How to Form an LLC in Nevada: Steps & Cost (2026)

Fact-checked by the LegalGlass editorial team against primary sources · Published Aug 6, 2026 · Last updated Aug 6, 2026

You form a Nevada LLC by filing Articles of Organization with the Nevada Secretary of State and paying the $75 filing fee, then filing an Initial List of Managers or Managing Members ($150) and paying the $200 State Business License. All three are usually filed together online through SilverFlume. You must appoint a Nevada registered agent, and although Nevada has no personal income tax, larger LLCs may owe the state Commerce Tax.

Nevada Agency and Form: Secretary of State, Articles of Organization

A Nevada LLC is created by filing Articles of Organization with the Nevada Secretary of State under NRS Chapter 86, the Nevada Limited-Liability Company Act. The Articles are the charter document that legally brings the LLC into existence once the Secretary of State accepts them. Nevada's online portal, SilverFlume, walks you through the Articles, the Initial List, and the State Business License in a single session, which is why most filers use it rather than paper forms.

The Articles of Organization ask for the LLC's name, the name and Nevada street address of the registered agent, whether the company is member-managed or manager-managed, the names and addresses of the managers or managing members, and the signature of an organizer. The name must contain an LLC designator such as "LLC," "L.L.C.," "Limited-Liability Company," or "Limited Company," and must be distinguishable from other names on file under NRS 86.171. This page covers the Nevada-specific process; for the national overview see how to form an LLC and what an LLC is.

How to Form a Nevada LLC, Step by Step

Forming a Nevada LLC is a five-step process. Each step corresponds to a requirement of NRS Chapter 86, NRS Chapter 76 (the State Business License), or a federal tax rule.

1. Choose and check your LLC name. Select a name that includes an LLC designator and is distinguishable from names already registered with the Secretary of State. Check availability through SilverFlume. If you are not ready to file, you may reserve the name for 90 days for $25 under NRS 86.176. Confirm the name does not infringe a federal trademark.
2. Appoint a Nevada registered agent. Every Nevada LLC must designate a Nevada registered agent with a physical Nevada street address (not a P.O. box) under NRS 86.231. The agent must consent to the appointment before being named. See the national registered agent overview for how the role works.
3. File the Articles of Organization ($75). Submit the Articles to the Nevada Secretary of State and pay the $75 filing fee set by NRS 86.561. File online through SilverFlume for the quickest turnaround, or by mail. Once accepted, your LLC legally exists.
4. File the Initial List and pay the State Business License. File the Initial List of Managers or Managing Members ($150) and pay the $200 State Business License by the last day of the first month after formation. Most filers complete these in the same SilverFlume session as the Articles.
5. Get an EIN and register for Nevada taxes. Apply for a free federal EIN from the IRS, then register with the Nevada Department of Taxation for any sales and use tax, Commerce Tax, or Modified Business Tax that applies to your activity.

After these steps, adopt an operating agreement, open a business bank account (banks generally ask for the file-stamped Articles and the EIN), and calendar your annual filings so the LLC stays in good standing.

Nevada LLC Filing Fees (2026)

The total to launch most Nevada LLCs is $425: the $75 Articles fee, the $150 Initial List, and the $200 State Business License. The table below lists the state fees new LLCs most often encounter, each verified against NRS Chapter 86, NRS Chapter 76, or the Nevada Secretary of State fee schedule. Amounts are effective for 2026 and are set by statute, not by any filing service. For a full breakdown, see Nevada LLC cost and the national cost of an LLC.

Expedited processing is available from the Secretary of State for an additional fee if you need faster handling; because expedite and certified-copy fees change, confirm the current amount on the Secretary of State fee schedule before you file.

Initial List and State Business License at Formation

Nevada is unusual in requiring two extra filings at the moment of formation. Under NRS 86.263, a new LLC must file an Initial List of Managers or Managing Members and pay a $150 fee by the last day of the first month after the Articles are filed. The list names the people who run the company and their addresses.

At the same time, every Nevada LLC must obtain a State Business License under NRS Chapter 76. The license fee is $200 for an LLC (corporations pay $500). The license is administered by the Secretary of State, not the Department of Taxation, and it must be renewed every year alongside the Annual List. Because SilverFlume bundles the Articles, Initial List, and license, most new owners pay the full $425 in one transaction. See Nevada's Annual List and State Business License for the yearly cycle.

Nevada Registered Agent Requirement

A Nevada registered agent is the person or entity your LLC designates to receive service of process, tax notices, and official state correspondence. NRS 86.231 requires every LLC to continuously maintain a registered agent with a physical Nevada street address; commercial registered agents are governed by NRS Chapter 77. A post office box alone does not satisfy the requirement.

The agent must consent to the appointment, and the consent is kept on file with the Secretary of State. You may serve as your own registered agent if you have a Nevada street address, name a manager, or hire a commercial registered agent service. If the agent resigns or the LLC fails to maintain one, the Secretary of State can revoke the company's right to do business. See Nevada registered agent requirements for the details and how to change agents.

Operating Agreement

Nevada does not require you to file an operating agreement, and the Articles of Organization do not include one. Even so, an operating agreement is strongly recommended: it sets ownership percentages, management structure, voting rights, capital contributions, and how profits and losses are allocated. For a single-member LLC it also helps document the separation between owner and company that supports limited liability. Adopt it internally and keep it with your company records; you do not send it to the state.

EIN and Federal Tax 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. An EIN is required if the LLC has more than one member or any employees. Apply directly with the IRS using Form SS-4.

Nevada Business Taxes: No Income Tax, Commerce Tax, and MBT

Nevada has no personal income tax and no corporate income tax, which is a major reason people form LLCs there. Nevada does levy two business-level taxes administered by the Nevada Department of Taxation. The Commerce Tax applies only to a business whose Nevada gross revenue in the fiscal year exceeds $4,000,000, with rates that vary by industry. The Modified Business Tax is a payroll tax on employers, applied to taxable wages above $50,000 per calendar quarter. If your LLC sells taxable goods, you also need a sales and use tax permit from the Department of Taxation. See Commerce Tax and business tax for how these apply to your LLC.

Annual List and Ongoing Compliance

Every year, a Nevada LLC must file an Annual List of Managers or Managing Members ($150) and renew its State Business License ($200), for a recurring $350 in state fees. Both are due by the last day of the month in which the anniversary of the LLC's formation falls, under NRS 86.263 and NRS 76.130. SilverFlume sends reminders and lets you file both at once. Missing the deadline adds late penalties and, if uncorrected, leads to revocation of the company's charter.

Penalties for Missing Nevada Requirements

If an LLC files its Annual List late, a $75 penalty is added to the $150 fee, and a late State Business License renewal carries its own penalty. An LLC that stays in default is moved to revoked status under NRS 86.274, which strips its right to transact business in Nevada. To return to good standing, the company must file all delinquent lists, pay the outstanding fees and penalties, and file for reinstatement under NRS 86.276. Keeping your registered agent, Annual List, and State Business License current is the simplest way to avoid these outcomes.

Closing a Nevada LLC

To close a Nevada LLC properly, you wind up the business, settle debts and taxes, and file Articles of Dissolution with the Secretary of State for a $100 fee under NRS 86.561. Simply abandoning the LLC leaves the Annual List and State Business License obligations running and can result in penalties. See how to dissolve an LLC in Nevada and the national dissolution overview for the full wind-up steps.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to start an LLC in Nevada?

Nevada charges $425 to start most LLCs: a $75 Articles of Organization fee, a $150 Initial List, and a $200 State Business License, all paid to the Secretary of State. See Nevada LLC cost for the full breakdown.

What form do I file to create a Nevada LLC?

You file the Articles of Organization for a limited-liability company under NRS Chapter 86, with the $75 fee, online through SilverFlume or by mail, along with the Initial List and State Business License application.

Does a Nevada LLC need a registered agent?

Yes. NRS 86.231 requires every Nevada LLC to continuously maintain a registered agent with a physical Nevada street address who has consented to the role. See Nevada registered agent.

Does a Nevada LLC pay state income tax?

No. Nevada has no personal or corporate income tax. Larger LLCs may owe the Commerce Tax on Nevada gross revenue above $4,000,000, and employers may owe the Modified Business Tax on quarterly wages above $50,000.

When are Nevada LLC annual filings due?

The Annual List ($150) and State Business License renewal ($200) are due by the last day of the month in which your LLC's formation anniversary falls, every year, under NRS 86.263 and NRS 76.130.

How long does it take to form a Nevada LLC?

Standard SilverFlume filings are typically processed within a few business days, and expedited service is available for an additional fee. Processing times vary with agency workload.

Related

• How to form an LLC (cluster hub)
• Nevada LLC cost and filing fees
• Nevada registered agent requirements
• Nevada Annual List and State Business License
• How to get a business license in Nevada
• How to dissolve an LLC in Nevada
• How to get an EIN
• S-corp vs LLC

Sources

1. Nevada Revised Statutes - Chapter 86, Limited-Liability Companies (Articles of Organization; NRS 86.171 name; 86.176 reservation; 86.231 registered agent; 86.263 lists; 86.561 fees).
2. Nevada Revised Statutes - Chapter 76, State Business Licenses (NRS 76.100 $200/$500 fee; 76.130 renewal).
3. Nevada Revised Statutes - Chapter 77, Registered Agents.
4. Nevada Secretary of State - Start a Business: Limited-Liability Companies.
5. Nevada Secretary of State - SilverFlume business portal (online filing).
6. Nevada Department of Taxation - Commerce Tax ($4,000,000 gross-revenue threshold).
7. Nevada Department of Taxation - Modified Business Tax ($50,000 quarterly wage threshold).
8. IRS - Limited Liability Company (LLC) (federal default classification).
9. IRS - About Form SS-4 (free EIN application).
10. Cornell Legal Information Institute - Limited Liability Company (LLC).

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 Nevada Secretary of State and Nevada Department of Taxation before acting.