LLC Service Review Guidelines
An LLC checklist is a list of essential tasks and requirements to help ensure the proper formation and ongoing compliance of a limited liability company, helping business owners stay organized and meet legal obligations.
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Last Updated: March 26, 2026
What does an entrepreneur need to start a limited liability company (LLC)? Use this LLC checklist to form an LLC and obtain limited liability protection. (For a full walkthrough, see the detailed guide on how to start an LLC).
When coming up with business name ideas, an entrepreneur needs to choose something unique that also identifies the type of business they hope to run. All states have naming requirements for business entities that must be followed.
In addition to following the state’s other requirements for naming an LLC, a new business owner generally needs to verify the availability of the name they want before they can claim it for their business. A new LLC can’t have a name that’s too similar to another business in the state.
Once an entrepreneur has settled on a name, it might be helpful to reserve it. Most states give entrepreneurs the option to reserve their desired name for a short period of time, protecting it until they can officially form their LLC.
A DBA (“doing business as”) name, often called a trade name or fictitious business name, is necessary if an entrepreneur plans to operate their business under a different name than the one it’s registered under. ZenBusiness provides a step-by-step guide to registering a DBA name for a business.
Online businesses will need to register a domain name and get social media handles to start branding online. Having an online business with a matching web domain can help potential customers find the business easily when they search for it online.
LLCs are required by law to have a registered agent to receive official notices and legal documents (such as notification of a lawsuit, often called “service of process” in the legal world) in person during normal business hours. Using ZenBusiness’s registered agent services will give business owners peace of mind by ensuring that sensitive legal notices are received discreetly and away from the company’s primary place of business.
Articles of Organization should be filed alongside other formation documents with the Secretary of State’s office (or the comparable state agency) to officially register the limited liability company (LLC). Depending on the state, the Articles of Organization may also be referred to as a Certificate of Formation or a Certificate of Organization.
Operating agreements outline the rules and procedures for the management of the LLC as well as establish ownership percentages, how profits are divided among members, and much more. If a business owner isn’t sure how to go about creating an operating agreement for their LLC, ZenBusiness offers an operating agreement template to help anyone get started.
In some states, an LLC must obtain a general business license from the state before conducting any business at all. Even in states that don’t require a statewide general business license, some local governments may require one, such as the city or county government.
However, many LLCs need more than just a general business license. Licenses and permits fall into many categories, including things like zoning, professional licenses, building permits, food and alcohol permits, and countless other areas.
There’s no one central place to check to see if an LLC has every license and permit it needs. Most entrepreneurs will have to do some research. Alternatively, new business owners can use the ZenBusiness business license report service to tackle the research for them.
Trademarks can be registered for an LLC’s business name, logo, slogan, and product names to prevent others from copying the LLC’s ideas and to provide legal protection for the business (for a fee, of course). It’s also important to check that the LLC’s business name, logo, and other branding elements aren’t already trademarked in the state or at the national level.
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) serves as a business’s Social Security number, allowing it to hire employees, open a business bank account, and file certain taxes. Most LLCs are required to have an EIN, including those with multiple members or employees.
Business insurance can provide protection for an entrepreneur and their business against potential lawsuits, acts of nature, property damage, and more. General liability insurance can protect a company from many lawsuits arising from accidents on the property. Depending on the LLC’s industry and circumstances, a company may benefit from other specific insurance coverage options
In addition to funding the business by raising capital from family and friends, getting investors, and securing loans, grants are another possibility for funding new business operations. In the past, ZenBusiness has awarded up to $240,000 in grants for small business owners, but as of right now, that program’s on hold. Hopefully, it will resume soon. In the meantime, there are myriad other sources for small business grants at the local and federal levels.
Keeping the owners’ personal and business bank accounts separate not only simplifies business taxes, but it also bolsters their personal liability protection if someone ever questions the validity of the LLC. ZenBusiness Banking can help with this. Learn more about ZenBusiness Banking.
ZenBusiness is a financial technology company and is not a bank. Banking services provided by Thread Bank, Member FDIC.
Part of keeping the business and personal finances separate from one another is having credit cards to use solely for the business. Having a separate business credit card also allows the company to build its own credit history. Learn more about the best business credit card options.
Every business needs to secure a system for getting paid by clients and tracking its expenses. ZenBusiness Money Pro allows a business owner to access all their financial information on a single dashboard. This tool makes it simple to send invoices, maximize tax deductions, and receive payments fast, all in one place.
Getting a bookkeeper will free up time so an entrepreneur can run their business and feel confident that their company stays up to date with payments and tax filings. If that’s out of the startup’s price range, a reliable bookkeeping software package can help.
Understanding different tax options for a limited liability company (LLC) will allow a small business owner to maximize tax deductions and benefits for their business type and needs. The ZenBusiness tax resource center offers a variety of small business tax tips to help business owners understand this trickier side of running a company.
After creating a logo, entrepreneurs can create other marketing materials like business cards, flyers, and other materials to promote their business. Coming soon, the ZenBusiness logo generator will be able to help anyone get started on their marketing materials today, so they can start promoting their business.
In the digital age, it’s essential to build an online presence by setting up a website and providing an email address for customer contact. The ZenBusiness domain registration and business email address registration tools allow entrepreneurs to create an online presence for their business to reach more customers.
Listing a company online will allow customers to find its physical business address in addition to raising awareness about the existence of the business to potential new customers who aren’t already aware.
An LLC’s business plan should include a structured marketing plan, including social media posting, paid ads, blogging, videos, and so on, in order to promote the brand and maintain a digital presence for customers to interact with the brand.
Reaching out to specific demographics will help ensure that a business owner is attracting the right clientele. Kickstart getting specific clients by calling or emailing the potential client base, networking through events or gatherings, and promoting the business with marketing materials and raising awareness.
If the new LLC is hosting a team of employees or running a large business, it needs office space for all the employees to work. Office space can also be valuable for hosting meetings and sharing information about operations with the whole team.
Getting the proper equipment to run a company helps ensure that there are no holdups when it comes to getting products to the customer.
In the growth stage of a business, an owner will likely need all the help they can get to get the ball rolling. Hiring employees or independent contractors can allow an entrepreneur to put people to work in their operations while they handle the overhead.
Getting an experienced business adviser or coach can help an entrepreneur put their best foot forward with their business and get guidance on how to best grow their company.
Starting an LLC doesn’t have to be difficult. Let Zenbusiness handle it with their LLC formation service, or use the checklist above to do it solo.
Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. For specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.
Determining how to structure an LLC will depend on the company’s business operations and goals. LLCs offer business owners flexibility to choose their tax status and management structure, all of which can be detailed in the LLC operating agreement.
In order to run a legally compliant LLC, a business owner must keep up with state filing fees, annual reports, and tax returns. Hiring a bookkeeper or accountant helps make sure that the business doesn’t miss important payment or registration dates for specific business filings. The ZenBusiness worry-free compliance service can help any business keep up with its state obligations.
Although LLCs generally have less paperwork than corporations, it’s still necessary to keep books in order to file taxes correctly, keep track of operation expenses, and maximize benefits and deductions at the end of the year.
LLCs can take advantage of a variety of tax benefits that come with running a small business. In addition to basic expenses such as office space, vehicle cost and maintenance, and travel expenses, other items such as equipment, meals, insurance, and more may be able to be deducted from an LLC’s taxes.
LLC Resources
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When it comes to compliance, costs, and other factors, these are popular states for forming an LLC.
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