CT · LLC formation
Connecticut LLC
Connecticut formation offers proximity to the New York metro and a stable legal system. ClearFormation files your Articles of Organization with the Connecticut Secretary of the State for a flat $150 service fee plus the $120 state filing fee, includes in-state agent service, and delivers your stamped formation documents as soon as the state approves.
Connecticut formation at a glance
Key fees, timing, and compliance rules for forming a limited liability company in Connecticut with the Connecticut Secretary of the State.
State filing fee
$120
Processing time
3-5 business days
Filing agency
Connecticut Secretary of the State
Registered agent
Required — physical CT street address
Annual report
Annual Report — $80, due March 31
Franchise / business tax
Business Entity Tax repealed; PE tax may apply
How to form an LLC in Connecticut
- 1
Choose a compliant name
- Your name must include "LLC" or "Limited Liability Company".
- It must be unique on Connecticut Secretary of the State records.
- Search before you file.
- Words like "bank" may need approval.
- ClearFormation runs a name check before we submit your Articles.
- 2
Appoint a registered agent
- Connecticut requires a registered agent with a physical CT street address.
- They must accept lawsuits and state mail during business hours.
- A commercial agent is for when you don't have a local street address or can't be there during business hours.
- ClearFormation includes agent service in all 50 states.
- 3
File Articles of Organization
- File with the Connecticut Secretary of the State and pay $120.
- Processing is usually 3-5 business days.
- You will list your name, agent, principal address, and management type.
- ClearFormation prepares and files online for you.
- 4
Create an operating agreement
- Not legally required in Connecticut, but every company should have one.
- It sets ownership, voting, and profit splits.
- Banks often ask for it.
- Included with ClearFormation.
- 5
Apply for an EIN
- You need an EIN to open a US bank account, hire staff, and file federal taxes.
- The IRS issues EINs for free.
- ClearFormation can file Form SS-4 for you — including for non-US founders without an SSN.
- 6
Get the licenses and permits your business needs
- State approval does not replace city, county, or professional licenses.
- Check local Connecticut rules for your industry.
- Contractors, restaurants, and healthcare often need extra permits.
- 7
File annual reports and stay compliant
- Connecticut requires the Annual Report ($80), due March 31.
- Business Entity Tax repealed; PE tax may apply.
- ClearFormation tracks deadlines and pre-fills your report.
Form your CT LLC now
We prepare the filing, include a CT registered agent, and walk you through the rest.
Typical timeline after you file
Day 0 — Submit filing
Pay $120 to the Connecticut Secretary of the State. Online filings in Connecticut usually process in 3-5 business days.
Week 1 — Get stamped articles
Save the approved formation document. You need it for banking.
Week 1–2 — EIN and bank account
Apply for a federal tax ID, then open a business checking account. See our EIN guide.
Week 2–4 — Operating agreement and licenses
Sign your internal rules. Check city and county license rules for your industry.
Ongoing — Compliance calendar
File the Annual Report ($80), due March 31.
LLC vs corporation in Connecticut: which should you form?
Most Connecticut founders ask this exact question. Both entities give you the same personal-liability shield. The real differences are taxes, ownership, and the kind of capital you can raise. A corporation can be taxed as a C-Corp or an S-Corp — that is a tax election, not a different state filing.
Form an LLC in Connecticut if
- • You're owner-operated or have a small group of founders and want pass-through tax (no corporate-level tax).
- • You don't plan to raise from US institutional venture capital.
- • You want minimal ongoing paperwork — no required board meetings, no shareholder formalities.
- • You're a consulting business, ecommerce store, agency, real-estate holding company, or freelancer.
Form a corporation in Connecticut if
- • You plan to raise from venture capital, angels via SAFEs, or eventually go public.
- • You want to issue stock options to employees (an ISO plan requires a C-Corp).
- • You need multiple share classes (preferred for investors, common for founders).
- • You're targeting a strategic acquisition where the acquirer expects a clean cap table.
Raising venture capital? Most US VC-backed startups incorporate as a Delaware C-Corp — see our LLC vs C-Corp guide. An LLC in Connecticut is usually the right fit for operating businesses that won't take priced VC rounds.
Out-of-state companies doing business in Connecticut
If your company was formed elsewhere but you operate in Connecticut, you typically need to foreign-qualify with the Connecticut Secretary of the State. That means filing a Certificate of Authority (or equivalent), appointing an in-state registered agent, and paying a state fee. Domestic formation in CT is different — you file Articles of Organization as a new entity.
Who usually forms in Connecticut?
Most CT filings come from founders who live or work in the state. Common examples:
- Freelancers and consultants who want a liability shield
- Local shops, agencies, and professional services firms
- Real-estate investors holding property in Connecticut
- E-commerce brands with customers or inventory in the US
- Non-US founders who need a US entity and bank account
Pick Connecticut when you have real ties here. If you only operate elsewhere, your home state (or the state where you work) is usually cheaper than forming in CT and then foreign-qualifying.
Connecticut formation FAQs
Also for Connecticut founders: Form a corporation in Connecticut · Connecticut registered agent
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Everything you need to launch and maintain your Connecticut company.