Form Texas LLC- Limited Liability Company
Form Texas LLC
In order to form an LLC in Texas, you?ll need to register your LLC with the secretary of State.
Steps to forming a Texas Limited Liability Company
You must file Articles of Organization?your LLC?s formation documents?with the Texas Secretary of State?s office. There are several necessary clauses that must be present in your Articles; additional clauses, if you decide they are necessary, may also be added to your Articles of Organization. The following is a list of the minimum required articles that must be present:
- 1. The name of your LLC: Among other name availability restrictions, Texas has a stringent two-word rule with regards to how they determine availability. Broadly, if the first two words of the name of your LLC are identical to the first two words of an LLC or corporation already on file, you would be required to either obtain permission from that company to use the name, or modify your chosen LLC name. There are a few exceptions to this rule (locative terminology, personal names, and so on), but it?s important to determine your name availability prior to submitting the Articles of Organization to avoid any delays or rejections with your filing. Click and Inc can do a preliminary name search for you.
- 2. Registered Agent: You must provide the name and physical address (a PO box can only be used in conjunction with a physical address) for the person who will accept service of process, correspondence from the state, and so on. (A business can also act as registered agent, but it must be an existing business and not the one you?re currently forming.) This name and address will be public record; if any other company wishes to use the same first two words that you used for your LLC?s name, the state will give them your Registered Agent?s address. Your Registered Agent must give you written acceptance of that role, but you should keep that on file?the written acceptance does not need to be submitted to or filed with the Secretary of State?s office. If you move, you need to notify the state so that they have accurate and current contact information for your business.
- 3. Governing Authority: You must specify whether your LLC will or will not have managers; if you will have managers, their names and addresses must be listed. If there are no managers, the LLC will be managed by the members, and their names and addresses must be listed. You must have at least one manager or member.
- 4. Purpose: You must list a purpose for your LLC. You can list a general business purpose, but depending on the International Revenue Code and other laws pertaining to your specific type of business and your intentions, you may find that other agencies may require you to lay out a more specific purpose.
- 5. Duration: Your articles will specify whether your LLC will have a perpetual existence (the most common duration), or whether your LLC will terminate on a given future date.
- 6. Organizer: The articles of organization will be signed by the person who executed the articles; this can be a member or manager of the limited liability, but is not required to be.
If any of the above information about your business changes, you will need to file Articles of Amendment to reflect those changes. It is very important that your registration remains current.
Additional Information About a Texas LLC
An LLC in Texas has the powers of both a corporation and a partnership, but more flexibility than a corporation in how the entity can be structured and less stringent tax responsibilities. The liability of an LLC is typically limited to the members? investment.
Your LLC will be responsible for filing an Annual Report. This Annual Report will be filed every year with the Secretary of State; if you fail to do so, the state may forfeit or dissolve your LLC.
