How To Start An LLC In Alaska For Free 2024?
Reviewed by Kristina Knight, Journalist , BA
The article is checked by our editorial team, Which includes entrepreneurs who are painfully aware of how overwhelming and challenging it is to start a business for the first time.
If you’re interested in starting an Alaska LLC, you probably already know how complicated the process can be. You have to fill out an operating agreement, apply for a business license with the Alaska Division of State, set up articles of organization, and choose a registered agent service.
It’s enough to make your head spin. But this guide should help. It offers step-by-step instructions for starting a limited liability company, getting an Alaska business license, and completing your operating agreement and articles of organization.
Whether you’re looking for help with the LLC formation process already or you’re curious about the benefits that a multi-member LLC offers over a sole proprietorship, we’ve got you covered. Keep reading to learn more about Alaska LLCs, Alaska LLC naming guidelines, and everything else you need to know when launching an Alaska LLC.
6 Basic Steps To Start An LLC In Alaska 2024
- Choose a name for your LLC
- Choose a registered agent
- File articles of organization
- Create an LLC operating agreement
- Obtain an EIN
- Annual Tax
How To Start An LLC In Alaska?
Now that we’ve covered why starting an Alaska LLC is beneficial, let’s get more specific about the step-by-step process for making it happen. Here are six steps to be aware of before creating an LLC for community and economic development.
Choose A Name For Your LLC In Alaska
The first step is to pick a business name. Here are the two main things to keep in mind while doing that.
Naming Rules In Alaska
First, there are some naming rules in Alaska[1] to be mindful of. You must apply for a different business license for each business name that you plan on doing business under.
Additionally, when advertising and operating your company, you’ll need to use the exact LLC name that you put on your licenses to avoid fines.
Searching Available Names In Alaska
Another requirement is that you have to choose a unique name. It can’t already be in use. You can search for the LLC name options that have already been taken on the State of Alaska website.[2]
Choose A Registered Agent In Alaska
Now you’re ready to select a registered agent to act as the official point of legal contact for your company. They must have a physical street address in the state and be at least 18 or older. There are professional licensing options for this, or you can become your agent, as we wrote in the earlier section.
File Organizational Paperwork With The State
As a new Alaska LLC, you will need to file several different kinds of paperwork with the state. This may be required when setting up a business bank account, separating personal assets, paying income taxes, and getting an initial report as a foreign LLC.
The exact paperwork that you need to file may vary based on your management structure, how you pay personal taxes, and what kind of bank account you have. So be sure to do a little research into your unique situation before filing an internal document with the Commerce, Community, and Economic Board.
Prepare An LLC Operating Agreement
Now it’s time to fill out your LLC operating agreement. You can find that form on the state’s website. Or, if you choose to use a professional service, they’ll guide you through the process online.
Both options get you to the same place in the end. It’s just a question of whether you want to pay a little bit to speed up the process or save money and file the form with the Department of Commerce Community yourself.
Obtain An EIN For Your LLC In Alaska
You’ll also need to set up a federal tax identification number[3] (EIN) when you create your Alaska LLC. There’s another form for this on the state’s website. It’s something that you need to have to effectively use a business bank account, pay federal income taxes, submit a biennial report, and potentially fulfill some personal income tax requirements.
Annual Tax
Lastly, get yourself set up to pay your annual taxes and file your biennial report early. You can do that by separating your finances from day one. That way, you don’t have to pay an accountant to sift through all of your transactions at the end of the year. Professional services can help you out with this as well.
What Is An LLC?
LLC is an acronym that stands for a limited liability company. It’s a kind of business entity, just like solo entrepreneurship and corporations are.
To create an LLC, you need to fill out an operating agreement and articles of organization in the state where you plan on doing business. In this case, that likely means filing those documents with the Alaska Department of State.
There are also other requirements to be aware of, such as paying a filing fee, naming a registered agent, and making sure that you comply with other Alaska LLC articles and government agency guidelines. We’ll cover these more in-depth in later sections.
What Is An LLC In Alaska?
An Alaska limited liability company is just a standard LLC that has been set up in the state of Alaska with the Alaska Division of Corporations. LLC owners who want to conduct business in the state of Alaska will benefit most from filing Alaska articles of organization and setting up their LLC here.
Benefits Of Starting An LLC In Alaska
Starting an LLC in the state of Alaska by filing an Alaska LLC operating agreement can be beneficial in several ways. Here are the highlights:
- Personal asset protection in the event of future financial difficulty
- Benefits related to federal taxes and tax structure (and potentially even personal tax returns)
- Greater flexibility with management and profit distribution
- Less paperwork in the long run
If those are benefits that you’re interested in pursuing, then starting an Alaska LLC could be right for you.
Requirements To Start An LLC In Alaska
There are a few different requirements you should be aware of before you file online to create your LLC. Here are two of the biggest ones to keep in mind upfront.
Appoint A Registered Agent
First; you’re going to need to have a registered agent. This is a point of official contact for things like legal documents, business assets, sales tax,[4] business debts, and your Alaska LLC biennial report.[5]
You have a few options here.
One option is to hire registered agent services. Many professional companies provide registered agent services for around $100 – $200 per year. Getting an Alaska-registered agent this way will take the responsibility off of your plate. Some companies even offer a registered agent service free of charge.
Another option is to become your registered agent. This will put you in charge of the responsibilities associated with the position, but you should also save some money this way. Each option works for the Alaska Department of State and Economic Development.
The LLC’s Name Must Be Different From An Existing Business
It’s also important to note that your business name needs to be unique. You can’t choose an LLC name that someone else has already taken when filling out your operating agreement and articles of organization, or applying for a business license.
How Much Does An LLC Cost In Alaska?
It costs $250 to complete online filing and file articles of organization on your LLC’s behalf in the state of Alaska. You also have to pay a $50 filing fee to obtain general business licenses.
You may also decide to use professional service providers or a stand-alone LLC formation service. These companies tend to charge an additional fee for helping you fill out your operating agreements and protect your assets. You may also face higher charges for an initial report as a foreign LLC
The Top 2 LLC Services In Alaska
| Product |  |
 |
| Name | ZenBusiness | Northwest Registered Agent |
| Full review | Read full review | Read full review |
| Link | Check Price | Check Price |
ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness is another service that could be a good fit for your LLC creation needs. They offer a wide variety of accounting, business, and taxation services in addition to this type of support for your Alaska business.
The company offers after-hours support and has agents available for you to talk to online, over the phone, or via email. You can also get a free LLC creation service from ZenBusiness if you pay for their registered agent service.
That means, if you’re planning on paying for registered agent help anyway, pricing shouldn’t be a factor that influences your decision between Northwest and ZenBusiness.
Northwest Registered Agent
Northwest is an extremely helpful LLC formation service. They regularly receive excellent customer reviews and provide a nice blend of value and quality.
The company offers several different LLC formation packages. You can pay nothing but a filing fee and take advantage of their guided creation process. Or, if you pay for a year of statutory agent service ($125), they’ll give you a free comprehensive LLC creation service.
Final Thoughts
Starting an LLC can be a complicated process. There are several kinds of paperwork you need to file, appointments to make, and a lot of legal and taxation issues to be aware of throughout the process.
However, it is possible to do all of this on your own. This guide should help with that. But if you still think you would rather have some professional support, then hiring a company like Northwest or ZenBusiness could be a good option – especially if you’re looking for ongoing assistance with things like tax issues and compliance paperwork.
At the end of the day, starting an LLC in Alaska is a good option for many companies. You get a ton of benefits from doing so, and once you get through the formation process, you’ll get to enjoy those benefits throughout the lifespan of your company without much additional work on your end.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
There’s a one-time fee of $250 that you’ll need to pay. Additionally, the state charges $50 to apply for the general business license that you’ll need to begin seeing customers.
You’ll save money on taxes by starting an LLC. This business structure also helps you keep your assets safe from financial seizure and offers some flexibility benefits for management and profit distribution.
Yes, you don’t have to pay any company for help with this process if you don’t want to. However, professional services out there can save you a lot of time and energy, which makes their prices worth paying for many business owners.
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- Alaska.gov. (2023). Business Licensing, Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing. [online] Available at: https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl/BusinessLicensing/SelectaBusinessName.aspx.
- Alaska.gov. (2023). Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing. [online] Available at: https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/cbp/main/search/entities.
- Irs.gov. (2017). Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) Online | Internal Revenue Service. [online] Available at: https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online.
- Alaska.gov. (2023). Alaska Sales Tax Information, Office of the State Assessor, Division of Community and Regional Affairs. [online] Available at: https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/dcra/OfficeoftheStateAssessor/AlaskaSalesTaxInformation.
- Alaska.gov. (2023). Biennial Reports, Corporations Section, Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing. [online] Available at: https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl/Corporations/BiennialReports.aspx.