Start an LLC in Massachusetts

How to start an LLC in Massachusetts

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, email address, and brand protection on day one. This helps protect your privacy and keep you in control of your intellectual property.

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, you’ll also get a website, hosted and secured through us.

In order to officially form your MA LLC according to state statutes, you’ll need to file a Certificate of Organization with the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, along with a $500 filing fee. To complete the Certificate, provide the following information:

• Federal Identification Number. If you’ve already got an EIN number, list it here, but you can also obtain one after registering your LLC.

• Limited liability company name. Must include an indicator like LLC.
• Street address. The physical street address of the office where your LLC’s records are kept.
• General character of business. A brief statement of what your business does.
• Latest date of dissolution. Optional. The date your business will end, if applicable. Otherwise, you’ll need to formally dissolve your LLC later.
• Resident agent and address. Name and address of the person or company appointed to accept service of process for your LLC.
• LLC management. Names and business addresses (if different from your office street address) of all LLC managers, if your LLC has them.
• Authorized executors. Names and business addresses (if different from your office address) of any non-managers authorized to sign filings with the Corporations Division. You must provide information for at least one executor if your LLC has no managers.
• Person authorized for property. Optional. If you plan on buying property with the LLC, list the name of the person in your LLC who authorizes property purchases.
• Additional matters. Optional. Any additional articles you wish to include. For example, some LLCs include an article detailing the LLC’s management structure.
• Authorized signatory. The person who signs and submits the Certificate of Organization. If you hire us, we sign here.

All information on the Certificate of Organization form becomes part of the public record. If you already own an LLC and are looking to register it within a new state and foreign qualify it, you’ll want to register a foreign LLC in Massachusetts.

Your LLC needs funding. But mixing personal and business accounts risks the limited liability that keeps the LLC separate from it’s members. To prevent that, you’ll need to open a bank account for your LLC. That means you’ll need to get an EIN for your business, unless you’re a single-member LLC owner and would rather give out your own Social Security number. EINs (Employer Identification Numbers) are like Social Security numbers for businesses. The IRS uses your EIN to identify your LLC on tax filings.