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How to Form a Philadelphia LLC Yourself in 6 Steps
Here’s how to create a Philadelphia LLC of your own:
Step 1: Choose a Unique Business Name and Complete a State Business Search
Establish your business's identity by picking a creative name. During the brainstorming process, try to think of ideas that are one-of-a-kind, a breeze to spell and pronounce, and highly memorable. (Hint: If you're stuck, our free Business Name Generator can help.)
Once you've narrowed down your choices to a few top contenders, ensure they're not already taken by another PA business by performing a search through the Pennsylvania Department of State. Alternatively, use our Business Name Search Tool and we'll do the search for you.
We’ll Search the Pennsylvania Department of State Registry for You
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Step 2: Provide an Official Business Address (or Get a Virtual Address)
An official business address is about more than just giving your business a set location upon formation — it's also where you'll receive crucial business correspondence, including bills, invoices, and payments.
But what if your business doesn't have a physical street address and you don't want to use your home address to form your LLC? In that case, the most convenient solution is to get a Pennsylvania virtual address.
With our Virtual Address service, you'll get a real street address you can call your own, and we'll also scan and upload your mail to our secure online portal so you can access it whenever and wherever you want.
Step 3: Assign a Registered Agent
A Registered Agent is required in all 50 states, Pennsylvania included — the only difference is that, in PA, a Registered Agent is referred to as a Commercial Registered Office Provider (CROP). Both a Registered Agent and a CROP perform the same function: to receive official and legal mail on your business's behalf.
If the state government sends your business a notice that it has past due fees, for example, that notice will be addressed to your CROP. If you miss this type of correspondence, the consequences could be time-consuming and costly.
So, instead of listing yourself or a business partner as your CROP, we strongly recommend using a Registered Agent service. A dedicated professional will receive all legal and official mail on your behalf and promptly notify you of any new correspondence. That means no missed deadlines, no late fees, and no wasted time.
Step 4: File Your Certificate of Organization With the Pennsylvania Department of State
After securing a name, address, and Registered Agent, you'll be ready to make your Philadelphia LLC official by filing your Certificate of Organization with the PA Department of State.
On your Certificate of Organization form, you'll need to provide key details about your business and who owns it.
This certificate must include:
Once your form is completed, you can mail it to:
File by Mail
Pennsylvania Department of State
Bureau of Corporations and Charitable
Organizations
P.O. Box 8722
Harrisburg, PA 17105-8722
Or, if you prefer to file online, you can do so using Pennsylvania's Business Filing Services portal.
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What are the Fees and Requirements to Form a Business in Pennsylvania?
State Fee
$131
State Filling Time
4 Weeks
Expedited Filing Time
4 Business Days
Annual Report
Frequency
Decennially in years ending
with the number "1" (2021, 2031, etc.)
Due Date
Any time during the reporting year.
*The decennial filing is only required if no other filings (agent changes, amendments, etc.) have been submitted to the state during that 10 year period.
Filing Fee
$70
Step 5: Get an Employer Identification Number (EIN) From the Internal Revenue Service
To be clear, not all businesses need an EIN. But if you want to hire employees or if you have a multi-member LLC that will be taxed as a partnership, you'll be required to get one.
You can get an EIN — also known as a Tax ID Number — by applying directly through the IRS. Or, if you want to save yourself some paperwork, use our EIN service and we'll do the legwork for you.
Step 6: Create an Operating Agreement
Like many other states, Pennsylvania doesn't require LLCs to have an operating agreement in order to form. The fact remains, though, that it’s always wise to create one.
Why? An operating agreement essentially serves as a roadmap for running your business. It defines who's in charge, what each person's responsibilities are, and what to do if certain events unfold.
Having a well-written operating agreement can prevent a number of headaches and disagreements down the road. Take the time to create one now — you'll be glad you did. And once you become an Bizee customer, you'll automatically get access to our operating agreement template.
Get a Custom Operating Agreement Free When You Go With Gold or Platinum Packages From Bizee.
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Other Philadelphia LLC Types
When you create an LLC in Philadelphia, you'll have the chance to form one of these special LLC types:
Restricted Professional Company
If your company will offer any restricted professional services, it will need to be formed as a restricted LLC.
These services include:
Learn more about PLLC vs. LLC and which one is right for your company.
Benefit LLCs
Will your company serve a purpose that benefits the general public? It may be categorized as a benefit LLC.Note that benefit companies are required to prepare an Annual Benefit Report, distribute the report to its members, and file it with the Pennsylvania Department of State.
Foreign LLCs
If you formed your LLC in another state but want to do business in Philadelphia (or any other part of Pennsylvania), you'll need to register your company as a foreign LLC.Find out more about Pennsylvania foreign LLC registration.
Helpful Resources for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The city of Philadelphia and the state of Pennsylvania both offer a variety of helpful resources for small business owners.
Looking for general information? Check out:
And if you need resources for Philadelphia businesses in particular, see:
Common Questions About Creating an LLC in Philadelphia
Get answers to the most common questions about forming a Philadelphia LLC:
How Much Does an LLC Cost in Philadelphia?
See the fees and requirements for forming an LLC in Philadelphia.
How Much Is a Business License in Philadelphia?
The cost of a Philadelphia business license depends on the type of license you need. A general Commercial Activity License, for example, is free of charge. By contrast, a Limited Lodging and Hotels Booking Agent License costs $7,000 to obtain and $5,000 to renew.
To determine which licenses you'll need and how much it will cost you to get them, you can read through the city's various business license guidelines. Or if you'd like us to do the digging for you, use our Business License Research Package. We'll even provide you with the appropriate forms and instructions, so all you'll have to do is fill in the blanks.
How Long Does It Take to Set Up an LLC?
In Pennsylvania, all documents filed with the Department of State take up to 15 days to be processed. For faster processing, you'll need to pay an additional fee for expedited service – which you can also avail from Bizee and we’ll process it on your behalf.
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