Idaho Certificate of Organization

How to File Your Idaho Certificate of Organization

When you’re ready to create your LLC, filing your Certificate of Organization in Idaho is straightforward using the Idaho Secretary of State’s Certificate of Organization forms. These fillable forms are available from the Secretary of State and allow companies to complete their Certificate of Organization and file by mail or through an online portal. 

Some of the key information for LLC business registration in Idaho includes: 

• The name of your LLC
• The address of the principal place of business (a post office box is not acceptable)
• The name and address of the registered agent
• The names and addresses of at least one governor of the LLC (in Idaho, this means “manager”)
• The mailing address of the company
• The name and signature of the authorized organizers

This may sound like a lot of information, but we’ll walk you through the steps for getting all your LLC legal documents prepared and submitted.

Step 1: Select Your LLC’s Official Name 

It is not necessary to register your business name separately from filing your Certificate of Organization in Idaho. However, you’ll still want to make sure to check Idaho’s business database. You can do this by searching the Idaho business services website. 

Once you’re confident that you have a name that sets your business apart, include it on your Certificate of Organization. This will be enough to reserve your business entity name. 

Step 2: Provide the Name and Address of Your Registered Agent

When filing a State of Idaho Certificate of Organization, you’ll need to have a registered agent for your business. A Registered Agent accepts service of process on your behalf. They accept important business documents on behalf of your LLC from the government and other third parties. Our Registered Agent Service can help find the right agent for you when you file your business registration in Idaho. 

Step 3: Certify Your LLC Has at Least One Organizer and One Governor

You’ll need to certify that you have at least one organizer and one governor to finalize your Certificate of Organization in Idaho. In Idaho, a “governor” is simply the terminology for member. If you’re the sole member of your company, check with your trusted counsel to confirm whether you can or should fulfill all these roles.

Step 4: Identify Which Type of LLC You Want to Form

In Idaho, you have the choice of forming a normal LLC or a professional LLC. However, Idaho limits the use of professional LLCs to licensed professionals like geologists, lawyers, veterinarians, chiropractors, accountants, and a few other licensed professionals. In all other respects, filing the Certificate of Organization in Idaho for a professional LLC is the same as filing a certificate for a regular LLC. The only difference is specifying the professional purpose, but be aware that a professional LLC uses a different form and employs different naming conventions. 

If your business is more about selling cool clothes rather than crunching numbers, don’t worry. You don’t need to do any more work than you’ve already done. You chose to form an LLC, and you’re almost there!

Step 5: Attach Any Needed Statements 

When you submit your Certificate of Organization to the Secretary of State, you may want or need to include additional information. This information might be additional pages to provide names and addresses of organizers or governors.

Other times, the Secretary of State may need you to provide additional information about how liabilities will be handled, or you may request to keep certain information confidential. Unless you have an explicit purpose in providing additional statements, like needing space for addresses or the state has asked for more information, check with the Secretary of State’s Office before providing additional information.

Where to File Your Idaho Certificate of Organization

The easiest way is to file your Certificate of Organization in Idaho is to do so online through the Secretary of State’s web portal (registration required). You can pay the filing fees online. You can also print the forms and file them by mail, but the state will assess an extra charge for submitting paper copies.

What are the next steps? 

After filing a Certificate of Organization for your LLC in Idaho, the work to open a new business has only just begun. It’s not time to relax just yet. You’ll need to consider several other business items before putting your feet up.

Create an Operating Agreement

Idaho explicitly requests LLCs do not file their Operating Agreements with the state. However, to best manage your LLC, you and your co-governors may want to enter into an Operating Agreement as part of your formation documents. An Operating Agreement spells out the rules and relationships of how the LLC operates. 

If an issue arises between you and your co-governors and a lawsuit is filed, the State of Idaho first looks to your Operating Agreement to resolve the problem, as long as the agreement does not conflict with Idaho law. The provisions of the Idaho Limited Liability Companies Act may not be a great fit for resolving your disputes, and the courts would apply this law if you don’t have an Operating Agreement. 

We offer an Operating Agreement Template for guidance to get you started writing your company’s Operating Agreement. By using our template, you can create an Operating Agreement that fits your business’s unique management needs.

Apply for an EIN

Once you’ve completed the basics of your business registration in Idaho, applying for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) is an important next step. The IRS grants the EIN, which is like a social security number for your business. You’ll use it to file federal tax returns and to open bank accounts, as well as hire employees and claim certain federal business benefits.

However, if you’re the only governor of your LLC and you don’t obtain an EIN, you have to use your Social Security Number for business purposes. This may require you to post your social security number on public documents. Having an EIN can help protect your privacy. Our Employer ID Number Service can save you time and obtain an EIN for you. 

We can help

To help you get started quickly and easily, our Idaho LLC Formation Service can help you complete your business registration and get it filed. And if your business information changes, we can help with any future Idaho LLC Amendments.

Our comprehensive suite of business services helps you get to work fast so you can focus on the work you love. We can even help you easily keep track of your invoices, expenses, and income with our ZenBusiness Money Service. And we can help you keep your business legally compliant with our Worry-Free Compliance Service.