How to Start an LLC in Nevada

A Nevada LLC is one of the most simple, cost-effective, and quick business structures to form. Even so, navigating the formation process can seem daunting without clear guidance and an actionable plan.

In this How to Start an LLC in Nevada guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know to form your LLC, from the steps you’ll need to take to get started to maintaining your business structure.

LLC in Nevada

In order to form an LLC in Nevada, you’ll need to complete the following steps:

1. Name Your Nevada LLC
2. Pick a Nevada Registered Agent
3. Submit Your LLC’s Articles of Organization
4. File Your LLC Initial List of Managers or Members List
5. Obtain a State Business License
6. Create a Nevada LLC Operating Agreement
7. Get an EIN
8. File Your BOI Report

In the sections below, we’ve broken down each of these steps in more detail.

Step 1: Name Your Nevada LLC

The first thing you’ll need to do before getting started is picking the right name for your LLC. This is important because your business’s name will need to represent your brand accurately, as well as be as memorable as possible.

According to statutory law, your LLC’s name must include the terms “Limited Liability Company”, “Limited Company”, “Limited”, or a suitable abbreviation (e.g., Ltd, L.L.C., LLC, LC, etc.).

Nevada additionally imposes certain naming restrictions, which are designed to prevent unauthorized implications of affiliation with government or regulated industries.

Below is a summary of the types of restricted words that are applicable, as well as the respective agencies that you’ll need to contact in order to obtain authorization:

• Financial Institutions (702-486-4120: You will need to contact the Commissioner of Financial Institutions for approval in order to use restricted words such as Bank, Banc, Banque, Savings & Loan, Banker, Bancard, Banq, Thrift, Banking, Banco, Bancor, Trustee, Interbanking, Bancorp, Credit Union, Debt Collection, Collection Agency, and Trust
• Division of Mortgage Lending (775-684-7060): You will need to visit mld.nv.gov and apply for approval before being allowed to use words like Financial, Mortgage, and Mortgage Banking
• Insurance Division (775-687-0700): You will have to email Nevada.Licensing@doi.nv.gov in order to use words such as Adjuster, Indemnity, Reinsurance, Underwriter, Annuity, Insurance, Risk Retention Group, Underwriting, Casualty, Life & Accident, Surety, Bail, Bail Bonds, Fugitive Recovery, Bail Bondsman/Men, Bounty Hunter, and Bale
• State Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors (775-688-1231): You will need approval through the state board in order to use the restricted words such as Engineer, Professional Engineer, Engineered, Licensed Engineer, and Engineering
• Real Estate Division (775-684-1900): The word Realtor is restricted and requires approval from the Real Estate Division
• Homeowners Associations (702-486-4480): The use of words like Common-Interest Community, Community Association, HOA, HomeOwners Association, Master Association, Unit-Owners Association, and Property Owners require approval
• State Board of Accountancy (775-786-0231): Words such as Accountant, Accountancy, Accounting, Auditor, Auditing, Certified Public Accountant, CPA need prior approval
• Secondary Education (702-486-7330): The words College and University are restricted terms and require approval
• State Board of Architecture (702-486-7300 or 775-688-2544): Restricted words include Architect, Architectural, Architecture, Licensed Architect, Registered Architect, Licensed Residential Designer, Residential Design, Residential Designer, Registered Interior Design, Registered Interior Designer, and Registered Residential Designer

Keep in mind that even though picking an LLC name in itself has no cost, there are certain fees that can be associated with the overall process.

Reserve an LLC Name

If you’re not yet ready to launch your business and still need a little more time, you can choose to reserve your desired LLC name for later by submitting a Name Reservation Form ($25 fee).

You can complete this process either online through the Nevada’s SilverFlume Business Portal or in person at the Secretary of State’s office.

This will keep anyone from being able to take the name you plan to use for 90 days.

Register a DBA Name

Another potential cost associated with naming your LLC is a “doing business as” (or DBA) name. This is essentially a nickname that you can choose to register for your business to operate under — particularly if you’re not content with your LLC’s legal name.

Registering a DBA name can be done by filing a Fictitious Firm Name (FFN) statement with the Secretary of State and paying a $25 fee.

Having said that, you should keep in mind that fictitious firm names are not exclusive, and if you want the exclusive right to a name you’ll need to register it as a trade name or obtain a federal trademark (for broader protection).

Note: DBA names in Nevada expire every five years.

Buy a Domain Name

Finally, you’ll want to focus on securing a good domain name (which is your website’s URL address) for your business. For this, try to focus on choosing one that’s easy for customers to remember, relevant to your business, and accurately reflects your brand.

After confirming the domain name you want to use is actually available, you can purchase it through a trusted registrar.

Step 2: Pick a Registered Agent

The next step you’ll need to take toward forming your LLC is to pick a registered agent (RA).

This is an individual or business entity that accepts legal correspondence on behalf of your business, such as service of process, notice of lawsuits, and official government communications; you’re required to continuously maintain one as long as your LLC is active.

Your registered agent can be an individual or business entity, but will need to satisfy the following requirements:

• The registered agent must have a physical street address in the state; PO Boxes are not allowed
• The registered agent must be an individual who is at least 18 years old if not a company
• The registered agent or someone authorized by the agent must be available at the physical address during regular business hours to receive legal documents

You can even act as your own registered agent if you’re looking to save money — though we don’t typically recommend this as you’re much more likely to suffer fines and penalties due to non-compliance than if you just hire a professional service.

On top of this, you’ll lose any anonymity your LLC would have given you since your name, address, and contact information will be publicly available.

Note: To have a look at some of our other top recommendations, you can also check out our Best Registered Agent Service of 2024 guide.

Step 3: Submit Your LLC’s Articles of Organization

In Nevada, the Articles of Organization is the filing document that you’ll need to submit with the Secretary of State in order to officially register your LLC.

To file this document, you will be required to provide the following details:

• Entity Name and Type: You will need to specify the name you intend to register in Nevada and indicate whether the LLC is a domestic or a foreign llc
• Registered Agent Information: You will be required to choose between a commercial or noncommercial registered agent and provide their name and address, along with a certificate confirming the appointment of the registered agent
• Addresses: You will have to include the street address of your LLC’s principal office along with the city and zip code. If applicable, additional street addresses should be provided. A mailing address should also be included if it differs from the street address
• Formation Details: You will need to state the jurisdiction in which the LLC was formed, the date of formation, and a statement confirming the entity is in good standing in its jurisdiction of formation must all be included
• Management: You will need to specify whether the LLC will be managed by managers or members, along with the names and addresses of managers or managing members
• Professional Information (if applicable): You will have to indicate your LLC’s profession and include a certificate from the regulatory board verifying each individual’s license at the time of filing
• Dissolution Date: You will need to state the latest date the LLC will dissolve (if it is not set up to exist perpetually)
• Series and/or Restricted Status: You will have to Indicate whether the LLC is a Series or Restricted LLC
• Records Office: You will need to Include the address where the LLC’s records are kept
• Organizer Information: You will have to list the names, addresses, and signatures of your LLC’s organizers and verify that each organizer is a licensed professional where necessary
• Compliance and Legal Statements: You will need to include a declaration under penalty of perjury that the information provided is accurate, along with a statement acknowledging the consequences of submitting false information

You will have two options for filing the Articles of Organization for your Nevada LLC: online or by mail.

If you opt for the former, you will need to visit the SilverFlume Business Portal, create an account, fill out all required fields, and submit your application.

Alternatively, persons that prefer mail submissions will need to fill out this form and mail it to:

Francisco V. Aguilar
Secretary of State
401 North Carson Street
Carson City, Nevada 89701-4201

Keep in mind that, regardless of which filing method you choose, you will have to pay a $75 application fee in order for your submission to be processed.

Step 4: File Your LLC Initial List of Managers or Members List

Once you’ve filed the Articles of Organization, the next required step is to submit an Initial List of Managers or Members to the Nevada Secretary of State.

This document details the names and official titles of all individuals who will manage or hold significant authority within your LLC.

The list can be submitted either online through Nevada’s SilverFlume portal or by mail, and requires a filing fee of $150 to be paid.

Note: It is important to ensure that this list is accurate and updated promptly if there are any changes in management, as it serves as the official record for who is responsible for the governance of your LLC.

Step 5: Obtain a State Business License 

Along with the submission of your List of Managers or Members, you will be required to obtain a State Business License.

This license will have to be filed by the last day of the following month after your organizational documents are submitted.

This can be done either online through Nevada’s SilverFlume portal or by mail, and incurs a $200 fee.

Step 6: Create a Nevada LLC Operating Agreement

Once this is completed, the next step you’ll need to take is to create an operating agreement.

This is an internal document that clearly outlines the ownership and management structure of your company in order to reduce potential future conflict.

While this document isn’t legally mandated in Nevada, all LLCs are recommended to have one as it can help maintain both: smooth operations and your LLC’s corporate veil.

A number of companies provide drafting services for operating agreements online, typically for a fee of around a few hundred dollars. However, it’s quite easy to sort this out by yourself if you want to save money, and you can even find a number of free templates online to help with this.

Step 7: Get an EIN

Even though it’s not a legal requirement (unless your LLC has employees or multiple members), all Nevada LLCs should apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN).

This is a free, nine-digit number used by the IRS to identify your business and keep track of its tax reporting — much like a Social Security Number (SSN) for individuals.

You’ll need an EIN to be able to:

• Hire employees
• Open a business bank account
• Apply for some business licenses/permits
• Establish a line of credit

On top of this, using an EIN instead of a Social Security Number (SSN) helps to protect your personal information and safeguard your anonymity as the business owner of your LLC.

You can quickly apply for an EIN for your LLC online through the IRS website. You’re also able to submit a paper application using Form SS-4 either via fax to (855) 641-6935, or by mailing it to the following address:

Internal Revenue Service
Attn: EIN Operation
Cincinnati, OH 45999

Note: Don’t worry if you don’t already have an SSN, it’s not necessary to have one in order to apply for an EIN — instead, you can just leave Section 7b of the application blank and call the IRS on (267) 941-1099.

Step 8: File a BOI Report

Starting January 2024, the vast majority of LLC owners will be required to file a Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) Report with the US Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).

This is part of an initiative by the U.S. government to stop individuals and entities engaging in illegal or unethical activities from being able to conceal this using “opaque ownership structures”, like shell companies, to hide their true identities.

Existing LLCs will be able to file this report anytime between January 1, 2024, and January 1, 2025, while new LLCs will have up to 90 days after the date they were initially formed to do so (30 days for LLCs formed after the start of 2025).

Keep in mind that failure to file your LLC’s BOI report on time can result in exorbitantly high fines (i.e., $591 per day) or even jail time (up to two years).

Note: Not every LLC owner is required to file a BOI report. For example, companies with more than 20 full-time employees, accounting firms, and banks are exempt. For a full list of filing exemptions, you can have a look at FinCEN’s website.

How to Maintain Your Nevada LLC

In order to keep operating legally in the state of Nevada, your LLC will need to keep up with its annual obligations — which we’ve discussed in greater detail below.

Submit an Annual Report

All LLCs operating in the state of Nevada will be required to submit an annual report — also known as the Annual List — to the Secretary of State.

This report serves a dual purpose: it renews your business license — ensuring your LLC remains compliant and legally recognized within the state — and updates the state on the essential aspects of your LLC, such as changes in its business name, and adjustments in its management or membership structure.

It is important to note that the Annual List must be filed during the month of your LLC’s anniversary, which is the date in which it was originally registered.

Note: This filing comes with a cost of $150.

Nevada vs Other States

Although Nevada’s initial LLC formation cost is on the higher end when compared to most other states, its lack of personal income tax, corporate income tax, and franchise tax can offer significant long-term savings.

This makes Nevada an attractive option for LLC members looking to maximize profitability while minimizing tax liabilities.

Having said that, you should keep in mind that the best state to form your LLC is almost always the state that you will be operating in; this is because otherwise you’ll likely be required to register as a foreign LLC in your home state, meaning that you’ll need to pay registration and maintenance fees twice.

Nevada Secretary of State Contact Information

Mailing Address:
Secretary of State
Nevada State Capitol Building
101 N Carson Street
Suite 3
Carson City, NV 89701

Contact Information:

Email: sosmail@sos.nv.gov
Phone: (775) 684-5708