When starting a new business, many owners opt to form a limited liability company (LLC). An LLC has many advantages, including limited liability for business debts, a flexible management structure, and tax benefits. If you're interested in starting a business in Connecticut, consider forming an LLC.
Follow these steps to create an LLC in Connecticut. For more information on how to form an LLC in any state, see our article on how to start an LLC. You can also use our online LLC formation service to register your LLC.
As you begin to create your LLC, you'll need to choose a name for your business. Connecticut has laws about LLC names that you should be aware of when picking out your name.
LLC name must be distinguishable. Your LLC's name must be distinguishable (different) from the names of any businesses that have been formed, registered, or reserved with the Connecticut Secretary of the State (SOTS). You can use Connecticut's business records search to check whether your proposed business name is available. (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 34-243k (2024).)
LLC name must include an entity designator. Under Connecticut law, your LLC name must contain the words "limited liability company" or the abbreviation "LLC" or "L.L.C." You can abbreviate "Limited" to "Ltd." and "Company" to "Co." (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 34-243k (2024).)
Name reservation. You can reserve an available business name for 120 days by filing an Application for Reservation of Name with the SOTS. You can file the reservation by mail or online. You'll need to create a CT.GOV account for online filings. As of 2024, the filing fee to reserve a name is $60. (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 34-243l (2024).)
Using a trade name. When you're doing business out in the real world, you can use a name that's different from your LLC's legal name. Your LLC's legal name is listed in its certificate of organization (called "articles of organization" in other states). This alternative name is sometimes called a "trade name," "DBA" (short for doing business as), or "fictitious business name." If you use a DBA, you must register it by filing a trade name certificate with the town clerk's office where your LLC will do business. (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 35-1 (2024).)
Every Connecticut LLC must have an agent for service of process (called a "registered agent") in the the state. A "registered agent" is a person or business that agrees to accept legal papers on a company's behalf and forward the documents to the represented entity.
In Connecticut, a registered agent must either be:
Your registered agent must have a physical street address in Connecticut. You must file a written appointment with the SOTS designating your registered agent. Your agent must sign the written appointment.
(Conn. Gen. Stat. § 34-243n (2024).)
You can create a Connecticut LLC by filing a Certificate of Organization with the SOTS. The certificate must include:
(Conn. Gen. Stat. § 34-247 (2024).)
You can file your articles online using your CT.GOV account. Alternatively, you can mail a paper copy of your certificate to the SOTS. The certificate includes your written appointment of your registered agent.
As of 2024, the filing fee for a Connecticut Certificate of Organization is $120.
Connecticut, like most states, doesn't require an LLC to adopt an operating agreement. Though not legally required, it's important to have this organizational document. An operating agreement will establish the rules and procedures for how your LLC will operate, including your LLC's management structure.
This organizational document should generally cover:
(Conn. Gen. Stat. § 34-243d (2024).)
Adopting an operating agreement has many important advantages. It allows the LLC members to create their own rules for their company. Without an agreement, the state's default rules under the Uniform LLC Act will govern the LLC's operations.
An operating agreement can also help preserve your limited liability by showing that your LLC is truly a separate business entity from its owners. In addition, investors and banks typically like to see an LLC's operating agreement when determining whether to invest or loan money to the company.
You don't need to file your operating agreement with the state but you should put it in writing.
For help creating an LLC operating agreement, you can use our online LLC formation service.
Other tax and regulatory requirements might apply to your LLC. For instance, your LLC might need to obtain an EIN, apply for business licenses and permits, and register for business taxes.
EIN. If your LLC has more than one member, it must obtain a federal employer identification number (EIN), even if it has no employees. If you form a single-member LLC, you must obtain an EIN for your LLC only if you'll have employees or you elect to have your LLC taxed as a corporation instead of a sole proprietorship (disregarded entity). You can obtain an EIN by completing an online EIN application on the IRS website. There's no filing fee.
Business licenses. Depending on your LLC's business activities and location, your LLC could need to obtain other local and state business licenses. For local licenses, check with the clerk for the city where the LLC's primary place of business is located (or county if it's in an unincorporated area). You can create a personalized new business checklist on the Connecticut government website. By answering questions about your business, you can get information and links to resources about state and local licenses, permits, and taxes. For further guidance on regulatory requirements for your business, read how to get a small business license in Connecticut.
Connecticut Department of Revenue Services. In some cases, for example, if you have employees or will be selling goods and collecting sales tax, you'll need to register with the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services (DRS). You can register your LLC for multiple types of taxes through myconneCT. For more information on Connecticut LLC tax registration, check out our article on LLC annual report and tax filing requirements in Connecticut.
Here are some other questions you might have about your Connecticut LLC.
If you're just starting your business or have already been operating as a sole proprietor, you should consider forming an LLC. LLCs limit an owner's personal liability for business debts and lawsuits and offer a lot of flexibility when it comes to ownership, management, and taxation of the business.
To learn more about LLCs and decide if it's the right business structure for you, see our article on LLC basics.
Below are the fees (as of 2024) you might need to pay to form your LLC in Connecticut:
Filing on your own is often the cheapest option, but completing all of the forms and filing them yourself can be complicated. Hiring a lawyer is another option, but it will often cost you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars in the process. If you'd like help completing all the filings, try our online LLC formation service.
To learn more about the costs associated with forming and running an LLC, see our article on how much it costs to form an LLC.
Yes. You must file an annual report with the SOTS each year. The report is due between January 1 and April 1 following the calendar year the LLC was formed. The SOTS emails reminders to LLCs one month before the report is due.
You must file the report online through the Connecticut state website. As of 2024, the filing fee for a Connecticut annual report is $80.
(Conn. Gen. Stat. § 34-247k (2024).)
Apart from annual reports, your LLC will need to file and pay applicable taxes to the local, state, and federal governments. In addition, your LLC might need to obtain and periodically renew any required general or special business licenses or permits. You'll be responsible for keeping track of these maintenance requirements to keep your LLC in good standing and legally compliant.
Starting in 2024, all LLCs were previously required to submit a beneficial ownership information (BOI) report to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau of the U.S. Department of Treasury. However, in March 2025, after some constitutional challenges, FinCEN revised the BOI reporting rule so that the requirement only applies to companies created outside the U.S. So, if you form your LLC within the U.S., then you no longer need to worry about the BOI reporting requirement.
You're not required to have an operating agreement in Connecticut. Though, it's highly advisable to have one. An operating agreement can help protect your limited liability status, prevent financial and managerial misunderstandings among members, and ensure that you choose the rules that govern your business instead of your state's default rules.
Connecticut doesn't issue a general business license at the state level. However, the city or county you plan to operate in might require you to have a license to operate within the city or county limits. Some cities require all businesses to get a license while other cities require only some types of businesses to have licenses. Check with your city and county for specific licensing requirements.
You might also need to get a license or permit for your business based on your business's activities. For example, you could need professional licenses, tax licenses or registrations, safety certifications, or environmental permits.
For state license information, consult the business licenses and permits section of the Connecticut state website. This section has guidance and resources related to professional certifications, business permits, and environmental licenses.
You can also find extensive details about state and local regulatory requirements in our Connecticut business license article.
In some cases, for example, if you have employees or will be selling goods and collecting sales tax, you'll need to register with the DRS. You must register your business online via myconneCT to file and pay your taxes.
If you have a multi-member LLC, you'll need to file a pass-through entity return with the DRS. All LLC members will need to report and pay taxes on their share of the LLC's income through their personal tax returns. In addition, if you have employees, your LLC will probably need to register for unemployment insurance tax with the Connecticut Department of Labor.
See our article on Connecticut tax filing requirements for more details.
Yes. To do business in Connecticut, all LLCs organized outside of the state (called "foreign LLCs") must register with the SOTS. Your foreign LLC must appoint a resident agent for service of process that's physically located in Connecticut.
To register, file a Foreign Registration Statement with the SOTS. You can file the statement online by creating a CT.GOV account. As of 2024, the fee to register your foreign LLC in Connecticut is $120.
Before filing, make sure your LLC's name is available in Connecticut by using Connecticut's business records search. If your name isn't available, you must adopt an alternate name for your LLC to use in Connecticut.
(Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 34-275 and following (2024).)
See our guide to qualifying to do business outside your state for more information.
Yes. For most formation purposes, a Connecticut single-member LLC is considered the same as a multi-member LLC. The steps to form a single-member LLC in Connecticut are generally the same as those listed above.
Single-member LLCs do have additional flexibility when it comes to filing a tax return. To learn more, see our article on how single-member LLCs pay federal income tax.
Yes. If you provide a licensed professional service in Connecticut and want to form an LLC, you can form a professional LLC (PLLC). Examples of providers of professional services include architects, certified public accountants, dentists, engineers, lawyers, physicians and surgeons, and veterinarians, among others. In general, if you provide a service that requires you to obtain a license or other legal authorization, then you provide a professional service.
A PLLC can only provide one specific type of professional service and services ancillary to the professional services. Each member of the PLLC must be licensed or authorized to perform the professional services the LLC was created to provide.
To form a PLLC, you must file a Certificate of Organization with the SOTS. You'll need to make sure your LLC's name contains "Professional Limited Liability Company," "PLLC," or "P.L.L.C." You can abbreviate "Limited" to "Ltd." and "Company" to "Co."
(Conn. Gen. Stat. § 34-243h (2024).)
When you're ready to close your business, you should legally dissolve your LLC to limit your liability for lawsuits and government fees. To dissolve an LLC in Connecticut, you should:
(Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 34-267 and following (2024).)
You also need to close your tax accounts and take any other steps necessary to close out your business. See our article on what you need to do when closing your business for more in-depth information and guidance.
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