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If you’re looking for an excellent Alaska LLC service then choose ZenBusiness. We’ve already formed 700,000+ businesses since 2017!
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Northwest Registered Agent charges $225 (plus state fee) for LLC filing services. That said, Northwest’s personalized customer support is a feature that could make their prices worth paying for some entrepreneurs.
Overall, Northwest does have some points in its favor. However, keep in mind that it charges $225 (plus your state’s required fee) for its LLC filing services.
Want to learn more? See this Northwest LLC review.
LegalZoom is one of the biggest names in the industry, with millions of customers served and frequent advertising efforts. LegalZoom provides an LLC filing package for free (plus the state’s fee).
LegalZoom is a huge company, so while it offers extended support hours, the quality of its customer support may vary a bit from representative to representative.
Want to learn more? See this LegalZoom LLC review.
Incfile/Bizee offers LLC formations for free, as long as you pay your state’s fee. Incfile and ZenBusiness have some similar characteristics, but there are also some significant differences that set the two apart.
If you’re looking for a cheap LLC formation service in Alaska and ZenBusiness doesn’t feel right for some reason, Incfile/Bizee could be worth a closer look.
Want to learn more? See this Incfile/Bizee LLC review.
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Technically speaking, you don’t have to use an LLC formation service like ZenBusiness or LegalZoom. These services are incredibly helpful, but you can save money by completing the process yourself.
You can read our complete guide to DIY an LLC setup in Alaska, but here’s a quick look at the process:
Every LLC in Alaska needs a name that’s memorable and gives potential clients a good idea of what goods or services are available. The name also needs to be unique — both for legal reasons and so your business stands out from the competition.
As we’ve mentioned in this guide, every LLC needs an agent who can accept service of process on your behalf. In all states, you can act as your own registered agent as long as you have a physical address in the state. That said, we generally recommend that you appoint someone else (like an online service) to act as your agent.
This document, once filled out and filed, officially forms your business in the state of Alaska. You’ll need to provide some important information, including your contact information, your business address, signatures for your LLC’s members, and more. Alaska charges a $250 filing fee.
Setting up the LLC is as easy as 1-2-3; it’s the maintenance requirements that are a bit more complicated:
If you have employees, you’ll need to get an Employer Identification Number from the IRS. Then there are state-specific taxes, too. Alaska doesn’t charge an individual income tax; the corporate income tax, however, is 9.4%. There’s no statewide sales tax, but you may need to account for local sales taxes. Then there are miscellaneous taxes to consider. More information can be found at the Alaska Department of Revenue.
Alaska requires a general business license for every entity in the state; it needs to be renewed annually, too. The fee is $50. Many businesses will also need to get a professional license, too; check out the Professional Licensing page to learn more.
Even single-member LLCs should create a “master document” that sets out how the business will operate, both now and in the future.
Alaska requires LLCs to file a report every other year in order to update the state about the standing of their businesses. The filing fee is $100.
Every business with employees needs to maintain workers’ compensation insurance and a commercial vehicle policy for company-owned vehicles. You may also want to get a general business liability policy, too.
You should sign up for a business bank account so you can write checks and make purchases in the name of the business instead of pulling from your personal accounts (a legal no-no).
This is just the tip of the iceberg, though. For more detailed guidance, we recommend contacting an attorney or checking out the full Alaska LLC Formation Guide.
LLCs are formal legal entities that are typically taxed similarly to sole proprietorships and general partnership vs LLC, in that the owners include any company profits or losses into their personal returns — the LLC itself does not owe income taxes. For more a more in-depth description see: What is an LLC?
In addition to the costs of a business formation service or hiring an attorney (which are optional, as we’ve discussed), there are quite a few other required and optional expenses when forming and maintaining an Alaska business. You cannot form an LLC in Alaska without filing the Articles of Organization, the document that officially registers your business within the state. The filing fee for this is $250. Read more about Alaska costs – Alaska LLC costs.
FAQ's
Where Can I Get More Information About Forming LLCs in Alaska?
We invite you to take a look at our comprehensive guide to forming a limited liability company in Alaska. This article walks you through the LLC formation process in this state step by step, ensuring that you don’t miss any crucial elements.
How Can I Search Alaska’s Business Name Database?
One of the most important steps in forming an Alaska LLC is choosing a business name. Once you come up with ideas for your name, you should search through the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development’s business name availability search to make sure your desired name is available. For more information on conducting a business name search in Alaska, check out Alaska business search on the topic.
Where Can I Find the Alaska Articles of Organization?
You can find the Alaska Articles of Organization from the Corporations Section.
What Are Alaska’s Ongoing LLC Maintenance Requirements?
All LLCs operating in the state of Alaska are required to submit a biennial report with the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development every other year. This filing costs $100 for domestic entities and $200 for foreign entities.
Where Can I Learn More About the Alaska LLC Licensing and Permitting Requirements?
Chances are, you’ll require at least one license or permit to operate your LLC in compliance with Alaska state law. For more information about business licenses and more in this state, check out the state’s Business Licensing page.
How Quickly Does Alaska Process LLC Formations?
If you file online, Alaska will process your LLC formation immediately. If you file on a paper form, you can expect to wait 10-15 business days for your LLC to be officially formed by the state.
Which Company Provides the Best Alaska Registered Agent Service?
If you want more details about what these companies can offer in this state, or you’d like to take a look at some other options, check out our complete guide to Alaska registered agents.
How Can I Dissolve My Alaska LLC?
Unfortunately, not all businesses last forever. If the time comes when you need to close your LLC’s doors, you’ll need to do so in a manner consistent with the state’s regulations. That’s why we wrote our guide to Alaska LLC dissolutions, so you can complete the process in a compliant manner.
What if I Need to Expand a Business From Another State to Alaska?
If your LLC already exists in another state, you don’t actually need to “form” it in Alaska. Instead, you’ll need to foreign qualify the business in this state. This process is somewhat similar to LLC formation, but there are some crucial differences as well. Take a look at our guide to foreign qualifications in Alaska for more information.
Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.
Written by Team ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness has helped people start, run, and grow over 700,000 dream companies. The editorial team at ZenBusiness has over 20 years of collective small business publishing experience and is composed of business formation experts who are dedicated to empowering and educating entrepreneurs about owning a company.
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