How to Start an LLC in Connecticut: Step by Step

A Connecticut LLC comes into existence when the Connecticut Secretary of the State, Business Services Division accepts your Certificate of Organization. Two details trip people up right away. First, the officer's exact title is "Secretary of the State" (with the second "the"). Second, the formation document is a Certificate of Organization, not "Articles of Organization" as in many states. Filings run through the state's business portal at business.ct.gov, which is the channel the state prefers. For the overview, see our formation guide.

The Connecticut Formation Steps

1. Search your LLC name. Use the business records search at business.ct.gov to confirm your name is distinguishable from every entity already on the Secretary of the State's records. The name must include "LLC," "L.L.C.," or "Limited Liability Company" and cannot imply banking, insurance, or government affiliation without the required licensing. If you want to hold a name before you are ready to file, the state offers an optional name reservation filing for a separate fee; see our name reservation guide.
2. Appoint a registered agent. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 34-243n requires every Connecticut LLC to maintain a registered agent with a place of business in the state. The agent needs a Connecticut street address (no PO box) plus a Connecticut mailing address, and must sign to accept the appointment. Your LLC cannot name itself, but an individual member who lives in Connecticut can serve personally. Full rules in our registered agent guide.
3. File the Certificate of Organization. The filing fee is $120, set by Conn. Gen. Stat. § 34-243u(a)(3), and that single fee already covers the appointment of your registered agent. File online through business.ct.gov, or use the state's paper form; the current official form carries no form number, so do not hunt for one. The statutory basis for the filing is Conn. Gen. Stat. § 34-247. Our filing document guide walks through each field: LLC name, principal office, registered agent, management type, and organizer information.
4. Adopt an operating agreement. Connecticut's Uniform LLC Act gives operating agreements broad authority over ownership, management, and distributions. Draft one right after filing, even for a single member. See our operating agreement guide.
5. Get an EIN. Free at irs.gov, issued immediately online. You will need it for banking and for Connecticut tax registration.
6. Register with the Department of Revenue Services. If you will sell taxable goods or services, or hire employees, set up the relevant accounts at portal.ct.gov/DRS. Our Connecticut tax pages explain which registrations apply.
7. Open a business bank account. Bring your filed Certificate of Organization, EIN confirmation, operating agreement, and photo ID. Keeping company money separate from personal money protects your liability shield.
8. Calendar the annual report. Every Connecticut LLC files an annual report between January 1 and March 31 each year, online only at business.ct.gov, for an $80 fee. Put it on the calendar now; details in our annual compliance checklist.

Certificate of Organization, Not Articles of Organization

Search engines are full of generic advice telling you to file "Articles of Organization." In Connecticut the document is the Certificate of Organization, filed under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 34-247. The official form is unnumbered, the fee is $120, and the registered agent appointment is included in that fee rather than billed separately.

Connecticut Filing Fees at a Glance

Prefer to hand it off? Our formation service is $199 and includes your first year of registered agent service, then $99 per year after that.

FAQ

How long does the state take to approve a filing?

The state does not promise a fixed turnaround. Online submissions through business.ct.gov post faster than mailed paper forms, which is one reason the state steers filers to the portal.

Does Connecticut require publication?

No. Connecticut has no newspaper publication requirement for new LLCs (unlike New York).

Can I form without a lawyer?

Yes. The business.ct.gov portal is built for self-service filers. An attorney earns their fee mainly on complex multi-member deals or unusual operating agreement terms.