You may already have a business name in mind, but does it follow the Idaho state rules for naming an LLC? To be approved, your LLC name must:

• include either the words limited liability company, or an abbreviation like LLC or L.L.C.
• be unique among registered businesses in Idaho
• not use any words or abbreviations that suggest it’s a different entity type or government agency (for example: Inc or State Department)

Note: Even if your desired name is available in Idaho, it may be federally trademarked, which means you could get sued if you use the name. Perform a trademark clearance search just to make sure your bases are covered.

Your domain name opens up a world of options. From launching a website, building social media profiles, setting up email communications, and printing business cards, there’s a whole lot of new-business stuff you can’t do until you choose a domain name.

When you choose your business domain, consider:

• Does your domain work well with your business name?

• Is your domain easy to remember and spell?

• Is your domain available wherever else you want it, like social platforms, trademarks, or business name registries?

Once you have a domain you’re happy with, it’s time to claim it. When you order your domain through Northwest, we’ll also set you up with a website, custom built by our business website experts, hosted and secured through us. You can test drive that website completely free for 90 days.

The Certificate of Organization is the document you’ll submit to the Idaho Secretary of State to form your LLC. You can file this document online, by mail, or in person. The filing fee is $100. Keep in mind that Idaho charges a $20 processing fee for paper filings.

Note: All of the information on the Certificate of Organization will be on the public record.

Here’s the information you’ll need to complete the Certificate of Organization:

How Do You File the Idaho Certificate of Organization?

You can file your Certificate of Organization online, by mail, or in person. You’ll save $20 by filing online, but you’ll need to create an SOSBiz account.

Mail and in person:
Office of the Secretary of State
450 N 4th Street
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0080

Online:
Idaho SOSBiz

While not required by law in Idaho, most businesses choose to adopt an operating agreement because it outlines clear rules and regulations for how your LLC will operate. Operating agreements generally address issues like voting rights, ownership percentage, distributing profits and losses, and even dissolving the business.

Failure to adopt an operating agreement could leave your personal assets vulnerable in the event the business gets sued or goes bankrupt.

Tip: Our attorneys drew up an ID LLC Operating Agreement for you to use.

An EIN (Employer Identification Number) acts as your company’s social security number. You’ll put your EIN on tax filings so that the IRS can identify your business. You can apply for an EIN from the IRS for free, either online or by mail.

The fastest way to get an EIN is to apply on the IRS website. However, if you do not have a social security number, you’ll need to mail in a paper form.

Tip: You can add EIN service when you hire us to form your LLC.

It’s important to set up a business bank account once you’ve formed your LLC. Why? LLCs have limited liability protection, which means the state considers them to be separate legal entities (with separate liability) from the people who own them. But the only way to maintain that limited liability is by keeping personal and business finances separate.

To open a business bank account in Idaho, here’s what you need to take to the bank:

• LLC Certificate of Organization (a copy is fine)
• operating agreement
• EIN
• an LLC Resolution to Open a Bank Account (unless it is a single-member LLC)

Tip: If your LLC has more than one member, use our free LLC Resolution to Open a Bank Account.

Idaho LLCs are required to file a state report every year. This annual report basically ensures that your business information is up to date and the state knows who to contact if they need to get in touch with you.

Your annual report is due during the anniversary month of when your business was formed. For example, if you formed your LLC on March 12th, your annual report would be due by March 31st the following year.

Tip: Don’t feel like dealing with your Idaho Annual Report? We can file it for you.

Now that you’re legally ready to start making sales, it’s time to get physically ready. Depending on what your business does, this may include:

• staffing your business

• organizing your merchandise or products

• getting business insurance

Regardless of what your business does, you’ll need to get your name out to potential customers and have a way for them to get ahold of you. A good business website and business email addresses give clients a way to reach you directly. But vendors, employees, and legal agencies need a bit more formality than your website contact page.

That’s why many business owners get an Idaho virtual office. Virtual offices let you organize your communication professionally no matter where you’re working from while protecting your private information.

Our Idaho Virtual Office includes a unique address you can put on anything from your business cards to your invoices, a phone line with a local area code, and your choice of same-day digital scans and weekly physical mail forwarding.