Business Formations
Business Formations
Find help with forming your LLC, understanding the timeline, what to do after formation, costs, and managing your business documents.
How to Form an LLC
Step-by-step guide to forming your LLC with ZenBusiness — what you need, how to start, and what happens next.
Formation Process & Timeline
Understand each stage of the formation process, what happens at each step, and how to track your order status.
How Long Does Formation Take?
See standard and expedited processing times by state, what affects your timeline, and when to expect your documents.
What Happens After Formation?
Learn what to do once your LLC is approved — find your documents, set up banking, get your EIN, and more.
How Much Does an LLC Cost?
Review state filing fees, ZenBusiness plan pricing, and what's included at each tier.
What Is an Operating Agreement?
Understand what an operating agreement is, whether you need one, and how to find yours in your ZenBusiness dashboard.
How to Dissolve an LLC
Steps to formally close your LLC with your state, what ZenBusiness can help with, and what to do after dissolution.
How to Reinstate a Dissolved LLC
If your LLC was administratively dissolved by the state, here's how to reinstate it — steps, fees, and what to fix first.
LLC vs S-Corp: What's the Difference?
An LLC can be taxed as an S-corp. Learn when that makes sense, how to elect S-corp status, and what it costs to maintain.
BOI Reporting — What LLC Owners Need to Know
Most U.S. LLC owners are now exempt from BOI reporting as of March 2025. Learn what changed and whether you need to file.
Post-Formation Checklist
Eight steps to complete after your LLC is approved — EIN, bank account, operating agreement, licenses, insurance, bookkeeping, and more.
How to Choose a Business Entity Type
Compare sole proprietorship, LLC, C-corp, and S-corp across liability, taxes, and complexity to find the right structure for your business.
Trademark Registration
Forming an LLC doesn't protect your brand. Learn how to search, file, and register a federal trademark through ZenBusiness.
Certificate of Good Standing
What it is, when banks and lenders require it, how to order one through ZenBusiness, and what to do if your LLC isn't in good standing.
Foreign Qualification
How to legally expand your LLC to operate in a second state — requirements, fees, ongoing obligations, and when you need it.
Business Name Search
How to check LLC name availability, what makes names conflict, how to reserve a name, and what to do when your first choice is taken.
DBA — Doing Business As
What a DBA is, when you need one, how it differs from forming an LLC or trademarking, and state-by-state filing requirements for all 50 states.
Which Article Should I Start With?
- I want to start forming my LLC: go to How to Form an LLC
- I want to understand the formation process: go to Formation Process & Timeline
- I want to know how long it will take: go to How Long Does Formation Take?
- My LLC was just approved — what's next: go to What Happens After Formation?
- I want to understand costs and pricing: go to How Much Does an LLC Cost?
- I need my operating agreement: go to What Is an Operating Agreement?
- I need to close my LLC: go to How to Dissolve an LLC
- My LLC was dissolved by the state — I want to reinstate it: go to How to Reinstate a Dissolved LLC
- I want to save on self-employment taxes (S-corp election): go to LLC vs S-Corp: What's the Difference?
- I have a question about BOI reporting: go to BOI Reporting — What LLC Owners Need to Know
- My LLC was just approved — I want a complete checklist of what to do next: go to Post-Formation Checklist
- I'm deciding between sole prop, LLC, C-corp, or S-corp: go to How to Choose a Business Entity Type
- I want to protect my business name or logo: go to Trademark Registration
- I need a Certificate of Good Standing (for a bank, lender, or contract): go to Certificate of Good Standing
- I want to expand my LLC to another state: go to Foreign Qualification
- I want to check if my business name is available: go to Business Name Search
- I want to operate under a different name than my LLC: go to DBA — Doing Business As
Frequently Asked Questions
Where should I start if I want to form an LLC?
Start with How to Form an LLC. If you already placed an order, use Formation Process & Timeline or How Long Does Formation Take? to understand what happens next.
What should I read after my LLC is approved?
Use What Happens After Formation? and the Post-Formation Checklist. Those articles cover documents, EINs, bank accounts, operating agreements, licenses, bookkeeping, and other setup steps after approval.
Can ZenBusiness help with changes after formation?
Yes. ZenBusiness can help with common post-formation needs such as amendments, certificates of good standing, foreign qualification, DBA filings, trademark services, and dissolution or reinstatement. Choose the article that matches the change you need.
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