NY BizHer -- Free LLC Wizard for Women

Foundation

Articles

Publication

EIN & Ops

WBE/MWBE

🏛 Step 1: Your Business Foundation

Start here. Everything you enter is used to generate your legal documents and saved automatically.

What is an LLC? A Limited Liability Company protects your personal assets from business debts while giving you the flexibility of a partnership. You are an "owner" called a member.

LLC Name *

Must include "LLC" or "Limited Liability Company". Must be unique in New York State.

Please enter your LLC name including "LLC" or "Limited Liability Company".

County of Business (recommended)

Please select your county.

LLC Type *

Single-Member (just me)

Multi-Member (2+ owners)

Business Purpose *

Tip: A broad purpose gives you flexibility. Example: "To engage in any lawful act or activity for which limited liability companies may be organized."

Please enter your business purpose.

Registered Agent

Myself (use my address)

NY Dept. of State (recommended)

Using the NY Dept. of State as agent keeps your home address private from public records.

Your Full Legal Name *

Please enter your full legal name.

Street Address (for Articles) *

Please enter your address.

Name Availability: Before filing, verify your name is unique on the NY DOS database.
Check Name Availability on NY DOS website →

Legal Disclaimer: This tool provides general legal information only, not legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is formed. Always verify current requirements with the NY Department of State (dos.ny.gov) and a licensed NY attorney before filing.

📜 Step 2: Articles of Organization

This is the official document filed with the NY Dept. of State to legally create your LLC. Filing fee: $200.

Form DOS-1336-f -- File online (same-day to 2 business days) or by mail (4-6 weeks). Online filing is strongly recommended.

Fill out Step 1 to generate your Articles of Organization.

File Online at NY DOS →

⏰ The 120-Day Clock Starts When You File!
Once your Articles are approved, you have exactly 120 days to complete the newspaper publication requirement -- or your LLC authority to conduct business will be suspended.

What happens after I file? ▼

Pay $200 filing fee (online: credit card; mail: check to "Department of State")
NY DOS reviews and files your Articles (online: same-day; mail: 4-6 weeks)
You receive a Filing Receipt -- save this! You need it for MWBE certification.
Your LLC is legally formed -- but complete publication within 120 days
Get your free EIN from IRS (Step 4)
Adopt your Operating Agreement (Step 4)
Open a business bank account

Full Cost Breakdown ▼

Item	Cost	Notes
Articles of Organization	$200	Required, paid to NY DOS
Newspaper Publication	$600-$2,000	Varies by county -- NYC is highest
Certificate of Publication	$50	Filed with NY DOS after publication
EIN (IRS)	FREE	Apply online at irs.gov
Operating Agreement (this tool)	FREE	Generated in Step 4
WBE/MWBE Certification	FREE	Applied through ESD
NYC Total (est.)	~$2,250	Budget conservatively
Upstate Total (est.)	~$875	Publication much cheaper upstate

This tool provides general legal information only, not legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is formed. Verify all requirements with the NY Department of State and a licensed NY attorney before filing.

📰 Step 3: Publication Requirement

New York State requires every new LLC to publish a notice in two newspapers for six consecutive weeks. This is mandatory -- failure suspends your business.

⚠ NOT Optional. Section 206 of the NY LLC Law requires publication in 2 newspapers designated by your county clerk, once per week for 6 weeks. Failure to file the Certificate of Publication within 120 days = your LLC authority is suspended.

Publication Costs by Region

Manhattan / Brooklyn / Queens

$1,200 - $2,000

Most expensive in state

Bronx / Staten Island

$800 - $1,400

Designated newspapers only

Nassau / Suffolk / Westchester

$700 - $1,100

Suburban press rates

Albany / Schenectady / Troy

$600 - $900

Capital region rates

Buffalo / Rochester / Syracuse

$600 - $850

Western/Central NY

Rural / Upstate Counties

$500 - $750

Generally lowest rates

How to Complete Publication

Contact your County Clerk -- Ask for the list of two designated newspapers for LLC publication in your county. Use ONLY these newspapers.
Contact both newspapers -- Provide your LLC name and filing date exactly as on your DOS filing receipt.
Publish for 6 consecutive weeks -- Once per week in each paper for 6 weeks.
Collect Affidavits of Publication -- Each newspaper provides a signed affidavit after completion. Keep originals.
File Certificate of Publication (Form 1708) -- Submit to NY DOS with both affidavits and $50 fee within 120 days.

Pro Tip: Many publication services bundle both newspapers and handle the affidavits for you. Search "[your county] LLC publication service" -- always verify they use county-designated papers.

120-Day Deadline Calculator
Enter your Articles of Organization filing date:

Publication Notice Template ▼

Complete Step 1 to generate your publication notice text.

Note: The newspaper will draft the final notice. Provide them your exact LLC name and filing date.

This tool provides general legal information only, not legal advice. Verify all requirements with the NY Department of State and a licensed NY attorney before filing.

💳 Step 4: EIN & Operating Agreement

Two critical steps: your free federal tax ID (instant online) and your legally required Operating Agreement.

Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Your EIN is 100% FREE from the IRS. Anyone charging you for an EIN is unnecessary -- apply directly at irs.gov in under 10 minutes and receive your EIN immediately.

How to Get Your EIN (IRS Form SS-4)

Go to irs.gov/ein
Select "Limited Liability Company" as entity type
Select number of members (1 for single, 2+ for multi)
Complete the online application (about 10 minutes)
Receive your EIN immediately -- print and save the confirmation letter

Apply for Free EIN at IRS.gov →

Operating Agreement

Required by NY Law (Section 417). All LLCs must adopt a written Operating Agreement. It does NOT need to be filed with the state, but it must exist. You have up to 90 days after filing to adopt it.

Member Name(s) and Ownership %

List all members and ownership percentages. Must total 100%.

Management Structure

Member-Managed (I run it)

Manager-Managed (hire a manager)

Fiscal Year End

Attorney Review Strongly Recommended. This is a starting template. Have a licensed NY attorney review your Operating Agreement before signing -- especially for multi-member LLCs where profit-sharing and buyout terms matter.

This tool provides general legal information only, not legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is formed. Have a licensed NY attorney review all documents before use.

🏆 Step 5: WBE/MWBE Certification

Women Business Enterprise (WBE) and MWBE certifications are FREE and unlock access to billions in NY State contract opportunities.

What certification gets you:
- Listed in the official NY State MWBE Directory (seen by all state agencies)
- Access to NY State contract set-asides (30% MWBE goals on state contracts)
- NYC SBS certification option (NYC agency contracts)
- Port Authority of NY & NJ certification option
- Erie County / City of Buffalo joint certification option
- Access to MWBE-specific loans, grants, and training programs

Basic WBE Eligibility:
- Business is at least 51% owned, operated, and controlled by a woman or women
- Owner(s) must be US citizens or permanent residents
- Business must be actively conducting business in NY State
- Personal Net Worth must be under $3.03 million (2026 threshold -- excludes primary home equity and business interest)
- Business must be independent -- not controlled by outside parties

Before You Apply: Use the ESD MWBE Assessment Tool to confirm your eligibility first.

Complete Document Checklist (22 items)

Check each item as you gather it. Your progress is saved automatically.

Application Forms (Notarized)

Certification AffidavitPart of ESD application -- signed and notarized
Personal Net Worth Affidavit (Attachment A)Signed and notarized -- PNW must be under $3.03M
Personal Net Worth Worksheet (Attachment B)If applicable

Identity and Status

Proof of US Citizenship or Permanent Resident StatusPassport, naturalization certificate, or green card
Proof of GenderGovernment-issued ID showing gender
Proof of Minority Group StatusOnly if applying for MBE in addition to WBE

Business Formation Documents

Articles of Organization AND Filing ReceiptThe original DOS-stamped receipt from Step 2
Operating Agreement (fully executed)Generated and signed in Step 4
Membership LedgerShows all members and ownership percentages
Certificate of Assumed NameAnd filing receipt -- only if doing business under a DBA name

Financial Documents

Federal and State Individual Income Tax ReturnsMost recent 2 years -- personal returns for all owners
Business Tax ReturnsFederal and State -- for the business entity
Form W-2s including W-3Issued by the business -- if applicable
Bank Signature Cards or Bank LetterShows who is authorized on the business account
Proof of Business CapitalizationMoney, property, equipment, or expertise used to fund the business

Operations and NY Presence

Proof of NY Business PresenceCurrent lease, deed, or utility bills showing NY address
Contracts and Proof of PaymentClient contracts, invoices paid -- shows active business
All Licenses, Permits, and CertificationsAny professional licenses, business permits, industry certifications

People and Background

Resumes of All Owners, Directors, Officers, and Key EmployeesDemonstrates your control and expertise in the business

Optional Add-ons (Apply Simultaneously)

NYC SBS AddendumFor NYC Department of Small Business Services certification
Port Authority of NY and NJ AddendumFor Port Authority contracts
Erie County / City of Buffalo AddendumFor Western NY government contracts

Progress: 0 / 22 items collected

🚀

Ready to Apply?

Once documents are gathered, apply free through NY Empire State Development.

Apply for MWBE Certification at ESD.NY.GOV →

This tool provides general legal information only, not legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is formed. Always verify with the NY Department of State, NYS Empire State Development, and a licensed NY attorney.

NY BizHer LLC Wizard

Publication Costs by Region

How to Complete Publication

Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Operating Agreement

Complete Document Checklist (22 items)

You are Ready to Launch!

iNotice Before You Begin

NY BizHer LLC Wizard

Publication Costs by Region

How to Complete Publication

Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Operating Agreement

Complete Document Checklist (22 items)

You are Ready to Launch!