Almost nothing that goes wrong with a new LLC is unusual. The same handful of errors account for most of the rejected filings, the lost entities and the surprise bills, and every one of them is avoidable once you know it exists.

Order is a common one. The IRS's guidance on getting an Employer Identification Number says to form the entity with the state first and apply for the EIN after. The IRS will still issue a number to a business the state has not yet approved. If that filing is then rejected, or the name changes, the number is attached to something that never came into existence. The same IRS page says an EIN is free when you apply directly, so there is no reason to pay a third party for one.

Addresses are another. Serving as your own registered agent is permitted in every state where you meet the address requirement, and it saves a recurring fee. It also puts a physical address into a public, permanently searchable record.

Some worries you can set aside. FinCEN's beneficial ownership page states that companies created in the United States are exempt from federal BOI reporting.

Start here

These four pages cover the questions people ask most, from whether your LLC protects you at all, to whether you need help filing, to what legal trouble a filing error can cause, to what to do if you've already made one.

  • Do You Risk Losing Liability Protection if You Set Up Your LLC Wrong?
  • What Can Go Wrong if You Form Your LLC without Professional Help?
  • What Legal Problems Can Come from Filing an LLC Incorrectly?
  • What Happens if You Make a Mistake Filing Your LLC Yourself?

By state

Each state has its own filing office, forms and fee schedule, so the state pages cover those specifics. Before you choose where to form, think about where you'll actually run the business. Delaware, Wyoming and Nevada are often recommended to people who have no reason to be there, but if you operate from your own state, you generally have to register there as well. That means two sets of fees, two agents and two reports. For New York readers, New York's LLC Transparency Act applies only to LLCs formed under the law of a foreign country.

  • What Mistakes Do People Make Filing a California LLC Themselves?
  • What Mistakes Do People Make Filing a Florida LLC on Sunbiz Themselves?
  • What Mistakes Do People Make Filing a Michigan LLC Themselves?
  • What Are the Risks of Filing Your New York LLC Yourself?
  • What Mistakes Do People Make Filing a Texas LLC Themselves?

If you would rather not file it yourself

A formation service is the usual alternative to doing the paperwork alone. ZenBusiness is one option. Its Starter plan is $0 plus the state fee, Pro is $199 a year, and Premium is $299 a year. Its registered agent service is a separate $199 a year on every tier, Premium included, discounted to $99 for the first year when you form with them. Other providers set their own prices, which change often, so check each one's current pricing as of 2026 before comparing.

This site earns a commission on some links. That never changes which option a page recommends.

Sources

This is general information, not legal advice, and requirements vary by state and change over time.