Start an LLC in Kansas

Before you start raking in the big bucks, you’ll need to name your LLC. Kan. Stat. § 17-7920 spells out the rules for what you can and can’t name your LLC. Your LLC’s name must:

• Include either “limited liability company,” “L.L.C.,” or “LLC.”
• Not include words or abbreviations that make it sound like it’s another kind of entity, like “corp,” “incorporated,” or “limited partnership.”
• Be unique among business names in Kansas.

Already have a business name? Check to see if it’s available.

All LLCs doing business in Kansas need a registered agent (sometimes called a resident agent in Kansas). Your registered agent is the person who is designated to accept important legal mail on behalf of your business. You’ll need to have your registered agent’s name and address ready before you fill out your Articles of Organization. You can appoint yourself, another individual, or even a company like us!

Learn why the pros use a registered agent service.

If you have a business name and a registered agent, you’re ready to fill out your Articles of Organization. Once filed with the Kansas Secretary of State, this paperwork officially forms your LLC.

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

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

• Company name. Include an indicator like “LLC.”
• Resident agent. The person or entity that is authorized to accept legal mail on behalf of the LLC.
• Registered office. The Kansas street address where your resident agent will accept legal notifications.
• Mailing address. Address where you’d like official state mail sent (not including legal notifications).
• Tax closing month. This is the month the business has established as its tax closing or book closing period. December is the default.
• Effective date. When do you want your LLC to start? You can delay its birth by 90 days, but most LLCs start as soon as their Articles are filed.
• Authorized signature. You’ll need an authorized person to sign. An LLC member or your resident agent will do.

When you’re done, you can submit the document and your $160 payment online, or pay $165 in person or by mail. Add $20 if you plan to fax over the documents.

Your LLC’s operating agreement is a document that essentially outlines how the internal workings of the LLC will be organized. This includes spelling out ownership rights for the LLC, responsibilities of the members, profit and loss distributions, and even how the LLC will be dissolved 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 LLC Operating Agreement.

An Employer Identification Number (EIN), is a number assigned to your LLC by the IRS for purposes of taxation. Getting an EIN for your business is a free service offered by the IRS. Simply log onto the IRS website, complete an application, and you’ll get your EIN in short order. You can also apply via mail or fax, but online is faster.

Learn How to get an EIN for your LLC.

Starting January 1, 2024, most new Kansas LLCs will need to file a Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) Report with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) within 90 days of registering with the Secretary of State. LLCs formed prior to 2024 have until the beginning of 2025 to file this report. While LLCs formed in 2024 are given a 90-day filing window, starting in 2025, new LLCs will need to file the BOI Report within 30 days of registering with the state.

On the BOI Report, you’ll need to provide identifying information about your company applicant and all beneficial owners, as well as information about the LLC itself.

A Beneficial Owner is anyone with at least 25% membership interest in your LLC, or with substantial control over its operations or finances.

Your Company Applicant is the person who filed your Kansas LLC Articles of Organization with the Kansas Secretary of State. This person is also known as your LLC organizer.

The whole point of starting an LLC is to insulate your personal assets and limit your personal liability by creating a legal entity that is entirely separate from yourself. Mixing personal financial accounts with your business accounts weakens your limited liability.

To open a bank account for your Kansas LLC, you’ll need to bring the following to the bank:

• Kansas LLC Articles of Organization (a copy is permitted)
• the LLC’s operating agreement
• the LLC’s EIN
• an LLC Resolution to Open a Bank Account (if your LLC has more than one member)

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

You’ve taken the leap, formed your LLC, and opened a bank account—now it’s time to fund it. Each owner needs to pay into the LLC in order to obtain membership interest. Membership interest represents a member’s stake in the LLC. Making initial contributions to the LLC is usually done with a check. It’s important to note that contributions made in the form of property or services can trigger tax events.

Kansas LLCs must file an annual report with the Kansas Secretary of State each year. The annual report basically serves to ensure the state has up-to-date contact information for the LLC. The annual report costs $50 to file online or $55 by mail.

Worried you’ll forget? Let us file your Kansas annual report for you.

*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.