Start an LLC in Kansas

Choosing a name for your Kansas LLC is more than a formality—it’s your chance to define your business identity and establish a strong online presence so potential clients can pick you from a crowd. A good company name should be unique, show what your business does, and grow with your company over time.

Things to consider when naming your Kansas LLC:

• Make your business stand out. Your LLC name must be distinguishable from other registered entities in the state. Use the Kansas Secretary of State business search to check availability.
• Show what your business does. Names that hint at your products or services help potential customers understand what your LLC offers.
• Consider your online presence. Check for a matching domain to secure your website and build a memorable online brand.
• Include the proper identifier. End your name with “Limited Liability Company,” “LLC,” or “L.L.C.”

After choosing your LLC’s name, a good next step is locking down a domain name for your business website. A professional domain should be easy to remember—and ideally, match or complement your business name. When you register your domain name early, you’re more likely to get a name that meets those standards.

You’ll need to claim a business domain name through a registrar. When you hire Northwest to form your LLC, domain registry is one of many in-house services we provide, so you also get an instant domain name, plus your own customizable business website secured with SSL protection, and a professional email business addresses connected to that domain.

All LLCs doing business in Kansas need a resident agent (called a “registered agent” in most other states). Your resident agent is the person or entity designated to accept important legal mail on behalf of your business. You’ll need to have your resident agent’s name and address ready before you fill out your Articles of Organization formation document.

Your resident agent is a key part of your business identity, which is the way you present your company to potential customers, clients, and anyone else. Whether you realize it or not, you start building a business identity as soon as you form your LLC. When you use Northwest Registered Agent, you’ll be able to enhance your business identity to show off the best possible version of your LLC.

Once filed with the Kansas Secretary of State, your Articles of Organization officially form your LLC. There is a base $160 filing fee, but the way you file your Articles may increase that fee.

To fill out the form, you’ll need to provide the following information about your LLC:

Note: All of the information on this form will become part of the public record.

Interested in forming a Series LLC or multiple LLCs within one LLC? Check out our Kansas Series LLC guide.

Your LLC’s operating agreement is a document outlining how the company’s internal workings are organized. This includes spelling out ownership rights for the LLC, member responsibilities, profit and loss distributions, and even how to dissolve the LLC when (or if) the time comes. Without an operating agreement, your LLC will be required to operate according to Kansas’s default LLC statutes.

Check out our attorney-drafted Kansas Operating Agreement.

An EIN (Employer Identification Number) is the Internal Revenue Service’s ID for your LLC in Kansas, sort of like a Social Security number for your business. You’ll use an EIN to open your business bank account and start collecting funds, contributions, and revenue. Most banks will require a minimum starting deposit to open your business bank account. You can have each member provide a starting contribution or investment that represents their LLC ownership.

Check out our EIN Guide to learn more about how to get an EIN for an LLC.

With an LLC in Kansas, you’ll need to pay yearly taxes and file a biennial report. Here’s what you need to know:

• Taxes: In Kansas, all LLCs are taxed by default as pass-through entities. This means the LLC itself doesn’t pay taxes. The profit passes through for members to report on their personal income tax. LLC profits are taxed at the 15.3% federal self-employment tax rate.
• Biennial Reports: Unlike some states, you do not have to renew your LLC every year in Kansas. Instead, you must file a biennial report every other year. Kansas does its biennial reports in an interesting way. Businesses that formed on even years file biennial reports on even years. Businesses formed on odd years file reports on succeeding odd years. We offer a Kansas Biennial Report Service to help business owners like you stay compliant.

*This is informational commentary, not advice. This information is intended strictly for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice or a substitute for legal counsel. This information is not intended to create, nor does your receipt, viewing, or use of it constitute, an attorney-client relationship. More information is available in our Terms of Service.