"Secretary of State" Websites by State
A "Secretary of State" is a governmental agency present in each state which deals with business name search and registration and new LLC formations.
If you want to start an LLC, you will have to file the "Articles of Organization" (aka the formation documents) with the local Secretary of State (there may be other names in your state).
In most states, you also have to pay the formation fee (see all LLC formation costs by state) which may vary depending on how you file the documents.
Before filing your formation paperwork, please make sure that your SOS is accepting in-person applications.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some departments have closed their offices and accept only online filings or those sent by postal mail and fax.
All Secretary of State Departments
Please, select your Secretary of State and visit their website for more information regarding LLC filings, costs, and working hours during COVID-19:
- Alabama Secretary of State
- Alaska Division of Corporations
- Arizona Secretary of State
- Arkansas Secretary of State
- California Secretary of State
- Colorado Secretary of State
- Connecticut Secretary of State
- Delaware Department of State
- District of Columbia Office of the Secretary
- Florida Department of State
- Georgia Secretary of State
- Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
- Idaho Secretary of State
- Illinois Secretary of State
- Indiana Secretary of State
- Iowa Secretary of State
- Kansas Secretary of State
- Kentucky Secretary of State
- Louisiana Secretary of State
- Maine Secretary of State
- Maryland Secretary of State
- Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth
- Michigan Secretary of State
- Minnesota Secretary of State
- Mississippi Secretary of State
- Missouri Secretary of State
- Montana Secretary of State
- Nebraska Secretary of State
- Nevada Secretary of State
- New Hampshire Secretary of State
- New Jersey Department of State
- New Mexico Secretary of State
- New York Department of State
- North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State
- North Dakota Secretary of State
- Ohio Secretary of State
- Oklahoma Secretary of State
- Oregon Secretary of State
- Pennsylvania Department of State
- Puerto Rico Departamento de Estado
- Rhode Island Secretary of State
- South Carolina Secretary of State
- South Dakota Secretary of State
- Tennessee Secretary of State
- Texas Secretary of State
- Utah Secretary of State
- Vermont Secretary of State
- Commonwealth of Virginia
- Washington Secretary of State
- West Virginia Secretary of State
- Wisconsin Secretary of State
- Wyoming Secretary of State