Start an LLC by State

Start an LLC by State › Washington

Starting an LLC in Washington: step by step (2026)

To start an LLC in Washington, file the Certificate of Formation - Limited Liability Company with the Washington Secretary of State and pay the $200 state fee. $180 filing fee plus the $20 online processing fee. Washington LLCs file an Annual Report every year, due the last day of the entity's anniversary month, for $70. Every Washington LLC must keep a registered agent with a Washington street address.

  • Official sources, checked October 20, 2026
  • Prices verified October 2026

How to form an LLC in Washington

  1. Pick a name with “LLC” or “Limited Liability Company” in it, and check that it’s free on the Washington Secretary of State business records.
  2. Name a registered agent: a commercial registered agent listed with the Secretary of State, a noncommercial agent (any person or business with a Washington address), or the holder of a named position in the company. The agent consents in advance.
  3. File the Certificate of Formation - Limited Liability Company with the Washington Secretary of State and pay $200.
  4. Get an EIN from the IRS. It is free and comes after the LLC is formed.
  5. Sign an operating agreement among the members. It sets ownership and voting rules and stays with your records.
  6. File the yearly report. Washington LLCs file an Annual Report every year, due the last day of the entity's anniversary month, for $70.

Mainstay Filing takes care of the agent, the filing, the EIN application and each annual report for $199 a year plus Washington’s fees.

Washington LLC fees and rules

State filing fee
$200
$180 filing fee plus the $20 online processing fee.
Formation document
Certificate of Formation - Limited Liability Company
Yearly filing
Annual Report, every year, $70
Due
Last day of the entity's anniversary month
Registered agent
Required. A commercial registered agent listed with the Secretary of State, a noncommercial agent (any person or business with a Washington address), or the holder of a named position in the company. The agent consents in advance.
Agent address
The address has to be a physical street address in Washington. P.O. boxes and private mailboxes are not accepted.
Filing fee rank
43rd lowest of 50 (42 states charge less, 6 charge more)
Best overall for a Washington LLC

Mainstay Filing

Our rating: 4.9 out of 5

$199 / year, all-in, plus state fees

$199 a year plus Washington’s $200 filing fee, which is passed through at cost.

  • LLC formation, prepared and filed
  • Registered agent, all year
  • EIN application (with an SSN or ITIN)
  • Annual report, prepared and filed every year it’s due
  • Compliance reminders

The same $199 at renewal. Already have an LLC and only need an agent? Mainstay Filing’s registered agent service alone is $149 a year.

Prices verified October 21, 2026 on Mainstay Filing’s pricing and FAQ pages.

Washington compared with neighboring states

StateFiling feeYearly filing
Washington$200$70 / yr
Idaho$100$0 report
Oregon$100$100 / yr

All 50 states

Washington LLC questions

How much does it cost to start an LLC in Washington?

$200 to the state to file. $180 filing fee plus the $20 online processing fee. Washington LLCs file an Annual Report every year, due the last day of the entity's anniversary month, for $70. With Mainstay Filing, the formation filing, registered agent, EIN application and annual reports are $199 a year on top of the state fees.

Does Washington require an annual report for LLCs?

Yes. Washington LLCs file an Annual Report every year, due the last day of the entity's anniversary month, for $70.

Do I need a registered agent in Washington?

Yes. A commercial registered agent listed with the Secretary of State, a noncommercial agent (any person or business with a Washington address), or the holder of a named position in the company. The agent consents in advance.

Can I form a Washington LLC myself?

Yes. You can file the Certificate of Formation - Limited Liability Company directly with the Washington Secretary of State and pay the $200 fee. A service such as Mainstay Filing files it for you and adds the registered agent, EIN application and annual reports for $199 a year.

Other formation services

  • Northwest Registered Agent: $39 plus the state fee, with its registered agent service included the first year, then $125 a year; annual report filing is an extra $100 plus the state fee.
  • ZenBusiness: Starter package $0 plus the state fee; Pro is $199 a year with the EIN and annual-report filing, and its registered agent is a separate $199 a year that no package includes.
  • Bizee: Basic package $0 plus the state fee (Standard $199, Premium $299), with one free year of its registered agent, which is $149 a year after that.
  • LegalZoom: Basic package $0 plus the state fee (Pro $249, Premium $299); its registered agent is $249 a year for first-time agent customers.

Prices from each company’s own pages, checked October 20, 2026. Plus the state fee in every case.

Sources