If you're exploring the idea of opening a business in Wyoming, you might find that forming a limited liability company (LLC) is an attractive option. An LLC is a popular choice among small business owners because it combines the ease and flexibility of a partnership or sole proprietorship with the limited liability of a corporation. An LLC also offers other advantages, like a flexible management structure and tax benefits.
Follow these steps to create an LLC in Wyoming. 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.
When you create your LLC in Wyoming, you'll need to pick a name for your business. Pay attention to Wyoming's laws around LLC names.
LLC name must be distinguishable. Your LLC's name must be distinguishable (different) from the names of any businesses or any trademark or service mark on file with the Wyoming Secretary of State (SOS). You can see whether your proposed business name is available using the SOS's business entity search. (Wyo. Stat. § 17-29-108 (2024).)
LLC name must include an entity designator. Under Wyoming law, your LLC name must contain one of the following words or abbreviations:
In addition, you can abbreviate the words "limited" and "company" as "ltd." and "co.," respectively. Wyoming has other naming requirements for low-profit LLCs (also called "L3Cs").
Name reservation. You can reserve an available business name for 120 days by filing an Application for Reservation of Name with the SOS. As of 2024, the filing fee to reserve a name is $60. (Wyo. Stat. § 17-29-109 (2024).)
Using a DBA. You can do business under a name that's different from your LLC's legal name listed in its articles of organization. This alternative name is sometimes called a "trade name," "DBA" (short for doing business as), or "fictitious business name." If you use a trade name in Wyoming, you can, but don't have to, register that name. To register your trade name, file an Application for Registration of Trade Name with the SOS. You must sign and notarize the form. The registration is good for 10 years and can be renewed. As of 2024, the fee to register a trade name in Wyoming is $100. (Wyo. Stat. §§ 40-2-101 and following (2024).)
Check out the SOS's How to Choose a Company Name guide for more on the state's business name requirements.
Every Wyoming 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 Wyoming, a registered agent must either be:
Your registered agent must have a physical street address in Wyoming.
(Wyo. Stat. § 17-29-113 (2024).)
You can create a Wyoming LLC by filing Articles of Organization with the SOS. The articles must include:
Along with your articles or organization, you must include a written consent to appointment signed by the registered agent. This form is included within the paper copy of the articles provided on the SOS website. The SOS might ask you to provide additional information about your LLC in your articles.
You can file your articles online using the SOS's Online Services Portal. Alternatively, you can mail a paper copy of the articles to the SOS. As of 2024, the filing fee for Wyoming Articles of Organization is $100.
In Wyoming, your LLC isn't legally required to have an operating agreement. Though you're not legally required to have this foundational document, an operating agreement is very important to have. This agreement will establish the rules and procedures for how your LLC will operate.
Your operating agreement should generally cover:
(Wyo. Stat. § 17-29-110 (2024).)
You don't need to file your operating agreement with the state but you should put it in writing.
An operating agreement is important for several reasons. It allows you to create your own rules for your LLC. Without an operating agreement, state LLC law will govern how your LLC operates. Moreover, having an agreement in place ensures that all current and future members and managers are on the same page about the LLC's operations.
In addition, an operating agreement can 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.
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 might 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). For state licenses, check the Wyoming Business Council website.
Wyoming Department of Revenue. In some cases, for example, if you'll be selling goods and collecting sales tax, you'll need to register with the Wyoming Department of Revenue (DOR). You can register your LLC online through the DOR's Wyoming Internet Filing System for Business. Wyoming doesn't have income tax for individuals or businesses so you don't need to worry about paying this type of tax. For more information on Wyoming LLC tax registration, check out our article on LLC annual report and tax filing requirements in Wyoming.
Here are some other questions you might have about your Wyoming 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 Wyoming:
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 SOS and pay a license tax each year for your LLC. The report is due by the first day of the anniversary month of your LLC's formation.
Along with the annual report, you must pay a license tax. As of 2024, the tax is equal to the greater of either:
For example, if your LLC has less than $300,000 in assets in Wyoming, then you'll pay the minimum $60 tax.
(Wyo. Stat. § 17-29-209 (2024).)
You can file your report online using the SOS's Annual Report Wizard. If your tax is greater than $500, then you must submit your annual report by paper.
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 Wyoming. 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.
Yes. To do business in Wyoming, all LLCs organized outside of the state (called "foreign LLCs") must register with the SOS. Your foreign LLC must appoint a registered agent for service of process that's physically located in Wyoming.
To register, file an Application for Certificate of Authority with the SOS. The completed application must be accompanied by:
You can find the appropriate forms on the SOS website. As of 2024, the fee to register your foreign LLC in Wyoming is $150.
(Wyo. Stat. §§ 17-16-1501 and following (2024).)
See our guide to qualifying to do business outside your state for more information.
Yes. For most formation purposes, a Wyoming single-member LLC is considered the same as a multi-member LLC. The steps to form a single-member LLC in Wyoming 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.
No. Wyoming doesn't recognize professional LLCs. Instead, if you provide a licensed professional service in Wyoming, you can form either a regular LLC or a professional corporation.
Wyoming law allows LLCs to be formed for any lawful purpose. But you should still check with your regulating authority to see what the rules are around your specific profession.
If you decide to form a professional corporation, your corporation's name must end with either "A Professional Corporation" or "P.C."
(Wyo. Stat. §§ 17-3-101 and following (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 Wyoming, you should:
(Wyo. Stat. §§ 17-29-701 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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