Register your Vermont LLC Online
Complete the form below in 2–3 minutes. Your LLC and EIN come at no extra cost — you only pay Vermont’s own $155 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 Vermont?
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 Vermont
- Add partners or co-owners whenever you're ready
- Transfer ownership if you sell the business
- “Vermont Company, LLC” shows you’re a real business
- Shows you’re registered (Vermont Secretary of State)
- Get a matching domain like VermontCompanyLLC.com
- Simpler upkeep than forming a corporation
What's different about a Vermont LLC
Vermont's $155 filing fee is a single flat charge, not itemized the way some states split it. Online filings are typically approved in under 1 business day, and Vermont doesn't offer a paid expedited tier on top of that — the standard process is already faster than what other states charge extra for.
Vermont has no separate franchise tax on a standard LLC, and no newspaper publication requirement. The annual report above goes to the Secretary of State — a completely separate state tax, described next, goes to the Department of Taxes instead.
Cost to start an LLC in Vermont
$155 to the Vermont Secretary of State — that's it. We don't charge a filing fee on top of it. A Vermont corporation runs $155 through the same process — the same fee as the LLC.
| What you get |  | Others |
|---|---|---|
| EIN (Tax ID) | Free | up to $99 |
| Registered agent | Freefirst year | up to $249per year |
| Name check | Free | usually free |
| Vermont state filing feespaid to the state — same for everyone | $155 | $155 |
Free EIN with your Vermont 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 Vermont
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 Vermont?
A sole proprietorship means you're doing business as an individual. You can register an Assumed Business Name with the Vermont Secretary of State 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
Vermont calls a DBA an Assumed Business Name. It lets one LLC operate under more than one business name, and it's a separate filing with the Vermont Secretary of State — the same office that formed your LLC.
A DBA isn't required if you're fine using your LLC's own name.
Example: Vermont Company, LLC dba Vermont Auto Brokers.
DBA vs LLC in Vermont
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 Vermont?
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 Vermont LLC?
Filing takes a few minutes on this page. Vermont typically approves online filings in under 1 business day — one of the fastest turnarounds of any state — and doesn't offer a separate paid expedited option, since standard processing is already this fast.
What's Vermont's LLC annual report, and what does it cost?
$45, due within 3 months after your LLC's fiscal year ends — for a calendar-year LLC, that's by March 31, not a fixed date like most states use. It's a state filing requirement, not a tax. Miss it and Vermont terminates your Articles of Organization, though you can still reinstate for a $35 fee within 5 years.
Do I need an EIN for my Vermont 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 Vermont 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?
Vermont 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.
Page updates (1)
- July 1, 2025 — Vermont's Act 10 (H.243) took effect: it gives the Secretary of State authority to reject fraudulent business filings and clarifies LLC registered-agent designation requirements. Vermont Legislature →
Sources (6)
Every fact on this page was checked directly against Vermont's own filing agency, revenue agency, and statutes — verified September 20, 2026.
- Vermont Secretary of State — Fees & Filings — the $155 LLC/corporation filing fee, $45/$60 annual report fees, $35 LLC reinstatement fee
- 11 V.S.A. §4012 — the $155 Articles of Organization filing fee, in statute
- 11 V.S.A. §4033 — the annual report requirement, due within 3 months of fiscal year end
- 11 V.S.A. §4034 — termination for failure to file, reinstatement, the 5-year name-loss window
- Vermont Secretary of State — Assumed Business Name — confirms Vermont's DBA is filed at the state level, not city or county
- Vermont Department of Taxes — Business Entity Income Tax — the $250 minimum tax and the single-member/disregarded-entity exemption