How to Form an LLC in Nevada (2026 Guide)

Step 1Pick a name Nevada will accept

Your name has to be distinguishable from every other business already on the Secretary of State’s records, and it must say that it is an LLC. The accepted endings are “Limited-Liability Company,” “Limited Liability Company,” “Limited Company,” “Limited,” “Ltd.,” “L.L.C.,” “L.C.,” “LLC” or “LC,” and “Company” may be shortened to “Co.”

Some words need sign-off from another agency before the state will file the name. “Bank” or “trust” needs approval from the Commissioner of Financial Institutions, and accounting terms such as “accountant,” “accounting” or “auditor” need certification from the State Board of Accountancy. Names tied to insurance, engineering, architecture or common-interest communities have similar approval rules.

You can check availability with the business search on the Secretary of State’s website. If you are not ready to file, you can hold a name for 90 days for $25.

Step 2Name a registered agent

Every Nevada LLC needs a registered agent to accept lawsuits and official mail. The agent must have a physical street address in Nevada; a P.O. box can be used for mailing but cannot stand in for that address. An individual agent must be at least 18, and the agent has to be available during normal business hours. The agent signs a Certificate of Acceptance, either on the articles or on a separate acceptance form.

You can serve as your own agent if you have a Nevada address, or you can appoint a person or a commercial agent service.

Step 3File your Articles of Organization, initial list and business license

The articles ask for your LLC’s name, registered agent details, the names and addresses of the organizers, and the initial managers or members. They also ask whether the company may have series of members and whether it is a restricted company. Professional LLCs file under a different chapter and must attach a licensing board certificate.

Nevada treats formation as a package. The Initial List of Managers or Members and the State Business License application go in with the articles, and the list must be signed by a real person in management or it will be returned. The Secretary of State’s FAQ says the list and license must be filed together.

The fastest route is the ORION Business Portal, which the Secretary of State says processes most online transactions the same day at no extra charge. You can also file by mail or in person at the Carson City or Las Vegas offices, with checks payable to “Nevada Secretary of State.” Card payments carry a non-refundable 2.5% processing fee. Paper filings are worked in order, and the office posts the date it is currently processing on its Processing Dates page. If you need a paper filing fast, 2-hour expedite costs $500 and 1-hour expedite costs $1,000 per item.

Step 4Renew the annual list and business license every year

After the first year, your LLC files an Annual List of Managers or Members, $150, on or before the last day of the month in which your LLC was formed. The State Business License renewal ($200) is part of the same filing, so you pay both together.

Missing the deadline gets expensive. A late annual list carries a $75 penalty and the late business license adds $100. Your LLC also goes into default. If it stays in default for a year, its charter is revoked and it loses the right to do business. To reinstate, you pay all back fees and penalties plus a $300 reinstatement fee, and a charter that has been revoked for five years in a row cannot be reinstated.