Starting an Idaho LLC comes down to three filings and a few setup tasks: pick a name, appoint a registered agent with an Idaho street address, and file a Certificate of Organization with the Idaho Secretary of State through SOSBiz. The state fee is $100 online; paper filings add a $20 manual processing fee (as of October 2026). After that, put an operating agreement in place, get an EIN, and file the LLC’s annual report through SOSBiz every year.
Idaho keeps things simple and inexpensive, and nearly everything happens online. The Secretary of State actively steers filers to SOSBiz, and it warns about mailers that try to sell you documents you don’t need, which we cover below.
Updated October 2026.
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Best LLC Formation Services in Idaho (2026)
If you’d rather not handle forming an LLC in Idaho yourself, these are the services we recommend, in order. The table compares price and what’s included.
| Rank | Provider | Best for | Price | What’s included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | Forming an LLC with the agent, EIN and annual report included | $199/year + state fee at cost | LLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing |
| 2 | ID Registered Agent.org | Idaho registered agent service only | $99/year | $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
| 3 | Idaho Registered Agent.co | Idaho registered agent service only | $99/year | in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
1. Mainstay Filing
Mainstay Filing is our top pick in Idaho. It costs $199/year + state fee at cost and covers lLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing. The price stays the same every year, with no add-on menu.
2. ID Registered Agent.org
ID Registered Agent.org is a Idaho registered agent service at $99/year. It provides $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
3. Idaho Registered Agent.co
Idaho Registered Agent.co is a Idaho registered agent service at $99/year. It provides in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
Idaho LLC at a glance
| Topic | Idaho (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Filing office | Idaho Secretary of State, Business Services |
| Online portal | SOSBiz |
| Formation document | Certificate of Organization |
| Filing fee | $100 online; $120 on paper (includes $20 manual processing fee) |
| Name reservation | Optional; $20 online |
| Annual report | $0 online through SOSBiz; due by the end of your anniversary month |
| Certificate of existence | Optional; $10 from the Secretary of State |
| Registered agent | Required; Idaho physical street address, no P.O. boxes |
| Publication | Not required |
Fees come from the Secretary of State’s business forms and fees page. Mainstay Filing’s Idaho LLC costs page shows these alongside service fees.
Step 1: Name your Idaho LLC
Your LLC’s name must include “Limited Liability Company,” “LLC” or “L.L.C.” (or another abbreviation Idaho accepts) and must be distinguishable from other names on the Secretary of State’s records.
Turn rough ideas into options with the namechk business name generator, then search each candidate in SOSBiz business search. Our Idaho business name search guide explains how to read the results and search for close variants.
Also confirm:
- No conflicting federal trademark in the USPTO database
- The .com and social handles you want are open, using namechk
If you’re not ready to file, an Application for Reservation of Legal Entity Name costs $20 online.
Step 2: Appoint a registered agent
The Idaho Secretary of State lists the registered agent requirements plainly. The agent must:
- Have a physical street address in Idaho (no P.O. boxes)
- Be available during normal business hours
- Be either an individual who lives in Idaho or a business entity authorized to do business in Idaho
You can be your own agent if you have an Idaho address. Assumed business names (DBAs) can’t serve as agents, and the Secretary of State notes that agent services must be arranged before you file. If you live out of state or want to keep your address private, Mainstay Filing provides registered agent service for the first year with its formation package. Read our Idaho registered agent guide for more on choosing one.
Step 3: File the Certificate of Organization
File online at SOSBiz, which the Secretary of State describes as the fastest option. The online fee is $100. Paper forms are still accepted, but they carry an extra $20 manual processing fee, and the office rejects paper filings submitted without it.
The certificate asks for:
- The LLC name
- The registered agent’s name and Idaho street address
- The LLC’s mailing address
- Organizer and governor information as requested by the form
- Signature of an authorized person
Idaho also has a separate Certificate of Organization for professional LLCs, at the same $100 base fee, for licensed professionals such as accountants or physicians.
Step 4: Write an operating agreement
Idaho doesn’t require you to file an operating agreement, and the Secretary of State doesn’t review one. It’s still the most important internal document your LLC will have. Spell out ownership, capital contributions, management, voting, distributions and the process for a member leaving or selling.
With more than one member, an agreement prevents Idaho’s default rules from deciding issues you’d rather settle yourselves. With one member, it helps show the LLC is a separate business.
Step 5: Get an EIN and register for state taxes
The IRS EIN application is free online. Use your exact LLC name as it appears on the filed certificate.
If you’ll sell taxable goods, hire employees or owe other state taxes, register with the Idaho State Tax Commission and the Idaho Department of Labor as needed. FinCEN’s BOI page confirms that U.S.-formed companies are exempt from beneficial ownership reporting under the final rule effective August 2026.
Step 6: File the annual report
Idaho LLCs file an annual report every year during the month of their formation anniversary, and it’s due by the last day of that month. Filing online through SOSBiz costs nothing; the report is mostly a check of the information already on record. Paper reports are available only by request, and a manual filing carries a $20 processing fee.
Don’t ignore it. An LLC that stops filing can eventually lose its active status, which affects your ability to get a certificate of existence and can create problems with banks and contracts.
Watch for certificate scams
The Secretary of State warns that a certificate of existence is not required to do business in Idaho, and that scam websites and mailings may try to sell one at a high markup. If a bank asks for one, order it directly from the Secretary of State for $10.
Step 7: Check licenses and permits
Idaho has no general statewide business license, but many trades, professions and activities need a state license or a local permit. The state’s business licensing portal helps you find what applies to your business, and your city or county can tell you about local requirements.
What does an Idaho LLC cost?
Idaho is one of the cheaper states to form in. The state charges, as of October 2026:
| Item | Online | Paper |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Organization | $100 | $120 |
| Name reservation (optional) | $20 | $40 |
| Certificate of existence (optional) | $10 | $10 |
Paper amounts include the $20 manual processing fee. Licenses, permits and any registered agent service you hire are separate costs that depend on your business.
Idaho LLC FAQs
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Idaho?
The Idaho Secretary of State charges $100 to file a Certificate of Organization online through SOSBiz, as of October 2026. Paper filings add a $20 manual processing fee, bringing them to $120. An optional name reservation costs $20, and a certificate of existence, if a bank requests one, costs $10.
Can I file my Idaho LLC on paper?
Yes, but paper submissions require an extra $20 manual processing fee, and the Idaho Secretary of State rejects paper forms sent without it. Most business filings can be completed online at SOSBiz, which avoids the fee and which the office describes as the fastest option.
What are the registered agent requirements in Idaho?
An Idaho registered agent must have a physical street address in Idaho (no P.O. boxes), be available during normal business hours, and be either an Idaho resident or a business entity authorized to do business in Idaho. You can serve as your own agent, but a DBA name can’t serve as an agent.
Do I need a certificate of existence for my Idaho LLC?
No. The Idaho Secretary of State says a certificate of existence is not required to do business in Idaho. Banks or other organizations sometimes request one, and you can order it directly from the Secretary of State for $10. Be wary of mailings that offer the certificate at a high markup.
Does an Idaho LLC have to file an annual report?
Yes. Idaho LLCs file an annual report each year by the last day of their formation anniversary month. There’s no fee when you file online through SOSBiz; the report mainly confirms the information already on record. Failing to file can eventually cost the LLC its active status.
Can licensed professionals form an LLC in Idaho?
Yes. Idaho has a separate Certificate of Organization for professional limited liability companies, used by licensed professionals such as accountants, attorneys or physicians. The base filing fee is $100, the same as a standard LLC, with the $20 manual processing fee added for paper filings. Check your licensing board’s rules before filing.
Does Idaho require an operating agreement?
Idaho doesn’t require LLCs to file an operating agreement with the Secretary of State. A written agreement is still recommended because it defines ownership, management and what happens when a member leaves. Without one, Idaho’s default LLC rules decide those questions for you.
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