Form your LLC the right way the first time
Filing, EIN, operating agreement, and post-formation guidance — done by an operator who has formed dozens of LLCs in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. No legal jargon, no surprise upsells, no missed steps that cost you the liability shield you thought you bought.
Prefer a quick chat first? Talk to us
What you actually need to launch an LLC
An LLC isn't just paperwork. It's the operating agreement, the EIN, the bank account, the registered agent, the BOI report, and the boring-but-critical decisions about ownership, voting, capital, and what happens when one partner wants out. We've helped dozens of PNW operators launch theirs without overpaying a lawyer or under-doing it with LegalZoom — and we've cleaned up enough botched filings to know exactly where first-timers get stuck.
What you get with us in your corner
State filing done right the first time
We file your articles in your home state, handle the registered agent decision (and tell you when being your own makes sense vs. when it does not), confirm name availability, and lock in your filing date so your liability shield starts the day you intend.
Custom operating agreement — not a template
Single-member, multi-member, partnership splits, sweat equity, vesting cliffs, voting thresholds, deadlock clauses, buy-sell triggers. We tailor it to your actual ownership structure and tax election so it survives a real disagreement, not just a Reddit thread.
EIN + bank-ready in days, not weeks
We pull your EIN from the IRS the same week you file, walk you through opening a business bank account that won't pierce your liability shield (commingling is the #1 way owners lose protection), and intro you to PNW-friendly bankers and credit unions when it helps.
S-Corp election timing done right
S-Corp election can save you self-employment tax once your net is around $50K — but the 75-day window after formation is a hard deadline most CPAs forget to mention. We tell you whether it makes sense for your numbers and file Form 2553 on time if it does.
BOI report (FinCEN) handled
The Beneficial Ownership Information report is the new federal filing every LLC owes within 30-90 days of formation. Miss it and the penalties are steep. We file it for you so you don't get a surprise letter in 9 months.
Plain-English guidance throughout
Every decision explained without legalese. You'll understand what you're signing, why we picked this structure, and which lever to pull when something changes. No black box, no "trust us, it's fine."
Pick the path that fits how you work
DIY with our kit, done-with-you on a 60-min strategy call, or done-for-you end-to-end. Same outcome, different speed and different price points.
DIY Kit
Step-by-step kit + operating agreement template. You file. We coach.
- PDF kit with state-by-state filing checklists (WA, OR, ID deep-dive)
- Operating agreement templates (single + multi-member)
- EIN walkthrough with annotated IRS screenshots
- Bank account opening checklist + PNW credit unions worth a look
- S-Corp election walkthrough with break-even calculator
- 30-day post-formation checklist
- 1 follow-up Q&A email after you've read the kit
Done-With-You
60-min strategy call + custom operating agreement + filing review.
- 60-min strategy call before you file (state, structure, S-Corp timing)
- Custom operating agreement tailored to your ownership and tax election
- Review of your filed articles before you submit
- EIN application support (we sit on a screenshare if you want)
- Banker introduction in WA, OR, or ID
- BOI report walkthrough
- 30 days of email follow-up included
Full Service
We handle filing, agreement, EIN, bank setup, and BOI end-to-end.
- We file the articles in your home state
- Custom operating agreement built for your structure
- EIN pulled and delivered to your inbox
- Bank account opening assistance with PNW partners
- BOI report filed with FinCEN
- S-Corp election (Form 2553) filed if it makes sense
- 30-day post-formation support
- Optional ongoing fractional GM hours after launch
Forming in WA, OR, or ID
Every PNW state has its own portal, its own fees, and its own gotchas. Here's what changes between them — and what stays the same.
Washington
- File via the WA Corporations & Charities Filing System (CCFS)
- Initial Report due within 120 days of formation — many owners miss this
- WA UBI (business license) is a separate step at the Department of Revenue
- No state income tax, but B&O (gross receipts) tax applies
- Licensed professionals (architects, accountants, doctors) must form a PLLC, not LLC
- Annual report + $60 fee due every year on your formation anniversary
Oregon
- File via the OR Secretary of State business portal
- PLLC required for licensed professions (same rule as WA)
- Oregon CAT (Corporate Activity Tax) kicks in above $1M in commercial activity
- Annual report + $100 fee due every year on formation anniversary
- Registered agent must have a physical OR street address — no PO boxes
- City of Portland adds its own business license layer if you operate there
Idaho
- File via the ID Secretary of State SOSBiz portal
- Annual report is free (yes, $0) but still required — miss it and you're admin-dissolved
- No franchise tax, low overall compliance burden
- Idaho state income tax applies if you take distributions there
- Sales tax permit needed if you sell physical goods or some services
- ID is the cheapest of the three for ongoing maintenance — popular for second entities
The common mistakes (don't be these)
Every one of these is something we've cleaned up for an existing operator. None are theoretical. All are avoidable if you know about them upfront.
Forming in Delaware "for tax savings" when you live in WA
If you operate in Washington, you'll have to register the Delaware LLC as a foreign entity in WA anyway — paying both states, filing both reports, doubling your maintenance for nothing. The asset-protection story you saw on YouTube assumes you're a venture-backed startup, not a service business in Tacoma.
Skipping the operating agreement
WA, OR, and ID don't require an operating agreement to form an LLC, so most online filers skip it. That's fine until a bank asks for one, a partner disagrees with you, or a court decides whether to respect your liability shield. The agreement is what proves the LLC is a real, separate entity — not just you with a fancier name.
Mixing personal and business finances day one
Paying a vendor from your personal Venmo, depositing a client check into your personal account, putting a business expense on a personal card — every single one of these is evidence that the LLC isn't really separate from you. Courts call this commingling, and it's the fastest way to lose the liability shield you just paid to set up.
Not getting the EIN before opening the bank account
Banks won't open a business account without an EIN. Owners who skip this step end up using their SSN at the bank, which technically opens a sole-prop account in the bank's eyes — same name as the LLC, but legally a different entity. Get the EIN first. It's free and takes 10 minutes.
Wrong S-Corp election timing
You have 75 days from formation OR until March 15 of the year you want it to take effect — whichever comes first. Miss the window and you're stuck on default LLC taxation for the year, paying full self-employment tax on every dollar. Most owners only learn this in April from a CPA who could have told them in January.
Forgetting the registered agent renewal
If you hired a registered agent service ($100-300/year) and the credit card on file expires, the agent resigns, your state mail goes nowhere, and the state eventually administratively dissolves your LLC. Set a calendar reminder for renewal a month before the date. We've seen owners lose 4-year-old LLCs over a $129 charge that bounced.
First 30 days post-formation: the checklist
Filing the articles is only the start. Here's what actually has to happen in the first month so you have a working business, not just a piece of paper.
Pull the EIN from the IRS
Free, 10 minutes online at IRS.gov. Do this within 7 days of formation. You'll need it for the bank, taxes, and basically every form afterward.
Sign the operating agreement
All members sign and date. Keep the original in your business records folder. Banks and lenders will ask for it — and a court will too if it ever comes to that.
Open a business bank account
Bring articles, EIN letter, operating agreement, and ID. From day one, every business dollar in and out goes through this account. No exceptions.
File the BOI report with FinCEN
Federal requirement since 2024. Due within 30 days of formation for new entities. Miss it and the penalties stack at $591/day. It's free to file online at fincen.gov.
Register for state business license
WA UBI via Department of Revenue, OR business registry, ID combined registration. Each state has its own portal. Some are bundled with formation, most are not.
Apply for city + county business licenses
Seattle, Tacoma, Spokane, Portland, Boise — they all want their own. Fees range from $50-200/year. Skip these and you'll get a surprise letter from the city.
Set up a DBA if you operate under a different name
If your LLC is "Smith Holdings LLC" but you do business as "Cascade Plumbing," file a Trade Name (DBA). Lets you bank, sign contracts, and advertise under the operating name legally.
Set up bookkeeping software day one
QuickBooks, Wave, or Xero. Connect the bank account. Categorize transactions weekly. Don't wait until tax season — that's how you lose deductions and pay your CPA double.
Get business liability insurance
General liability minimum, professional liability if you give advice, commercial auto if you drive for work. Quotes are free. Policy starts the day you bind. The LLC shield does not replace insurance.
Set up payroll if you have employees (or are S-Corp)
Gusto, Rippling, or QuickBooks Payroll. If you elected S-Corp, you must run payroll on yourself — that's the whole point of the election. Late on the first payroll and the IRS notices fast.
File S-Corp election (Form 2553) if it pencils
75-day deadline from formation. We walk through whether it saves you money based on your projected net income. Below ~$50K it usually doesn't. Above, it often does.
Set up a registered agent renewal reminder
If you hired one, put the renewal date in your calendar 30 days early. If you're your own agent, make sure the address on file is one you'll still be at in 2 years.
DIY vs Done-With-You vs Full Service
Same outcome — a clean LLC with the boring stuff handled. The difference is how much of your time it costs vs. how much of ours.
| Factor | DIY Kit ($147) | Done-With-You ($497) | Full Service ($997+) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Side-hustler going pro, second-entity stackers, self-learners | First LLC with a partner or unusual structure, people who want a sanity check | Busy operators who want it handled, multi-member LLCs with real money |
| Your time | 4-8 hours over a week | 1-2 hours of calls + your filing time | 30 minutes of intake, then we drive |
| Operating agreement | Templates (single + multi-member) | Custom, written for your splits | Custom, written for your splits |
| Filing | You file | You file (we review first) | We file |
| EIN | Annotated walkthrough | Live screenshare if you want | We pull it for you |
| BOI report | Walkthrough included | Walkthrough included | We file it |
| S-Corp election | Form 2553 walkthrough + calculator | Strategy call covers timing | We file Form 2553 if it pencils |
| Bank account | Checklist + PNW recommendations | Banker intro included | Banker intro + intake support |
| Post-formation support | 1 Q&A email | 30 days of email follow-up | 30 days + optional fractional GM |
Best for
Your time
Operating agreement
Filing
EIN
BOI report
S-Corp election
Bank account
Post-formation support
Want to do it yourself? Get the DIY Kit.
If you're a first-time owner who likes to learn the moving parts, or a second-entity stacker who's done this before and just wants the templates, the $147 LLC Formation Kit is the fastest way to ship a clean LLC without paying $1,500 to LegalZoom or guessing your way through Reddit. Same operator behind both — the kit is the foundation, the service tiers add our hands.
Who this is for
- First-time owners forming their first LLC and wanting to understand what they're signing
- Existing operators adding a new entity for a second business line, partnership, or rental property
- Service businesses leveling up from sole proprietorship to LLC for liability separation
- Couples or business partners who need an operating agreement that addresses the awkward stuff (deadlocks, exit, sweat equity)
- Real estate investors stacking entity-per-property and tired of paying $300+ per filing for cookie-cutter docs
- Owners who pulled up LegalZoom, saw the upsell ladder, and wanted real depth without the $1,500 price tag
FAQ
Are you a law firm?+
No. CIC is a business consulting and AI systems company, not a law firm. For complex legal questions — multi-state operations, ongoing litigation, tax structures with international exposure — we partner with a licensed attorney and refer out. For standard PNW LLC formation, our process covers what most operators need.
Which state should I form in?+
For 95% of PNW service businesses and real estate investors, your home state is right. Forming in Delaware, Wyoming, or Nevada when you operate in Washington means you still register as a foreign LLC in WA, pay both states, and deal with two annual filings — usually a net loss. The narrow cases where out-of-state formation makes sense are venture-backed startups raising on Delaware paper or specific holding-company structures. We'll tell you which case you're in on the strategy call.
How fast can I have my LLC live?+
DIY: as fast as your state processes (WA and ID are 5-7 business days online; OR is ~1 week online or 3 weeks by mail). Full Service: 5-10 business days from intake to bank-ready, depending on state processing and how fast you sign documents.
Do you do S-Corp elections?+
Yes. We walk you through whether S-Corp election makes sense for your numbers (the rough rule: it starts saving you money around $50K net) and file Form 2553 within the 75-day window if it does. Most CPAs are great at filing taxes but only some are great at proactive entity timing — this is where we add value.
What about the BOI report?+
The Beneficial Ownership Information report became federal law in 2024. Every LLC owes one within 30 days of formation (90 days for entities formed before 2024 — that grace ended). Penalties are $591/day if you miss it. DIY: walkthrough in the kit. Done-With-You: we walk you through the form on the call. Full Service: we file it for you.
Can you handle an LLC for a real estate property?+
Yes — and entity-per-property is a common structure. We help you decide whether to use a series LLC (Delaware allows it; WA does not), separate LLCs for each property, or a holding company structure. Real estate LLCs have their own quirks around deed transfer, lender consent, and insurance — we cover them.
What if I already formed an LLC and made a mistake?+
Pretty common. Missing operating agreement, wrong tax election, no BOI report, registered agent gone bad — all fixable. Book the call (or grab the kit and tell us your situation in the Q&A email) and we'll lay out what it takes to clean it up.
Not sure which path fits?
Get a free 15-minute audit. We'll tell you which formation tier fits your situation, whether the DIY kit is enough, and if your case is one of the rare ones where you actually need to talk to an attorney instead.
Get Your Free AuditCIC is a business consulting and AI systems company, not a law firm. The information on this page is general guidance based on PNW operator experience — not legal advice. For complex ownership structures, multi-state operations, or anything involving litigation, review with a licensed attorney before signing or filing.