How to Form an LLC in Kansas: Steps & Cost (2026)
You form a Kansas LLC by filing Articles of Organization (Form DL) with the Kansas Secretary of State and paying the $85 online filing fee (or $90 by paper). You must appoint a Kansas resident agent with a registered office in the state. After formation, every Kansas LLC files a biennial information report and, if it sells taxable goods, registers with the Kansas Department of Revenue.
Quick Answer
- Form
- Form DL, Articles of Organization (Form LAO for a series LLC)
- Filing fee
- $85 online / $90 paper (2026), to the Kansas Secretary of State
- Agency
- Kansas Secretary of State - file online at sos.ks.gov
- Resident agent
- Required - a Kansas resident, qualified entity, or the LLC itself
- Ongoing
- Biennial information report, due April 15, $53 online / $55 paper
- State business license
- None statewide; register taxes via CR-16 with the Department of Revenue
Kansas Agency and Form: Secretary of State, Form DL
A Kansas LLC is created by filing Articles of Organization with the Kansas Secretary of State. The correct document for a standard limited liability company is Form DL; a company that may create protected series files Form LAO instead. Filing this document - and the Secretary of State's acceptance of it - is the legal act that brings the LLC into existence under the Kansas Revised Limited Liability Company Act (K.S.A. 17-7673). Under K.S.A. 17-7663 the act governs every domestic Kansas LLC.
The Articles of Organization ask for the LLC's name, the name and address of the resident agent and the registered office, and the effective date. The name must contain an LLC designator - such as "LLC," "L.L.C.," "Limited Liability Company," or "Limited Company" - and be distinguishable in the records of the Secretary of State from existing entity names. You can check availability and file through the Secretary of State's online business registration system, which is the fastest route; a paper filing by mail is also accepted. This guide covers the general Kansas process; for the national overview see how to form an LLC and what is an LLC.
How to Form a Kansas LLC, Step by Step
Forming a Kansas LLC is a five-step process centered on Form DL. Each step below corresponds to a requirement of the Kansas Revised Limited Liability Company Act or a federal tax rule.
- Choose and check your LLC name. Select a name that includes an LLC designator and is distinguishable from names already on file with the Secretary of State. Verify availability through the name availability search or the business entity database. Confirm the name also does not infringe a federal registered mark before you commit to it.
- Appoint a Kansas resident agent. Every Kansas LLC must designate a resident agent with a physical Kansas street address (the registered office). Under K.S.A. 17-7925 the agent can be an individual Kansas resident, a domestic or qualified foreign entity, or the LLC itself.
- File the Articles of Organization (Form DL). Submit Form DL to the Kansas Secretary of State and pay $85 to file online or $90 by paper. Once the Secretary of State accepts it, your LLC legally exists.
- Adopt an operating agreement. Kansas does not file or require you to submit an operating agreement, but one is strongly recommended to set ownership percentages, management structure, voting, and profit distribution. See the LLC overview for what an operating agreement typically covers.
- Get an EIN and register for Kansas taxes. Apply for a free federal EIN from the IRS, then register for any Kansas taxes with the Department of Revenue using the Kansas Business Tax Application (CR-16).
After these steps, open a business bank account (banks generally ask for the stamped Articles of Organization and the EIN) and keep your resident agent and biennial information report current.
Kansas LLC Filing Fees (2026)
The core cost of a Kansas LLC is the Articles of Organization filing fee - $85 online or $90 by paper. The table below lists the state fees most new LLCs encounter, each verified against the Kansas Secretary of State forms or the Kansas Department of Revenue. Amounts are effective for 2026 and are set by the state, not by any filing service. See Kansas LLC cost for a full breakdown.
| Item | Form | Fee (2026) | Agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization (create the LLC) | Form DL | $85 online / $90 paper | Secretary of State |
| Biennial information report | Form LC | $53 online / $55 paper | Secretary of State |
| Certificate of Cancellation (close the LLC) | Form KC | $30 online / $35 paper | Secretary of State |
| Kansas Business Tax Application (sales/withholding) | CR-16 | See Department of Revenue | Department of Revenue |
| Federal EIN | IRS Form SS-4 | $0 (free) | IRS |
Kansas also offers name reservation and certified copies for additional fees; confirm the current amount on the Secretary of State copies and certifications page before you order, because those amounts change.
Kansas Resident Agent Requirement
A Kansas resident agent is the person or entity your LLC designates to receive service of process, tax notices, and official state correspondence. The Kansas Revised Limited Liability Company Act requires every domestic LLC to designate and continuously maintain a resident agent and a registered office in Kansas. You name the initial agent directly on Form DL. Kansas uses the term "resident agent," but under K.S.A. 17-7925 the older term "registered agent" is treated as equivalent.
The agent must have a physical Kansas street address - a post office box alone does not satisfy the registered office requirement. You may act as your own resident agent, name a member, or hire a commercial resident agent service. If your agent later resigns, K.S.A. 17-7929 gives the LLC 60 days to designate a successor; failing to maintain a resident agent can lead to forfeiture of the LLC's articles of organization by the Secretary of State. See Kansas resident agent requirements and the national registered agent overview for detail.
Biennial Information Report and Ongoing Duties
Kansas does not require an annual report for LLCs. Instead, under K.S.A. 17-76,139, every LLC files a biennial information report - once every two years. For-profit LLCs are due by April 15 of their odd- or even-numbered year, determined by whether the LLC was formed in an odd or even year. The Secretary of State information report page confirms the every-two-years schedule.
The information report fee is $53 online or $55 by paper, per the Secretary of State's Form LC. You can file it directly at the state's online reports portal. If the report is not filed within 90 days after the due date, the Secretary of State forfeits the LLC's articles of organization, and you must then file a certificate of reinstatement to restore the company. See Kansas annual report for the full schedule and reinstatement process.
EIN, Kansas Taxes, and Federal Classification
A federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) is issued free by the IRS and is used to open a bank account, hire employees, and file taxes. By default, the IRS treats a single-member LLC as a disregarded entity (taxed on the owner's return) and a multi-member LLC as a partnership; either can elect corporate or S-corporation treatment by filing the appropriate IRS form. Most Kansas LLCs need an EIN, and one is required if the LLC has more than one member or any employees.
If your LLC sells taxable goods or services in Kansas, or has payroll, you register with the Kansas Department of Revenue using the Kansas Business Tax Application (CR-16) through the Kansas Customer Service Center. Kansas has no single statewide general business license, but many cities, counties, and regulated professions require their own permits, so check local requirements. See business license in Kansas for details.
Penalties for Missing Kansas Requirements
Missing Kansas requirements carries real consequences. If an LLC fails to file its biennial information report or pay the fee within 90 days of the due date, the Secretary of State forfeits the LLC's articles of organization under K.S.A. 17-76,139. A forfeited LLC loses its good standing and generally cannot bring a lawsuit or obtain a certificate of good standing until it is reinstated by filing a certificate of reinstatement and paying the delinquent fees and any penalties.
Separately, if an LLC does not maintain a resident agent and registered office, the Secretary of State may forfeit the entity after the statutory notice period. Keeping your resident agent, Department of Revenue tax accounts, and biennial report current is the simplest way to avoid all of these outcomes. Compare the process in a no-annual-report state with a state that charges a franchise tax, such as how to form an LLC in Texas.
Closing a Kansas LLC
To close a Kansas LLC properly, you wind up the business, settle debts, and file a Certificate of Cancellation (Form KC) with the Secretary of State - $30 online or $35 by paper. The LLC must be in good standing (any delinquent information report filed first) before it can cancel. Simply abandoning the LLC leaves the resident agent and reporting obligations running. See how to dissolve an LLC in Kansas and the national dissolution overview for the full wind-up steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Kansas?
The Kansas Secretary of State charges $85 to file the Articles of Organization (Form DL) online, or $90 by paper. A federal EIN is free. Every LLC also files a biennial information report costing $53 online or $55 by paper. See Kansas LLC cost.
What form do I file to create a Kansas LLC?
You file the Articles of Organization, Form DL, with the Kansas Secretary of State. A series LLC files Form LAO instead. You can file online for $85 or by paper for $90.
Does a Kansas LLC need a resident agent?
Yes. Under K.S.A. 17-7925 every Kansas LLC must continuously maintain a resident agent with a Kansas registered office. The agent can be an individual resident, a qualified business entity, or the LLC itself.
Does Kansas require an annual report for an LLC?
Kansas requires a biennial information report, not an annual one. For-profit LLCs file every two years by April 15, based on whether the formation year was odd or even. The fee is $53 online or $55 by paper.
Does Kansas have a general business license?
No. Kansas has no single statewide general business license. Most LLCs instead register for taxes with the Kansas Department of Revenue using the Business Tax Application (CR-16), and some cities or professions require their own permits.
How long does it take to form a Kansas LLC?
Filing the Articles of Organization online through the Kansas Secretary of State is typically processed quickly, often the same or next business day. Paper filings by mail take longer because of transit and manual handling.
Related
- How to form an LLC (cluster hub)
- Kansas resident agent requirements
- How much does a Kansas LLC cost?
- Kansas annual (biennial) report
- Business license in Kansas
- How to dissolve an LLC in Kansas
- How to get an EIN
- How to form an LLC in Texas (sibling)
- What is an LLC?
More Kansas business guides
Sources
- Kansas Secretary of State - Register a Business (Form DL / LAO Articles of Organization; resident agent).
- Kansas Secretary of State - Form DL, Articles of Organization (PDF) ($85 online / $90 paper).
- Kansas Secretary of State - Information Reports (biennial; April 15 due date; 90-day grace).
- Kansas Secretary of State - Online business entity reports portal.
- Kansas Secretary of State - Copies and Certifications.
- Kansas Secretary of State - Business Entity Search.
- Kansas Secretary of State - Name Availability.
- Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes - K.S.A. 17-7673 (Articles of Organization).
- Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes - K.S.A. 17-7663 (Kansas Revised LLC Act).
- Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes - K.S.A. 17-7925 (resident agent).
- Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes - K.S.A. 17-7929 (resignation of resident agent).
- Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes - K.S.A. 17-76,139 (biennial information report; forfeiture).
- Kansas Department of Revenue - Business Registration (Kansas Business Tax Application, CR-16).
- Kansas Department of Revenue - Customer Service Center (online tax registration).
- IRS - Limited Liability Company (LLC) (federal default classification).
- IRS - Get an Employer Identification Number (free EIN).
LegalGlass provides general information for educational purposes and is not a law firm or a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney or tax professional. Laws, fees, and thresholds change; verify current requirements with the Kansas Secretary of State and Kansas Department of Revenue before acting.