Washington LLC Cost: $180 to File Certificate (2026)

Fact-checked and updated September 14, 2026.

A Washington LLC costs $180 to file Certificate of Formation with the Washington Secretary of State. A Unified Business Identifier (UBI) is assigned on successful SOS filing if you do not already have an eligible 9-digit UBI—do not reuse a sole proprietorship or general partnership UBI. Do not confuse SOS fees with L&I workers’ compensation / exclusive fund premiums. You can file through the official portal or use ZenBusiness Starter for a $0 formation service fee plus the same state fee. Optional services cost extra.

This guide is for creating a new Washington LLC. If you already have an LLC formed in another state, check Washington’s foreign-entity registration requirements before creating a second company.

Washington LLC costs: required fees and optional extras

Start with the WA SOS domestic LLC online instructions and the Washington Secretary of State filing resources. These are government charges, separate from anything a formation company bills you.

Budget example: $180 for formation plus the recurring state filing in the table is the lean government path—before insurance, local permits, or professional help.

Department of Revenue B&O and other taxes are separate from the SOS $180 Certificate fee.

Should you file on Washington CCFS or use ZenBusiness?

Choose DIY if you are comfortable completing Certificate of Formation instructions, naming a Washington registered agent, and calendaring ongoing filings. Choose a filing service if you prefer a guided questionnaire. Either way, you make the ownership, address, and management decisions.

ZenBusiness lists Starter at $0 without a base-plan renewal. Its optional first year of Worry-Free Compliance renews at $199/year; registered-agent service is listed at $199/year (intro pricing may show about $99 for the first year—confirm at checkout). EIN and operating-agreement services are separate Starter purchases. Check the current package terms and checkout selections.

A free introductory service can become a recurring expense. Before paying, review the initial total, renewal amounts, and cancellation terms. Keep a copy of your selections. A reminder is not confirmation that a required state filing was submitted, and the state filing fee remains separate.

Neither path removes your responsibility to read the state’s fee schedule and ongoing filing rules. A guided service helps with paperwork preparation; it does not replace registered-agent duties or tax compliance.

Can you be your own Washington registered agent?

Washington organizers often mix up three systems: SOS Corporations (entity existence / UBI assignment), Department of Revenue (B&O and tax accounts), and L&I (workers’ compensation). Only the first is the $180 Certificate of Formation.

Yes, if you maintain a Washington registered agent with a physical street address in WA. SOS records are public.

How to file your Washington LLC: a practical checklist

1. Check the name in CCFS; include LLC/L.L.C./Limited Liability Company.
2. Decide UBI: use an existing eligible UBI or let SOS assign a new one (never a sole prop/GP UBI).
3. Name a Washington registered agent and prepare governors/Initial Report details.
4. File Certificate of Formation for $180 (+ online processing fee); include Initial Report when possible.
5. Calendar the $70 annual report for the last day of your formation month.

Include the Initial Report with formation whenever the online flow allows—it avoids the separate $10 filing and the 120-day deadline trap.

How long does approval take?

SOS staff review online filings; documents appear in your account. ZenBusiness prep is separate from SOS review.

If a lease, financing, or opening date depends on the LLC, leave room for name issues and corrections. Completing an online questionnaire is not the moment the company is approved.

Washington LLC annual report & UBI notes

File the Initial Report with formation for free, or within 120 days for $10 if deferred. The Annual Report is $70 for profit entities including LLCs, due by the last day of your formation month (file up to 180 days early).

UBI: the nine-digit Unified Business Identifier ties state agency records together. Getting a UBI via SOS formation does not enroll you in L&I industrial insurance by itself—L&I coverage depends on whether you have covered workers/operations. If you already hold a UBI from another agency registration, enter only an eligible entity UBI—never a sole proprietorship or general partnership UBI.

Keep SOS Corporations fees separate from L&I premiums.

If you buy compliance assistance, confirm the filing was actually submitted—reminders are not proof of filing.

After filing: get the business ready to operate

• Document how the LLC works. An operating agreement can set ownership, contributions, decision-making, distributions, and exit arrangements. Washington’s filing office generally does not require you to file the agreement with the formation paperwork—keep it with your company records. For multiple owners, resolve disagreements before money or contracts are committed.
• Get an EIN when needed. Form the entity first, then use the free IRS application if eligible. An EIN service fee pays someone to assist; it is not an IRS charge. Save the confirmation for banking and tax records.
• Separate business finances. Ask the bank for its document checklist and establish a bookkeeping process. Use the correct legal business name on applications and contracts; keep any trade-name registrations consistent.
• Check taxes and operating permissions. LLC formation does not itself select S-corporation taxation or issue a professional license. The IRS explains LLC tax classifications. Identify the state and local requirements for your actual work before opening.
• Check the current BOI rule. As of this review, FinCEN exempts entities created in the United States from beneficial-ownership reporting. A newly created domestic LLC generally falls within that exemption. Consult FinCEN directly before buying a BOI filing add-on.

For a simple one-owner operation, organize these tasks into a short checklist. Where ownership, investors, or tax elections are complicated, formation paperwork alone will not resolve those decisions.

Match insurance to the work your LLC performs

Entity formation and insurance solve different problems. Ask the insurer to identify the correct business and operations; ask clients or landlords what coverage and certificate of insurance they require. Use the relevant guide to compare coverage:

• Washington cleaning business insurance
• Washington food truck insurance
• Washington HVAC insurance
• Washington landscaping insurance
• Washington daycare insurance

Continue with the Washington business guide for the broader startup process.

Keep a simple compliance folder: filed Certificate, EIN letter, operating agreement, registered-agent contract, and every annual/franchise confirmation. When you hire a bookkeeper or attorney later, that folder saves hours.

Formation creates the legal entity; it does not automatically open tax accounts, local licenses, or bank access. Sequence those tasks after you have SOS/SCC/DFI evidence of filing in hand.

Before you pay any third party, compare three numbers side by side: the official state formation fee, the service’s advertised formation charge, and the renewal price of every add-on in the cart.
A $0 formation offer can still become expensive if registered-agent, compliance, or document add-ons renew automatically.

After the state accepts the filing, update your contracts, invoices, and bank applications to use the exact legal name—including the LLC designator—unless you have also registered a trade name where required.
Mismatched names are a common reason banks and payment processors ask for extra paperwork.

Finally, revisit insurance once the entity exists. Clients and landlords often want the LLC named as the insured and may ask for additional insured status on certificates.
Entity paperwork alone does not transfer coverage from a personal policy to the company.

Washington LLC questions before you file

What is the Washington LLC formation fee?

$180 for the Certificate of Formation with the Secretary of State, plus any online processing fee shown at checkout.

Is the UBI an L&I fee?

No. UBI is an identifier often assigned at SOS formation. L&I workers’ comp/exclusive fund premiums are separate Labor & Industries matters.

How much is the Washington LLC annual report?

$70 for profit business entities including LLCs, due by the last day of the formation month.

Can I be my own Washington registered agent?

Yes, with a WA physical street address and reliable document intake.

Can I get an EIN without buying a service?

Yes. The IRS issues EINs free after the LLC exists.