Forming an LLC in Massachusetts

First, you need to gather basic information about your LLC, including the names and addresses of the managers or members. The LLC members are typically the people who own and run the business. They are also the ones who can take profits out of the business to pay themselves.

You will need a distinctive and original name for your Massachusetts LLC that’s not used by any other business in MA. To find out if another company is using your chosen business name, carry out a Massachusetts business entity name search on the MA Corporations Division website.

There are a few rules you’ll need to follow when choosing an LLC name. You can find out more in our guide to searching for and naming your Massachusetts LLC.

Learn about Massachusetts LLC business naming rules.

Every Massachusetts LLC must have a designated street address. That could be your home address (if you’re running the company from your residence), your company’s office building or any physical address of your preference. The address must be inside the state of Massachusetts, but it cannot be a P.O. Box.

Every MA LLC must have a “Registered Agent,” known in Massachusetts as a “Resident Agent” when it is formed. This is an official position; the Registered Agent is someone who receives official legal and tax correspondence and has responsibility for filing reports with the Massachusetts Corporations Division.

This position can be filled by you, another manager in the business or a dedicated Registered Agent service. Your MA Resident Agent must have a physical street address in Massachusetts and must be present to receive important documents for your company during business hours.

At Incfile, all of our packages include a Massachusetts Resident Agent service that is free for the first year and just $119 per year afterward. We also have a dashboard where you can log in and easily view any document your Registered Agent has received on your behalf.

Learn more about Massachusetts Registered Agents.

You will need an EIN to identify your business to the IRS. You use this number when filing and paying taxes or when submitting payroll information and payments for your employees. You can obtain one directly from the IRS, or we can get one for you as part of the Massachusetts LLC business formation process.

Once you've gathered all the information for your Massachusetts LLC, you’ll need to file a formal document with the MA Corporations Division. This document is known as your “Certificate of Organization,” and filing the document creates your Massachusetts LLC. Here’s what is typically included:

• Your business name and address
• The general character of the business
• Details of your Resident Agent
• Names of managers or members of the LLC at the time of filing
• Addresses of managers or members of the LLC at the time of filing
• Contact information
• Name of the incorporator

You can file your Massachusetts LLC Certificate of Organization online, mail in a form or have Incfile do it on your behalf. There is a fee to file and start an LLC in Massachusetts. You only need to file your Certificate of Organization once. 

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Some states, including Massachusetts, allow certain occupations to form “Professional LLCs.” These types of businesses typically have special requirements and licensing. Massachusetts does not list the specific professions that can form these LLCs.

If your business is already operating in another state and expanding to Massachusetts, you’ll need to form a foreign LLC.

More information on Massachusetts filing and licensing requirements here