Start an LLC in Texas: Step-by-Step Edition

Informational only. Not legal, tax or accounting advice. Fees and rules change; check the linked official page before you file. Talk to an attorney or CPA about your situation.

Plenty of companies will charge you to form a Texas LLC. You can do it yourself. You file a Certificate of Formation (Form 205) with the Secretary of State for $300, get your EIN free from the IRS, and file a franchise tax report with the Comptroller by May 15 each year. Texas also changed its filing system this fall: SOSPortal went live on September 29, 2026 and replaces SOSDirect, so older guides and videos show screens you won't see. This guide puts every step in order and links each one to the .gov page that sets the rule.

Texas 2027 edition. Every fee and deadline was checked against the official page on October 29, 2026.

What you get

• The guide (40-page PDF). Chapters 1 to 12 cover what every US founder does: test the idea, pick and check a name, choose a structure, get the EIN, choose a registered agent, file with the state, open the bank account, get licences, check the current BOI rule, keep the business in good standing and set up your first week of IT. Chapter 13 covers Texas: name search and reservation, the registered agent rules, filing Form 205 in SOSPortal, the card fee and expedite options, assumed names, the sales tax permit, the yearly franchise tax report and Public Information Report, and what changes if you form a corporation instead.
• Name Worksheet (Word + PDF). Check three names against Texas's naming rules, the federal trademark search and domain availability.
• Entity Decision Tree (Word + PDF). Five yes/no questions that tell you what to bring to your CPA or attorney, plus a one-page table of what each structure means in Texas.
• Filing Checklist (Excel + PDF). All 20 steps with the official page, the Texas fee and the timing. Mark each one Done from a dropdown and the sheet totals your state fees.
• 90-Day Calendar (Excel + PDF). Type the date your Certificate of Formation was filed and every target date fills in. A second sheet lists five years of May 15 franchise tax dates, each with a 30-day reminder.
• A one-page start-a-business checklist, plus a sources page that lists every official page we used and the date we checked it.

What it doesn't do

• It doesn't file anything for you, and it can't act as your registered agent.
• It doesn't give legal, tax or accounting advice, and it won't tell you which structure, tax election or franchise tax method is right for you. Where that choice matters, the guide says so and lists what to ask your attorney or CPA.
• It doesn't include a company agreement (Texas's name for an operating agreement) or any other legal document. It lists the questions a company agreement usually answers so you can take them to an attorney.
• It makes no promise about income or results.

How it was made

AmagiLabs wrote this guide with AI help (Claude). We checked every fee, deadline and rule by hand against the official Texas Secretary of State, Texas Comptroller, IRS or FinCEN page listed in the guide on October 29, 2026. Fees and rules can change after that date, so the guide tells you which page to recheck before you pay.

Licence

For your own business use, personal or commercial. Please don't resell, share or redistribute the files.

Refunds

All sales are final. You get this digital download right away, so we don't give cash refunds. If a file won't open or the product doesn't match this page, email us within 7 days of purchase. We'll fix it or send a replacement. If we can't, you'll get store credit for the full price.

EU and UK buyers: you'd normally have 14 days to withdraw from this purchase. You lose that right once your download or access starts, because you ask for immediate access at checkout. If the product is faulty or not as described, the 7-day limit doesn't apply to you. If we can't fix it, you can choose a refund instead of store credit.

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