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LLC 101 Guide

Course unit 1 · Washington

Starting an LLC in Washington (2026): 7 Tasks and the 2 Best LLC Services

Our 2026 Washington picks for setting up an LLC, strongest to weakest, are Mainstay Filing ($199) and WA Registered Agent.org ($199). 7 tasks make up the unit; the state's own price tag is $200, and the annual report adds $70.

Prepared by the LLC 101 Guide instructors

Unit overview

State filing fee
$200
Look it up at sos.wa.gov; our reading dates from October 2026
Annual report
$70 a year
Mark the calendar: last day of the entity's anniversary month
Three-year state cost
$340
State charges only
Tasks
7
Listed below

What this unit teaches

  • What Washington charges to form an LLC and who takes the filing
  • What the registered agent rule asks for
  • What you file every year after that
  • The services at the top of the class

Who we would hire in Washington

Five weighted criteria set the order (see how we grade), and three-year cost and assignments completed count most.

Top of the class

1. Mainstay Filing: best for new owners who would rather hand off the work

Our first pick$199 a year, state fee on top ($399 due at checkout)

Start the list with Mainstay Filing, because one price, $199 a year, pays for the filing, the registered agent and the annual report, and it stays at $199 when you renew.

WA Registered Agent.org is $200 lower across three years; this service still ranks higher because it does more of the work.

Each annual report is submitted for you, and the $70 state fee comes at cost.

What the price covers

  • We mean: the filing is done for you
  • Registered agent for the whole year
  • Annual report filed for you on time
  • The EIN application is part of the price
  • State fee billed at cost

What works

  • $199 a year covers filing, agent and report
  • $199 every year
  • It prepares the EIN application too

What to weigh

  • WA Registered Agent.org renews for $100 less
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Top of the class

2. WA Registered Agent.org: best for a small first bill

Focused on Washington$199 plus the state fee, then $99 a year

WA Registered Agent.org is a solid second-place option: the formation costs $199 beyond the state fee, and the agent renews at $99.

The price leaves out the annual report, so that is yours to file every year.

What the price covers

  • The filing is done for you
  • A year of agent service is part of the price

What works

  • The agent renews at $99
  • No agent fee in year one
  • A $199 formation fee

What to weigh

  • Filing the annual report is not in the price
  • Help with the EIN is $99 more
Visit WA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

All the prices in one table

#ServiceFirst yearFrom year twoThree-year total
1Mainstay Filing$199$199/yr$597Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2WA Registered Agent.org$199$99/yr$397Visit WA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Each company's posted price on November 13, 2026. Every row also owes the $200 state fee.

Setting up an LLC in Washington, task by task

  1. Task 1

    Lock in a name

    Do the name search at the Washington Secretary of State first and the rest of the unit goes smoothly in Washington.

    While you are searching, see whether the web domain is open too.

  2. Task 2

    Settle who your registered agent will be

    Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. A commercial registered agent listed with the Secretary of State, a noncommercial agent (any person or business with a Washington address), or the holder of a named position in the company. The agent consents in advance.

    The address has to be a physical street address in Washington. P.O. boxes and private mailboxes are not accepted.

    Hire any one of the recommended services for this task.

    Source: Look it up at app.leg.wa.gov; our reading dates from October 2026

  3. Task 3

    Compare doing it alone with paying for help

    Skip the services and you pay the state $200. Use one of our picks and you pay $199 extra to skip the forms.

  4. Task 4

    Fill out and send in the Certificate of Formation - Limited Liability Company

    Send the Certificate of Formation - Limited Liability Company to the Washington Secretary of State along with $200 to bring the LLC into existence; the legal basis is RCW 25.15.071.

    Source: Look it up at sos.wa.gov; our reading dates from October 2026

  5. Task 5

    Apply to the IRS for an EIN

    State approval first, IRS number second. This task is inside the Mainstay Filing package.

  6. Task 6

    Put the ownership rules on paper

    Ownership and decision rules live in the operating agreement, an internal paper that is no part of the Washington filing.

  7. Task 7

    Get ready for year two and beyond

    Once a year the LLC sends in the annual report with $70; it is due last day of the entity's anniversary month. File late and you pay $25 more.

    Source: Look it up at sos.wa.gov; our reading dates from October 2026

What this unit costs

Line itemPayeeSum
Setting up the LLCGoes to the state$200
Annual reportGoes to the state$70 every year
Penalty for filing lateGoes to the state$25
Optional serviceThe service company$199 in year one
Three-year state totalGoes to the state$340
Three years of state cost equals the filing fee, plus the reports in years two and three, plus any minimum tax. The sources are listed below.

The reasoning behind the order

On assignments the price completes (31% of the grade) won out, with right behind.

WA Registered Agent.org is cheaper, but you would still do the annual report yourself.

Questions students ask

Which fees does Washington collect when an LLC is formed?

Washington bills $200. A recommended service adds $199 in year one.

Which form creates the LLC?

The Certificate of Formation - Limited Liability Company, which you send to the Washington Secretary of State.

Is a registered agent required?

Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.

What does Washington require each year?

Once a year the LLC sends in the annual report for $70, due last day of the entity's anniversary month.

Can I form the LLC without a service?

Nothing stops you: the state asks $200, and you also have to name a registered agent.

Which LLC service should a first-time founder use?

The order is Mainstay Filing and WA Registered Agent.org, and Mainstay Filing is first since $199 a year hands over three assignments at once: the filing, the registered agent and the annual report.

Reading list and sources

  1. Further reading on Washington Secretary of State, Corporations & Charities Division: our unit draws on ccfs.sos.wa.gov, which we reopened in August 2026 so you can compare it with the original.
  2. Further reading on Washington Secretary of State, Corporations & Charities Division: our unit draws on sos.wa.gov, which we reopened in August 2026 so you can compare it with the original.
  3. Further reading on Washington yearly filing: Annual report, official source: our unit draws on sos.wa.gov, which we reopened in October 2026 so you can compare it with the original.
  4. Further reading on Washington report due date: our unit draws on app.leg.wa.gov, which we reopened in August 2026 so you can compare it with the original.
  5. Further reading on Washington formation fee: Filing fee, official source: our unit draws on sos.wa.gov, which we reopened in October 2026 so you can compare it with the original.
  6. Further reading on Washington formation fee: Filing fee, official source: our unit draws on sos.wa.gov, which we reopened in October 2026 so you can compare it with the original.
  7. Further reading on Washington registered agent statute: our unit draws on app.leg.wa.gov, which we reopened in October 2026 so you can compare it with the original.
  8. We opened the Washington service page at Mainstay Filing on November 13, 2026
  9. We opened the pricing page at WA Registered Agent.org on November 13, 2026