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Starting a Kentucky LLC
A Kentucky Limited Liability Company (LLC) is a legal structure used to protect your personal assets (home, car, bank account) in the event your business is sued.
An LLC can be used to operate a business, or an LLC can be used to hold assets (such as real estate, vehicles, boats, or aircraft).
Forming an LLC in Kentucky is simple. Search your Kentucky LLC name in the state database and select your Kentucky Registered Agent.
File your Kentucky Articles of Organization with the Kentucky Secretary of State and wait for your LLC to be approved.
You can file your LLC by mail or you can file it online. In both cases, the state filing fee is $40. If you file by mail, the approval time is 1 business day (plus mail time). If you file online, the filing is approved immediately.
Note: Filing times may take longer due to the current global situation and government delays. Please see how long does it take to get an LLC in Kentucky.
Check out LLC Cost in Kentucky to learn about all the fees you’ll pay.
After your Kentucky LLC is approved, complete your Kentucky LLC Operating Agreement and get your Kentucky EIN Number (aka Federal Tax ID Number) from the IRS. Next, check whether your LLC needs a Kentucky Business License or other permits to operate.
In order to keep your Kentucky LLC in compliance, you also need to file an Kentucky LLC Annual Report every year. The fee is $15 and can be filed by mail or filed online. And every year, your small business has to file any applicable Kentucky LLC Taxes.
Need to save time? Hire a company to form your LLC:
Northwest ($39 + state fee) or LegalZoom ($149 + state fee)
(check out Northwest vs LegalZoom)
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.
KENTUCKY LLC GUIDE
Follow the lessons below to form your Kentucky LLC.
Hello Matt,
I am a fairly new business owner, Partnered with a larger company. For the time being I am an independent insurance agent. And want to diversify my agency with real estate later. Either through the same llc or multiple. One thing that I am most concerned with is the charging order/ forced foreclosures protection. Which based on my research limited states offer. What would be your recommendation?
Hi Zachari, it’s best practice to separate your insurance business from your rental business by using different LLCs. And in terms of charging order protection, I’d consider a Parent/Child LLC setup. For example, form an LLC in Wyoming and then form an LLC in the state where you’re doing business that is owned by the Wyoming LLC. Hope that helps!