InteliBusiness · Business formation

Start your LLC in Texas

The documents you need, what the State charges and the steps that follow. All checked against official sources. And if you would rather not do it alone, we walk you through the whole filing.

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Updated September 23, 2026

What the State charges

These are the official fees. Our fee for handling the filing with you is quoted separately, depending on your case.

What to have ready

1. Your company name, ending in “LLC”, “L.L.C.” or “Limited Liability Company”, plus one or two alternatives. It must be distinguishable from names already on file in Texas.
2. A registered agent: a Texas resident or an authorized company, with a physical Texas address where legal papers can be delivered during business hours. A P.O. box does not qualify. The agent must consent in writing.
3. Who will run the LLC: the members themselves or appointed managers. Name and address of each.
4. The organizer: name and address of the person who signs and files the form. No notary needed.
5. A mailing address for the company. Franchise tax correspondence goes there.
6. SSN or ITIN of the responsible party, to get the EIN online. If you have neither, it can still be done: Form SS-4 is sent by fax or mail.
7. Payment for the State's $300: card, check or money order.
8. Your photo ID. Not a State requirement; we ask for it to prepare your filing.

The steps, in order

1. Choose and check the name. Search on SOSDirect or ask the Secretary of State for a free preliminary opinion (512-463-5555). That opinion is not final: the name is only secured when you file or reserve it.
2. Appoint your registered agent and keep their written consent. It is not filed with the State, but the filer affirms that it exists.
3. File the Certificate of Formation (Form 205) with the Secretary of State: online through SOSDirect, by mail or in person in Austin. The Secretary of State has announced that SOSDirect will be replaced this fall by a new system, SOSPortal.
4. Get your EIN from the IRS. It is free. Online you need the responsible party's SSN or ITIN; without one, Form SS-4 goes by fax (about 4 business days) or mail (about 4 weeks).
5. Write your company agreement. Texas law does not require it to be in writing and it is not filed with the State, but if it is written you must keep a copy. Our recommendation: put it in writing, especially if there is more than one owner.
6. Check which permits apply to you. A sales tax permit if you sell taxable goods or services, and an assumed name (DBA) if you will use another name.
7. Stay current with the Comptroller every year. The report is due May 15. If revenue is at or below $2,650,000 (2026 and 2027 reports), you owe no franchise tax and no longer file the old No Tax Due Report. But the Public Information Report is still required even when nothing is owed: skip it and the LLC can lose its right to do business.

How we help

We walk you through it from start to finish, in English or Spanish: we check the name, prepare and file your Certificate of Formation, get your EIN and make clear the dates your LLC has to meet every year. You give us the information; we handle the paperwork.