Register your Washington, D.C. LLC Online
Complete the form below in 2–3 minutes. Your LLC and EIN come at no extra cost — you only pay Washington, D.C.’s own $99 filing fee.
- Enter your desired LLC name
- Choose your state
- Receive your LLC and free EIN by email
Trusted by Thousands Nationwide
What is an LLC in Washington, D.C.?
An LLC (Limited Liability Company) is a simple structure for running your business under a professional name. It separates your business from your personal name, and it's the most common way to add a partner, sell the business, or look like a real company instead of a side project.
That separation goes further than the name. If the business owes money or gets sued, your house, car, and personal bank accounts are generally off-limits — as long as you run the LLC properly. It doesn't protect you from something you personally did wrong.
A sole proprietorship skips all of that. You're doing business under your own name or a DBA, and everything stays tied to you personally.
A corporation does the same separation as an LLC, but it's built for a different job: issuing stock and bringing in outside investors. An LLC is simpler to run and cheaper to keep up if that's not you right now.
Benefits of an LLC in Washington, D.C.
- Add partners or co-owners whenever you're ready
- Transfer ownership if you sell the business
- “Washington DC Company, LLC” shows you’re a real business
- Shows you’re registered (Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection)
- Get a matching domain like WashingtonDCCompanyLLC.com
- Simpler upkeep than forming a corporation
What's different about a Washington, D.C. LLC
Your $99 filing fee is a flat cost for your Articles of Organization — DC doesn't split it into add-on fees the way some states do. DC doesn't publish a guaranteed timeline for standard filing, but does offer real paid speed: 3-business-day service for an extra $50, or same-day service for an extra $100, both on top of the base fee.
Washington, D.C. also taxes unincorporated businesses directly, through its own Unincorporated Business Franchise Tax — 8.25% of net income after a $5,000 exemption. An exemption exists if more than 80% of income comes from the personal services of the owners and capital isn’t a major income source, but the return (Form D-30) is still required past $12,000 in DC income even when the tax owed is $0.
Cost to start an LLC in Washington, D.C.
$99 to the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection — that's it. We don't charge a filing fee on top of it. A Washington, D.C. corporation runs $99 through the same process.
| What you get |  | Others |
|---|---|---|
| EIN (Tax ID) | Free | up to $99 |
| Registered agent | Freefirst year | up to $249per year |
| Name check | Free | usually free |
| Washington, D.C. filing feespaid to the district — same for everyone | $99 | $99 |
Free EIN with your Washington, D.C. LLC
Your EIN (Employer Identification Number) is what opens a business bank account and identifies your company to the IRS — it's like a Social Security Number for your LLC. It's included at no extra cost, right alongside your LLC.
LLC vs Corporation in Washington, D.C.
An LLC is simpler and more flexible, and keeps “LLC” in your business name. A corporation is a more formal structure built for issuing stock and outside investment, and keeps “Inc” or “Corp” in the name instead. 97% of our clients choose an LLC.
What is a Sole Proprietor in Washington, D.C.?
A sole proprietorship means you're doing business as an individual. You can file a DBA — DC calls it a Trade Name — with DLCP's Corporations Division to use a name other than your own. As an individual, you can't add a partner to the business, because everything is tied to your personal name and Social Security Number. If you later want to add partners or sell the business, you'll need to start an LLC or corporation.
File a DBA Under Your LLC
A DBA (Doing Business As) — DC calls it a Trade Name — lets one LLC operate under more than one business name. In DC, that's a filing with DLCP's Corporations Division — the same office that formed your LLC — for $55, valid for 2 years before you renew.
A DBA isn't required if you're fine using your LLC's own name.
Example: Washington DC Company, LLC dba Washington DC Auto Brokers.
DBA vs LLC in Washington, D.C.
A DBA only gives you another name to use. The LLC is the actual business entity that owns the DBA name and holds all legal rights.
Common Questions
Why start an LLC in Washington, D.C.?
It separates the business from your own name, lets you add or remove owners as the business grows, and reads as a real, established company.
How long does it take to get a Washington, D.C. LLC?
Filing takes a few minutes on this page. Washington, D.C. doesn't publish a guaranteed timeline for standard filing, but does offer paid 3-day ($50) and same-day ($100) service if you need it fast.
What's DC's LLC Biennial Report, and what does it cost?
$300, first due April 1 the year after you form, then every 2 years after that. It's a filing requirement, not a tax, and it's the one recurring cost every Washington, D.C. LLC owes going forward. Miss the deadline and DC adds a flat $100 late fee.
Do I need an EIN for my Washington, D.C. LLC?
Yes, for a business bank account and for the IRS to recognize your company. It's included free when you file here.
What's a registered agent, and do I need one?
A registered agent is the address Washington, D.C. sends legal mail to. Every LLC needs one, and it's included free for your first year when you file here.
Do I need a Basic Business License for my Washington, D.C. LLC?
Yes — DC requires most businesses to hold one to actually operate, separate from forming the LLC itself. It's a 4-step process through DC's BOSS portal, and the fee depends on your business category.
Still deciding on a name?
Try the free name generator — type a word you like, get real available options back, then come straight here to file.
Page updates (1)
- August 10, 2026 — DLCP retired CorpOnline and launched BOSS (Business One Stop Solution), a single platform for LLC/corporation filing and business licensing. DLCP →
Sources (6)
Every fact on this page was checked directly against DC's own filing agency, tax agency, and legal code — verified September 20, 2026.
- DLCP — Corporations Division Fees, Limited Liability Company — the $99 LLC filing fee, $300 Biennial Report, $100 late fee
- DLCP — Corporations Division Fees, Business Corporation — the $99 corporation filing fee and its higher authorized-capital tiers
- DLCP — Corporations Division Fees, Trade Name Filing — the $55 DBA/Trade Name fee
- DLCP — Steps to Obtaining a Basic Business License — the 4-step BBL requirement
- DC Code § 29-106.01, Grounds for administrative dissolution — the consequence of missing a Biennial Report
- DC Office of Tax and Revenue — Business Franchise Tax Rates — the 8.25% Unincorporated Business Franchise Tax and $5,000 exemption