How to File the New York LLC Articles of Organization
The New York 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 New York LLC Articles of Organization guide below to get started.
Or simply use a professional service:
Northwest ($29 + State Fees)
Filing the New York Articles of Organization Is Easy!
We'll take you through three easy steps for filing the New York 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 New York Articles of Organization, OR you can create an account and file online. For this first step, choose your preferred method below.
Get Your New York Articles of Organization
OPTION 1: Select the “Access Online” button below to access the online Articles of Organization forms.
Access Online- OR -
Option 2: Access the Articles of Organization PDF from the New York Department of State website. This form will need to be mailed to the Department of State’s Division of Corporations.
Download PDFStep 2: Fill Out the Articles of Organization
In this step, we will help you complete the New York Articles of Organization form. The hard copy form only has a few sections, while the online form has additional optional sections.
You will need to know the following information to complete the form:
- Entity Name
- Location of LLC Office
- Service of Process Address
- Registered Agent
- Management Structure
- Effective and Dissolution Dates
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 New York naming guidelines.
- is not already in use by another business in New York.
Follow the New York Naming Guidelines:
- Your name must include the phrase “limited liability company” or one of its abbreviations (LLC or L.L.C.).
- Your name cannot include words that could confuse your LLC with a government agency (FBI, Treasury, State Department, etc.).
- You must receive approval and/or meet certain conditions to include certain restricted or prohibited words.
- Your name must be distinguishable from any existing business in the state. This includes New York reserved names.
Check Name Availability:
Is your name available in New York? Make sure the name you want isn't already taken by doing a name search on the New York Department of State website.
To learn more about naming your business, including best practices and creative branding, visit our How to Name a Business in New York 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.
Location of LLC Office
New York requires that you list the name of the county where your LLC’s office will be located.
Service of Process Address
This is the address where you would like the state to send any legal notifications. This address cannot be a P.O. Box.
Registered Agent (optional)
In New York, the Secretary of State acts as the statutory agent for service of process (another name for registered agent) for all New York LLCs by default. In addition, you can choose to elect a registered agent for your New York LLC.
Your registered agent can be anyone 18 years or older that lives in New York. Your registered agent must always be available at the registered office during regular business hours.
To learn more about choosing a New York registered agent, read our How to Choose a New York Registered Agent guide.
Management Structure (optional)
You can state whether your LLC will be managed by members or by managers.
To learn everything you need to know about choosing your management structure, read our Management by Members or Managers guide.
Effective and Dissolution Dates (optional)
You can list the dates when the Articles of Organization will take effect and any planned dissolution date for your LLC. If you don’t have a planned dissolution date, just note that the LLC will be perpetual.
Step 3: File the Articles of Organization
To register your New York LLC, you will need to file the Articles of Organization with the Department of State.
There are two ways to file your Articles of Organization:
- Complete the forms online
- Submit a hard copy by mail
File the New York Articles of Organization
Option 1: Fill out the first field with your proposed Business Entity Name. Then continue filling out the required fields and submit.
Access Online- OR -
Option 2: Access the Articles of Organization PDF from the New York Department of State website. This form will need to be mailed to the Department of State Division of Corporations.
Download PDFState Filing Cost: $200
Mail to:
Department of State Division of Corporations
State Records and Uniform Commercial Code
One Commerce Plaza 99 Washington Ave.
Albany, NY 12231
Turnaround Time: The processing time for filings submitted by mail is about 7 business days. This can be expedited for an additional fee. If filing online, you don’t have to pay for expedited processing.
Steps After Your New York LLC Is Officially Formed
Once you’ve filed your Articles of Organization, you should take the following steps:
Create an Operating Agreement
A New York LLC operating agreement is a legal document that outlines the ownership structure and member roles of your LLC.
In New York, 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 New York's Business Express website.
- Local: Contact your local county clerk and ask about local licenses and permits.
State of New York Quick Links
New York Articles of Organization Online Filing
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.