How to Start an LLC in Mississippi
Learn how to start an LLC in Mississippi: $50 state filing fee, Certificate of Formation filed online with the Secretary of State, registered agent required. Step-by-step guide from Bizee.
Bizee Editorial Staff
Editorial Team
Mississippi LLC at a glance
Filing fee: $50 (domestic LLC Certificate of Formation); $250 (foreign LLC registration)
Processing time: [PROCESSING_TIME]
State agency: Mississippi Secretary of State — Business Services
Annual report due: [ANNUAL_REPORT_DUE]
State tax rate: [STATE_TAX_RATE]
How to start an LLC in Mississippi
Forming an LLC in Mississippi means filing a Certificate of Formation online with the Mississippi Secretary of State and paying a $50 state filing fee. You'll also need a registered agent with a physical Mississippi address, a unique business name, and an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS before you open a business bank account.
Why form an LLC in Mississippi
An LLC is the most common starting point for entrepreneurs in Mississippi because it combines personal liability protection with straightforward tax treatment — and the $50 filing fee is one of the lowest in the country. Your personal finances stay separate from business debts and lawsuits, which is the core protection most business owners are looking for.
Mississippi also has state-level programs worth knowing about. The Minority Business Micro Loan Program, for example, offers qualifying businesses loans up to $35,000. An LLC structure can make it easier to meet eligibility requirements for programs like this because you're operating as a recognized legal entity.
$50 state filing fee — among the lowest in the U.S.
Personal asset protection from business debts and lawsuits
Pass-through taxation by default — no separate federal corporate tax
Flexible management structure with fewer formalities than a corporation
Access to state business programs that require a registered entity
How to start an LLC in Mississippi
There are 6 steps to form an LLC in Mississippi. The state requires all formation filings to go through the Secretary of State's online portal — paper filings for the Certificate of Formation aren't accepted.
Step 1: name your Mississippi LLC
Your LLC name must be distinguishable from every other registered business name on file with the Mississippi Secretary of State. Use the Secretary of State's online name search tool to check availability before you file. The name must include a designator — "LLC," "L.L.C.," or "Limited Liability Company" — and can't use words that imply a government agency or a regulated profession without the proper license.
If you've found a name you want but aren't ready to file yet, Mississippi lets you reserve it for a limited period by submitting a name reservation filing and fee to the Secretary of State.
Step 2: appoint a registered agent
Every Mississippi LLC must have a registered agent — a person or business entity designated to receive legal notices, service of process, and official state correspondence on behalf of your LLC. Mississippi law requires this agent to maintain a physical street address in the state (a P.O. box doesn't count) and be available during normal business hours.
You can serve as your own registered agent if you have a Mississippi street address and can be there during business hours. Many business owners use a professional registered agent service instead — it keeps your personal address off public records and makes sure nothing gets missed.
Step 3: file your Certificate of Formation
The Certificate of Formation is the document that officially creates your LLC in Mississippi. You file it online through the Mississippi Secretary of State's Business Services portal at corp.sos.ms.gov. You'll need to create an account first, then select the domestic LLC formation filing type, enter your LLC name and registered agent information, and pay the $50 state filing fee.
Payment is accepted by eCheck, ACH bank transfer, or credit card. Credit card payments carry an additional processing fee on top of the $50 state fee. Mississippi doesn't accept paper formation filings, so the online portal is the only path.
Step 4: get an EIN from the IRS
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is your LLC's federal tax ID. You get it from the IRS — not the state — and it's free. Wait until your Certificate of Formation is approved before applying so the EIN reflects your correct legal entity information.
Apply online at irs.gov/ein if you have a Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). The online application must be completed in one session — it times out after 15 minutes of inactivity. You'll need your EIN to open a business bank account, hire employees, and file federal taxes.
Step 5: create an operating agreement
Mississippi doesn't legally require an LLC to have a written operating agreement, and you don't file it with the Secretary of State. But if you have more than one member, skipping it is a mistake that tends to surface at the worst possible time — when there's a dispute about ownership, profit splits, or decision-making authority.
A solid operating agreement covers member ownership percentages, how profits and losses are divided, how decisions get made, and what happens if a member wants to leave. Keep it with your business records — it's an internal document, not a public filing.
Step 6: open a business bank account
Once your LLC is approved and you have your EIN, open a dedicated business bank account. This is one of the most important steps for protecting your personal assets. If your business and personal finances run through the same account, a court could decide your LLC isn't really a separate entity — and at that point your personal finances are fair game.
Most banks require your Certificate of Formation, EIN, and a government-issued ID to open a business checking account. Some online banks have no monthly fee for business checking, which keeps overhead low in the early months.
Other Mississippi LLC types
Most entrepreneurs form a standard domestic LLC, but two other types come up often enough to know about.
Professional LLC (PLLC): required for licensed professionals like attorneys, physicians, and accountants. A PLLC follows the same formation process as a standard LLC but has additional licensing requirements tied to the profession.
Foreign LLC: if your LLC was formed in another state and you want to do business in Mississippi, you must register as a foreign LLC with the Mississippi Secretary of State. The filing fee is $250, and you'll need to designate a Mississippi registered agent.
Foreign LLC registration is filed through the same online portal as domestic formation. The application must include your LLC's legal name from its home state and, if that name isn't available in Mississippi, an alternate name that meets Mississippi naming rules.
FAQ
The state filing fee for a domestic Mississippi LLC is $50, paid when you file the Certificate of Formation online with the Mississippi Secretary of State. If you pay by credit card, an additional processing fee applies on top of the $50. There's no state income tax on LLCs at the entity level by default, though you'll still have federal tax obligations.
File through the Mississippi Secretary of State's Business Services portal at corp.sos.ms.gov. Create an account, log in, select the domestic LLC formation filing type, enter your LLC name and registered agent details, and pay the $50 state fee by eCheck, ACH, or credit card. Mississippi doesn't accept paper Certificate of Formation filings — the online portal is the only option.
No. Mississippi charges a $50 state filing fee to form an LLC, and there's no waiver for that fee. What you can do is form your LLC for $0 in service fees — Bizee files your Certificate of Formation at no charge, so you only pay the $50 Mississippi state fee. The EIN from the IRS is also free.
Yes. Mississippi law requires every LLC to maintain a registered agent with a physical street address in the state at all times. The agent must be available during normal business hours to accept legal notices and official state correspondence. You can serve as your own registered agent if you have a Mississippi street address, or you can use a professional registered agent service.
The Certificate of Formation is the official document that creates your LLC under Mississippi law. It's filed online with the Mississippi Secretary of State and includes your LLC's legal name, registered agent information, and the names of the organizers. Once the state approves it, your LLC legally exists. Some states call this document the Articles of Organization — Mississippi uses "Certificate of Formation."
No. Mississippi does not legally require an LLC to have a written operating agreement, and you don't file one with the state. That said, having one is strongly recommended — especially for multi-member LLCs. Without it, Mississippi's default LLC statutes govern how your business operates, which may not reflect what you and your co-owners actually agreed to.
Apply online at irs.gov/ein after your Certificate of Formation is approved. The IRS EIN application is free and takes about 15 minutes if you have your SSN or ITIN ready. Complete it in one session — the application times out after 15 minutes of inactivity and you'd have to start over. Your EIN is issued immediately upon completion.
File an Application for Registration of Foreign Limited Liability Company with the Mississippi Secretary of State through the online Business Services portal. The state filing fee is $250. You'll need a Mississippi registered agent and must include your LLC's legal name from its home state. If that name isn't available in Mississippi, you'll need an alternate name that meets Mississippi naming rules.
