Are you looking to form a limited liability company (LLC) in Massachusetts, but you’re not sure how the process works? There are several important steps to create a compliant Massachusetts LLC that can do business in the state.
To get started, please reference our 6-step guide below or hire an affordable online LLC formation service.
Guru Tip: If you want help setting up an LLC, we recommend the LLC filing service ZenBusiness. It has excellent pricing, features and company values.
What is a Massachusetts LLC?
The Massachusetts LLC is one of the most popular business structures in the state. It’s a more casual and flexible type of business than a corporation, but includes the personal asset protection that’s lacking from sole proprietorships and general partnerships.
LLCs in Massachusetts have simple formation and maintenance requirements, several options for how they can be taxed, and flexible management. From one-person businesses to multi-member LLCs with several owners, the LLC is a popular choice for a reason.
Setting up a brand-new Massachusetts LLC in 6 Steps
For the first part of this guide, we’ll cover the 6 essential steps to setting up a Massachusetts business that doesn’t have employees yet. These steps also apply to businesses with employees, but we’re keeping things streamlined to start. If you do have employees, make sure you complete these steps and the steps for employers (which we’ll cover later in the guide).
Step One: Choose a business name
Your LLC’s name is often the first impression you get to make on potential customers, and therefore it goes without saying that this is an important step. There are a few different aspects to consider when naming your business.
Legalities
In the state of Massachusetts, you’re required by law to meet several requirements for your business name. Here’s a quick glimpse at the rules for LLCs:
- Your name must include the abbreviation “LLC” or “LC” (or a similar variation of these) or the phrase “Limited Liability Company” or “Limited Company”
- Your name may include the name of one of your members, if desired (but not required)
- Your name must be “distinguishable on the record,” or distinct from names claimed by other entities in the state
For more information on naming rules in Massachusetts, please consult the Name of Limited Liability Company Section of the Massachusetts Limited Liability Company Act.
Explanatory Naming
Another aspect to consider is including language that explains what your business does ― for example, if you’re starting a coffee shop, put the word “coffee” or “brew” in your LLC name. Additionally, if your business has strong values like being environmentally friendly, you can indicate that by including the word “green.” This helps potential customers know exactly what to expect from your business.
Matching Business Domain
Behind every successful business is a user-friendly website, which means you need a URL. A website is not a legal requirement, but we highly recommend it, and the best URLs match or closely reflect their business’s name.
To register a URL, we recommend GoDaddy. They make it easy to build a website for your company, guaranteeing that no one else can use or take the URL you want.
Once you’ve picked the perfect name for your business, you don’t want to lose it to another aspiring entrepreneur. Thankfully, Massachusetts allows you to reserve your business name if you’re not quite ready to register your business. To do that, you’ll need to file the Application of Reservation of Name form and pay the $30 filing fee.
Filing this reservation protects your chosen name for your exclusive use for a full year. You can learn more about name reservations here.
Step Two: Appoint a Registered Agent
Every LLC in Massachusetts is required to designate a registered agent, which is the individual or registered agent service that receives government correspondence on behalf of your business, then forwards those documents to you.
When you appoint a Massachusetts registered agent, here are the state requirements to be mindful of:
- Every entity that that files with the Secretary of the Commonwealth (both domestic and foreign) must appoint a registered agent
- The agent may be an individual resident of Massachusetts or a business entity with authority to operate in the state
- An agent must be continuously maintained
You can find a full rundown of the state laws here.
Without a registered agent, you could lose your good standing with the state of Massachusetts, and the state also has the right to dissolve your LLC if they decide to. In a worst-case scenario, you could miss the alert regarding a lawsuit against your company, which could even lead to a judgment against your business because you didn’t defend yourself.
Guru Tip: We recommend designating an online service to handle these requirements. This eliminates junk mail and keeps your personal and/or business address off public record.
Step Three: File Formation Documents
Once you are ready to form your Massachusetts limited liability company, you will fill out the Certificate of Organization. You can either do this on your own or hire a Massachusetts LLC service. Some services, like ZenBusiness, even offer discounts on their service.
This is THE document that will register your LLC with the state. You’ll want to ensure all of the following information is correct on the form:
- Your federal identification number
- Your chosen business name
- The street address for your business
- The general nature of the business
- Date of dissolution (if not perpetual)
- Name and address of your registered agent
- Name and address of each manager for the LLC
- Name and address of individuals who aren’t managers but are authorized to file documents with the Corporations Division or deal with property on behalf of the business
- Any additional matters you wish to include
- A signature designating consent from your registered agent
Massachusetts has a slightly more detailed form than most states, but most of the information is pretty simple. If you’re a single-member LLC, you’ll probably leave a few of these sections blank.
The most important one to remember is the signature from your registered agent. Some states let you check a box designating that the registered agent has consented to serve your business, but Massachusetts actually requires a signature. Alternatively, you can attach a letter of consent (drafted by your agent). If you don’t include this item, your filing will be rejected (and your filing fee will be lost, as it’s not refundable). Include that consent and all the other required information, and you’re set to go!
- Total Cost: $500
- Processing speed: 2-3 business days
- Expedited processing: $25 for 1- or 2-day turnaround
Step Four: Draft an Operating Agreement
After you register an LLC in Massachusetts, create a detailed outline that explains how you will run and manage your new business. Even though it doesn’t need to be filed with the state, put one together and keep it for your records.
When you open a bank account, you may be asked for this document in order to open an account. You’ll also want to keep in mind that any future business partners or managing members may also be interested in seeing your Operating Agreement before joining your company. After all, this document essentially serves as your overall plan for success.
An attorney can help you outline your Operating Agreement or create one from a free template online. You can read more about Operating Agreements, but some of the basic information you’ll want to have includes:
- Individual members’ ownership percentages
- Rights and responsibilities
- Voting powers and meeting guidelines
- Allocation of profits and losses
- Management rules for the LLC
- Provisions for buying a member owner out, or transferring their shares in the case of illness or death
Step Five: Get Licenses & Permits
Massachusetts law requires an LLC to obtain all necessary licenses and permits before starting operations. State law also decrees that an LLC can only provide one specific type of service. All owners of the LLC must be licensed or registered to provide the specific service under which the LLC was assembled.
The type and cost of the permits that your business may require varies depending on the nature of the services your LLC offers. In Massachusetts, there isn’t a general business license required at the state level, but there is a decent chance your city or county requires one. So we highly recommend consulting with your local government before you get to work.
Beyond that, Massachusetts requires a variety of industry-specific licenses, such as licensing for nursing, construction supervisors, dentists, and many more. To browse state licenses and check if one applies to you, we recommend consulting the state’s Business Licenses and Permits page.
Last but not least, you should check with your city or county to see if they maintain any licensure requirements.
Obtain a Business Bank Account
One of the most important aspects of running an LLC is ensuring that your business funds remain separate from your personal finances. And to do that, you’ll need a separate bank account for your business.
Obtaining a business bank account is pretty simple, and you can choose the financial institution you like best. Some banks will ask to review your LLC’s operating agreement, and some also ask to see your EIN (see the Employers section below). Once you have your account, you’ll be able to get checks, make payments using your business card, and so on.
If you failed to get a business bank account, you would technically be blurring the line between your personal accounts and your business accounts. That compromises your personal asset protection.
Next Steps for Newly-Formed LLCs
1. Prepare for tax time
Regardless of how far away April 15th is, it’s never too soon to prepare for tax time and setting up accounting software. As an LLC owner, the exact tax rates you’ll pay depend on the taxation structure you choose for your business. If you choose to be taxed as a corporation, the LLC itself will pay taxes from its own funds. Meanwhile, LLCs taxed as pass-through entities don’t technically pay taxes; its members do. The profits are distributed to the LLCs members, and each member reports that income on Schedule C of their personal taxes.
If you choose to be taxed as a corporation, you’ll pay the following rates:
- Federal: 21%
- State: 8%
Meanwhile, LLCs taxed as pass-through entities pay these rates:
- Federal: 10-37%, rising on a fixed-bracket scale
- State: 5.05%
In order to compliantly file and pay your taxes, you’ll fill out a complete copy of federal Form 1065 including all federal K-1s, statements, and attachments. If you’re taxed as a corporation, you’ll technically pay the Corporation Excise Tax, which uses Form 355. Meanwhile, businesses taxed as pass-through entities use Form 1: Resident Income Tax Return. If you’re anticipating these filing requirements, they’ll be much easier to manage when their due date comes.
On top of that, you’ll need to collect and pay the state sales tax (6.5%) if you’re involved in retail sales. Then there’s a chance you’ll be subject to some miscellaneous taxes and fees, usually industry-specific ones, such as fees for health care, motor vehicles, and more. To learn more about these miscellaneous taxes, we recommend consulting the Massachusetts Department of Revenue.
Because taxes can be incredibly complicated, we highly recommend consulting with a business attorney or accountant to ensure that you cover all requirements on the state and federal level.
2. Be ready to file your annual report
All business owners operating in Massachusetts must complete an annual report filing. Not only does this document show that your business is still open, but it also updates the state on any pertinent information that might have changed over the course of the year.
In Massachusetts, you can file this form by mail, but we highly recommend filing online to keep things simple. The report is due by your LLC’s anniversary date, and it comes with a hefty filing fee: $500 each year. That said, filing this maintains your business’s good standing, so it’s worth it to keep this document up-to-date.
3. Consider business insurance
The big advantage to the LLC is that it offers you personal asset protection. But that doesn’t mean that mishaps won’t happen along the way. We highly recommend obtaining a general liability policy with the right coverage for your business.
In the event of a mishap or natural disaster, an insurance policy can help you navigate unexpected expenses. Be sure to compare your different options to get the best coverage for your particular type of business.
Extra Steps for Businesses with Employees
When you’re operating as a one- or two-person show, operating a business is relatively streamlined. Things get more complicated when you bring employees into the picture, but employees also help raise your business to new heights. But to reach those heights, you need to comply with employee-related legal requirements.
Step One: Address employee-related taxes
Any business with employees must obtain an EIN, or an Employer Identification Number. This is a free registration with the IRS, and the number acts a lot like a social security number for a business. Obtaining the number also lays the groundwork for other taxes, such as social security and withholding taxes. For example, you’re required to withhold income taxes from employee paychecks, make social security and medicare tax payments, and pay unemployment fund taxes. For more information on employer taxes at the federal level, look here.
There are similar taxes on the state level. For example, Massachusetts requires withholding taxes, contributions to the unemployment insurance fund, and more. We recommend consulting with the Department of Revenue and the Unemployment Insurance for Employers page to learn what taxes and requirements apply to you and your business.
Step Two: Obtain additional insurance
Every Massachusetts business with employees is strictly required to get workers’ compensation insurance. For more information on this policy, check out the state’s page, Workers’ Compensation for Employers.
If you haven’t already obtained a general liability policy, we highly recommend that you do so when you bring employees into the business. The more people you have involved in a business, the higher your risk of needing general liability insurance.
Of course, proper care and discretion will eliminate most problems, but incidents happen—from faulty products to an employee slipping and falling and theft and many places in between. And in some cases, insurance can be the difference between a minor hiccup and a budget-breaker.
Step Three: Enlist Help
For some entrepreneurs, part of the fun of running a business is the opportunity to wear lots of different hats: accountant, manager, marketer, quality control expert—it’s a near-endless list. And if your business is still pretty small, you might be able to handle many of these tasks yourself, especially if you’re prepared with a business administration degree.
But if you aren’t (and it certainly isn’t a prerequisite), some of these tasks may leave you feeling overburdened or out of your depth. For instance, navigating employer-related taxes might steal valuable time that you’d rather spend promoting your business or developing a new product. An accountant or tax attorney, however, knows those tasks like the back of their hand. You may decide it’s worth the added expense to enlist their help.
Ultimately, it’s your decision whether to bring in professionals or DIY. But in our opinion, it’s often worth it to get help from specialized pros.