How to Start an LLC in Connecticut

Forming a Connecticut LLC is a paperwork process with a handful of fixed costs and deadlines, and most of it can be done online in one sitting. This guide walks through exactly what you need, in order, to complete your Connecticut LLC formation: picking a compliant name, appointing a registered agent, filing your Certificate of Organization with the Secretary of the State, and setting up the tax accounts your business will actually use. If you're wondering how to start an LLC in Connecticut without hiring a formation service, everything below is something you can file yourself directly through Business.CT.gov.

This article is informational only and is not legal or tax advice. Connecticut LLC formation involves legal and tax decisions specific to your situation, so consult a licensed attorney or CPA before you file, especially if you have multiple members, outside investors, or an out-of-state business you're registering to do business in Connecticut.

What You'll Need Before You Start

Gather these before you sit down to file. Having them ready turns a multi-day process into a same-day one.

• A distinguishable business name that includes "Limited Liability Company," "LLC," or "L.L.C."
• A Connecticut registered agent, either yourself (if you meet the requirements) or a commercial registered agent service
• A principal business address for the LLC
• Names and addresses of the organizer(s) and members
• A payment method for the $120 filing fee (plus $50 more if you want 24-hour expedited processing)
• An EIN application ready to submit to the IRS once your LLC is approved
• A plan for an operating agreement, even though Connecticut does not require you to file one

Step-by-Step: How to Start an LLC in Connecticut

Step 1: Choose and Verify Your LLC Name

Your Connecticut LLC name must contain "Limited Liability Company" or an accepted abbreviation such as "LLC" or "L.L.C.," and it must be distinguishable on the record from every other business name already registered or reserved with the Secretary of the State. Names implying a regulated activity, like "bank" or "insurance," require separate authorization before they'll be approved.

Check availability for free using the Business.CT.gov online business records search at service.ct.gov/business/s/onlinebusinesssearch. If you've settled on a name but aren't ready to file your Certificate of Organization yet, you can reserve it for 120 days for a $60 fee, which keeps competitors from taking it while you finish your other prep work.

Common mistake: assuming a name is available because it's not in use as a website domain or trademark. The only search that matters for Connecticut LLC formation is the Secretary of the State's own business records search.

Step 2: Appoint a Registered Agent

Every LLC formed or registered in Connecticut must continuously maintain a registered agent to receive legal and official correspondence. Your agent must be either a natural person at least 18 years old who resides in Connecticut, or a business entity registered with the Secretary of the State. The agent's address has to be a usual place of business in Connecticut, open during normal business hours with someone authorized to accept documents there; a P.O. box or commercial mailbox does not qualify.

You can serve as your own registered agent if you have a Connecticut street address and are reliably available during business hours. Many single-member LLC owners who work from home, travel, or simply don't want their home address on a public filing choose a commercial registered agent service instead, which typically runs $100 to $300 a year.

You'll confirm and, if needed, update your registered agent information every year when you file your annual report, so it's not a one-time decision you can forget about.

Step 3: File the Certificate of Organization

This is the actual formation document. The Certificate of Organization (Domestic Limited Liability Company) is filed with the Connecticut Secretary of the State, Business Services Division, through the Business.CT.gov online filing portal at business.ct.gov/business-services/business-forms-and-fees. The filing fee is $120.

The state doesn't publish a standard turnaround time for regular online or paper filings, but most online submissions are accepted automatically, which is why Connecticut says expedited service usually isn't necessary. If you do need your LLC approved fast, expedited service costs an extra $50 per transaction and is completed within 24 hours of receipt, but it's only available for filings submitted online, not by mail.

You'll need to include your LLC name, principal office address, registered agent name and address, and the name and address of at least one organizer. Once the Secretary of the State accepts your filing, your Connecticut LLC legally exists.

Step 4: Draft an Operating Agreement

Connecticut does not require LLCs to file an operating agreement with the state, but skipping one is one of the more common mistakes new owners make. Without a written agreement, your LLC falls back on Connecticut's default statutory rules for how profits, losses, and control are handled, which may not match what you and your co-owners actually intended.

At minimum, your operating agreement should cover ownership percentages, how profits and losses are allocated, management structure (member-managed vs. manager-managed), voting rights, and what happens if a member wants to leave or the LLC needs to dissolve. Banks also frequently ask for a copy of your operating agreement before opening a business account, even though it's an internal document.

Step 5: Get an EIN From the IRS

An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is free and comes directly from the IRS, not the state of Connecticut. You'll need it to open a business bank account, hire employees, and file federal taxes. Apply online through the IRS website once your Certificate of Organization has been accepted; the online application typically issues your EIN immediately.

Common mistake: paying a third-party site to "obtain" an EIN. The IRS issues EINs at no cost, and any site charging a fee for this step is charging for something you can do yourself in minutes.

Step 6: Open a Business Bank Account

Once you have your Certificate of Organization and EIN in hand, open a dedicated business checking account. Commingling personal and business funds is one of the fastest ways to undermine the liability protection an LLC is supposed to provide, since courts can disregard the LLC structure ( "pierce the corporate veil") when personal and business finances aren't kept separate. Most banks will ask for your Certificate of Organization, EIN confirmation letter, and operating agreement to open the account.

Step 7: Register for Connecticut Taxes

Connecticut has no franchise tax or annual privilege tax on LLCs, which is a real cost advantage compared to some neighboring states. What you do need depends on how your LLC is taxed and what it sells:

• If your LLC sells taxable goods or services, you must register for a Sales and Use Tax Permit through the Department of Revenue Services (DRS) at portal.ct.gov/drs/sales-tax/tax-information. The permit carries a $100 registration fee, and you must display it at each business location. Connecticut's state sales tax rate is 6.35%.
• If your LLC is taxed as a partnership or S corporation, it may elect the optional Pass-Through Entity Tax with DRS. This election is made annually and, once made for a given year, is irrevocable for that year.
• If your LLC elects to be treated as a corporation for tax purposes, it instead pays the Corporation Business Tax: 7.5% of apportioned net income or 0.21% of the capital base, whichever is greater, with a $250 minimum, plus a 10% surtax for companies with $100 million or more in total income or that file as part of a combined unitary group.

Confirm which of these actually applies to you with a CT-licensed CPA, since the right election depends on your income level, number of members, and long-term plans for the business.

Step 8: File a Trade Name Certificate (If You're Using a DBA)

If your LLC will operate under a name different from the one on your Certificate of Organization, you need a Trade Name Certificate, commonly called a DBA. Unlike your formation filing, this one isn't filed with the Secretary of the State. It's filed with the town clerk of the Connecticut town where the business is primarily transacted, for a $20 fee. More detail is available at business.ct.gov/knowledge-base/articles/trade-names.

Step 9: Plan for Your Annual Report

Connecticut LLCs must file an Annual Report with the Secretary of the State every year, at a cost of $80. Business.CT.gov doesn't publish one single statewide deadline for every LLC; instead, it shows each entity its own next due date inside its Business.CT.gov account. Widely reported practice for LLCs is a January 1 to March 31 filing window, but confirm your specific due date in your account rather than assuming. Missing this filing is one of the most common (and most avoidable) ways Connecticut LLCs fall out of good standing.

Tips for a Smoother Connecticut LLC Formation

• File online, not by mail. Online filings through Business.CT.gov are generally processed faster, and expedited 24-hour service is only offered online.
• Don't skip the operating agreement just because Connecticut doesn't require you to file one. Banks, courts, and future co-owners will all care about it.
• Keep your registered agent address current. A lapsed or invalid registered agent can put your LLC's good standing at risk.
• Separate your finances from day one. Open the business bank account before your first sale or expense, not after.
• Set a calendar reminder for your annual report as soon as your LLC is approved, since the $80 fee and due date are easy to lose track of in year two and beyond.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Choosing a name before checking it against the Secretary of the State's business records search, then having the filing rejected as not distinguishable.
• Using a P.O. box as a registered agent address, which does not meet Connecticut's requirements.
• Assuming Connecticut has a general state business license. It doesn't; licensing is industry-specific and handled by agencies like the Department of Consumer Protection, the Department of Public Health, and the Connecticut Insurance Department through the eLicense system, in addition to any DRS tax registrations your business needs.
• Forgetting that a Trade Name Certificate goes to the town clerk, not the Secretary of the State.
• Letting the annual report deadline pass because it isn't the same fixed calendar date for every entity.

What You Can Expect

Once your Certificate of Organization is accepted, your Connecticut LLC formation is generally considered complete from the state's perspective, and you should be able to apply for your EIN and open a business bank account shortly after. Many filers report that the online process, from name search to accepted filing, can often be completed within a single day when the required information is ready in advance, though actual processing may vary and the state does not guarantee a specific turnaround for standard filings. Ongoing compliance, primarily the $80 annual report and any tax registrations that apply to your business, is generally manageable if you build it into a yearly calendar reminder rather than treating formation as a one-time task.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to form an LLC in Connecticut?

The Certificate of Organization filing fee is $120. Add $60 if you reserve your name in advance, $50 if you want expedited 24-hour processing, and $80 a year for your ongoing annual report. Sales tax permits, trade name filings, and registered agent services are additional if they apply to your business.

Do I need a lawyer to form an LLC in Connecticut?

No, the filing itself is straightforward enough that most owners complete it without an attorney. That said, an attorney or CPA is worth consulting for multi-member ownership splits, outside investment, or industry-specific licensing questions, since getting those wrong is harder to fix after the fact than the formation filing itself.

How long does Connecticut LLC formation take?

The Secretary of the State doesn't publish a standard processing time for regular filings, but most online submissions are accepted automatically. Expedited service, when requested and filed online, is completed within 24 hours.

Again, this guide is for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Requirements, fees, and processing times can change, so confirm current details directly with the Connecticut Secretary of the State and the Department of Revenue Services, and consult a licensed attorney or CPA for advice specific to your business.