Kansas lesson 3 of 6
File the Articles of Organization
The document that creates a Kansas LLC is the Articles of Organization. Filing online through the Secretary of State's business filing center costs $85, while filing on paper with Form DL costs $90.
What the form asks for
The Articles of Organization cover the LLC's name, its resident agent and registered office address, the effective date if it is not immediate, and whether the LLC will be member-managed or manager-managed. A general purpose statement is normally sufficient.
- Members and managers are not required to be listed individually on the Articles
- The organizer filing the document does not need to be an owner of the LLC
- A series LLC must identify itself as such and follow the additional reporting requirements for each series
Fee and filing route
Filing online through the Secretary of State's business filing center costs $85 and is the faster route. Filing on paper using Form DL, mailed to the Secretary of State in Topeka, costs $90. Check the Secretary of State's site for current processing times, since online filings are typically processed faster than mailed paper filings.
After approval
Keep your confirmation and entity business ID number, since the Department of Revenue and your bank will both reference it. Kansas does not require an operating agreement to be filed with the state, but adopting one internally is what actually governs ownership, voting and distributions rather than relying on default statutory rules.
Key takeaways
- Filing online costs $85; filing on paper with Form DL costs $90.
- Members and managers do not need to be listed on the Articles.
- An operating agreement is not filed with the state but is worth adopting internally.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to live in Kansas to form a Kansas LLC?
No. There is no residency requirement for members or managers. Only the resident agent must have a physical Kansas street address.
Is an operating agreement required in Kansas?
It is not filed with the Secretary of State, but it is the internal document that governs ownership, voting and distributions, and banks commonly ask to see one.
Official sources
Or let us file your Kansas LLC for you
Everything above is yours to use for free. If you would rather hand it over, we prepare and file the Articles of Organization, act as your registered agent, and track your ongoing deadlines.
Last reviewed: September 2026 - reviewed by Gullia Filing Legal & Formation Team