If you are considering starting a business in the state of Pennsylvania, you should think about forming an LLC from the beginning. Doing so gets a lot of paperwork out of the way and provides you with a handful of tax advantages. Having your business listed as an LLC also protects the owner’s personal liabilities should the company ever face a lawsuit. Here’s how you form an LLC in Pennsylvania.
You must first follow the guidelines for naming your LLC. You cannot use any restricted words, such as attorney, bank or university without having extra paperwork completed and an attorney associated with your LLC. You cannot use prohibited words such as secret service, FBI or Treasury. Once you decide on a name for the company, be sure to check if it is available using the State of Pennsylvania website.
Now you have to nominate a registered agent for the LLC you are forming. This can be a person who is employed by the company. It can also be you, the owner. This agent must either be a registered corporation allowed to perform transactions or a resident of the state.
Once the first two steps are complete, you will need to file a certificate of organization with the state of Pennsylvania. The certificate must explain how your company will be managed; by its members or by managers.
While not required by law in Pennsylvania, it’s a good idea to create an operating agreement for the company once the certificate of organization has been filed. The final step is to acquire your company’s Employer Identification Number (EIN).
Starting a business in Latrobe? It’s best to work with an experienced business attorney who can guide you through the formation of an LLC to protect your assets.
Source: How to Start an LLC, “Form an LLC in Pennsylvania,” accessed Aug. 11, 2017
