I’m Starting an LLC by Myself
If you…
✔ are one individual owner
✔ are forming in the state where you actually operate
✔ are not raising outside investment
Use my free formation guide, form your LLC yourself, and put the right operating agreement + compliance system in place.
I Need Personalized Entity Help
If you…
✔ have one or more co-owners
✔ are forming a corporation or need to change
✔ already own one or more entities
Or if you need any help with existing entities, ownership changes, clean-ups, and more complex structures.
Set Up Your LLC Without Paying for Things You Can Do Yourself
Starting a business by yourself? If you already know that a straightforward single-member LLC is right for you, you may not need to pay a lawyer or formation company to handle every step.
I’ll show you how to form your LLC, obtain your EIN, open your business bank account, put a proper operating agreement in place, and keep up with your ongoing compliance requirements. All that in 3 simple steps.
Is This the Right Option for You?
This self-service option is designed for you if:
✓ You will be the only individual owner of the LLC.
✓ You already know that you want to form a single-member LLC.
✓ You are forming the LLC in the state where you live or operate your business.
✓ You do not have outside investors, business partners, or a complicated ownership structure.
✓ You are not forming a professional, nonprofit, regulated, multi-entity, or holding-company structure.
✓ You are comfortable completing the filing yourself with step-by-step guidance.
If you are unsure which entity or state is right for you, have one or more co-owners, or need a more complex structure, personalized legal assistance may be the better option.
EXPLORE PERSONALIZED ENTITY SERVICES →
Set Up Your LLC in Three Steps
Step 1: Form Your LLC, Obtain Your EIN & Open Your Business Bank Account
My free Single-Member LLC Setup Guide takes you through the complete setup process, including:
✓ Finding the correct state filing office and formation form
✓ Checking whether your proposed LLC name is available and complies with your state’s naming rules
✓ Appointing your registered agent
✓ Selecting the correct management structure and other filing options for your single-member LLC
✓ Creating the appropriate legal description of your business, where your state requires one, using the exact state-specific wording provided in the guide
✓ Completing and submitting your LLC formation filing
✓ Paying the correct state filing fee without purchasing unnecessary add-ons
✓ Obtaining your EIN directly from the IRS for free
✓ Gathering the documents required to open your business bank account
✓ Opening a dedicated bank account in your LLC’s name
✓ Saving and organizing your approved formation documents and company records
By the end of this step, you will have formed your LLC, obtained its federal identification number, and created a separate bank account for the business.
Want Help Processing the State Filing?
You can file directly through your state, or you can use ZenBusiness’s basic formation service to process the filing for you.
ZenBusiness may offer additional services during checkout, including an EIN application, operating-agreement template, and ongoing compliance services. You do not automatically need to purchase those upgrades. My guides and operating-agreement template give you another way to complete those steps.
Form your LLC with ZenBusiness →
Affiliate disclosure: If you use my ZenBusiness link, I’ll receive a commission at no additional cost to you. You are not required to use ZenBusiness and may file directly with your state instead.
Step 2: Put Your Operating Agreement in Place
Your LLC is not finished simply because the state has approved the filing.
A single-member operating agreement documents how your LLC is owned and managed, confirms your authority to act for the company, and helps demonstrate that the LLC is a legal entity separate from you personally.
Even when your state does not require you to file an operating agreement, banks, lenders, accountants, and a court may ask to see one to verify whether your LLC is a real legal entity.
Single-Member LLC Operating Agreement Template
Get a comprehensive, lawyer-drafted operating agreement that you can customize for your LLC, your business, and the state in which your LLC was formed.
Your template includes:
✓ A comprehensive single-member operating agreement (fully editable Word document)
✓ State-customization instructions
✓ Clear explanations showing you how to complete each section
✓ Alternative provisions for different management and business arrangements
✓ Free lifetime access to future template updates
Put the legal rules behind your LLC in writing without paying hundreds or thousands of dollars for a custom agreement.
Step 3: Keep Your LLC Compliant
Forming your LLC is only the beginning. To keep it active and maintain the separation between yourself and the company, you must continue treating it like a real business.
You may not need to pay for an expensive annual compliance subscription simply to receive reminders about tasks you can complete yourself.
My free Single-Member LLC Compliance Guide helps you:
✓ Identify and calendar your annual report and recurring state deadlines
✓ Pay required state fees on time
✓ Maintain an eligible registered agent
✓ Keep your personal and business finances separate
✓ Maintain the company records your LLC should retain
✓ Document significant business decisions
✓ Identify and renew applicable business licenses and permits
✓ Update the state and IRS when important company information changes
✓ Recognize changes that require an amendment to your operating agreement or state filing
✓ Understand when you need help from a lawyer, accountant, or other professional
Your LLC Is Set Up → Now, You Need a Contract for Your First Customer
An LLC can help shield your personal assets from business liabilities. But a dispute could still put everything your business has earned at risk.
And if it is unclear that the LLC, rather than you personally, is providing the services, you could even be held personally responsible.
The right contract makes that distinction clear and sets boundaries before problems arise.
Need More Personalized Help?
This self-service system does not include individualized legal or tax advice, review of your circumstances, filing services from Selene the Lawyer, or an attorney-client relationship.
If your LLC will have multiple owners, you are unsure which structure or state to choose, or you need help changing or correcting an existing entity, explore my personalized business formation and structuring services instead.
⬇ EXPLORE PERSONALIZED ENTITY SERVICES BELOW⬇
Attorney-Led Business Formation & Structuring
Some business decisions require more than filing a form. If you are starting a business with another owner, forming a corporation, changing an existing company, or correcting problems with your business records, I can help you determine what needs to be done and put the right legal structure and documents in place.
This Path Is for You If You Need To:
Form a multi-member LLC
Form a corporation
Add, remove, or replace a business owner
Change the ownership or management structure
Update an outdated or incomplete operating agreement
Correct missing, inconsistent, or improperly prepared company documents
Convert or restructure an existing entity
Voluntarily dissolve a business
Whenever the scope can be clearly defined in advance, your legal work will be offered for a transparent flat fee.
How It Works
1. Tell Me What You Need
Review the services and fixed fees below, then complete a short intake form so I can learn about your business and confirm which service fits your situation.
2. Meet With Me
For formations, ownership changes, restructurings, and entity cleanups, we’ll meet for a paid Business Structure Strategy Session. During this call, we’ll discuss your goals, identify what needs to be done, and map out the right legal steps.
The consultation fee is $295 and will be fully credited toward your legal service if you move forward within 14 days.
Straightforward filing services may be completed without a consultation.
3. Know Exactly What You’ll Pay
Each service has a fixed legal fee for the scope described below. You’ll know what is included before any work begins without open-ended hourly billing or surprise legal fees.