How long does it take to get an LLC in Washington state? [2024]

Deal alert! Northwest will form your LLC for $39 (60% discount). See details.

You can get an LLC in Washington in 2-3 weeks if you file online (or 7-8 weeks if you file by mail). If you need your Washington state LLC faster and want to file by mail, you can pay for expedited processing.

Washington State LLC Processing Times

	Normal LLC processing time:	Expedited LLC:
Washington LLC by mail:	5-6 weeks (plus mail time)	3 business days ($50 extra)
Washington LLC online:	12-14 business days	Not available

What is LLC processing time? This is the time it takes for the state of Washington to review your LLC filing and enter it in their system. After your LLC is approved, the state sends back your approved documents electronically or by mail.

Washington State LLC Approval Times

How long does it take to get an LLC in Washington state Mail filings: In total, mail filing approvals for Washington LLCs take 7-8 weeks. This accounts for the 5-6 week processing time (25-30 business days), plus the time your documents are in the mail.

Online filings: In total, online filing approvals for Washington LLCs take 2-3 weeks (12-14 business days). Since you can download your documents as soon as they’re approved by the Secretary of State, there is no extra transit time. A copy of your approval documents is also sent to your Registered Agent.

What is LLC approval time? This 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.

Washington state expedited LLC

Washington state has one expedited LLC option for mail filings only:

3 business day processing for $50 extra

To expedite your mail LLC filing, simply write “EXPEDITED” on the outer envelope and enclose the additional fee.

Note: Expedited fees are in addition to the LLC filing fee.

What’s the fastest way to get an LLC in Washington?

Usually, the fastest way to get an LLC is to file yourself online. However, because Washington state is backed up for online approvals, it might actually be faster to file by mail and pay for expedited processing. You can call the Secretary of State for more advice if you need your LLC approved quickly.

Should I hire an LLC filing service in Washington?

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? Northwest Registered Agent has been in business for over 20 years and they have the best customer support. Our favorite thing about Northwest is that you can use their 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.

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 Washington for additional recommendations.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does an LLC cost?

The one-time cost to start an LLC varies by state. There are also LLC Annual Fees to maintain your business that vary by state.

Here are the costs for a Washington LLC:

Requirements	Cost
LLC Name	$0
Registered Agent	$0 or $125 (per year)
Certificate of Formation	$200 (one-time)
Operating Agreement	$0
EIN	$0
Annual Report	$60 (per year)
State Business License Application	$90 (one-time)
City Business License	Varies (renewed each year)
Specialty Business License	Varies (renewed each year)
Trade Name (DBA)	$5 (if applicable)
Taxes	Varies (paid each year)

How to start an LLC in Washington?

Here are the steps to starting an LLC in Washington state:

Search your Washington LLC name
Choose your Washington Registered Agent
File Washington Certificate of Formation with the state
Sign your Washington LLC Operating Agreement
Get an EIN for your Washington LLC
Open an LLC bank account

How long does it take to get an LLC in every state?

Important: Just because one state is faster than another doesn’t mean you should form your LLC there. If you form your LLC out-of-state, you’ll need to register it as a foreign LLC in your home state. For more information, please see the best state to form an LLC.

Matt Horwitz

Founder & Educator, LLC University®

Matt Horwitz has been the leading expert on LLC education for the past decade. He founded LLC University in 2010 after realizing people needed simple and actionable instructions to start an LLC that other companies weren't offering. He's cited by Entrepreneur Magazine, Yahoo Finance, and the US Chamber of Commerce, and was featured by CNBC and InventRight.

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.