How to Start an LLC With Almost No Money
You don't need a lawyer or $500 to form an LLC. Here's the exact process I used to form Gilgamesh Enterprise LLC in Wyoming.
Starting an LLC sounds expensive and complicated. It's not. Here's the real process.
Choose your state wisely. Wyoming is the best state for small business owners who aren't based there. Low fees (~$100/year), strong privacy laws, no state income tax. Delaware is better if you're raising VC money — skip it if you're bootstrapped.
File yourself. Go to the Wyoming Secretary of State website. File online. It takes 20 minutes. You don't need a lawyer, a registered agent service, or an accountant. Your total cost: filing fee.
Get a registered agent. Wyoming requires a registered agent with a physical address in Wyoming. Use a free or low-cost registered agent service — many exist for $0-50/year.
Get your EIN. Go to IRS.gov and apply online. Free. Takes 5 minutes. You get your EIN the same day. This is your business's Social Security number — you need it for everything.
Open a business bank account. Mercury is free for startups, no minimum balance, no monthly fees. Use your EIN and LLC formation documents.
That's it. You're a real business. The whole thing costs under $150 and a Saturday morning.
The gatekeeping around business formation is real — lawyers and formation services charge $500-2,000 for something you can do yourself in an hour. Don't let them.
Written by Joshua Bostic — Founder, Gilgamesh Enterprise LLC