Session 1 · Idaho
How to Start an LLC in Idaho (2026): a 7-Step Lesson and the 3 Best LLC Services
Before you begin
By the end you will know
- Where to file in Idaho and what the fee is
- What the registered agent rule asks of you
- How to stay in good standing
- Our graded picks and the reasoning
Who we would hire in Idaho
1. Idaho Registered Agent.co: best for an inexpensive Idaho start
Idaho Registered Agent.co comes first, and here is why: formation costs $199 beyond the state fee, and the agent renews at $99.
Mainstay Filing costs more over three years, and that hands this service the top spot.
The annual report is not covered by its price.
What the price covers
- Formation prepared and filed
- The first year of agent service
Marks in its favor
- No agent fee in year one
- The agent renews at $99
- $199 and the state fee
Where it loses points
- You file the annual report
- The EIN application is not included ($99)
2. Mainstay Filing: best for skipping the annual report paperwork
Mainstay Filing lands in second place, and the reason is clear: three chores, the filing, the registered agent and the annual report, are folded into a single $199 annual price.
That $200 three-year gap to Idaho Registered Agent.co settles where it lands.
It takes care of the annual report too (there is no state fee).
What the price covers
- Your formation filing is prepared and submitted
- Registered agent for twelve months
- Annual report prepared and filed
- The EIN application
- The state fee is passed through at cost
Marks in its favor
- One yearly price of $199, with the annual report included
- $199 at renewal
- It files the EIN application for you
Where it loses points
- Idaho Registered Agent.co renews for $100 less
3. ID Registered Agent.org: best for a local filer
For number 3 we picked ID Registered Agent.org: formation costs $199 beyond the state fee, and the agent renews at $99.
The annual report is not covered by its price.
It posts the same prices as Idaho Registered Agent.co.
What the price covers
- Formation prepared and filed
- The first year of agent service
Marks in its favor
- The agent renews at $99
- $199 and the state fee
- No agent fee in year one
Where it loses points
- You file the annual report
- The EIN application is not included ($99)
The grades and prices at a glance
| # | Service | First year | From year two | Three-year total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idaho Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit Idaho Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $199/yr | $597 | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | ID Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit ID Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
Starting an LLC in Idaho, one step at a time
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Step
1Choose the LLC's name
Type the name into the business search at the Idaho Secretary of State before you file anything, so you do not pick one that is in use.
Check whether the matching web domain is free while you are at it.
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Step
2Decide who your registered agent will be
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. An Idaho resident, or a business entity authorized to do business in Idaho. An assumed business name (DBA) cannot serve.
The address has to be a physical street address in Idaho. P.O. boxes and commercial mailboxes are not accepted.
Every pick on our list includes a registered agent.
Where this comes from: legislature.idaho.gov confirms it, as of October 2026
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Step
3Pick how you will file
Filing directly costs only the $100 state fee. A service adds $199 but handles the forms. See the graded list.
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Step
4Fill out and file the Certificate of Organization Limited Liability Company
The Certificate of Organization Limited Liability Company is what you prepare for the Idaho Secretary of State, and the filing fee that goes with it is $100, as Idaho Code § 30-25-201 provides. Posted processing time: About 7 to 10 days.
Where this comes from: legislature.idaho.gov confirms it, as of October 2026
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Step
5Apply for an EIN
Your EIN comes from the IRS rather than from Idaho. Apply once the state has approved the filing, then give the number to your bank. Mainstay Filing treats the EIN application as part of the package.
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Step
6Sign an operating agreement
An operating agreement spells out who owns the Idaho LLC and how decisions are made. You keep it with your records, and the state never sees it.
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Step
7Stay in good standing in Idaho
Once a year the LLC files the annual report; the due date is last day of the entity's anniversary month.
Where this comes from: legislature.idaho.gov confirms it, as of October 2026
Costs, step by step
| Item | Paid to | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The formation step | State | $100 |
| Annual report | State | No fee |
| Help from a service | Your service | $199 in year one |
| State fees, years one to three | State | $100 |
How the grade worked out
won on tuition over three years (32% of the grade), with right behind.
Over years one to three, Idaho Registered Agent.co costs $397 and Mainstay Filing costs $200 more.
Idaho questions
What will I pay to set up an LLC with Idaho?
Filing costs $100. Service fees among our picks run $199.
Which form creates the LLC?
Step 4 of this lesson shows how to complete the Certificate of Organization Limited Liability Company and where to send it: the Idaho Secretary of State.
Is a registered agent required?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
How long does Idaho take to process the filing?
Plan on About 7 to 10 days.
What does Idaho require each year?
Expect to file the annual report every year, paying no fee by the deadline: last day of the entity's anniversary month.
Can I form the LLC without a service?
A service is optional. Owners can send the paperwork themselves with the $100 fee, provided they appoint a registered agent.
Which LLC service should a first-time founder use?
Idaho Registered Agent.co, Mainstay Filing and ID Registered Agent.org, graded from first to last.
Class references
- Homework check for Idaho yearly filing: Annual report: due date, official: the facts come from legislature.idaho.gov, a page we last confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our notes to the original.
- Homework check for Idaho Code § 30-25-201: the facts come from legislature.idaho.gov, a page we last confirmed in August 2026, so you can compare our notes to the original.
- Homework check for Idaho formation fee: Filing fee, official source: the facts come from sos.idaho.gov, a page we last confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our notes to the original.
- Homework check for Idaho formation fee: Filing fee, official source: the facts come from legislature.idaho.gov, a page we last confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our notes to the original.
- Homework check for Idaho registered agent statute: the facts come from legislature.idaho.gov, a page we last confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our notes to the original.
- Homework check for Processing, official source: the facts come from sos.idaho.gov, a page we last confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our notes to the original.
- Idaho Registered Agent.co pricing page: opened and read on November 13, 2026
- Mainstay Filing Idaho service page: opened and read on November 13, 2026
- ID Registered Agent.org pricing page: opened and read on November 13, 2026