HOW TO CREATE YOUR LLC CALIFORNIA

STEP 1: Name Your Alabama LLC

Choosing a company name is the first and most important step of forming an LLC in Alabama. Be sure to choose a name that complies with Alabama naming requirements and is easily searchable by potential clients.

​

1. Follow the 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 (e.g., FBI, Treasury, State Department, etc.).

• Restricted words (e.g., Bank, Attorney, University) may require additional paperwork and a licensed individual, such as a doctor or lawyer, to be part of your LLC. 

• Your name must be different from any other Alabama LLC, limited liability company, corporation, limited partnership, or registered limited liability partnership.

 

2. Is the name available in Alabama? Make sure the name you want isn't already taken by doing a Business Entity Search on the Alabama Secretary of State's website. 

​

3. Reserve your name. If you plan to mail in your LLC registration, you will need to complete the Name Reservation Request for Domestic Entities form at least 2 weeks prior to registration. Should you not register your LLC online, you will reserve your business name when you complete the online LLC registration. If you are unsure on registering your LLC right away, you can reserve your LLC name online for 1 year.

 

4. Make sure you check to see if the URL available? Please make sure that you check online 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.

​

​

​

​

 

 

STEP 2: Decide On a Registered Agent in Alabama
You actually need and we recommend an Alabama registered agent for your Alabama LLC. 

What is actually a registered agent? A registered agent is actually a private or service company that process vital tax documents, legal papers, notice of legal actions, as well as main authorities correspondence in behalf of your organization. Consider your registered agent as your service's point of contact with the state.

 

Who could be a registered agent? A registered agent must be an individual of Alabama or even a corporation, including a registered agent company, authorized to work within the state of Alabama. 

 

We recommend: ZenBusiness   or   NW Registered Agents

 
Step 3: Submit the Alabama LLC Certificate of Formation
To register your LLC in Alabama, you'll need to have to reserve your LLC title as well as submit the Certification of Formation with the Secretary of State. If you're filing the Certification of Formation online, you'll accomplish the name booking when you accomplish the online Certification of Formation. If you are actually filing your Certificate of Formation by email, you'll need to have to email in the name reservation office first. You'll get a name reservation certificate coming from the state within a few weeks. Then, you'll forward in the permitted name reservation certificate along with your Certificate of Formation.

Now is a good time to identify or figure out whether your LLC is going to be a member-managed vs. manager-managed.

​

​