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You did the hard thing. Now do the smart things in the right order so you stay bankable, compliant, and flexible as you grow. This guide focuses on the five popular jurisdictions that our readers regularly ask about, Florida, Texas, Delaware, Wyoming, and Nevada, and walks you through what needs to be done, including management structure, registered agents, foreign registration, EIN basics, BOI reporting, and your early annual filings. Where it helps, we point out the .gov sources so you can click, file, and move on.

Your formation document asked whether the LLC is member managed, or manager managed. In a member managed LLC, the owners run the day to day. In a manager managed LLC, members appoint one or more managers to run operations; managers might be members or non-owners. You typically disclose this in the formation document and on certain state filings.

Florida uses short titles on filings: MGR for manager and MGRM for managing member. If you filed in Florida, review your public record to ensure the right people and titles are listed and aligned with your operating agreement.

Every one of the five states requires a registered agent with a real street address in that state. PO Boxes aren’t allowed.

Florida requires a Florida street address for the registered office.

Texas requires a physical address in Texas where the agent can be personally served during business hours.

Delaware also requires an in-state registered agent with a physical street address.

Wyoming requires a Wyoming street address where the agent can accept service.

Nevada recognizes registered agents and maintains a public listing; you will designate one when you file.

If your agent or its address changes, file the state change form right away so you stay compliant and do not miss service of process. Florida and Texas both publish those change procedures and forms.

Not sure if you want to be your own registered agent? Read our prior article: Should You Be The Registered Agent Of Your LLC?

If you formed outside your home state and are doing business in your home state, you generally must register in your home state as a “foreign” LLC and maintain a registered agent in both places.

Florida requires a certificate of existence or good standing from your formation state dated within 90 days when you register a foreign LLC.

Pro-tip: when forming an out-of-state LLC, order a good standing certificate in the portal while you are paying for your initial formation filing; that way, you are ready for your home state registration. Doing so typically saves time and money versus ordering it separately.

Texas requires foreign LLCs transacting business in Texas to file an application for registration and maintain a Texas registered agent and office. Penalties include late fees and the inability to sue in Texas courts until you register.

Use the IRS online EIN application only. It is fast, free, and available on irs.gov. The IRS limits you to one EIN per responsible party per day, and you must update the responsible party within 60 days if it changes using Form 8822 B. Upon completing the online application, in most instances, the IRS will immediately issue you an EIN.

FinCEN’s beneficial ownership rules changed in 2025. As of March 26, 2025, FinCEN adopted an interim final rule that removed federal BOI reporting for U.S. companies formed under state law, while continuing to require reporting for foreign reporting companies that register to do business in the United States. For most new LLC owners in these five states, that means there is nothing to file with FinCEN.

Here are the recurring filings and deadlines that trip up new LLCs in these five states:

Florida. File your annual report between January 1 and May 1 to stay active. Late fee after May 1, and you may be administratively dissolved if your annual report is still missing by the third Friday in September.

Texas. File by May 15 every year. If your annualized revenue is $2.65 million or less, you owe no franchise tax, but you must still file a Public Information Report; skip it and you face a $50 penalty and can lose your right to operate. The old No Tax Due Report was discontinued in 2024, so ignore any older guide that still mentions it. Extensions are available if requested and paid properly.

Delaware. Delaware LLCs do not file an annual report but must pay a $300 annual franchise tax by June 1.

Wyoming. File an annual report each year based on your anniversary month and pay a license tax with a $60 minimum or 0.0002 of Wyoming assets, whichever is greater.

Nevada. File the initial list and state business license with formation, then file the annual list and renew the state business license by the last day of your anniversary month. For LLCs, the state business license fee is typically $200.

If you miss a deadline, use your state’s reinstatement path promptly; Florida and Delaware both provide clear reinstatement and “return to good standing” instructions. Don’t miss these deadlines by sending yourself an annual recurring calendar invite.

Operating agreement. Even single member LLCs should adopt one. The SBA recommends having an operating agreement to define ownership, management, and procedures. Banks often ask for it. Not sure? Read our prior article: Your LLC Is Missing Its Most Important Document.

Initial resolution. Capture the actions you already took: adopting the operating agreement, appointing managers or managing members, authorizing the bank account, selecting tax treatment, approving leases, and appointing your registered agent. Keep this with your company records. Read our prior article: Template Tuesday: The Initial Resolution You Need After LLC Formation.

Banking setup. Open the business account with your EIN, operating agreement, and resolutions. Many banks will also want to see proof of filing and the names of managers or managing members as shown on the public record. Read our prior article: Like You Mean Business: Your LLC’s Credit Blueprint.

S Election. Thinking about an S Election for payroll tax savings? File IRS Form 2553 within two months and 15 days after the start of the tax year you want the status to begin. If you miss it, the IRS has late relief paths, but on-time is best. Talk with your CPA before filing. Read our prior article: Should Your LLC Elect S Corporation Status? The Real Deal.

Hiring and vendor paperwork. Complete Form I-9 for each employee on day one. Collect Form W-9 from vendors and file 1099 NEC for qualifying payments.

Sales and employer tax registrations. If you sell taxable goods or certain services or will have employees, register with your state tax agency. For example, Florida businesses register with the Department of Revenue; you will do this before collecting and remitting sales tax or withholding.

When you form in Delaware, Wyoming, or Nevada for governance or privacy reasons but operate in Florida or Texas, foreign registration in the home state is still required. Plan for the double maintenance: a registered agent and annual or license taxes in the formation state plus the annual filings and taxes where you actually do business.

Great companies die from boring problems. Calendar the recurring filings. Keep your registered agent current. Put an operating agreement and initial resolutions in your company binder. File your foreign registration if you crossed state lines.

Try to use the actual IRS and state portals, not third-party sites, whenever you can.

Do these things early and build a clean paper trail that keeps banks cooperative, investors confident, and you focused on customers, not catch-up.

Remember to upgrade your free subscription to Premium, which gives you access to our growing Template Library of approximately thirty professionally prepared documents. You will receive most of the documents mentioned above, including operating agreement templates, all for $7.95/mo. or $85.86/yr. You can upgrade by clicking here.

This Letter is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client or any other professional relationship. Filing requirements change and vary by state and situation, so confirm current rules with the relevant agency and consult a licensed professional in your jurisdiction before you act.

Have an interesting business question and need a free bit of advice? Send your question to [email protected]. No confidential info, please!