⏱️
3-5 Days
Standard Processing Time
📅
$62/yr
Annual Report Fee
✅ Why Wyoming?
Strongest Asset Protection: Wyoming has the strongest charging order protection in America, protecting even single-member LLCs from creditors. Maximum Privacy: Member and manager names are not public record. No State Income Tax: Zero corporate or personal income tax on LLC profits. Lowest Annual Costs: Just $62/year—Delaware charges $300/year. Crypto-Friendly: First state to recognize DAOs and digital assets as property.
⚠️ Foreign Qualification Consideration
If you form a Wyoming LLC but conduct business in another state (physical office, employees, inventory), you must foreign qualify in that state. Wyoming LLC is ideal for holding companies, online businesses with no physical nexus, real estate investors, and asset protection—but won't eliminate tax obligations in states where you have substantial operations.
🎯 Is a Wyoming LLC Right for You?
✅ Good Fit
- Need strongest asset protection (lawsuit protection)
- Online business with no physical location
- Real estate investor (each property in separate LLC)
- Want maximum privacy (no public owner disclosure)
- Cryptocurrency/digital asset holding
- Intellectual property or patent holding company
- Multi-state operations with no clear home state
- Want lowest annual fees ($62 vs $300+ elsewhere)
❌ Better Alternatives
- Solely operating in CA/NY/TX → Form in home state
- Retail store with physical location → Home state LLC
- Professional services requiring state license → Home state
- Planning to raise VC funding → Delaware C-Corp
- Need extensive business court precedent → Delaware
- New Mexico if you want zero annual reporting
📊 Wyoming vs. Top Formation States
| Feature |
Wyoming |
Delaware |
Nevada |
California |
| Formation Fee |
$102 |
$90 |
$425 |
$70 |
| Annual Fee/Tax |
$62 |
$300 |
$350 |
$800 min |
| State Income Tax |
0% |
8.7% |
0% |
8.84% |
| Member Privacy |
✅ Full |
✅ Full |
✅ Full |
❌ Public |
| Charging Order Protection |
✅ Strongest |
✅ Good |
✅ Good |
❌ Weak |
| Single-Member Protection |
✅ Yes (since 2010) |
⚠️ Limited |
⚠️ Limited |
❌ No |
| Gross Receipts Tax |
❌ None |
❌ None |
❌ None |
✅ Yes ($250K+) |
| 5-Year Total Cost |
$412 |
$1,590 |
$2,175 |
$4,070+ |
- What it is: Wyoming's strongest asset protection feature—if a creditor sues you personally and wins, they can ONLY get a "charging order"
- Charging order limits creditor to: Receiving distributions IF the LLC makes any (you as manager control this)
- Creditor CANNOT: Force distributions, seize LLC assets, vote, manage, or access bank accounts
- Single-member LLCs protected: Wyoming extended charging order protection to single-member LLCs in 2010 (most states don't)
- Phantom income trap: Creditor may owe tax on undistributed profits—often forces favorable settlement
- Real estate use case: Each property in separate Wyoming LLC = creditor suing over Property A cannot reach Properties B, C, D
- Better than Delaware: Wyoming's statute is more explicit and has stronger case law supporting single-member protection
- Articles of Organization: Only LLC name, registered agent, and organizer name are public (organizer can be your attorney/service)
- No member disclosure: Ownership names NOT filed with state—your name never appears publicly
- No manager disclosure: Management structure is private—not in public records
- Operating Agreement: Internal document, never filed with state, completely private
- Annual Report privacy: Only lists registered agent address—no owner information
- Registered agent strategy: Use commercial RA service to avoid your home/business address in public records
- Comparison to California: CA requires Statement of Information with all member/manager names publicly searchable online
- Privacy limits: Banks know ownership (KYC), IRS knows (K-1s), FinCEN BOI reporting (not public), legal discovery can pierce
- Best for: Real estate investors avoiding tenant targeting, online businesses protecting from competitors, asset protection strategies
- What triggers it: Physical office, employees, regularly conducting business, owning/leasing property, maintaining inventory
- What doesn't trigger: Occasional sales, online sales to customers in that state, attending conferences, isolated transactions
- California threshold: Approximately $757K revenue OR 25% of property/payroll in CA
- Texas threshold: Doing business in TX—broad definition includes regular business activity
- Cost example: WY LLC + CA foreign qualification = $62/yr (WY) + $800/yr (CA) + $100-300/yr (CA registered agent)
- When Wyoming makes sense anyway: Asset protection benefit outweighs dual compliance cost (e.g., real estate investor with CA properties)
- Pure online business: If you have no physical nexus anywhere, Wyoming LLC alone is perfect
- Penalty for non-compliance: Fines, inability to sue in state courts, back taxes + penalties + interest
- Legal recognition: Wyoming was first state to recognize digital assets as property with clear ownership rights
- DAO LLCs: Wyoming allows Decentralized Autonomous Organization LLCs—blockchain-based governance
- No state capital gains: 0% Wyoming state tax on crypto gains (federal taxes still apply)
- Asset protection: Crypto held in Wyoming LLC gets same charging order protection as other assets
- Privacy advantage: Crypto holdings in LLC name, not personal name—adds layer of privacy
- Banking consideration: Some crypto-friendly banks (e.g., Mercury, Relay) work well with Wyoming LLCs
- Estate planning: Easier to pass crypto to heirs via LLC ownership transfer than private keys
- Use cases: Bitcoin holdings, Ethereum staking, NFT collections, DeFi protocol governance tokens
- One LLC per property: Isolate liability—lawsuit over Property A can't reach Property B
- Privacy benefit: Deed shows "Mountain Peak LLC" not "John Smith"—harder for tenants/plaintiffs to find all your assets
- Cost efficiency: $62/year per Wyoming LLC vs $800/year per California LLC for CA investors
- Out-of-state property: Wyoming LLC can own property in any state—must foreign qualify in property's state
- Example structure: CA investor owns 5 rental properties in CA → 5 Wyoming LLCs (each foreign qualified in CA) + 1 Wyoming holding LLC
- Holding company layer: Wyoming Holding LLC owns all property LLCs—adds another asset protection layer
- Financing consideration: Some lenders uncomfortable with out-of-state LLCs—may need to season title or use portfolio lenders
- Insurance still required: LLC provides legal protection, but liability insurance is still essential
- Wyoming default rules: Very flexible LLC statute, but customize Operating Agreement for your needs
- Single-member LLCs: Operating Agreement is CRITICAL to prove separate entity status and maintain liability protection
- Multi-member must-haves: Capital contributions, profit/loss allocation (can differ from ownership %), voting rights, buyout provisions
- Management structure: Member-managed (all owners manage) vs manager-managed (designated manager)—impacts authority
- Transfer restrictions: Right of first refusal, required member approval, drag-along/tag-along rights
- Dissolution triggers: What happens if member dies, goes bankrupt, or wants out—plan ahead
- Charging order language: Explicitly state charging order as exclusive remedy—strengthens asset protection
- Banking requirement: All banks require Operating Agreement to open business account
- IRS importance: Multi-member LLCs must file Form 1065—Operating Agreement proves legitimacy
- Annual review: Update as business grows, new members join, or tax law changes
- No citizenship requirement: Anyone globally can form and own a Wyoming LLC
- EIN process: Without SSN/ITIN, apply via IRS Form SS-4 by fax/mail—takes 4-6 weeks
- Registered agent required: Must hire Wyoming-based registered agent (included in my service)
- Banking challenges: Most U.S. banks require in-person visit or SSN—consider Mercury, Wise, Payoneer for international founders
- Tax treaty benefits: Check if your country has U.S. tax treaty to reduce withholding on certain income
- ITIN option: Consider applying for ITIN (Individual Taxpayer ID) for easier banking and credit access
- U.S. trade or business: If LLC is "engaged in U.S. trade or business," profits taxed federally—consult international tax CPA
- Passive investments: Real estate rentals, stock portfolios generally better tax treatment—30% withholding vs ordinary rates
- Common use: International investors use Wyoming LLCs to hold U.S. real estate, Amazon FBA businesses, dropshipping operations
- Compliance: Must file Form 1065 if multi-member LLC, even with zero activity
- January 2025 update: FinCEN exempted most U.S.-formed domestic companies from BOI reporting
- Typical Wyoming LLC: Owned by U.S. persons currently has NO federal BOI filing obligation
- Foreign-owned LLCs: More complex—may still have reporting requirements depending on structure
- 23 exemptions: Large operating companies, securities issuers, banks, insurance companies automatically exempt
- If filing required: Report filed at FinCEN, not with Wyoming—includes beneficial owner names, addresses, ID
- Beneficial owner defined: Anyone with 25%+ ownership or substantial control
- Not public: BOI reports go to federal database accessible only to law enforcement, banks, and regulators—not public
- Stay informed: This area has seen court challenges and policy changes—consult attorney for current requirements
🧮 Wyoming State Fees (Paid Directly to State)
Articles of Organization (one-time)
$102
24-Hour Expedited Service (optional)
$100
Annual Report (yearly, due on anniversary month)
$62
Certificate of Amendment (if needed)
$60
Registered Agent Service (annual)
$50-150
EIN Application (IRS)
FREE
Minimum First-Year State Total
$164
💡 No State Income Tax
Wyoming has zero state income tax on LLC profits—whether you earn $50K or $50M. Unlike California's $800 minimum franchise tax + gross receipts tax ($900-$11,790 for LLCs earning $250K+), Wyoming charges a flat $62 annual report fee. This makes Wyoming highly cost-effective for profitable businesses.
📅 Critical Compliance Deadlines
Day 1 — Formation
File Articles of Organization with Wyoming Secretary of State$102
Week 1
Apply for EIN (free, immediate online if U.S. citizen) • Open business bank account
First Anniversary Month
File Annual Report by 1st day of anniversary month$62
Ongoing
File amendments within 30 days of changes to name, registered agent, or address$60
Federal Tax Filing
Multi-member: Form 1065 by March 15 • Single-member: Schedule C on personal return by April 15
🚀 Formation Process Overview
1
Choose & Verify LLC Name
Search Wyoming Secretary of State database • Must include "LLC" or "Limited Liability Company" • Check trademark/domain availability
2
Designate Registered Agent
Wyoming physical address required • Available during business hours • Commercial service recommended for privacy
3
File Articles of Organization
Online via Wyoming Secretary of State • $102 standard (3-5 business days) • $100 expedite for 24-hour
4
Obtain EIN
Free via IRS.gov • Immediate issuance for SSN holders • 4-6 weeks via mail/fax for international owners
5
Draft Operating Agreement
Internal governance document • Not filed with state • Essential for liability protection, banking, and IRS compliance
6
Foreign Qualify (If Needed)
Register in states where you're "doing business" • Hire registered agent in each state • File annual reports in each
7
Annual Report Filing
$62 annual report due by 1st day of anniversary month • File online • Late penalties apply ($50 + $2/day)
⚖️ Professional LLC Formation Services
Attorney-prepared Wyoming LLC with personalized guidance. State filing fees included in all packages.
✅ What's Included in My Attorney Fees
Wyoming state filing fees (Articles of Organization $102), registered agent service for one year, EIN acquisition assistance, and professional document preparation. Formation in standard-fee states at base price.
⚠️ Separate Ongoing State Obligations (Not Included)
Wyoming's $62 annual report (due on anniversary month annually) is an ongoing state obligation you'll pay directly to Wyoming after formation. Foreign qualification fees in other states (if applicable) are also separate. These are NOT part of my attorney fees.
Starter
$400
Best for single-owner businesses or simple partnerships using standard templates with basic information inserted.
- WY State Filing Fees Included
- Registered Agent (1 Year)
- EIN Assistance
- Basic Operating Agreement
Standard
$600
Perfect for most businesses requiring customized founding documents with professional guidance on asset protection, state selection, and taxation.
- WY State Filing Fees Included
- Registered Agent (1 Year)
- EIN (Tax ID Number)
- Customized Operating Agreement
- 30min Asset Protection Consultation
- Foreign Qualification Guidance
Advanced
$750
Ideal for complex structures requiring sophisticated asset protection, multiple LLCs for real estate, or specialized provisions for crypto/digital assets.
- WY State Filing Fees Included
- Registered Agent (1 Year)
- EIN (Tax ID Number)
- Customized Operating Agreement
- 1hr Comprehensive Consultation
- Multi-LLC Real Estate Strategy
- Multi-State Analysis
- Advanced Asset Protection Structuring