How to Start an LLC in Mississippi (MS LLC 2024)


Steve Bennett
Steve Bennett
Business Formation Expert
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How to Start an LLC in Mississippi: If you’re looking to start an LLC in Mississippi, 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 Mississippi. 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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi

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 Mississippi, you must file your Certificate of Formation with the State and pay a filing fee of $50. 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 Mississippi. Below are all 5 steps that explain everything you need to do to start a Mississippi LLC in 2024. Let’s get started! You can always hire a professional LLC formation service in Mississippi 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 Mississippi LLC

Mississippi name your llc

The first step while forming a limited liability company in Mississippi 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.

Mississippi LLC Naming Guidelines

There are a few specific requirements all the LLCs in Mississippi 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 Mississippi can have the same name. ZenBusiness offers unlimited business name searches without any hassle.
  • “Limited Liability Company”, “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 Mississippi State Government are fulfilled.
  • (Optional) It’s better to name your business something for which your desired domain is available.
Important Links –
Mississippi Business Entity Search – Online Search
Name Reservation Form – Online
Name Availability Standards – Guidelines
Mississippi LLC Name Search – Instructions

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 180 days. To keep the name, you must file a name reservation application and pay $25 to reserve your name with the Mississippi 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 Mississippi Secretary of State by submitting an Application for Fictitious Business Name Registration in Mississippi, along with the filing fee of $25.

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 –

#1 TOP PICK

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.

Do I have to include LLC in my company email/domain?

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 Mississippi

Mississippi registered agent

The second step to forming an LLC in Mississippi 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 Mississippi. Hence, hiring a competent Mississippi Registered Agent for your LLC is necessary.

Make sure your registered agent is a resident of Mississippi 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 $0), you also get registered agent service and other services at a very reasonable price.

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These two are our top recommendations for registered agent service, as they are competent and authorized to conduct business in Mississippi. Some LLC formation services also offer standalone Mississippi 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.

Who Can Be a Registered Agent?

A person above 18 years of age and has a physical address in the state of Mississippi can be a Registered Agent. A Registered Agent can be an independent person or can be a business entity. One who is responsible for handling all the legal documents.

Can I Be My Own Registered Agent?

Yes, you can be your own registered agent if you are a resident of the state of Mississippi 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 Mississippi.

Why Shouldn’t I be My Own Registered Agent?

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.

What is Piercing the Corporate Veil in LLC?

If an LLC is sued in Mississippi, 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 Mississippi, 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 Mississippi Registered Agent.

Step 3: File Certificate of Formation in Mississippi

Mississippi certificate of formation

The third and most important step in forming a Mississippi LLC is to file the Certificate of Formation. This Mississippi Certificate of Formation is a legal document that is required to register your business with the Mississippi Secretary of State. It costs $50 to file your formation certificate in Mississippi.

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 Mississippi LLC, one should know about the rules and regulations thoroughly. Also, if you are expanding your existing business (an LLC) in other states to Mississippi, you must register as a Mississippi 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 Filer 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 Mississippi Certificate of Formation for online registration.

Processing Time: Normally, it takes around 3-5 business days (approx) to get your LLC formed in Mississippi. 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 –

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Every LLC owner has to pay the filing fees to register their business in Mississippi. 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 Mississippi.

Step 4: Create Your Mississippi LLC Operating Agreement

Mississippi 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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi 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 –

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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 Mississippi LLC EIN

Mississippi file EIN for llc

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 Mississippi is needed when the LLC hires employees. Hiring employees in Mississippi LLC requires following specific rules and regulations. On the other side, EIN for Mississippi foreign LLC should be obtained if your LLC is based in other states.

To obtain EIN (aka FEIN), one must 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 to 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 –

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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 Mississippi. 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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi 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,

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 Mississippi is 1-2 business days if filing online. The state does not have offline filing method. Check how long it takes to form an LLC to know about the tentative timelines.

Cost of Mississippi 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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi,

Fees/TaxAmount to be Paid
Name Reservation Fee (online)$25
Certificate of Formation Fee$50
LLC Annual Fee$0
Sales Tax7%

In Mississippi, 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 180 days without registering your LLC. It can be renewed by paying $25. However, you cannot renew the name for the next 60 days once the 180-day span is over.

In Mississippi, an Annual Report has to be produced every year. It costs $0. Also, the State of Mississippi requires to pay a Sales Tax of 7%. Read our guide on LLC costs in Mississippi for more information.

Mississippi Foreign LLC

If you are interested in forming a Foreign LLC in Mississippi, then you need to file the Certificate of Foreign LLC to the Mississippi 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 Mississippi SOS to form your foreign LLC in Mississippi. To know more in detail, check out our guide on Mississippi Foreign LLC.

Reasons to Start an LLC in Mississippi

Starting a Mississippi Limited Liability Company has benefits that most of the other states may not be offering. The state has a strong transportation base and is well connected with other states that leverage the state number in the list of preferred states for starting an LLC. Other than that, entrepreneurs get diverse business funding options in the state. For example, a woman-owned business gets some reductions in tax liabilities in Mississippi. Read more on Mississippi’s classification of LLC tax.

It is easy to run a successful business in Mississippi. LLCs can earn an extra profit as other than personal taxes, no major federal taxes need to be paid by the LLCs. Along with that, it is considered a very nice developed state from the point of view of tourism.

Rural Economic Development Credit (RED)

When a new LLC in Mississippi is registered with the government, they give credit to the LLC for bringing some sources of development with them. Only some business people are given this credit, like manufacturing units, technology enterprises, or telecommunication industries. Now when all of them apply for this credit, the government checks whether they are using the revenue bonds for their industry or not. The Mississippi Business Finance Corporation issues these bonds.

Tourism Tax Rebates

In Mississippi, tourism-related businesses get a huge tax rebate. It is not surprising that LLCs with this type of business is more interested in Mississippi than others. Around 80% of the total sales tax LLCs have to pay while registration is returned to them as the tax rebate. Tourism businesses looking forward to starting theme parks, water parks, or some other places of attraction in Mississippi can enjoy this tax benefit.

Health Care Incentive Program

Start-up companies who are thinking of starting an LLC in Mississippi will get an extra incentive if they are somehow related to the healthcare field. Such businesses will enjoy a direct deduction for 10 years in the state income tax they are about to pay. Moreover, the taxes they pay on sales are also less than other businesses in the state.

Loan programs for LLC

Funding is the main reason why many LLCs are unable to establish their business. But in the state of Mississippi, this issue is not faced by many LLCs. The state has started many programs to ensure that none of the LLCs gets scarce. The same funding program for which businesses with unique idea can enroll is the Agribusiness Enterprise Loan program and Minority Enterprise Loan program. They are sunning to help LLCs rise and establish.

Top Businesses of Mississippi State

Before you form an LLC in Mississippi, you should gain complete knowledge regarding the pre-established industries. It helps in understanding the business much better, and you can start your journey quickly.

Broad Agricultural Sector

The agricultural sector of the Mississippi state is extensive. If you look at the total figure, the state generates around $6.2 billion per year for the state. The categories in the agricultural sectors of the state are:-

  • The poultry field of the state is very diverse and has produced around 747 million chicken broilers.
  • The state’s cotton farming is ranked the top in the country producing around 1.48 million bales of cotton every year worth $623 million.
  • The wheat of around $12 million is produced in the state alone.
  • The cattle business of around $305 million was done in the year 2018.
  • Various fishes are also famous that are available only in Mississippi state.

Entertainment

Gambling is also made legal in Mississippi state, which has helped in the growth of the tourism industry. The revenue generated by the state’s gambling activities is around $42.25 billion, which has increased year by year. Due to these entertainment casinos, the tourism of the state is very well established. People visit the state, spend their time in the local restaurants and beautiful spots, and bet money in the casinos.

Manufacturing

For balancing such a substantial agricultural industry, there are various manufacturing units have been established. Packaging and processing of food is the primary industry of the state that works in the packaging of regular food and non-vegetarian products exported in massive amounts. Moreover, other goods like automobile factories, lighting equipment, and vehicles are also produced in the state. The biggest industries are Nissan Automotive plants and the Toyota plant in Blue Springs.

Businesses that are established well into the state with low investment values are:-

  • Cat Fish Farming
  • Auto Repairing workshop
  • Opening up a liquor store or a bar

Mississippi LLC Formation Review

Time needed: 5 minutes

Just to recap, here are the easy steps again when forming an LLC in Mississippi. Click on the steps in this list to read the full detail.

  1. Name your Mississippi 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.
    name your llc

  2. Choose a Registered Agent

    In Mississippi, 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.
    registered agent

  3. File a Formation Certificate

    Filing a formation certificate is necessary when forming an LLC in Mississippi. Depending on the state, it could be called any of the following: Certificate of Formation, Articles of Organization, or Certificate of Organization.
    articles of organization

  4. Create an Operating Agreement

    An operating agreement is not a strict requirement in Mississippi but something encouraged when you start an LLC to avoid future conflicts.
    operating agreement

  5. 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.
    file EIN for llc

F.A.Qs

Can I file an LLC in Mississippi by myself?

If you are a resident of Mississippi, 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.

What is the cost of forming an LLC in Mississippi in a year?

Apart from the formation fee of $50 (domestic LLC) and $250 (foreign LLC), LLC costs in Mississippi $0 for Annual Reports every year. LLCs are liable to pay sales tax of 7% every year.

How long does it take to get an LLC in Mississippi?

You will get LLC in Mississippi immediately if you file it online. For the mail filing, it takes 3-5 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 an impeccable turnaround time.

How to renew my LLC in Mississippi?

Every year all the LLCs have to submit an Annual Report to the Mississippi Secretary of State and renew the LLC. It is mandatory to renew your LLC every year.

What is the tax structure for an LLC in Mississippi?

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 Mississippi Classification of LLC Tax.

In Conclusion

When it comes to forming an LLC in Mississippi, it is much simpler than other business structures. In Mississippi, 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 Mississippi. It is recommended to consult an attorney or service provider.

In Mississippi, 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.

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