Deal alert! Northwest will form your LLC for $39 (60% discount). See details.
You can get an LLC in Texas in 10-15 business days if you file online. Or 2-3 months if you file by mail.
If you need your Texas LLC faster, you can pay for expedited processing.
Texas LLC Processing Times
Texas LLC processing time is the time it takes for the Texas Secretary of State to review your LLC filing and enter it in their system.
How long it takes to process an LLC in Texas depends on how you file your LLC, and whether you choose regular vs expedited processing.
| Normal LLC processing time: | Expedited LLC: | |
|---|---|---|
| Texas LLC by mail: | 4-8 weeks (plus mail time) | 4-5 business days ($25 extra) |
| Texas LLC online with SOSDirect: | 10-12 business days | Not available |
| Texas LLC online with SOSUpload: | 13-15 business days | Not available |
Source: Texas Secretary of State: Business Filings Turnaround Times
Texas LLC Approval Times
Texas LLC Approval Time is the total turnaround time to get your LLC approved from start to finish. It includes the processing time plus any transit time to and from the state.
How long it takes to get an LLC approved in Texas depends on whether you file by mail, or online.
How long does it take to get a Texas LLC by mail?
In total, mail filing approvals for Texas LLCs take 2-3 months.
The state is extremely backed up with paper filings right now, so this processing time might go back down to 1 month later in the year.
Processing time for mail filings is between 4-8 weeks (plus mail time) (1-2 months), and then add the time your filing spends traveling in the mail to and from the Secretary of State.
How long does it take to get a Texas LLC online?
In total, online filing approvals for Texas LLCs take around 2 weeks.
You can download your documents as soon as they’re approved by the Secretary of State, so there is no extra transit time.
Texas has two different online filing systems. And the approval time varies slightly between the two:
- If you file using SOSDirect, approvals take 10-12 business days.
- If you file using SOSUpload, approvals take 13-15 business days.
How do I know if my LLC is approved in Texas?
Once your Texas LLC is approved, the Texas Secretary of State will email you the following items:
- Welcome Letter
- Certificate of Filing
- Certificate of Formation (stamped and approved)
You can also track the status of your LLC filing online, using the Texas Business Filing Tracker.
What’s the fastest way to get an LLC in Texas?
The fastest way to start an LLC in Texas is to file it yourself online using SOSDirect.
This option has the fastest approval time.
Texas expedited LLC
Since online LLC filings in Texas are approved in a week or two, there are no expedited services for online filings.
That said, Texas offers one expedited filing option for mail filings:
- 4-5 business days for $25 extra
However, because of the large amount of mail filings that Texas gets, this expedited option actually takes more like 10-12 business days. That’s still faster than the 4-8 week processing time for un-expedited mail filings, though.
Note: Expedited fees are in addition to the LLC filing fee.
Should I hire an LLC filing service in Texas?
Hiring an LLC filing service isn’t going to get your LLC approved any faster. Filing companies still have to wait for the state to approve your LLC.
However, the benefit of hiring a filing company isn’t to reduce LLC approval time. It’s to have someone else take care of the paperwork for you (and make sure it’s filed correctly).
Need to save time? Hire a company to form your LLC:
Northwest ($39 + state fee) or LegalZoom ($149 + state fee)
(Learn why Northwest is #1 in Northwest vs LegalZoom)
Why we recommend Northwest Registered Agent: Northwest lets you use their business address throughout your LLC filing. This can provide you with additional privacy by keeping your address off public records. No other filing company offers this. Northwest Registered Agent has also been in business for over 20 years and they have the best customer support in the business.
Even though Northwest is our favorite company, you may want to look at other companies and compare your options. Check out Best LLC Services in Texas for additional recommendations.
Texas Secretary of State Contact Information
If you have any questions, you can contact the Texas Secretary of State at 512-463-5555.
Their hours are Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm, Central Time.
How long does it take to get an LLC in Texas FAQs
How much does an LLC cost in Texas?
Here are the costs for a Texas LLC:
| Requirements | Cost |
|---|---|
| LLC Name | $0 |
| Registered Agent | $0 or $125 (per year) |
| Certificate of Formation | $300 ($0 for Veterans) |
| Operating Agreement | $0 (free on our site) |
| EIN Number | $0 (free on IRS site) |
| Franchise Tax Reports | $0 (for most LLCs) |
| Public Information Report | $0 |
| Taxes | Varies (filed and/or paid each year) |
How to start an LLC in Texas
There are 6 steps to start an LLC in Texas:
- Search your Texas LLC name
- Choose your Texas Registered Agent
- File a Texas Certificate of Formation with the Texas Secretary of State
- Sign your Texas LLC Operating Agreement
- Get an EIN for your Texas LLC
- Open an LLC bank account
We explain each, step-by-step, in our Texas LLC guides.
What is the Texas LLC Formation Process?
Per Texas law, all Texas business entities are formed by filing documents with the Texas Secretary of State, and paying a filing fee.
You can file LLC Formation documents online or by mail. (We have instructions for both up above.) Once the Secretary of State receives your documents, non-expedited documents will be handled in the order they were received.
If you paid for expedited processing, your LLC will be processed with the other LLC filings that have been expedited. In this case, they’re still processed in the order they were received, but it’s still faster than non-expedited processing.
When it’s your turn, someone in the Texas Secretary of State’s office will review your Certificate of Formation documents, and make sure your business name is available.
If everything looks good, your Limited Liability Company will be approved!
What should I do after my Texas LLC is approved?
Once your LLC is an approved legal entity, you can take the next steps for your Texas business – like getting an EIN for your Texas LLC from the IRS (Internal Revenue Service).
You’ll need an EIN Number to hire employees, set up LLC bank accounts, and register for sales tax, if applicable to your business. You can get an EIN online from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in under 15 minutes, and for free.
You can also draft your Texas LLC’s Operating Agreement, but you don’t have to pay for one. We’ve created a free Texas LLC Operating Agreement template for you.
Matt holds a Bachelor's Degree in business from Drexel University with a concentration in business law. He performs extensive research and analysis to convert state laws into simple instructions anyone can follow to form their LLC - all for free! Read more about Matt Horwitz and LLC University.
After filing our LLC through the Secretary of State, I saw your recommendation to use the service of Northwest Registered Agent to keep our address off public record. Is there anyway to change that after having mailed it in?
Hi Melanie, no, not really. If privacy were extremely important, you could cancel/dissolve the first LLC and form another one with Northwest Registered Agent. However, do keep in mind that the first LLC (even after dissolved) would still be on public record. Hope that helps.
Matt,
Thanks for what you do. I just submitted my documents today, and your Youtube channel assisted me in that process. Just wanted to extend my gratitude.
You’re very welcome Daniel! That’s awesome man, great to hear. Best wishes with your business :)
Great information, very simplistic way.thanks
You’re very welcome DJ :)