Complete Connecticut LLC Formation Guide - The Constitution State
Connecticut LLC Overview
🎯 Quick Facts: Connecticut LLC
Formation Fee: $120
Annual Report Fee: $80/year
Processing Time: 5-10 business days
Online Filing: Available via CONCORD system
Statute: Connecticut Limited Liability Company Act (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 34-100 et seq.)
Series LLC: ✅ Allowed
Professional LLC: ✅ Allowed for licensed professionals
What is a Connecticut LLC?
A Connecticut Limited Liability Company (LLC) is a flexible business structure that combines:
Limited liability protection: Owners (members) aren't personally liable for business debts
Pass-through taxation: LLC profits/losses pass through to members' personal tax returns (no double taxation)
Flexible management: Can be member-managed or manager-managed
Minimal formalities: No required annual meetings or minutes (unlike corporations)
Connecticut LLC vs Other States
Factor
Connecticut
Delaware
Wyoming
Formation Fee
$120
$90
$100
Annual Report
$80/year
$300/year
$60/year
Year 1 Total
$200
$390
$160
Ongoing Annual Cost
$80
$300
$60
Series LLC
✅ Yes
✅ Yes
❌ No
Publication Requirement
❌ None
❌ None
❌ None
Why Form a Connecticut LLC?
✅ Advantages
Reasonable costs: $200 Year 1, $80/year ongoing (mid-range nationally)
Series LLC available: Create separate liability protection for multiple properties/businesses under one umbrella
Professional LLC option: Licensed professionals (doctors, lawyers, CPAs) can form LLCs
No publication requirement: No need to publish formation notice in newspapers (unlike NY)
Strong legal framework: Modern LLC statute with well-established case law
Charging order protection: Creditor remedies limited to charging orders in single-member LLCs
❌ Disadvantages
Higher than some states: WY ($60/year) and NM ($0/year) have lower annual fees
Business Entity Tax: $250 annual business entity tax (in addition to $80 report fee)
Not as investor-friendly as Delaware: DE preferred for VC-backed companies
💡 The "Home State Rule"
If you'll do business primarily in Connecticut (have an office, employees, or significant sales here), you'll owe CT taxes anyway, even if you form in Delaware or Wyoming.
In that case, forming in CT saves you:
Foreign LLC registration fee ($120)
Registered agent fees in two states
Double annual reports
When to Choose Connecticut
✅ Form in Connecticut If:
Your business operates primarily in Connecticut
You're a Connecticut resident starting a local business
You want to avoid foreign qualification complexity
You're forming a professional LLC (doctor, lawyer, CPA, etc.)
You need series LLC functionality for multiple properties/ventures
🤔 Consider Delaware If:
Raising VC funding (investors may prefer Delaware)
Complex ownership structure with preferred equity
You value Delaware Court of Chancery expertise
🤔 Consider Wyoming If:
Holding company with no CT business activity ($60/year vs $330/year in CT)
Maximum privacy preference (WY has stronger anonymity)
Minimizing costs is top priority
Connecticut LLC Types
LLC Type
Description
Best For
Single-Member LLC
One owner; disregarded entity for tax purposes (taxed as sole proprietorship)
Solo entrepreneurs, freelancers, single-owner businesses
Multi-Member LLC
2+ owners; taxed as partnership by default
Co-founded businesses, family businesses, joint ventures
Professional LLC (PLLC)
For licensed professionals (attorneys, doctors, CPAs, etc.)
Law firms, medical practices, accounting firms, architecture firms
Series LLC
Parent LLC with multiple protected series (separate liability compartments)
Real estate investors, franchisors, businesses with multiple product lines
Foreign LLC
LLC formed in another state but registered to do business in CT
If available, you can reserve the name for 120 days ($60 fee) using Form LLC-1A
💡 Pro Tip: Domain Name
Before finalizing your LLC name, check domain availability at a registrar like Namecheap or GoDaddy. Having a matching .com domain is valuable for your online presence.
2Designate a Registered Agent
Connecticut requires every LLC to have a registered agent with a physical CT address to receive legal documents.
Registered Agent Requirements
Must have a physical street address in Connecticut (no P.O. boxes)
Must be available during normal business hours
Can be:
You (the LLC owner)
Another individual CT resident
A Connecticut business entity
A professional registered agent service ($100-$300/year)
⚠️ Why Use a Professional Registered Agent?
Privacy: Keeps your home address off public records
Reliability: Never miss legal documents (lawsuits, subpoenas, tax notices)
Professionalism: Avoid embarrassing service of process at your office
Convenience: Agent scans and emails you documents immediately
3File Certificate of Organization
File Certificate of Organization (Form LLC-1) with the Connecticut Secretary of State.
Required Information
LLC name
Business purpose (can be "any lawful purpose")
Registered agent name and CT address
Management structure (member-managed or manager-managed)
Organizer name and address (person filing, doesn't have to be a member)