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To form an LLC in the District of Columbia, you file a certificate of organization with the Corporations Division of the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP). The fee is $99. Filing runs online through BOSS, which replaced CorpOnline. The division's LLC fee schedule lists every price below, and our Washington DC guide covers the entity search.
What does a DC LLC cost in year one and after?
Start with the $99 certificate. Then plan for the report, which is where DC differs from most states.
- Certificate of organization: $99.
- Biennial report: $300 for a for-profit entity, due every two years by April 1 of the due year.
- Late biennial report: $100 extra if filed after April 1.
- Name reservation (optional): $50 for 120 days.
- Certificate of good standing (optional): $50.
Compare that with the annual fees in the LLC fees by state table. A report every two years sounds light, but each one is $300. The division's own page states these numbers, so check them before you file. The pages we read give no processing time and no expedite option, so we do not quote one.
Which name can your DC LLC use?
The name must contain "limited liability company", "limited company", or the abbreviation L.L.C., LLC, L.C. or LC. Under D.C. Code 29-103.01 it must be distinguishable on the Mayor's records from other registered names, reserved names and assumed names. Words that show the entity type do not count when two names are compared, so adding LLC to someone else's name does not make it new.
Names with bank, banking, credit union or insurance need the Mayor's approval first. A name that looks like a federal or DC agency can be refused.
To hold a name, apply for a reservation: $50, 120 days, under D.C. Code 29-103.03. Our name availability guide and name reservation guide explain the checks.
Do you need a registered agent in DC?
Yes. The code requires every domestic filing entity to designate and maintain a registered agent in the District. See the rules on our Washington DC registered agent page. If an LLC has no agent, the Corporations Division acts as the Mayor's agent for service of process. That is a fallback, not a plan.
What does the certificate of organization state?
Under D.C. Code 29-802.01, one or more organizers sign and deliver it. It states the LLC name, the street and mailing addresses of the initial principal office, and the registered agent information that section 29-104.04 requires. Only if the company will have separate series does it need a statement about them.
Formation has one more condition. The LLC is formed when the filing is effective and at least one person becomes a member. So line up your first member before you file.
How do you file step by step?
- Sign in to BOSS with an Access DC account, or create one.
- Choose the certificate of organization for a limited liability company.
- Enter the LLC name, the registered agent and the other details the form asks for.
- Pay the $99 by credit card or e-check and keep the instant receipt.
BOSS lets you save a filing and return to it later, so you can gather details first. An existing Access DC account still works, and one login can manage several entities, which helps if you plan more than one company.
What comes after the filing?
Registration is only the first step. The division says it is separate from, and must come before, a business license, permit or tax registration in the District. So apply for those after the certificate is approved.
Write an operating agreement next and get a free EIN with our EIN guide.
How do you keep a DC LLC in good standing?
File the biennial report on time. The annual report deadlines guide shows how DC compares with other states. If the LLC is dissolved administratively, reinstatement costs $300.
Many people compare the District with its neighbours. See the Maryland LLC, Virginia LLC and Delaware LLC guides.
Ready to file? Use the start an LLC form.
After approval, check the rules in our Washington, DC business license guide.