How to Start an LLC in Kentucky: If you’re looking to start an LLC in Kentucky, you’ve come to the right page. Setting up an LLC is easy and cost-effective. To form an LLC, you must follow a few steps that include naming your LLC, hiring a registered agent, filing your formation documents, doing the operating agreement, and finally obtaining the EIN. You can easily set up your LLC at a very low cost in Kentucky. Though, you must pay the mandatory state filing fee. These fees and charges can be tax deductible, making the LLC formation cost almost negligible.
On this page, You’ll find all the steps that must be taken to ensure that your Kentucky LLC has been correctly formed. We recommend you read the whole article very carefully, word by word, don’t miss anything 🙂
How to Start an LLC in Kentucky
An LLC (aka Limited Liability Company) is a hybrid business entity combining a corporation’s characteristics with a partnership or sole proprietorship. It separates your personal assets from your business assets, thus giving you personal asset protection. For an LLC, members’ personal assets are not affected by business debts. However, in some cases, if the LLC is sued for business debts, courts might pierce the corporate veil and use the owner’s personal assets to meet their corporate liabilities.
If you wish to start an LLC in Kentucky, you must file your Certificate of Formation with the State and pay a filing fee of $40. While it’s the most important step, it’s not the only one. There are 4 other crucial steps to follow to get your LLC formed in Kentucky. Below are all 5 steps that explain everything you need to do to start a Kentucky LLC in 2024. Let’s get started! You can always hire a professional LLC formation service in Kentucky to set up your LLC instead of doing it alone; a Pro service will ensure everything is done properly.
Step 1: Decide a Name for Your Kentucky LLC
The first step while forming a limited liability company in Kentucky is to give a proper name to your LLC. Before you name your business, you must know that the name should be easy to remember, available in the state, and follows all the LLC naming guidelines.
Kentucky LLC Naming Guidelines
There are a few specific requirements all the LLCs in Kentucky have to follow while naming their Company. Some of the most important requirements are as follows:
- Your business name should be available and no other existing business in Kentucky can have the same name. ZenBusiness offers unlimited business name searches without any hassle.
- “Limited Liability Company”, “Ltd. Liability Co.”, “Limited Company”, “Ltd. Co.”, “LC”, “L.C.”, “LLC”, and “L.L.C.” – any one of these has to be used as a suffix in your business name.
- You cannot use any name for your business that is confusing or misleading. Terms such as “Treasury”, “State Department”, “FBI”, “CIA”, etc. shouldn’t be included.
- Terms like “Bank“, “University“, “Attorney“, “Doctor“, etc can be added only after the additional requirements by Kentucky State Government are fulfilled.
- (Optional) It’s better to name your business something for which your desired domain is available.
Important Links – | Submit Offline Form to – |
---|---|
Kentucky Business Entity Search – Online Search Name Reservation Form – PDF Name Availability Standards – Guidelines Kentucky LLC Name Search – Instructions | Division of Business Filings Business Filings P.O. Box 718 Frankfort, KY 40602 |
Reserve Business Name for Future
If you do not wish to file your LLC right now but want to hold the name you have decided on, then you can reserve your LLC name for 120 days. To keep the name, you must file a name reservation application and pay $15 to reserve your name with the Kentucky Secretary of State.
Doing Business As (DBA) or Trade Name
Once you have a legal name for your LLC, you can register it. However, it is not mandatory. You can, instead, use DBA, Fictitious Name, or Trade Name. In that case, you must register your name with the Kentucky Secretary of State by submitting a Certificate of Assumed Name in Kentucky and the filing fee of $46.
Recommended: You can do name search, business domain, website, emails, and a lot more in one place by hiring a professional service. We recommend using –
ZenBusiness – ($0 for LLC Formation)
Apart from LLC formation, ZenBusiness offers customized website templates and business emails at a very reasonable price. If you plan to get a website, then it is wise to have a “.com” domain for your business, but these days you can also use other TLDs like “.io”, “.company”, “.xyz,” etc. Here you can get everything you need for your business in one dashboard.
It is not legally mandatory to use the word LLC in your domain name or email. If you want, you can use it. However, it is recommended not to use LLC in the domain name. A domain name should be short and easy to remember.
Step 2: Assign a Registered Agent in Kentucky
The second step to forming an LLC in Kentucky is to appoint a Registered Agent. A registered agent is a person or business entity working on your LLC’s behalf. This person or business will receive important tax forms, legal documents, all notices of lawsuits, and other official government correspondence in Kentucky. Hence, hiring a competent Kentucky Registered Agent for your LLC is necessary.
Make sure your registered agent is a resident of Kentucky or has a physical street address. This address will be used as the principal address of your LLC to receive any legal documents. Most LLC formation companies also provide registered agent services. Below are two great LLC formation services; even if you buy their cheapest plan (normally $49/year), you also get registered agent service and other services at a very reasonable price.
These two are our top recommendations for registered agent service, as they are competent and authorized to conduct business in Kentucky. Some LLC formation services also offer standalone Kentucky registered agent services. You can purchase only Registered Agent services without purchasing any other LLC formation services. This standalone service might become handy if you are doing it yourself and don’t want to disclose your home address or you don’t want to pierce the corporate veil.
A person above 18 years of age and has a physical address in the state of Kentucky can be a Registered Agent. A Registered Agent can be an independent person or can be a business entity. One is responsible for handling all the legal documents on the LLCs behalf.
Yes, you can be your own registered agent if you are a resident of the state of Kentucky and you are above 18 years of age. To become a registered agent, you must have the authority to conduct any type of business in Kentucky.
There are a few reasons why you shouldn’t be your own registered agent. The address of the registered agent is used to communicate with the SOS or for any legal activities. If you are your own registered agent, you might have to upload your personal address to the public forum. Besides, the registered agent must be at the address during business hours. It won’t be easy for you as you also have to take care of other things in your LLC. Hence, it is wiser to appoint a separate entity as your registered agent.
If an LLC is sued in Kentucky, in some cases, courts might decide to lift the corporate veil, which means the owners of the LLC will be personally liable for their business debts. They might have to forgo their personal assets to repay their business debts. This is called piercing the corporate veil, where personal and business assets are not separated anymore. Your personal assets can be protected if you have enough capital and all your LLC documents are properly filed.
Registered Agent Consent Application
In Kentucky, there is no separate Consent Letter to be produced to the Secretary of State. At the time of change of Registered Agent (or the name or address), the new Registered Agent has to sign the consent letter. It comes with the Application form to Change the Registered Agent. The filing fee of $10 should be paid for it. For more information on the same, read our guide on how to change a registered agent in Kentucky.
Step 3: File Articles of Organization in Kentucky
The third and most important step in forming a Kentucky LLC is to file the Certificate of Formation. This Kentucky Articles of Organization is a legal document that is required to register your business with the Kentucky Secretary of State. It costs $40 (by mail and $208 online) to file your formation certificate in Kentucky. (Read more on LLC cost in Kentucky).
The Certificate of Formation includes details like the name of the LLC, the registered agent’s name, address, employees’ details, and the company’s structure (member-managed or manager-managed). Before hiring employees in Kentucky LLC, one should know about the rules and regulations thoroughly. Also, if you are expanding your existing business (an LLC) in other states to Kentucky, you must register as a Kentucky Foreign LLC.
How to File Online
Go to the Secretary of State Online Service. You will get the online service page. If you are already a subscriber, then click on the “log in to Subscribe Account” option and log in with your credentials. If you’re not subscribed, then you can directly start filing your LLC by clicking on the “Online Filing” button below. Read more about the Kentucky Articles of Organization for online registration.
How to File by Mail
If you prefer filing real-life forms for your Kentucky LLC registration, then you can download Domestic LLC Formation Form. Read the form thoroughly, fill it out, and mail it to the following address,
Mailing Address: Michael G. Adams
Office of the Secretary of State
P.O. Box 718
Frankfort, KY 40602
In-person Drop-off: Room 154, Capitol Building
700 Capital Ave.
Frankfort, KY 40601
Processing Time: Normally, it takes around 4-5 business days (approx) to get your LLC formed in Kentucky. The processing time for online filing might be a little faster than offline filing. With an additional cost, you can get expedited filing as well. However, the document processing time can be changed due to various factors.
Recommended: Online LLC Formation service can provide all these documents way faster than usual time with lifetime customer support and 100% accuracy. We recommend using –
ZenBusiness – ($0 + State Fees) Online LLC Setup
Every LLC owner has to pay the filing fees to register their business in Kentucky. This fee is mandatory but also tax deductible. If you’re doing it yourself (filing on your own), it will not cost you any additional service fee. However, it is not feasible to do that as the DIY process might be delayed, complicated, and messy, especially if you’re a novice entrepreneur. Hence, it is recommended to get professional guidance to get your LLC formed in Kentucky.
Step 4: Create Your Kentucky LLC Operating Agreement
Moving on to the fourth step, filing your operating agreement. An operating agreement is a document that legally outlines the proprietorship and operating procedures of your LLC. This document is vital as it ensures that all business owners are on the same page regarding how they operate, thus reducing future conflicts.
When it comes to filing a Kentucky LLC Operating Agreement, the state does not require you to have a comprehensive operating agreement, but it is ideal to have one that contains all the details of your business operation that helps in taking future business decisions, especially if you decide to dissolve Kentucky LLC later. Hence, having an operating agreement may not be necessary but it is surely ideal.
Recommended: You can get a professionally made operating agreement for very less cost with ZenBusiness. You don’t need to worry about drafting it as they will take care of it on your behalf. We recommend using –
ZenBusiness – ($0 + State Fees) Online LLC Setup
The operating agreement draft can be created for free if you don’t hire a professional. However, there is an advantage to appointing a proficient person/service. You will get a businesslike quality operating agreement at a very cheap fee, which will help you in the future. Hiring a professional service means you can sleep well at night 🙂
Step 5: Filing a Kentucky LLC EIN
The Employer Identification Number (aka EIN) is a nine-digit number given by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to make it easier to identify the type of business for tax purposes and taxes in general. The EIN is necessary for any active business or any form of business for that matter.
EIN in Kentucky is needed when the LLC hires employees. Hiring employees in Kentucky LLC requires following specific rules and regulations. On the other side, EIN for Kentucky foreign LLC should be obtained if your LLC is based in other states.
To obtain EIN (aka FEIN), one has to fill up a form (Online or by mail) and submit it to the IRS. Enter details of your LLC, and finally, complete the form and send it to the address given. You can also get an EIN Assistant who can help you with the process.
Mail to: Internal Revenue Service, Attn: EIN Operation, Cincinnati, OH 45999
Fax: (855) 641-6935 | Fee: Free
Recommended: This hassle will be reduced when you hire an LLC formation service. They take care of obtaining EIN and all other things for your LLC. We recommend using –
ZenBusiness – ($0 + State Fees) Online LLC Setup
Note: You don’t need a Social Security number when getting an EIN. You can proceed to fill out I.R.S. Form SS-4 and leave section 7b blank. You must then call the IRS at (267) 941-1099 to complete your application. Agents or employees will help you with that.
Congratulations, you are now done with all the necessary steps to form your Limited Liability Company in Kentucky. If you do it yourself, it should take you a long time to understand and do all the steps properly.
However, if you use ZenBusiness, it should be way faster. You will always have a live chat option and phone support with experts for any help you need. Their worry-free service will make things easier for you.
After Starting Your Kentucky LLC
After forming your LLC, there are still some things that you will need. The most important thing is to separate your business and personal assets. LLCs have limited liability protection that protects your personal assets from business liability. This is called a corporate veil. However, the corporate veil can be lifted or pierced by the court if the LLC is sued. In that case, the owners of the LLC become personally liable for their corporate debts. A few things like appointing a legit registered agent, having enough capital, and filing all the major documents with the state can save the LLCs from being pierced into the corporate veil.
BOI Report Filing
According to the Corporate Transparency Act, every LLC, corporation, and other type of business that is registered with the Kentucky SOS or similar authority, must file the BOI report with FinCEN. From January 1, 2024, it is mandatory to file a BOI report for every business entity. In this report, LLCs have to share information about the beneficial owners (having equal or more than 25% share). LLC owners can file BOI reports online or offline.
LLCs in Kentucky that are created before January 1, 2024, should file their BOI report by January 1, 2025. LLCs that are created in 2024, must file the BOI report within 90 business days of finishing the LLC formation process. Missing out on filing the BOI report may lead to a monetary penalty of $500/day.
Apart from that, there are a few things you need to take note of,
- Get a company business bank account.
- File Kentucky business permits & licenses
- Get general liability insurance and professional liability insurance with coverage for employees.
- File a Kentucky LLC annual report or biennial report
This page has provided you with steps to LLC formation and filing processes. You now have to remember upcoming filing deadlines and filing fees or filing costs, including fees for late filings to make sure your LLC is up-to-date.
The LLC formation processing time in Kentucky is 1 business day if filing offline (by mail). The process starts immediately if filed online. Check how long it takes to form an LLC to know about the tentative timelines.
Cost of Kentucky LLC
LLCs can be formed by spending less price. Apart from the mandatory state filing fees, you don’t have to bear additional service charges if you do it yourself. Following are the fees and taxes LLCs in Kentucky must pay to register and run a business in the state. Forming an LLC is no doubt cost-effective compared to other business structures. However, the fees and charges (tax-deductible) that you must pay to the state, such as name reservation fee, name filing fee, LLC filing fee, and Franchise Tax & Sales Tax (If applicable). Here are the main fees and taxes you must pay while forming your limited liability company in Kentucky,
Fees/Tax | Amount to be Paid |
---|---|
Name Reservation Fee (online) | $15 |
Articles of Organization Fee | $40 |
LLC Annual Fee | $15 |
Sales Tax | 6% |
In Kentucky, an LLC name reservation is not mandatory. You can register your LLC name at the time of registering your LLC. If you wish to hold the name for some time without registering your LLC, then you can do that online. Your LLC name will be reserved for 1 year without registering your LLC. It can be renewed by paying $15 30 days before the 120 days span is over.
In Kentucky, an Annual Report has to be produced every year. It costs $15. Also, the State of Kentucky requires to pay a Sales Tax of 6%. Read our guide on LLC costs in Kentucky for more information.
Kentucky Foreign LLC
If you are interested in forming a Foreign LLC in Kentucky, then you need to file the Certificate of Foreign LLC to the Kentucky Secretary of State. Foreign LLCs allow you to operate your business in more than one state. Along with the Certificate of Foreign LLC, you need to submit some more documents like the Certificate of Good Standing, etc. to the Kentucky SOS to form your foreign LLC in Kentucky. To know more in detail, check out our guide on Kentucky Foreign LLC.
Reasons to Start an LLC in Kentucky
Kentucky is one of those states where having an LLC is easy and cost-effective. Other than the filing fee, there are not many tax liabilities. LLCs with employees or LLCs that want to hire employees may have to pay employment taxes. The LLC formation process. tax filing, amendment filing, and personal tax returns filing are easy in Kentucky. Alongside there are various business funding options for small businesses, especially if it is a woman-owned business, you will get long-lasting benefits.
There is a whole list of key benefits that a person will encounter if they are thinking of starting an LLC in Kentucky. Out of those detailed benefits, some of them are discussed in brief so that you can adequately make up your mind regarding the opening of your LLC.
The state tax rebate
If a small business is thinking of incorporating into Kentucky, their LLC gets enrolled with the Kentucky Small Business Tax Credit (KSBTC) program. It is specially designed to give benefits to the starting-ups. Under this program, the LLC who has to pay the state tax in Kentucky under the KRS 141.0401 act can apply for a tax return.
This value may range from $3,500 to around $25,000, which is more than efficient for a small startup to thrive and pay up its bills for several months. Read more on Kentucky’s classification of LLC tax.
Sales tax credit through tourism attraction
The Kentucky Tourism Development Act mainly targets the startup LLC’s that are formed in the Kentucky province. If they help the state attract tourists and increase the income through tourism, then the state tax that they have to pay will be paid back to them in the form of an incentive.
A direct loan is given to some essential businesses
According to the Kentucky state, the primary income source is agribusiness, tourist places, and the service industries. That is why they are giving very importance to a program that Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority starts. The main aim of this program is to provide some long-term finances by providing them a direct loan.
It means that if you are entering the Kentucky LLC, you can also avail of the services of loan, which are not readily available.
Kentucky Business Investment
The KBI benefit is mainly available by the fuel-based industry dealing with energy-efficient fuels and companies producing alternative energy from non-renewable fuels. Such companies are provided an income tax credit under the KBI program. This rebate is that the government thinks that these industries are doing some good work towards environmental improvement.
Top Industries Operating in Kentucky
If you are an entrepreneur looking to start an LLC in Kentucky, you should know about the industry in detail. You should know their contributions and size in the state to take the help of the below-mentioned information.
Coal Mining
Coal mining in the state produces more than 100 million tons which is the combined production of underground mining and surface mining. According to the census, 442 coal mines were operating in the state in 2017 with 4,000 registered mine workers, which increased to around 6,257 in the year 2017 who are working in underground mines.
Logistics Business
More than 540 logistics centers are currently present in the state, employing more than 75000-80000 people. The logistics trade in Kentucky is the state is at a day drive for 65% of US residents, which makes it a perfect place for planning the logistics and distribution centers by businesses. There is a spend of around $600 billion in the country, out of which 70% is served by Kentucky state.
Manufacturing
If you look at the most significant share in GDP, it is of the manufacturing sector that is around 18% recently. In 2009, this value was half, which shows growth in the manufacturing business in the state. The state is raising jobs for more than 14% of the population living in the state currently.
This field has been the best for workers as the pay scale has increased to around $44,000 per capita worker, which is 10-15% higher than other states and businesses.
These are the business industries that are at the top of the state list. If you want to know some low-investment businesses, then here are the options.
- Gift Basket business
- Airbnb
- Calligraphy teaching business
Kentucky LLC Formation Review
Time needed: 5 minutes
Just to recap, here are the easy steps again when forming an LLC in Kentucky. Click on the steps in this list to read the full detail.
- Name your Kentucky LLC
The first thing you must do is to choose a company name, which should be unique, easy to find, and available in the state.
- Choose a Registered Agent
In Kentucky, it is mandatory to select a registered agent for your LLC. Get a professional Registered Agent from LLC formation services to get things done hassle-free.
- File a Formation Certificate
Filing a formation certificate is necessary when forming an LLC in Kentucky. Depending on the state, it could be called any of the following: Certificate of Formation, Articles of Organization, or Certificate of Organization.
- Create an Operating Agreement
An operating agreement is not a strict requirement in Kentucky but something encouraged when you start an LLC to avoid future conflicts.
- Get an EIN
The Employer Identification Number (EIN), also called Federal Tax Identification Number, serves to identify a business entity like a social security number but for a company.
F.A.Qs
If you are a resident of Kentucky, then you can file your LLC by yourself. However, it is always worth having a professional than doing it yourself to handle legal complexities, paperwork, and other documentation.
Apart from the formation fee of $40 (domestic LLC) and $90 (foreign LLC), LLC cost in Kentucky includes $15 for Annual Reports every year. LLCs are liable to pay sales tax of 6% every year
It takes no time (immediate) to get a Kentucky LLC if you file it online. For the mail filing, it takes 3 to 5 business days to get an LLC. If you hire a professional LLC service, then it might take less than that. We recommend TailorBrands which has impeccable turnaround time.
Every year all the LLCs have to submit an Annual Report and pay $15 to the Kentucky Secretary of State and renew the LLC. It is mandatory to renew your LLC every year.
Generally, for LLCs, it is a default tax structure. Once you obtain the EIN, you will get the various tax structure options to select. Sometimes LLCs choose S Corp to reduce federal tax burdens. Read more on the Kentucky Classification of LLC Tax.
In Conclusion
When it comes to forming an LLC in Kentucky, it is much simpler than other business structures. In Kentucky, starting a small business or a start-up is easy because of its diverse resources. For small budget holders, forming a limited liability company is desirable. The steps explained in this article are generic steps for starting a business in Kentucky. It is recommended to consult an attorney or service provider.
In Kentucky, while establishing an LLC, make sure you check with the local bodies like the city council and district office to get updated with local regulations. We recommend ZenBusiness, one of the best LLC services that offers LLC formation at $0 (+ state filing fees). Hiring a professional service would make things easier. From having a registered agent to complying with the local and state government, everything will be smoother than doing things all by yourself.