Start an LLC in Kentucky
Start an Kentucky LLC by filing the Articles of Organization with the Kentucky Secretary of State for $40.
You can use our free tool to fill out the paperwork right here yourself. Or hire Northwest to do it for you and we’ll provide one year of registered agent service and a free Business Identity—all for $39.
How to Start an LLC in Kentucky
A Limited Liability Company (LLC) is a permanent public record. Starting one requires sharing personal information with the government, banks, landlords, vendors, and of course, customers. We provide a Free Business Identity to anyone who needs it—that’s a domain name, website, phone line, and email address. This helps protect your privacy and keep you in control of your intellectual property.
1. Name Your LLC
Choosing a name for your Kentucky LLC is more than a legal requirement—it’s how people will recognize your business. A good company name should be clear, easy to remember, and flexible enough to grow with you over time. It’s also smart to check that your preferred name is available as a domain so you can secure a matching website and build a consistent online presence from the start.
Before deciding on a company name, make sure it meets Kentucky guidelines and is available. You can check name availability using the Kentucky Secretary of State’s business entity search.
- Check name availability using the state’s business entity search.
- Access the application by going to the state’s business forms library.
- Click on the “Limited Liability Company Forms” link.
- Scroll down to the “Reservation or Renewal of Reserved Name” link under the “Other Forms” section.
- Complete the form and follow the filing instructions on the following page.
- Be sure to include your $15 fee before submitting in your application.
The state will hold your reserved name for 120 days, giving you plenty of time to prepare for your LLC formation.
Your LLC’s name should:
- Include limited liability company or limited company, or the abbreviation LLC or LC
- Not include words or abbreviations to make it sound like the LLC is another kind of entity, like corp or limited partnership
- Be unique among business names in Kentucky
- Avoid use of the word Cooperative
2. Appoint a Registered Agent
In accordance with KY Rev Stat § 14A.4-010, every business in the state must appoint a registered agent. You can serve as your own registered agent, but that means your address will be listed on state forms, which makes it more likely that scammers, and junk mailers have your address.
If you’d rather not be your own registered agent, you can hire Northwest’s Registered Agent Service. We know that your registered agent is a critical part of your business identity. What’s a business identity? It’s the way you present your LLC to the world. In fact, you start building a business identity as soon as you form a company. When you hire us, we can help you strengthen that identity.
Your Kentucky registered agent is required to:
- have a physical address in Kentucky (no P.O. Boxes)
- be present at that address during regular business hours (9 AM to 5 PM)
- agree to accept service of process on behalf of your LLC and deliver it promptly
3. Register Your Domain Name
Next up, you’ll want to secure a domain name for your website. Why are these important? Just like you need a street address to help people find you on a map, you need a domain name to help people find you on the web.
At Northwest, we offer domain names in-house. You’ll even get an instant domain name registration when you hire us to form your business.
For domain names, it’s better to register earlier rather than later. There are two basic reasons why:
- Credibility: When you bother to establish a professional domain name, you’re letting customers know you take your work seriously.
- Consistency: A domain name that connects to your brand name makes it simpler for customers to remember you, which makes them more likely to seek you out.
4. File Articles of Organization
Filing the Articles of Organization is the step that officially creates your LLC. Once you complete the form, you’ll submit it to the Kentucky Division of Business Filings and pay the $40 filing fee.
Tip: Everything you put on your articles becomes part of Kentucky public record. The best way to maintain your privacy is to hire a professional Kentucky registered agent who will list their name and address instead.
This is where you write the name that you plan to register with the state. Don’t forget to include limited liability company or an abbreviation like LLC in the name. And remember, the name you list here can’t be the same or similar to other LLC names in the state.
Tip: While the name you list here will be your LLC’s legal name, you can always use a Kentucky DBA name (DBA stands for doing business as) for your public-facing business name after you register your LLC. A DBA is like a nickname for your business, and to get a DBA in Kentucky you’ll need to fill out a Certificate of Assumed Name ($20) form and then file it with the the state.
This is the physical address where your Kentucky registered agent will be present during regular office hours.
This is the person or business that your LLC appoints to serve as your point-person regarding all legal mail. You can list yourself as your own registered agent, but you’re required to accept legal mail in person during regular business hours at your registered address—maybe in front of customers. This may not work if you’re ever on the go or feel like taking a vacation.
Your LLC’s principal office is where the state will send all correspondence. This can be your address, your physical business address, or, if you dig privacy, your registered agent’s address.
Your LLC will begin once Kentucky approves the filing. If you want to delay the start date, you can list a date and time up to 90 days in the future. Most people skip this part.
Indicate whether the LLC will be member-managed or manager-managed. LLCs are either member-managed or manager-managed. In a member-managed LLC, the members (owners) will be in charge of daily operations. In a manager-managed LLC, members hire managers to run the LLC.
Managers are in charge of regular business tasks like hiring and firing employees, writing checks to vendors, and signing agreements and contracts. Our guide to LLC membership structures has more information on different types of LLCs you can form.
Check the box if the LLC is at least 51% veteran-owned. State law allows veteran-owned LLCs to waive the $40 filing fee.
Your organizer is the person who completes, signs, and submits the LLC paperwork to the state. The organizer can be you, another member of the LLC, or a person outside of your LLC like your registered agent. Kentucky needs your organizer’s name and signature. If you hire Northwest, we’ll be your organizer and sign our name here.
This is where your registered agent gives their consent to serve as your LLC’s registered agent. Again, this can be you, another member of the LLC, or someone else you trust. When you hire Northwest, our signature goes here.
How Do You File Kentucky Articles of Organization?
You can submit your Kentucky Articles of Organization (LLC) online by mail, or in person. Online and in person filings are approved the same day they are received. Mailed filings can take up to a week to be approved.
Online:
Kentucky SOS One-Stop
Mail:
Office of the Secretary of State
P.O. Box 718
Frankfort, KY 40602-0718
In person:
Capitol Building
Room 152
700 Capital Avenue
Frankfort, KY 40601
What is a professional LLC in Kentucky?
A professional LLC (PLLC) is a type of legal business entity that offers limited liability protection for licensed professionals like lawyers, doctors, engineers, and other high-liability professions. LLCs and PLLCs differ in that only licensed professionals can form and be members of PLLCs.
5. Create an Operating Agreement
LLC operating agreements are internal documents that should address things like membership duties, revenue sharing, how to remove a member, and even the procedure for dissolving your LLC. In the event of a disagreement among LLC members, your operating agreement will serve as the blueprint for resolving it. While there is no legal requirement for your Kentucky -based LLC to have an operating agreement, it’s good business practice to write one.
If you’re not sure where to start, use our attorney-approved Kentucky LLC operating agreement template.
6. Get an EIN
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a nine-digit federal tax identification number for your business. You’ll need to get an EIN to open a business bank account, pay taxes, apply for loans, and in some cases, secure business permits and licenses.
You can get an EIN for free from the IRS, or you can hire Northwest and we’ll get your EIN for you.
7. File your Annual Report
The Kentucky Annual Report is due between January 1st and June 30 each year. Your first report is due the year after you form your LLC. For example, if you formed your LLC in 2023, your report will be due by June 30 of 2024. The report costs $15.
Tip: Not great at remembering due dates? Hire Northwest and we’ll file for you.
Let’s Set Up Your Kentucky LLC!