LLC FORMATION — GET STARTED HERE
MRS. GWEN
DIY BUSINESS TOOLS™
- ☎️ Phone: 512-463-5555
- 📧 Email: corpinfo@sos.texas.gov
Build Your Business the Right Way — From Day One
Welcome to the Mrs. Gwen LLC Formation DIY Guide. 💎
This resource is designed to walk you through the basic steps I have personally documented and used when setting up businesses. You'll work through each section at your own pace, follow the instructions, use the official resources provided, and most importantly — learn how to navigate the process for yourself.
Inside This Guide:
- ✓ Choosing the Right Business Name
- ✓ Forming Your LLC
- ✓ Understanding Registered Agents
- ✓ Filing With Your State
- ✓ Preparing for Your EIN
Important: This is a DIY resource, not one-on-one coaching, legal advice, tax advice, or professional business-formation services. Instructions are provided to help guide you, but you are responsible for completing your own filings and verifying current requirements with the appropriate government agency.
💎 Welcome to the LLC Formation Guide
Congratulations! 🎉
You’ve just taken one of the most important steps toward building your business.
🗺️ Your LLC Formation Roadmap
Before You Begin → Choose Your Business Name → Check Name Availability → Understand Your Registered Agent → File Your LLC → What to Do After Filing → Organize Your Documents → Final Checklist & Next Steps
Every successful business started with one decision — to begin. You’ve got this! ❤️
⚠️ Important Information — Please Read Before You Begin
⚖️ Important Disclaimer
This DIY guide is provided for general educational and informational purposes only. It is not legal, tax, accounting, or financial advice.
Business laws, filing requirements, fees, forms, and procedures can vary by state and may change over time.
For questions specific to your business or personal circumstances, consult the appropriate government agency or a qualified attorney, CPA, tax professional, or other licensed professional.
🛡️ Understanding an LLC
LLC stands for Limited Liability Company.
An LLC is a legal business structure that can provide liability protection to its owners when properly formed and maintained. However, forming an LLC does not guarantee protection from every type of personal or business liability.
LLCs are generally formed at the state level, and the exact filing process depends on the state where you are forming your business.
⏰ How Long Does It Take?
There is no single approval time for an LLC.
Typically 2 days but processing times vary by state and may also depend on:
- ✓ How you submit your filing
- ✓ Current processing volume
- ✓ Whether expedited processing is available
- ✓ Whether your application contains errors or requires additional information
Do not make business plans based on a specific approval date until your LLC has actually been approved.
✅ Once Your LLC Is Approved
Once your state approves your formation documents, save everything you receive.
💎 A Note From Mrs. Gwen
My goal is to make this process feel more organized and less overwhelming by sharing the notes, steps, and resources I've gathered along the way.
I don't do LLC formations every day, and I don't provide one-on-one LLC coaching. That's why I've organized the information here for you to follow at your own pace.
There may be times when you'll need to research, make a phone call, ask questions, or verify information for yourself. That's part of the DIY process — and it's also part of learning your business.
Small steps today can help build a stronger business tomorrow. ❤️
🏠 BEFORE YOU FILE: THINK ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS ADDRESS
This is something I want you to think about before you start filling out your LLC application.
The address you provide when forming your LLC may become part of a public government record, depending on your state and the type of address requested.
⚠️ Before Using Your Home Address
Don't automatically enter your home address simply because it's convenient.
Privacy is much easier to think about before you file than after your information has already appeared in public records.
⭐ Tips for Choosing the Right Name
As you brainstorm, ask yourself:
✓ Is it simple enough to spell?
✓ Is it easy to pronounce?
✓ Is it memorable?
✓ Does it give me room to expand?
✓ Could I still use this legal name if my business changes?
✓ Is the matching website domain available?
✓ Are similar names already being used online?
✓ Could the name create trademark or branding problems?
❌ Try to Avoid
✗ Names that are unnecessarily difficult to spell
✗ Extremely long names
✗ Names so specific that they may limit future growth
✗ Copying or closely imitating another company's branding
✗ Choosing a name solely because it's trendy
✗ Filing before checking your state's business-name database
🌐 Check the Online Name Too
Before you become attached to a business name, do a little online research.
Check:
✓ Domain-name availability
✓ Google search results
✓ Major social-media platforms you expect to use
✓ Similar businesses using the same or a very similar name
You don't necessarily need every social-media username to match perfectly. We're simply looking for potential problems before you invest money into your branding.
And remember: domain availability does not mean the business name is legally available, and state LLC-name availability does not automatically mean you have trademark rights to the name.
⚠️ Add “LLC” If you want it included as part of your name, My registered LLC is "JONES SPOT LLC" Registered it with the LLC. That is optional either way is fine
💎 STEP 1
Write down:
☐ Three business names you're considering
☐ What your business will do right now
☐ Other products, services, or businesses you may want to explore later
☐ Whether your proposed legal name would still make sense if your business changed
Don't file anything yet. We're going to check those names before you make a decision.
Before moving forward, make sure you write down your top three choices:
Choice #1: __________________________
Choice #2: __________________________
Choice #3: __________________________
Our next step is checking whether the name is actually available with your state.
1️⃣ Have Your Business Name Choices Ready
You should already have several possible business names from Step 1.
Keep at least 3–4 choices available until you confirm that your preferred name is available in your state.
2️⃣ Understand Your Registered Agent
Every LLC must have a Registered Agent.
A Registered Agent is the person or company designated to receive certain official documents on behalf of your LLC, including legal notices and government correspondence.
Your state's requirements determine who may serve as your Registered Agent and what address requirements apply.
Texas requires your LLC to maintain:
✓ A Registered Agent
✓ A Registered Office with a physical Texas street address
✓ The Registered Agent's consent to serve in that role
Your Registered Agent may be an eligible individual Texas resident or an organization authorized to serve as a registered agent in Texas.
Important: Your LLC itself cannot serve as its own Registered Agent.
Before filing, decide:
☐ I plan to serve as my own Registered Agent, if eligible
☐ I will appoint another eligible person
☐ I will hire a Registered Agent service
Registered Agent: __________________________
Registered Office Address: __________________________ (not home address)
🏠 THINK BEFORE USING YOUR HOME ADDRESS
This deserves its own reminder because privacy matters.
Information submitted in business filings may become part of the public record.
Before using your home address, determine exactly which address the filing is requesting and whether your state permits another qualifying address.
Depending on your situation and state requirements, alternatives may include a qualifying commercial address, office address, registered-agent address for applicable fields, or another permissible business mailing address.
It's much easier to make this decision beforehand than to discover later that an address you wanted private has become part of a public record.
⭐ Texas Members
Texas LLCs are filed through the Texas Secretary of State. The state provides online services through SOSDirect.
💰 BEFORE PAYING ANY FILING FEE
Filing fees and payment-processing fees can change.
$300 + 2.7% = $308.10
Always verify the current filing fee directly with your state's official filing agency immediately before submitting payment.
💎 STEP 2: CHECK YOUR LLC NAME AVAILABILITY
Before filing your LLC, you need to make sure the business name you want is available.
Don't assume a name is available simply because you don't see another business using it online. Your state's business filing agency determines whether a name is available for registration.
If you're forming your LLC in Texas, you can request a preliminary name availability check through the Texas Secretary of State.
Send your email request to:
📧 COPY & PASTE EMAIL TEMPLATE
Hello,
I would like to form an LLC. Would you please check whether the following names are available to use in setting up my entity?
My desired LLC name:
[ENTER BUSINESS NAME]If that name is unavailable, would you please check the following names:
[ALTERNATIVE NAME #1]
[ALTERNATIVE NAME #2]
[ALTERNATIVE NAME #3]Thank you,
[YOUR NAME]
[YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS]
[YOUR PHONE NUMBER]
Important: Response times can vary 1-3 days typically, so don't wait until the day you're ready to file to begin checking your name.
🌎 NOT IN TEXAS?
If you're forming an LLC in another state, do not use the Texas instructions above.
Locate your state's official Secretary of State or other state business-filing agency and use its official business-name search or name-availability process.
✅ CHECKPOINT
Check:
☐ LLC/business name availability
☐ Domain name availability
☐ Instagram username
☐ Facebook username/page name
☐ TikTok username
☐ YouTube username/handle
☐ Other social platforms you expect to use
☐ Trademark conflicts
💎 Mrs. Gwen's Success Tip
Your legal LLC name and public-facing brand name also don't necessarily have to be identical.
⭐ My Final Business Name
________________________________________
💎 Mrs. Gwen's Tip
Figure out your address strategy before you start filing.
💎 STEP 3: CREATE YOUR TEXAS SECRETARY OF STATE ACCOUNT
Before you can file your Texas LLC online, you need access to the Texas Secretary of State's online business filing system.
Important: Texas Is Updating Its Online Systems
Always begin from the official Texas Secretary of State website
✅ What to Do
- If you already have an account click here: SOSDirect or the SOS Portal.
- If not, you will have to submit a request to get an account. This usually happens within a few minutes. Visit this website to get started: https://direct.sos.state.tx.us/acct/acct-subscribe.asp
- Enter your business name or your name (one or the other, not both -RECOMMEND USING NAME)
- Enter Address, Phone, Email & Create Password.
- Save your username, password, confirmation emails, and any account information.
- Use an email address you regularly monitor
💎 STEP 4: FILE YOUR TEXAS LLC
💳 Once you are logged in:
Select Credit Card
1. 💳 Enter your credit card number and complete all required fields. Then press CONTINUE.
2. 👤 Enter your name, phone number, and email address only. Then press the blue CONTINUE button at the top.
3. ✅ You will see a screen displaying your name, letting you know that you are logged in with a session code.
4. 🖥️ From the top menu, click BUSINESS ORGANIZATION.
5. 📂 You will be taken to another page with several blue links. Scroll down to the WEB FILINGS section. Click the drop-down menu and select DOMESTIC LIMITED LIABILITY (LLC). Then click the blue FILE DOCUMENTbutton next to it.
6. 📄 Under Filing Type, select CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION, then press CONTINUE.
7. ✍🏽 Select 1. Limited Liability Company. On the same line that shows Enterprise LLC Sample, type your business name. Then press CONTINUE.
8. 🏢 Enter your business address, then press CONTINUE.
9. ⚠️ REMINDER: Do not use your home address.
10. 🛑 If you are in business by yourself, continue following these instructions. If you are in business with someone else, STOP HERE. These instructions are for a ONE-MEMBER LLC ONLY.
11. 📑 ARTICLE 3:
12. ☑️ Select the 2nd option:
“The limited liability company will not have managers.”
13. 👤 Click Add Manager/Member, located underneath Edit and Delete. Add your name and business address as a member, then press CONTINUE.
14. ⏭️ Leave the next page that says CERTIFICATE OF F... blank. Press CONTINUE.
15. 📝 Organizer Section: Enter your name and home address. Your home address is okay to use here. Then press CONTINUE.
16. ✍🏽 Type your name where it says SIGNATURE OF ORGANIZER. Enter today's date or the date you want this document to become effective—any date between now and 90 days from now. Then press CONTINUE.
17. 🛑 DO NOT file for your EIN yet.
18. ⏳ Wait until your LLC is approved.
19. 📧 Your certified documents will be emailed to you.
20. 🖨️ Print as many copies as you want. I recommend printing at least 5 copies. Once the link expires, you will have to pay for additional certified copies. Print using a laser printer only. You will need the certified copies to open your business bank account, etc.
🎉 THAT'S IT!
YOU JUST FILED YOUR LLC! 💕🥳
📧 KEEP YOUR EYE ON YOUR EMAIL!
Your approved documents will be there soon!
Keep your documents together and somewhere safe—you'll need them as you continue setting up your business.
COMING UP NEXT ➡️
EIN + Sales Tax ID 💼
We'll tackle those next, after your LLC has been approved.
☎️ If You Get Stuck
The Texas Secretary of State lists business-filing assistance at 512-463-5555 during its posted business hours.
🎉 YOUR LLC IS FORMED — WHAT'S NEXT?
Once your LLC has been approved and you've received your formation documents, you're ready for the next step.
➡️ NEXT STEP: GET YOUR EIN
Your EIN is an important part of setting up your business and will be used for things such as banking, taxes, and other business-related accounts.
Do not begin the EIN application until your LLC has been approved.