The $100 state fee, the paperwork, the registered agent requirement — here's exactly what it costs, how long it takes, and the fastest legitimate path to an approved LLC.
Idaho keeps this straightforward — get the order right and you're filed within a week or so, without the guesswork.
Must include "LLC" or "L.L.C." — run it through the Idaho Secretary of State's business search first, since a taken name is the #1 reason filings bounce.
Non-negotiable under Idaho law. Needs a real street address, staffed during business hours — no P.O. boxes.
Filed online or by mail with the Idaho Secretary of State for a $100 fee. This is the step that makes it official.
Free straight from the IRS — you'll need it before a bank will let you open a business account.
Annual Report, due by the end of your anniversary month every year — the report itself carries no fee, but skipping it can still lead to administrative dissolution.
Northwest handles all five steps above and includes your Idaho registered agent free for year one.
Wrong entity designator, missing registered agent info, and name conflicts account for most bounced filings. Here's what changes with a formation service handling it.
| What matters | Filing it yourself | Using a formation service |
|---|---|---|
| Time spent | 3–5 hours of research + filing | ~10 minutes |
| Total cost | $100 state fee only | $100 state fee + service fee |
| Registered agent | Separate purchase, $100–$300/yr | Often included year one |
| Compliance reminders | You track manually | Automated deadline alerts |
| Rejection risk | Common on first attempt | Reviewed before submission |
Northwest handles the filing, includes your registered agent for the first year, and flags common Idaho rejection triggers before you submit — no add-ons to track down separately.
Files your Certificate of Organization directly with the Idaho Secretary of State, includes an Idaho-address registered agent for the first year at no extra cost, and flags common rejection triggers before you submit.
"Filed on a Wednesday, approved about a week later. Didn't expect the registered agent to already be set up when the confirmation came through."
"I tried filing myself first and got rejected over the entity name format. Second time, went through a service and it was fixed before submission."
"Didn't realize the Annual Report was even a thing until the reminder email showed up near my anniversary month. No fee, but easy to forget."
Northwest Registered Agent, $39 plus your $100 state fee, no long-term contract.