How to start an LLC in Alabama

Starting an LLC in Alabama involves several key steps including selecting a unique business name, appointing a registered agent, filing the Certificate of Formation, creating an operating agreement, and meeting all ongoing compliance requirements.

This guide provides a detailed walkthrough to help you navigate the process smoothly.

Ready to start your business? Plans starting at $297 + state fees.

Benefits of starting your business in Alabama

Starting an LLC in Alabama offers numerous advantages that can appeal to aspiring business owners. One of the primary benefits is the relatively low cost of forming an LLC in the state, which makes it accessible for small businesses and startups.

Alabama also boasts a business-friendly environment with a variety of tax incentives and credits to encourage economic growth and development. The state’s simplified reporting and compliance requirements further ease the administrative burden on LLCs.

Additionally, Alabama’s strategic location in the heart of the Southeast United States provides access to major transportation networks, facilitating distribution and logistics for businesses.

The strong sense of community and support from local business organizations can also help entrepreneurs thrive in Alabama. As a result, setting up an LLC in Alabama combines financial, logistical, and community support advantages.

Pros

  • No state capital gains tax.
  • Business-friendly environment.
  • Lower costs compared to other states.

Cons

  • High formation and annual fees
  • Complicated tax structures
  • Additional licenses may be required

How to start your business in Alabama

Starting an LLC in Alabama involves a few key steps. First, you’ll need to choose a unique name for your business that adheres to state regulations and includes “Limited Liability Company,” “LLC,” or a similar abbreviation.

Next, search the Alabama Secretary of State’s business name database to ensure your desired name is available.

Once confirmed, you’ll need to file a Certificate of Formation with the Alabama Secretary of State, either online or by mail, and pay the required fee. Additionally, appoint a registered agent who can handle legal documents on behalf of the LLC.

It’s also wise to create an operating agreement to outline the management and operational structure of your LLC, though it’s not legally required.

Lastly, you may need to obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS for tax purposes and ensure compliance with any additional state or local business licensing requirements.

Choose and reserve a name

It's wise to check your LLC name against similar businesses in your area. We include a name check with our formation services and can reserve names for you.

Pick a Registered Agent (RA)

An RA physically receives your LLC's legal notices during normal business hours. Most states require this, including Alabama—but the good news is, we can do it for you.

File a Certificate of Formation

This document contains basic details about your LLC, including its name and address. When we file this for you, it's typically sent to the Alabama Secretary of State.

Preparing an Operating Agreement

This outlines your LLC's rules for everything from decision-making to distributing profits. Though it isn't required in your state, our templates make it easy to prepare one and define your rights.

Get an Employer ID Number (EIN)

An EIN is like a Social Security number for your LLC, and is needed for banking, taxes, and hiring. Alabama LLCs may also have additional post-formation tax and regulatory requirements.

Determine licenses needed

You'll also need to apply for any specific permits or licenses that may be required for compliance, although it's wise to wait until your LLC's formation documents are approved.

How doola Can Assist

doola

doola simplifies the incorporation and setup process for your company, ensuring you’re ready to charge customers, hire your team, and raise funds as quickly as possible.

Fill out your company details in the doola form in less than 10 minutes. Then, we’ll incorporate your company in any of the 50 US states, get your IRS tax ID (EIN) for you, and file your 83(b) tax election if needed. 

doola can also help you open a bank account and start accepting payments even before the IRS assigns your tax ID.

doola founders also gain access to exclusive discounts at leading software partners, one-click onboarding with select partners, and free CPA consultations.

The doola Application

It takes less than 10 minutes to fill out the details of your new company. You’ll choose your company structure (C corporation, limited liability company) and pick a company name.

Our instant company name checker will let you know if it’s available before you submit your application. You’ll add an address and phone number and review and sign your EIN SS4 letter in one click.

Forming the Company

doola will review your application and file your formation documents in the state within one business day. doola charges $297 for our Starter Plan and your first year of registered agent services (a state compliance requirement), and $297 each year thereafter to maintain your registered agent. 

You can also opt for our Total Compliance plan.

Getting Your IRS Tax ID (EIN)

After your formation in the state is complete, doola will file for your company’s IRS tax ID. Founders who provide a US Social Security number, US address, and US phone are eligible for expedited processing. All other users will receive standard processing. 

For standard orders, doola will fax your form SS4 to the IRS and then call the IRS to retrieve the EIN for you to expedite the process if we can, using real-time IRS data to determine when your filing is likely to be available.

Filing Your 83(b) Tax Election

Many startup founders choose to file an 83(b) tax election to potentially save on future personal taxes. doola can file and mail your 83(b) tax election in one click for both US and non-US founders — no trip to the post office required.

We’ll file it using USPS Certified Mail with tracking, and you’ll get a copy of your signed 83(b) election and proof of filing in your Dashboard.

Partner Perks and Discounts

doola partners with a range of third-party tools to offer special pricing or access to founders. We offer discounts on engineering, tax and finance, compliance, and operations tools, including Amazon Web Services.

doola also partners with Mercury to provide faster, automatic onboarding using your doola company information so you can get ready to bank and fundraise even faster.

Founders may also access discounts on other doola products, including up to one year of free credits toward payment processing.

Read our guides for startup founders, or learn more about doola and how we can help you set up your new business quickly and easily.

Turn your entrepreneurship dream into reality today!

We do our best to provide accurate and up to date information, however the information provided here are just guidelines. Please speak with a tax and compliance professional in your state.

doola's website is for general information purposes only and doesn't provide official law or tax advice. For tax or legal advice we are happy to connect you to a professional in our network! Please see our terms and privacy policy. Thank you and please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions.

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Starter

Start your business 🏁

Formation & EIN filings, RA service, Operating Agreement, and regular compliance reminders.

State fee not included.

$297 /yr


Total Compliance

Stay 100% compliant 🚀

Formation with Expedited processing, Annual State filings, IRS Tax filings, a dedicated Account Manager and a free CPA consultation.

State fee not included.


Each state charges a one-time formation fee. Your state fee will vary depending on the state you form in. Not sure which state to choose? Take our quiz →

Getting started with doola is easy

Step 1

Form your company 🏁

What we need from you is your:

  • Ideal company name
  • Personal address (it can be anywhere in the world)
  • Email address

Get your company formed in:

1 week (on average)

Step 2

Get everything you need 🤝

What you get from us:

  • Company formed with any state
  • Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Operating Agreement & Articles of Organization
  • Registered Agent service

Get your EIN in:

1 – 2 business days with SSN

8 weeks (on average) without SSN

Step 3

Set up your US bank account 🏦

Once you get your EIN (required for a bank account), you’re ready to apply for a US bank account through our custom partner portal. A passport is required for this step. ‍

Get your bank account in:

3 – 5 business days

Step 4

Grow your business 🚀

You’re all set to dive into your work with the assurance that your business is compliant. Explore additional services, including doola Taxes, available for purchase directly from your Dashboard. For compliance from day one, consider starting with Total Compliance.

doola


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Y Combinator

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YC S20's @doolaHQ is the one-stop-shop for US and non-US residents to launch a US LLC, DAO LLC, and C Corp — and today they're sharing their company formation API with the world, to enable businesses big and small to create a company from the command line.

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Ankur Nagpal

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You can programmatically create a company or DAO using their API Programmatically create a business, get an EIN, get a US bank account, process payments, file taxes & more Perfect for any “business in a box” startup

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Jose Rosado

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Thanks to the @StartPackHQ for helping me with this process. Check them out 👇 https://rosa.do/startpack

Twitter User Profile Picture

Mary Ann Azevedo

.@doolaHQ, which describes itself as a "Business in a box" for SMBs, has raised $3M in a seed round of funding. doola provides company formation, an EIN, a U.S. address and bank account, access to U.S. payments and a tax consultation, among other things.

Twitter User Profile Picture

Ankur Nagpal

Twitter Verified

The good news: You don't have to be a US resident to start a company in America If you want to start a tech startup, incorporate a C-Corp If you want to freelance or consult with your own business, incorporate a LLC This should be straightforward - use @doolaHQ & you're good

Twitter User Profile Picture

Alex Lieberman

Twitter Verified

I haven't started a business in 8 years. I had to rediscover the mission critical tools for starting & running a new venture. Here's the stack:LLC registration: @doolaHQ, Trademark filing: @JoshGerben, Domain registration: @GoDaddy, Website: @Shopify, Banking: @mercury, Payments: @stripe, Files: @googledrive, Internal email: @gmail, Extern email: @Mailchimp, Go-to Market: @Kickstarter, Task Management: @asana

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Syndicate

Twitter Verified

8/ We've also teamed with @doolaHQ to enable DAOs on Syndicate to get legal entities and EINs, open fiat bank accounts, submit compliance filings, and issue K-1 tax forms easily and affordably. This is just the beginning of new capabilities we’ll be bringing to DAOs, together.

Twitter User Profile Picture

Elizabeth Yin

Congrats to @HustleFundVC portfolio company Doola (formerly StartPack) on their new round! Thank you for letting us invest

Twitter User Profile Picture

Will Papper

We use @doolahq at @SyndicateDAO

Twitter User Profile Picture

Y Combinator

Twitter Verified

YC S20's @doolaHQ is the one-stop-shop for US and non-US residents to launch a US LLC, DAO LLC, and C Corp — and today they're sharing their company formation API with the world, to enable businesses big and small to create a company from the command line.

Twitter User Profile Picture

Ankur Nagpal

Twitter Verified

You can programmatically create a company or DAO using their API Programmatically create a business, get an EIN, get a US bank account, process payments, file taxes & more Perfect for any “business in a box” startup

Twitter User Profile Picture

Jose Rosado

Twitter Verified

Thanks to the @StartPackHQ for helping me with this process. Check them out 👇https://rosa.do/startpack

Twitter User Profile Picture

Mary Ann Azevedo

.@doolaHQ, which describes itself as a "Business in a box" for SMBs, has raised $3M in a seed round of funding. doola provides company formation, an EIN, a U.S. address and bank account, access to U.S. payments and a tax consultation, among other things.

Twitter User Profile Picture

Ankur Nagpal

Twitter Verified

The good news: You don't have to be a US resident to start a company in America. If you want to start a tech startup, incorporate a C-Corp If you want to freelance or consult with your own business, incorporate a LLC This should be straightforward - use @doolaHQ & you're good

Twitter User Profile Picture

Alex Lieberman

Twitter Verified

I haven't started a business in 8 years. I had to rediscover the mission critical tools for starting & running a new venture. Here's the stack:LLC registration: @doolaHQ, Trademark filing: @JoshGerben, Domain registration: @GoDaddy, Website: @Shopify, Banking: @mercury, Payments: @stripe, Files: @googledrive, Internal email: @gmail, Extern email: @Mailchimp, Go-to Market: @Kickstarter, Task Management: @asana

Twitter User Profile Picture

Syndicate

Twitter Verified

8/ We've also teamed with @doolaHQ to enable DAOs on Syndicate to get legal entities and EINs, open fiat bank accounts, submit compliance filings, and issue K-1 tax forms easily and affordably. This is just the beginning of new capabilities we’ll be bringing to DAOs, together.

Twitter User Profile Picture

Elizabeth Yin

Congrats to @HustleFundVC portfolio company Doola (formerly StartPack) on their new round! Thank you for letting us invest

Twitter User Profile Picture

Will Papper

We use @doolahq at @SyndicateDAO

Twitter User Profile Picture

Hustle Fund

Twitter Verified

Congrats team @doolaHQ! Ya'll ship so well and are continue to make company formation a snap. Appreciate being on this journey with you!

Twitter User Profile Picture

dharmesh

Twitter Verified

Love the work that @DoolaHQ is doing. Aligns with my philosophy of addressing the "talent is evenly distributed, opportunity is not" issue. More startups everywhere = good for everyone.

Twitter User Profile Picture

Aditya Mohanty

Was blown away seeing how easy @doolaHQ makes it to start an entity in the US, completely online. If you're planning to build from India for the world, definitely watch out for this team 🔥

Twitter User Profile Picture

Y Combinator

Twitter Verified

YC S20’s @doolaHQ is the one-stop-shop for U.S. and non-U.S. residents to launch a U.S. LLC and C Corp — and today they're launching full support for DAO LLCs, bridging web3 and web2:

Twitter User Profile Picture

Sahil Bloom

Twitter Verified

💥Investment Announcement💥 Excited to invest in @doolaHQ! A business-in-a-box platform enabling founders from anywhere in the world to start their dream US business. Proud to be an investing alongside @NexusVP @ycombinator @dharmesh @ankurnagpal @anothercohen, and more!

Twitter User Profile Picture

Alex Lieberman

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I love businesses that go long growth of entrepreneurship. @tryramp for startup spending, @doola for business formation, @carta for equity management and @Rippling for HR & IT

Twitter User Profile Picture

Eric Bahn

Twitter Verified

I recommend bookmarking this if you start to get serious about angel investing. LLC structures have some great benefits, thank you @arjunmahadevan for the awesome explainer here!

Twitter User Profile Picture

Rohun

Twitter Verified

you should be able to "start a business" without having to worry about LLCs, bank accounts, taxes, and bookkeeping. my friend, @arjunmahadevan is building this with @doolaHQ here's why it's a great biz and you should use them for the next LLC you form.

Twitter User Profile Picture

Hustle Fund

Twitter Verified

Congrats team @doolaHQ! Ya'll ship so well and are continue to make company formation a snap. Appreciate being on this journey with you!

Twitter User Profile Picture

dharmesh

Twitter Verified

Love the work that @DoolaHQ is doing. Aligns with my philosophy of addressing the "talent is evenly distributed, opportunity is not" issue. More startups everywhere = good for everyone.

Twitter User Profile Picture

Aditya Mohanty

Was blown away seeing how easy @doolaHQ makes it to start an entity in the US, completely online. If you're planning to build from India for the world, definitely watch out for this team 🔥

Twitter User Profile Picture

Y Combinator

Twitter Verified

YC S20’s @doolaHQ is the one-stop-shop for U.S. and non-U.S. residents to launch a U.S. LLC and C Corp — and today they're launching full support for DAO LLCs, bridging web3 and web2:

Twitter User Profile Picture

Sahil Bloom

Twitter Verified

💥Investment Announcement💥 Excited to invest in @doolaHQ! A business-in-a-box platform enabling founders from anywhere in the world to start their dream US business. Proud to be an investing alongside @NexusVP @ycombinator @dharmesh @ankurnagpal @anothercohen, and more!

Twitter User Profile Picture

Alex Lieberman

Twitter Verified

I love businesses that go long growth of entrepreneurship. @tryramp for startup spending, @doola for business formation, @carta for equity management and @Rippling for HR & IT

Twitter User Profile Picture

Eric Bahn

Twitter Verified

I recommend bookmarking this if you start to get serious about angel investing. LLC structures have some great benefits, thank you @arjunmahadevan for the awesome explainer here!

Twitter User Profile Picture

Rohun

Twitter Verified

you should be able to "start a business" without having to worry about LLCs, bank accounts, taxes, and bookkeeping. my friend, @arjunmahadevan is building this with @doolaHQ here's why it's a great biz and you should use them for the next LLC you form.

Twitter User Profile Picture

Y Combinator

Twitter Verified

YC S20's @doolaHQ is the one-stop-shop for US and non-US residents to launch a US LLC, DAO LLC, and C Corp — and today they're sharing their company formation API with the world, to enable businesses big and small to create a company from the command line.

Twitter User Profile Picture

Hustle Fund

Twitter Verified

Congrats team @doolaHQ! Ya'll ship so well and are continue to make company formation a snap. Appreciate being on this journey with you!

Twitter User Profile Picture

Ankur Nagpal

Twitter Verified

You can programmatically create a company or DAO using their API Programmatically create a business, get an EIN, get a US bank account, process payments, file taxes & more Perfect for any “business in a box” startup

Twitter User Profile Picture

dharmesh

Twitter Verified

Love the work that @DoolaHQ is doing. Aligns with my philosophy of addressing the "talent is evenly distributed, opportunity is not" issue. More startups everywhere = good for everyone.

Twitter User Profile Picture

Jose Rosado

Twitter Verified

Thanks to the @StartPackHQ for helping me with this process.Check them out 👇 https://rosa.do/startpack

Twitter User Profile Picture

Aditya Mohanty

Was blown away seeing how easy @doolaHQ makes it to start an entity in the US, completely online. If you're planning to build from India for the world, definitely watch out for this team 🔥

Twitter User Profile Picture

Mary Ann Azevedo

.@doolaHQ, which describes itself as a "Business in a box" for SMBs, has raised $3M in a seed round of funding. doola provides company formation, an EIN, a U.S. address and bank account, access to U.S. payments and a tax consultation, among other things.

Twitter User Profile Picture

Y Combinator

Twitter Verified

YC S20’s @doolaHQ is the one-stop-shop for U.S. and non-U.S. residents to launch a U.S. LLC and C Corp — and today they're launching full support for DAO LLCs, bridging web3 and web2:

Twitter User Profile Picture

Ankur Nagpal

Twitter Verified

The good news: You don't have to be a US resident to start a company in America If you want to start a tech startup, incorporate a C-Corp If you want to freelance or consult with your own business, incorporate a LLC This should be straightforward - use @doolaHQ & you're good

Twitter User Profile Picture

Sahil Bloom

Twitter Verified

💥Investment Announcement💥 Excited to invest in @doolaHQ! A business-in-a-box platform enabling founders from anywhere in the world to start their dream US business. Proud to be an investing alongside @NexusVP @ycombinator @dharmesh @ankurnagpal @anothercohen, and more!

Twitter User Profile Picture

Alex Lieberman

Twitter Verified

I haven't started a business in 8 years. I had to rediscover the mission critical tools for starting & running a new venture. Here's the stack:LLC registration: @doolaHQ, Trademark filing: @JoshGerben, Domain registration: @GoDaddy, Website: @Shopify, Banking: @mercury, Payments: @stripe, Files: @googledrive, Internal email: @gmail, Extern email: @Mailchimp, Go-to Market: @Kickstarter, Task Management: @asana

Twitter User Profile Picture

Alex Lieberman

Twitter Verified

I love businesses that go long growth of entrepreneurship. @tryramp for startup spending, @doola for business formation, @carta for equity management and @Rippling for HR & IT

Twitter User Profile Picture

Syndicate

Twitter Verified

8/ We've also teamed with @doolaHQ to enable DAOs on Syndicate to get legal entities and EINs, open fiat bank accounts, submit compliance filings, and issue K-1 tax forms easily and affordably.This is just the beginning of new capabilities we’ll be bringing to DAOs, together.

Twitter User Profile Picture

Eric Bahn

Twitter Verified

I recommend bookmarking this if you start to get serious about angel investing. LLC structures have some great benefits, thank you @arjunmahadevan for the awesome explainer here!

Twitter User Profile Picture

Elizabeth Yin

Congrats to @HustleFundVC portfolio company Doola (formerly StartPack) on their new round! Thank you for letting us invest

Twitter User Profile Picture

Rohun

Twitter Verified

you should be able to "start a business" without having to worry about LLCs, bank accounts, taxes, and bookkeeping. my friend, @arjunmahadevan is building this with @doolaHQ here's why it's a great biz and you should use them for the next LLC you form.

Twitter User Profile Picture

Will Papper

We use @doolahq at @SyndicateDAO

Learn how to start an LLC
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Why should I get an LLC and a business bank account?

Forming an LLC and opening a business bank account are essential steps to protect your personal assets and streamline your finances. An LLC limits your personal liability in case of legal or financial issues, while a business bank account helps you separate personal and business finances, making tax preparation easier and ensuring a more professional image for your business.

Do I need to be a US citizen to work with doola?

No, you don’t! We work with entrepreneurs from around the world to get their businesses incorporated. Don’t take our word for it, though; check out our TrustPilot Page to hear what people globally have to say about doola.

What is an LLC (Limited Liability Company)?

A limited liability company is a formal business structure (created as per state law) where the business is legally distinct from the owner(s). It may have a single owner in the case of a Single-Member LLC or multiple owners in the case of a Multi-Member LLC.

An LLC combines the perks of a corporation (protection against personal liability) and a partnership (pass-through taxation). Since the business has a separate legal existence, the members are not personally liable for the debts and obligations of the Company.

State laws stipulate how LLCs should be incorporated. Some states require specific documents, such as the articles of organization, membership agreement, etc., to be filed with the authorities.

Learn more about LLCs and how they work in FREE ebook. 

What information do you need from me to get started?

We don't need any documents to get started. We just need a few pieces of info from you:

  • Your Company Name
  • Your Personal Address
  • Phone Number and Email (For contact purposes)

Later in the process, you'll need a passport to set up your bank account.

What is an EIN?

An Employer Identification Number is the tax identification number for your organization and a requirement of many banks or institutions (such as the IRS) to carry out business in the US. Once your EIN is acquired, you can apply for business bank accounts and payment gateways. Learn more about the full process.

What is an ITIN?

An Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) can be used as an alternative for a Social Security Number (SSN) in some cases and is not a requirement in most cases. However, you will be required to have one if you wish to apply for a PayPal account or certain bank accounts. We walk you through how this process looks like in our guide!

Still have a question?

Schedule a free consultation with an expert from doola, today.

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Alabama