Vermont's state fees come to $1,335. 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 statutes, sos.vermont.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Business name rules, sos.vermont.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Limited Liability Company, sos.vermont.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Annualbiennial reports, sos.vermont.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Assumed name, sos.vermont.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Copies certificates, sos.vermont.gov, checked 2026-10-07
11 V.S.A. § 4006, legislature.vermont.gov, checked 2026-10-07
legislature.vermont.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Business entity income tax, tax.vermont.gov, checked 2026-10-08
11 V.S.A. § 1652, legislature.vermont.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Apply for an EIN online, irs.gov
How to start an LLC in Vermont
- Choose a name Vermont will accept and check it against the Vermont Secretary of State's records.
- Appoint a registered agent with a street address in Vermont.
- File the Articles of Organization with the Vermont Secretary of State ($155).
- 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 Vermont?
$155 to file the Articles of Organization. The state's fees come to $155 in the first year and $295 a year after that; a registered agent service or a newspaper notice costs extra.
How long does it take to start an LLC in Vermont?
The Vermont Secretary of State gives online usually under one business day; by mail 7 to 10 business days.
Do I need an operating agreement in Vermont?
Vermont doesn't require one (11 V.S.A. § 4003(a)), 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 Vermont online?
Yes. The Vermont Secretary of State takes the Articles of Organization online, for $155.
When is the Vermont LLC annual report due?
Each fiscal year, within the first three months after the fiscal year end on record; filed online.
Does Vermont require an annual report for LLCs?
Yes. Vermont's recurring filing: $45 each year (due within 3 months after the fiscal year ends).