How to File the Alaska LLC Articles of Organization
The Alaska Articles of Organization is the LLC form you fill out and file with the state to form an LLC.
Follow the steps in our How to File the Alaska LLC Articles of Organization guide below to get started.
Or simply use a professional service:
Northwest ($29 + State Fees)
Filing the Alaska Articles of Organization Is Easy!
We'll take you through three easy steps for filing the Alaska LLC Articles of Organization.
- Get Your Articles of Organization Forms
- Fill out the Articles of Organization
- File the Articles of Organization
Step 1: Get Your Articles of Organization Forms
You can download and mail in your Alaska Articles of Organization, OR you can file online. For this first step, choose your preferred method below.
Get Your Alaska Articles of Organization
Option 1: Access Alaska's Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development online services. At the bottom of the Online Filing Instructions page, select the “Proceed to Online Filing” button.
Access Online- OR -
Option 2: Access the Articles of Organization PDF from the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development's website. This form will need to be mailed in.
Download PDFStep 2: Fill Out the Articles of Organization
In this step, we will help you complete the Alaska Articles of Organization.
You will need to know the following information to complete each section:
- Entity Name
- Business Purpose and NAICS Code
- Registered Agent Name and Registered Office Address
- Governing Authority Type
Entity Name
Having a creative and smart business name is important but not as important as having a legally correct name.
When you choose a name for your business, you have to make sure the name:
- Meets Alaska naming guidelines.
- Is not already in use by another business in Alaska
Follow the Alaska Naming Guidelines:
- Your name must include the phrase "limited liability company” or one of its abbreviations (LLC or L.L.C.). "Limited” can be abbreviated "Ltd.,” and "company” can be abbreviated "co.”
- Your name cannot include words that could confuse your LLC with a government agency or unit (FBI, Treasury, State Department, etc.).
- A business name may not contain a word with professional licensing restrictions, such as "Engineer,” unless the business has the appropriate professional license.
- Entity names that mislead regarding corporate purposes are not allowed. For example, if you own an oil company, you couldn't name your business "Solar Power Visionaries, LLC”.
- The name of a city, borough, or village may be used in an LLC's name; however, the name may not contain the word "city,” "borough,” or "village” or otherwise imply that the company is a municipality.
- Your name must be distinguishable from any other business name registered with the state.
Check Name Availability:
Is your name available in Alaska? Make sure the name you want isn't already taken by doing a name search on the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development website.
To learn more about naming your business, including best practices and creative branding, visit our How to Name a Business in Alaska guide.
Not sure what to name your business? Check out our Business Name Generator.
Register Your Domain Name:
We recommend checking to see if your business name is available as a web domain. Even if you don't plan to make a business website today, you may want to buy the URL in order to prevent others from acquiring it.
Business Purpose and NAICS Code
In Alaska, you can form a limited liability company for any legal or non-prohibited activity. You can state "any lawful” as your purpose under Article 2.
At this point, you must also indicate the six-digit NAICS grouping code that best describes your business's activities. You can check the State of Alaska's recognized NAICS codes for more information.
Registered Agent and Registered Office
A registered agent accepts and sends legal documents on your LLC's behalf. When you register your Alaska LLC, you are required to list your registered agent and your registered office.
Your registered agent can be anyone 18 years or older that lives in Alaska. Your registered agent must always be available at the registered office during regular business hours. Your registered office address cannot be a P.O. box.
To learn more about choosing an Alaska registered agent, read our How to Choose an Alaska Registered Agent guide.
To learn more about what a registered agent does and how to choose one, read our What is a Registered Agent guide.
Governing Authority
You must state whether members or managers will manage your LLC.
To learn everything you need to know about choosing your management structure, read our Management by Members or Managers guide.
Step 3: File the Articles of Organization
To register your LLC, you will need to file the Articles of Organization with the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development.
There are two ways to file your Articles of Organization:
- Complete the form online.
- Submit a hard copy by mail.
File the Alaska Articles of Organization
Option 1: Fill out the required fields on the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development's website. Submit your completed form.
File Online- OR -
Option 2: Download and submit the Articles of Organization to the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development's Corporation Section. This can be done by mail, by fax, or in person.
Download PDFState Filing Cost: $250
Mailing Address:
State of Alaska Corporations Section
P.O. Box 110806
Juneau, AK 99811
Office Address:
333 Willoughby Ave., 9th Floor
State Office Building
Juneau, AK 99801-1770
Fax: (907) 465-2974
Turnaround Time: 10-15 business days
Steps After Your Alaska LLC Is Officially Formed
Once you’ve filed your Articles of Organization, you should take the following steps:
Create an Operating Agreement
An Alaska LLC Operating Agreement is a legal document that outlines the ownership structure and member roles of your LLC.
In Alaska, you aren't required to have an Operating Agreement to officially form an LLC, but it's still a good idea to have one. You can start your operating agreement before, during, or after you file your Articles of Organization.
Your operating agreement will be kept in your LLC's private business records; you do not file it with the state.
Use our free Operating Agreement Tool to draft a customized operating agreement for your LLC.
Get an EIN
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is like a social security number for your LLC. You will need an EIN if you want to hire employees or open business bank accounts.
You can get your EIN for free through the IRS website, via fax, or by mail. If you would like to learn more about EINs and how they can benefit your LLC, read our What is an EIN article.
Open a Business Bank Account
Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential to protect your business' corporate veil. When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your LLC is sued.
For reviews on some of our most trusted business banks, visit our Best Banks for Small Business review.
Get Licenses and Permits
When you are registering an LLC, you need to determine if your business needs any licenses or permits to remain compliant. On the federal level, there are a handful of business activities that require licenses or permits.
Find out how to obtain necessary licenses and permits for your business or have a professional service do it for you:
- Federal: Use the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) guide to federal business licenses and permits.
- State: Apply for or learn more about licenses, permits, and registration with The State of Alaska Department of Commerce.
- Local: Contact your local county clerk and ask about local licenses and permits.
State of Alaska Quick Links
Alaska DCCED Corporations Section
Alaska Corporation Forms by Entity Type
Brand Your Business
The strongest and most memorable businesses are built on a solid brand. When developing your brand, think about what your business stands for. Customers and clients are looking for companies that have a compelling brand, as much as they are shopping for high-quality products and services.
Creating a logo for your business is vital for increasing brand awareness. You can design your own unique logo using our Free Logo Generator. Our free tool can help you design your own unique logo for your new business idea.