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Kansas Articles of Organization
In this lesson, we will walk you through filing your Articles of Organization with the state. This is the document that officially forms your Kansas LLC.

You can file your Kansas Articles of Organization by mail or online.
If you file by mail, the state fee is $165 and the approval time is 3-5 business days.
If you file online, the state fee is $160 and filings are approved immediately.
Note: Filing times may take longer due to the current global situation and government delays. For the most up-to-date LLC processing times, check how long does it take to get an LLC in Kansas.
The “LLC filing fee” (the fee to create a Kansas LLC) is the same thing as the “Articles of Organization fee”. The Articles of Organization is the document, that once approved by the Secretary of State’s office, creates your Kansas LLC.
How much is an LLC in Kansas explains all the fees you’ll pay, including the Articles of Organization filing fee.
You will find instructions below for both filing by mail and filing online. We recommend filing your Kansas Articles of Organization online as it’s cheaper and the approval time is much faster.
Note: Before proceeding with this lesson, make sure you have searched your LLC name and selected your LLC’s Kansas Registered Agent.
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How to file Kansas Articles of Organization Online
Tip: The state’s online filing system doesn’t have a back button. Make sure any information you enter is correct. If you make an error, you’ll have to start at the beginning again.
Register for KanAccess & get started
1. Go to KanAccess: Sign In and click the “Sign Up” button.
2. Enter your contact information and create a password. Then click “Sign Up“.
You can ignore the “Kansas.gov subscriber” check box (unless you have an account).
3. The state will send you an email with an activation link. Check your email. Then click the activation link. You will be redirected to a KanAccess success page.
4. Click “the next step” link to proceed.
Note: If “the next step” link doesn’t appear, use this link: KanAccess Sign-in
5. You’ll see a drop down menu in the center of the page. Select “Kansas Business Center” and click “Submit“.
Complete your Articles of Organization Online
On the left, click “Kansas Business Entity Formation“.
At the bottom of the page, select “Kansas limited liability company“.
LLC Name
The next page’s layout is a little confusing and is trying to inquire as to whether or not you reserved a name ahead of time (which isn’t a requirement by the way).
Most of our readers have not reserved an LLC name ahead of time.
If that’s the case, under the “Name not reserved?” box (on the left), enter your LLC name exactly as you would like it, including your preferred capitalization, as well as the designator “LLC” or “L.L.C.” and then click “Continue“.
Note: You can use a comma in your LLC name or you can leave it out. Ex: “ABC Widgets, LLC” and “ABC Widgets LLC” are both acceptable.
On the next page you should see an “is available” message. Click “Continue” to proceed.
Tip: If you receive a “not available” message or you haven’t read our LLC name lesson, please do so first: searching your Kansas LLC name. If the “not available” message appears, it means your LLC name is not distinguishable or unique enough to be approved. You’ll need to come up with a variation or a new LLC name.
Select a Resident Agent
In the drop down list, choose your LLC’s Resident Agent (aka Registered Agent) type.
If your LLC’s Registered Agent is an individual, select “An individual in Kansas” from the drop down and click “Continue”. On the next page, enter their first and last name, then click “Continue” again.
If your LLC’s Registered Agent is your LLC itself, select “The business entity you are currently forming” from the drop down and click “Continue”. On the next page, click “Continue” again.
If you hired a Commercial Registered Agent, select “Registered business entity” from the drop down list and click “Continue”. On the next page, enter your exact Commercial Registered Agent’s name and click “Continue”. Then on the next page, select your Commercial Registered Agent and click “Continue” again.
If you’re not sure of the full business name of your Commercial Registered Agent, go to this Business Entity Search page, click “Business Entity Database”, then click “By business entity name”. Enter your Commercial Registered Agent’s name in the box and then click “Search”. Use the full name you see under the “name” column.
If you hired Northwest Registered Agent, their official name in Kansas is Northwest Registered Agent LLC.
Note: If you’re not sure who can serve as your Kansas LLC’s Registered Agent, please refer to this lesson: Kansas LLC Registered Agent.
Registered Office in Kansas
Enter the street address (must be located in Kansas) of your LLC’s Resident Agent and then click “Continue”. PO boxes are not allowed.
Official Mail
Select the first option if you want your LLC’s official mail sent to your Registered Agent’s address (which may or may not be your own address).
Select the second option if want your LLC’s official mail sent to an address other than the address of your Registered Agent. Then enter the alternative address on the next page.
Select Organizer
Select whether your LLC’s Organizer is an individual (most LLCs are formed by individuals) or a business from the drop down menu, then click “Continue“.
On the next page, enter the Organizer’s name and click “Continue“. On the next page, click “Add Additional” if you have more than one Organizer. If not, click “Continue” to proceed.
Note: The LLC Organizer is the person, or company, submitting the Articles of Organization to the state.
Review, Edit, and Confirm
Click the “Show Preview” button to see the information you entered. Review everything for accuracy and check for typos. If you need to make any changes, click on the information that needs to be updated (it should appear as clickable links). If no changes are needed, click the “Continue” button.
Notification Emails
Enter at least 1 email address. You can enter up to 4 email addresses of those you want to be notified of any notices related to your LLC (you are only required to list 1 email). Then enter your full name in the “Signature” box and click “I Agree“. Then on the next page, click “Continue to Checkout“.
Signature Page
If you are the Organizer for your LLC, electronically sign your name by entering it in the box. Then click “I agree“.
Additional Information
There is nothing to enter on this page. The state is just letting you know which documents you can save in the next step. Click “Continue to Checkout“.
Shopping Cart
Click the “Pay by Credit Card” button.
Check Out
Enter your contact and billing information on the next page, and submit your filing to the state.
Congratulations, your Kansas LLC has been filed for processing! Now you just need to wait for the Secretary of State to approve your LLC.
Approval
Wait a few minutes for the Kansas Secretary of State to process and approve your LLC. Once approved, the state will email you a Welcome Letter and a Certified Copy of your Articles of Organization.
You’ll use your Certified Copy of your Articles of Organization and your Federal Tax ID Number to open a business bank account for your LLC (we’ll discuss this in a later lesson).
How to file Kansas Articles of Organization by Mail
Download the Articles of Organization
Kansas Secretary of State: LLC Articles of Organization (DL 51-09)
Fill the form out on your computer or by hand (using a blue or black pen). Print on regular white paper (8.5” x 11”). Read the instructions on the first page before completing your form.
1. Name of your LLC
On the first line, enter your LLC name exactly as you would like it, including your preferred capitalization, as well as the designator “LLC” or “L.L.C.” (the abbreviation “LLC” is the most common).
You can use a comma in your Kansas LLC name or you can leave it out. Ex: “ABC Widgets, LLC” and “ABC Widgets LLC” are both acceptable.
2. Resident Agent
Enter the name and street address of your Kansas Resident Agent (aka Registered Agent). PO Boxes are not allowed. Your Kansas Registered Agent can be an individual, your own LLC, or another company that you hire (called a Commercial Registered Agent).
If your Registered Agent is an individual, they must be a resident of Kansas. If your Registered Agent is a company, they need to be authorized to do business in the state.
Note: If you’re not sure who can serve as your Kansas LLC’s Registered Agent, please refer to this lesson: Kansas LLC Registered Agent.
3. Mailing Address
Enter your name and your LLC’s mailing address. This address can be your home address, an office address, or the address of your Registered Agent.
4. Tax Closing Month
The tax closing month determines your LLC’s fiscal year and how accounting and taxes are managed.
Most people (and over 90% of the LLCs in Kansas) run on a January-to-December fiscal year. If that is the case for you, enter “December” in the box.
If your LLC will run on a different fiscal year, then enter that closing month here.
5. Signature
Sign your name here.
Effective Date
By default, your Kansas LLC will become effective (go into existence) on the date it’s processed by the Secretary of State. If you prefer for your LLC to go into existence on a future date, handwrite “Effective Date: __/__/____” underneath the signature box in the open space. Note: this date can’t be more than 90 days ahead.
Pro Tip: If you’re forming your LLC later in the year (October through December) and you don’t need your LLC open right away, you can forward date your filing to January 1st. This can save you the hassle of filing taxes for those 1-3 months. For more information, please read LLC Effective Date.
Prepare Payment
Prepare a check or money order for $165, made payable to “Secretary of State”.
Mail Documents
Send your completed Articles of Organization and $165 filing fee to:
Secretary of State
Memorial Hall, 1st Floor
120 SW 10th Avenue
Topeka, KS 66612-1594
Approval
The Kansas Secretary of State will process and approve your LLC within 3-5 business days. You’ll receive the following documents returned by mail: a Welcome Letter and a Certified Copy of your Articles of Organization.
Next Step: LLC Operating Agreement
Once you file your LLC’s Articles of Organization, and it’s approved by the Kansas Secretary of State, you can then proceed to the next lesson: Kansas LLC Operating Agreement.
Kansas Secretary of State Contact Info
If you have any questions, you can contact the Kansas Secretary of State at 785-296-4564.
References
Kansas LLC Act: Chapter 17 Article 76
Kansas Business Center: Business Entity Filing
Kansas LLC Act: 17-7673 Articles of organization
Kansas Secretary of State: Business Entity – FAQ
Kansas LLC Act: 17-7668 Nature of business permitted
Kansas Secretary of State: Useful Links – Business Entity
Kansas Secretary of State: Business Services Forms – By Type
Kansas LLC Act: 17-7904 Filings related to limited liability companies
KANSAS LLC GUIDE
Follow the lessons below to form your Kansas LLC.
To add a member to existing LLC in the state of Kansas do I have to file with the state secretaries office or is this just a simple amendment I can do
Hi Jason, you don’t have to amend the Articles of Organization with the state, since it doesn’t ask for LLC Member info. However, you would need to amend the Operating Agreement and you may want to create an Assignment of Membership Interest Agreement. You may also need to update the Department of Revenue. And if adding an LLC Member changes the tax classification of the LLC, then the IRS will need to be updated too. Hope that helps.
What about when you are looking to withdraw from an LLC that doesn’t have an operating agreement? (We never came to an agreement on an OA but one of the members wants to keep the business name)
Hi Rob, we’d recommend speaking to an attorney to properly document the transfer of your LLC membership interest and you withdrawing as a member. Hope that helps.