How To Fill Out The Texas LLC Certificate of Formation

Are you looking to register a new Texas LLC and unsure of the steps? You are in the right place!

To start a new Limited Liability Company in Texas, the Texas LLC Certificate of Formation is the official document filed with the Texas Secretary of State. After the state approves the filing, the business can officially begin operating and register for the necessary business licenses and permits.

Below, we’ll explain the steps and answer some common questions people have about starting a business in Texas.

Steps To Fill Out The Texas Certificate of Formation

To form a Texas LLC, you will submit the completed Form 205 – Certificate of Formation form to the Texas Secretary of State. To submit the paperwork, either file online through SOSDirect, which is the Secretary of State’s website to file online, or download the Texas LLC Certificate of Formation (Form 205).

Step 1: Pick a Name for the LLC

The first step in filling out the Texas Operating Agreement is to pick a business name.

There are a few requirements when choosing a Texas LLC name.

1. Your LLC’s name must not be too similar to the name of another business entity already registered with the state of Texas. You can verify name availability by doing a Texas LLC name search with the Texas Secretary of State to ensure the LLC name is available.

2. The name of the LLC must include one of the following entity identifiers at the end of the business name:

• Limited Liability Company
• Limited Company
• L.L.C.
• LLC
• L.C.
• LC

3. The name can’t indicate or imply that the entity is engaged in a business that the entity is not authorized to pursue

4. The name can’t falsely imply that the entity is affiliated with a governmental entity.

Enter the LLC name, including the identifier, to continue. If you choose a name that is taken, the Secretary of State will return your application.

Step 2: Appoint a Registered Agent

One requirement for having an LLC in Texas is to appoint a Texas registered agent. The registered agent is a party physically located in Texas who will receive important notices and service of process (which means accepting papers that start a lawsuit) on behalf of the LLC.

Provided the LLC member lives in the state of Texas and is generally available during business hours, they may act as the registered agent. Additionally, any adult resident of the state, attorney or accountant in the state, or a registered agent service can also act as the LLC’s agent.

Related: Should you be the registered agent?

To complete this section, either fill out A & C or B & C.

If the registered agent is a commercial registered agent service, check Box A and enter the name of the service.

If the registered agent is an individual resident of the state, check Box B and enter their name.

Last, enter the address of the registered office. This must be a physical address, and PO Boxes are not allowed.

Step 3: Indicate the Governing Authority

In the next step, provide information on the Governing Authority of the LLC. A selection regarding whether the LLC initially has Managers.

• A Member-Managed LLC means the Members are involved with the day-to-day operations of the business. Many LLCs are operated and run by the owner, in which case they would be Member-Managed.
• A Manager-Managed LLC refers to a Limited Liability Company that hires a manager to run the business, similar to hiring a CEO of a corporation.

Many LLCs are owned and run by the owner, making them Members and not Managers.

If the LLC initially has managers, select Box A and provide the Manager’s name and address. If the LLC initially does not have Managers, select Box B and provide the name and address of each initial LLC Member.

The name of at least one person is required.

Step 4: State the Purpose of the LLC

To choose the purpose of the LLC, the general purpose statement “The purpose for which the company is formed is for the transaction of any and all lawful purposes for which a limited liability company may be organized under the Texas Business Organizations Code” can be used.

If the LLC should need a more detailed purpose, this can be entered in the Supplemental Provisions section (see step 6).

Step 5: Provide a Mailing Address

The initial mailing address will be the address the Secretary of State will send general correspondence or tax information from the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.

The initial mailing address may be a post office box or street address.

Step 6: Include Any Supplemental Provisions

This is an optional section should additional information regarding the regulation of the LLC need to be included.

Step 7: Provide the LLC Organizer’s Contact Information

The Organizer is someone who is involved with the LLC formation.  The Organizer may or may not be a member, such as a mentor, attorney, or accountant, but any of the initial member(s) could be listed as an organizer.

Enter the Organizer’s name and mailing address.

Step 8: Choose the Effective Date

The Certificate of Formation provides options to choose when the LLC becomes effective (starts).

The three options include:

• A – When the document is filed by the Secretary of State
• B – A date up to 90 days in the future. Some will delay the effective date of the LLC if they aren’t ready to start the business but want the filing out of the way or if they are close to the end of a calendar year and don’t plan to have any business activity until the following year.
• C – The date of a specific event or 90 days in the future. For the certificate to take effect under option C, the entity files a statement with the Secretary of State within ninety (90) days of the filing.

Step 9: File the Certificate of Formation

An LLC Organizer will review the Certificate of Formation to ensure the information provided is correct, agree to the terms, and sign the document.

If filing by mail, send the completed Certificate of Formation (submitted in duplicate) and state filing fee to:
Texas Secretary of State
P.O. Box 13697
Austin, Texas 78711-3697

Texas LLC FAQs