🏁 Your LLC Is Formed — Now What?

7 Next Steps Nobody Tells You About

Congratulations! You just formed your LLC. 🎉
You’ve got the official papers, the fancy state seal, and maybe even a celebratory selfie holding your Articles of Organization.

So… now what?

Here’s the secret: forming an LLC is just the beginning — not the finish line.
Think of it like buying gym shoes — the shoes don’t get you fit; the work does.

Let’s walk through the seven steps nobody tells you about once your LLC is official — the ones that turn a piece of paper into a real, fundable business.

🧾 1. Get an EIN (Employer Identification Number)

Your EIN is your business’s Social Security Number — and you’ll need it for everything:

• Opening a business bank account

• Filing taxes

• Hiring employees

• Applying for business credit

You can get one for free directly from the IRS website. (No shady “$75 EIN” websites, please — they’re charging you for something that takes five minutes.)

💬 Pro Tip: Apply online, save your confirmation letter, and store it like gold — you’ll need that PDF forever.

🏦 2. Open a Business Bank Account (Stop Mixing Funds!)

This is where most new business owners mess up.

You can’t use your personal checking account for business transactions and still claim “limited liability.” That’s like locking your front door but leaving the windows wide open.

Set up a dedicated business checking account under your LLC name using your EIN.

Why?
✅ It protects your personal assets.
✅ It keeps your accounting clean.
✅ It builds your business banking relationship — essential for future funding.

💬 Pro Tip: Pick a bank that reports to business credit bureaus (hint: not all do). That’s free credit-building just by banking smart.

🧱 3. Create an Operating Agreement (Even if You’re Solo)

“Wait, I’m the only owner — do I really need this?”
Yes. You do.

Your Operating Agreement is the internal rulebook for your LLC — it shows banks, partners, and investors that your business is legitimate and structured.

It covers:

• How profits are divided

• Decision-making authority

• What happens if you add members or sell the business

💬 Pro Tip: Even single-member LLCs should have one — some banks won’t open accounts without it.

📬 4. Get a Business Address, Email, and Phone Number

You need to look official, not like you’re working from your kitchen table (even if you are).

That means:

• A professional business address (use a virtual address or coworking space — not your home)

• A business email (no more “yourbiz@gmail.com”)

• A dedicated phone number (Google Voice, OpenPhone, or Grasshopper work great)

💬 Pro Tip: These three things establish your business identity — critical for business credit and credibility.

🧾 5. Register with Business Credit Bureaus

This is where you move from “just legal” to “fundable.”

Start your business credit profile:

• Get a DUNS Number from Dun & Bradstreet

• List your business on NAV.com to monitor your business credit

• Start small with net-30 vendor accounts that report (like Quill, Grainger, or Uline)

These build your business’s financial reputation — separate from your personal credit score.

💬 Pro Tip: Even one or two vendor accounts reporting on-time payments can start your business credit file in 30–60 days.

💻 6. Set Up Your Online Presence

If you’re not online, you don’t exist.

Secure your domain name, build a basic website, and set up your Google Business Profile.

You don’t need a masterpiece — just a clean, professional presence that says:

“We’re real, we’re reliable, and we’re ready for business.”

💬 Pro Tip: Keep your business name, address, and phone number consistent everywhere — this helps SEO and credibility with lenders.

💰 7. Keep Up with Ongoing Compliance (So You Stay Legit)

Your LLC isn’t “set it and forget it.” States require you to file annual reports, pay renewal fees, and keep your registration current.

Miss one? Your LLC can get administratively dissolved — meaning, legally, your business just died quietly in a government database.

💬 Pro Tip: Set reminders in your calendar for your state’s annual filing date. It’s the cheapest insurance against losing your business status.

🚀 Bonus: Start Building Relationships Before You Need Them

Once your LLC and accounts are set up, start connecting with banks, credit unions, and lenders now — before you actually need funding.

The key to getting approved later?

A track record of responsible activity and a real relationship.

💬 Pro Tip: Deposit regularly, maintain healthy balances, and communicate with your banker like they’re part of your business — because they are.

🎯 Final Thoughts

Forming your LLC was step one — now it’s time to make it real.
The difference between a “paper LLC” and a thriving company comes down to structure, credibility, and financial systems.

Do these seven steps right, and your business won’t just exist — it’ll be fundable, legitimate, and ready for growth.

Because forming an LLC is easy.
Building one that actually makes money?
That’s where the fun begins.