Register your Kentucky LLC Online
Complete the form below in 2–3 minutes. Your LLC and EIN come at no extra cost — you only pay Kentucky’s own $40 state 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 Kentucky?
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 Kentucky
- Add partners or co-owners whenever you're ready
- Transfer ownership if you sell the business
- “Kentucky Company, LLC” shows you’re a real business
- Shows you’re registered (Kentucky Secretary of State)
- Get a matching domain like KentuckyCompanyLLC.com
- Simpler upkeep than forming a corporation
What's different about a Kentucky LLC
Kentucky's $40 filing fee is flat — no itemized add-ons like Florida's registered-agent charge. The Secretary of State's own FAQ says documents are usually processed the same day they're received, and rarely take more than 3 business days.
That low report fee isn't the whole story. Kentucky also charges a separate Limited Liability Entity Tax to the Department of Revenue — a different office than the one that formed your LLC.
Kentucky doesn't require you to publish a notice in a newspaper, unlike a handful of other states. And a Kentucky corporation's fee isn't flat like the LLC's — it starts at $50 and rises if you authorize more than 1,000 shares of stock.
Cost to start an LLC in Kentucky
$40 to the Kentucky Secretary of State — that's it. We don't charge a filing fee on top of it. A Kentucky corporation runs $50 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 |
| Kentucky state filing feespaid to the state — same for everyone | $40 | $40 |
Free EIN with your Kentucky 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 Kentucky
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 Kentucky?
A sole proprietorship means you're doing business as an individual. You can file a DBA with your city or county 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
Kentucky calls a DBA a Certificate of Assumed Name. It lets one LLC operate under more than one business name. You file it with the Kentucky Secretary of State for $20, then deliver a copy to the county clerk in the county where your registered agent is located — that office sets its own separate fee.
A Certificate of Assumed Name isn't required if you're fine using your LLC's own name.
Example: Kentucky Company, LLC dba Kentucky Auto Brokers.
DBA vs LLC in Kentucky
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 Kentucky?
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 Kentucky LLC?
Filing takes a few minutes on this page. Kentucky's own Secretary of State says documents are usually processed the same day they're received, and rarely take more than 3 business days.
Does Kentucky have a yearly tax on LLCs?
Yes. Separate from the $15 annual report, most small Kentucky LLCs owe a flat $175 Limited Liability Entity Tax to the Department of Revenue every year, regardless of profit.
Do I need an EIN for my Kentucky 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 Kentucky address the state sends legal mail to. Every LLC needs one, and it's included free for your first year when you file here.
Do I need an operating agreement?
Kentucky doesn't require one to file, but a bank often asks for one to open your business account. You can add it when you file, or write your own later.
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.
Sources (6)
Every fact on this page was checked directly against Kentucky's own filing agency, revenue agency, and a county clerk's office — verified September 20, 2026.
- Kentucky Secretary of State — Business Filings Fees — the $40 LLC fee, $40 + organization-tax corporation fee, $20 Certificate of Assumed Name, $15 annual report
- Kentucky Secretary of State — Annual Reports — the $15 fee, January 1–June 30 filing window, administrative dissolution for missing it
- Kentucky Secretary of State — Business Filings FAQs — the same-day to 3-business-day processing time
- Kentucky Department of Revenue — Limited Liability Entity Tax — the $175 minimum tax and $3 million small-business threshold
- Scott County Clerk — Certificate of Assumed Name — the county-level DBA filing step and its $46 fee
- KRS §136.060 — Corporation organization tax — the per-share tax and $10 minimum behind the corporation filing cost