Start an LLC in New Mexico
Start a New Mexico LLC by filing Articles of Organization with the New Mexico Secretary of State for $52. Use our free tool to do it yourself, or hire us and have your LLC filed with Privacy by Default® for $39. This includes a free domain name, web hosting, email address, phone line, brand protection, and a year of registered agent service.
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New Mexico Articles of Organization
You can use our free tool to complete your Articles of Organization right here. Download, save, or print at any time. You can hire us to submit your Articles or do it yourself.
How to Start an LLC in New Mexico
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 free identity tools to anyone who needs them—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.
1. Name Your LLC
First things first: Your LLC needs a name. New Mexico requires your LLC name be different from any business names registered or reserved in New Mexico. But your name should also work from a marketing standpoint, not just a legal one. Here are some tips to accomplish both:
- Start with a New Mexico business name search to see if your preferred name is taken or available.
- Then search available domain names and look for one that matches or complements the LLC name you want.
- You can trademark your name in the state by filling out a trademark application and paying a minimum fee of $50.
- If you want to check your name against the list of federal trademarks, look it up on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office database.
Note: Be sure your name includes an indicator like LLC, L.L.C., LC, limited liability company, or limited company.
2. Register your Domain Name
Your domain name helps you launch a website, build social media profiles, set up email communications, and more.
When you’re picking a domain name, consider a few things:
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Does your domain work well with your business name?
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Is your domain easy to remember and spell?
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Is your domain available wherever else you want it, like social platforms, trademarks, or business name registries?
When you form an LLC with Northwest, we’ll give you a domain for free. With 25 years of experience supporting business owners in all 50 states, we’ve built our services to grow with your business.
3. Appoint a Registered Agent
All LLCs are required to designate a registered agent. Registered agents accept important legal and state mail on your behalf. You must also list your registered agent’s information on your Articles of Organization.
To qualify, a New Mexico registered agent must:
- Maintain a physical address in New Mexico
- Be present during regular business hours
- Agree to accept and quickly forward your legal and state mail
The registered agent you use is a key part of your business identity. Your business identity is the way you present your business to the world, including potential customers and clients. Our Registered Agent Service can help strengthen that identity from the start!
4. File Articles of Organization
Once you’re ready to start your LLC, you can submit your Articles of Organization to the Secretary of State. New Mexico only accepts formation paperwork electronically via its e-file system. You’ll need to pay a $52 filing fee.
Note: Names and addresses listed on the Articles of Organization go on the public record.
Here’s the information you’ll need:
Company Name
Must include “Limited Liability Company,” “LLC,” or another abbreviation thereof.
Effective Date (Optional)
If you like, you can delay the formation date for your LLC by up to 60 days.
Duration
You can add a future end date for your LLC or choose “Perpetual” if you don’t have a planned dissolution date. Most LLCs choose “Perpetual.”
Business Purpose (Optional)
If you want to include a specific business purpose, you can do so here.
Registered Agent Information
At minimum, your registered agent must list a physical New Mexico address on the public record and be available to accept legal mail during regular business hours Monday through Friday.
You can be your own registered agent if you want, but the downside is that you’ll have to use your own name and address on your Articles of Organization, which will be made public. The other option is hiring a registered agent service, like Northwest. This ensures that you can keep your own address private while still getting the protections of an LLC.
Principal Business Address
Only required if different from your registered agent address. You also have the option to add a secondary address and/or a mailing address.
Manager Information (Optional)
Not required, but if you decide to add it later, you’ll have to pay $52 to file an amendment or restatement. Select the option for “Same as Principal Place of Business” to skip adding manager addresses.
Member Information (Optional)
Also not required, but your bank may require this information to be included in order to open a business bank account. Select the option for “Same as Principal Place of Business” to skip adding member addresses.
Organizer
Your company organizer is the person who files the Articles of Organization for your business. If you file yourself, you’ll need to include your name and signature here. If you hire us to form your business, we’ll be your organizer.
5. Create an Operating Agreement
Your operating agreement is the blueprint for how your LLC will function internally. It outlines rules for everyday decisions (like how membership transfers get handled) as well as events that generally only happen once (like the dissolution of the business).
Northwest offers free, attorney-drafted New Mexico operating agreement templates you can use if you aren’t sure where to start, though it’s also a good idea to consult with your own attorney before you finalize the agreement.
6. Get an EIN
An EIN (short for Employer Identification Number) is a bit like a Social Security number for your business. The IRS uses this number to identify your business when you file taxes. You can get an EIN by going through the IRS website, or by mailing in a paper form.
If you feel like doing it yourself, you can learn how to get an EIN for your LLC. If you’d rather not deal with the hassle, you can hire us to do it for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. If you have a business name but you’re not ready to pull the trigger on forming an LLC, you can reserve the name in New Mexico for up to 120 days. This will protect your name from being used by another company. You’ll just need to file the Application for Name Reservation and pay the $20 filing fee.
Ready to Start a New Mexico LLC?
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