LLC for Beginners

LLC for Beginners › Washington

Forming an LLC in Washington for the first time

The Washington filing fee is $200. For a beginner the best service is Mainstay Filing: $199 a year covers the filing, agent, EIN application and the annual report, so year 1 comes to $399.

  • Official sources, checked October 20, 2026

Your Washington checklist

  1. File the Certificate of Formation - Limited Liability Company. $200 to the Washington Secretary of State.
  2. Registered agent. A commercial registered agent listed with the Secretary of State, a noncommercial agent (any person or business with a Washington address), or the holder of a named position in the company. The agent consents in advance. You may serve as your own agent if you meet that rule; Mainstay Filing includes one in its price.
  3. EIN. Free from the IRS; included in the application Mainstay Filing prepares.
  4. Operating agreement. Write one even for a single owner. No upcharge at Mainstay Filing.
  5. Annual report. Annual Report, every year, $70. Due: Last day of the entity's anniversary month.
Best for beginners

Mainstay Filing

Our rating: 4.9 out of 5

$199 / year + $200 state fee

  • LLC formation, prepared and filed
  • Registered agent, all year
  • EIN application (with an SSN or ITIN)
  • Annual report filed every year it is due where the state requires one
  • Compliance reminders and stored documents

Price from the Mainstay Filing pricing and FAQ pages, checked October 21, 2026. State fees are passed through at cost and shown before you pay.

Total for the first three years

$937 with Mainstay Filing, state fees included. Others: Northwest Registered Agent $629; ZenBusiness $837; Bizee $638; LegalZoom $1,087 (these totals leave out any charge for filing the annual report).

Questions

What is the best LLC service for a beginner in Washington?

Mainstay Filing. First year $399 including the $200 Washington filing fee; $269 in year 2.

Can a beginner file an LLC in Washington without a service?

Yes: file the Certificate of Formation - Limited Liability Company with the Washington Secretary of State for $200. Required registered agent: A commercial registered agent listed with the Secretary of State, a noncommercial agent (any person or business with a Washington address), or the holder of a named position in the company. The agent consents in advance.

Sources