Built to hold up
Online formation services file a form. An attorney builds an entity. The difference shows up later: when a partner leaves, when a lender or landlord asks for your documents, or when someone sues and asks the court to look past the LLC to you personally. Chester Baldwin forms and reviews Washington LLCs, S-Corps, and C-Corps so the structure, the paperwork, and the ownership terms are right from day one.
You get a free consultation, a flat fee quoted before any work begins, and one attorney who handles the matter personally.
What is included
- Entity choice. LLC, S-Corporation election, or C-Corporation, chosen for how you will own, run, and tax the business, not from a menu.
- Formation filing. Certificate of Formation or Articles of Incorporation filed with the Washington Secretary of State, with a name check first.
- Operating agreement or bylaws. Drafted for your owners, covering ownership percentages, voting, distributions, what happens if someone leaves, and how disputes are resolved.
- Registration and tax setup. Federal EIN, Washington business license application through the Department of Revenue, and the S-Corp election if that is the plan.
- Startup checklist. Registered agent, initial report and annual report deadlines, separate bank account, and the habits that keep the liability shield intact.
Already have an LLC?
We also review existing entities. Common fixes: an operating agreement that was never signed, a single-member LLC adding a partner, a business that outgrew its structure, or filings that lapsed and need to be reinstated with the Secretary of State.
How it works
- Free consultation. Tell Chester about the business, who owns it, and what you plan to do with it.
- Flat fee quoted before any work begins. State filing fees are extra, passed through at cost, and itemized on your quote, so you see one total before anything is filed.
- We file and draft. Washington processes most online filings within a few business days; expedited service is available.
- Signing and handoff. You get a complete, signed set of documents and a checklist for the first year.
myLLC Attorneys is coming soon
Our online formation service will let you start a Washington LLC from your phone with the same attorney review you get in the office. Until it launches, the fastest route is a free consultation.
Common questions
Do I need a lawyer to form an LLC in Washington?
No. You can file the Certificate of Formation yourself with the Secretary of State. People hire us because the filing is the easy part: choosing the right entity, writing an operating agreement that fits the owners, and setting up the entity so it actually protects you is where mistakes happen.
LLC, S-Corp, or C-Corp: which should I choose?
For most Washington small businesses an LLC is the right starting point, and it can elect S-Corporation tax treatment later if that saves money. A C-Corporation usually makes sense only when you plan to raise outside investment. We walk through the tradeoffs in the consultation.
How long does formation take?
Washington's online filing is typically processed within a few business days, and expedited service is available for an extra state fee. Drafting the operating agreement and the rest of the setup usually takes about a week from the time we have your information.
What does it cost?
The consultation is free. After it, Chester quotes a flat fee for your formation before any work begins. State filing fees are extra, passed through at cost, and itemized on your quote, so you see one total before anything is filed.
What is myLLC Attorneys?
Our online formation service, coming soon. It will let you start a Washington LLC online with the same attorney review you get in the office. Until it launches, start with a free consultation.
Who we serve
Contractors and the trades, real estate investors and property owners, self-storage operators, healthcare practices, consultants, and other owner-operated businesses across Western Washington. Chester also represents many of these industries before the Legislature through Lobby Washington.