How to Start a Business in Wyoming

Choose a Business Structure

Wyoming recognizes the same general structures as other states: a sole proprietorship or general partnership, which carry personal liability for the owners, or an LLC or corporation, which are separate legal entities. See our guide on how to choose a business structure for how these compare before deciding which filings apply to your business.

Register a Trade Name if You Want One

Unlike many states, Wyoming does not require a business to register the name it operates under. Filing an Application for Registration of Trade Name with the Secretary of State is optional and costs $100 if you choose to do it, typically to put a specific name on the public record rather than to satisfy a legal requirement.

File Articles of Organization if You Form an LLC

An LLC forms by filing Articles of Organization with the Wyoming Secretary of State's Business Division for $100, online through WyoBiz. Filing online activates the company immediately upon completion; paper filings are processed in the order received and can take up to 15 business days, with no expedited option since online filing already offers instant formation. See our Wyoming LLC guide for the registered agent requirement and other LLC-specific details.

Get an EIN and Register for Sales Tax

Apply for a free EIN directly from the IRS once the business is formed. If the business will sell taxable goods or services, register for a Sales/Use Tax License with the Wyoming Department of Revenue's Excise Tax Division before making sales.

Register as an Employer Before You Hire

Before paying any employees, register with Wyoming's Department of Workforce Services through its WYUI employer portal, which handles both unemployment insurance and workers' compensation registration together rather than as two separate filings.

Know Wyoming's Ongoing Costs

Wyoming has no individual or corporate income tax and no franchise or privilege tax, so an LLC's main recurring state-level cost is the annual report license tax: $60, or two-tenths of one mill on the dollar ($.0002) of the company's Wyoming assets, whichever is greater, due every year on the first day of the LLC's anniversary month. Missing this deadline makes the LLC delinquent the next day, and the state administratively dissolves it if it's still not filed within 60 days, with reinstatement costing $100.

Wyoming's Tax Advantages Mainly Help Businesses That Actually Operate There

Wyoming's lack of income tax and modest annual report tax make it an inexpensive state to maintain a business in, but if the business doesn't actually operate in Wyoming, forming there typically means also registering as a foreign entity in the state where the business really operates, which adds a second filing fee and registered agent requirement. Weigh this against any savings before choosing Wyoming purely for its tax treatment.

An Optional Trade Name Filing Still Isn't Liability Protection

Because Wyoming doesn't require registering a trade name, some businesses skip it entirely; either way, a trade name filing, where used, doesn't create a separate legal entity or limit personal liability. That protection comes only from forming an LLC or corporation.

Don't Miss the 60-Day Window Before Dissolution

Wyoming moves relatively quickly from a missed annual report to administrative dissolution, just 60 days past the due date. Set a reminder tied to your LLC's specific anniversary month rather than a generic calendar date.

Joint Employer Registration Simplifies One Step, Not All of Them

While Wyoming combines unemployment insurance and workers' compensation registration into one WYUI filing, this doesn't cover federal payroll tax withholding or other employer obligations, which still need separate attention once you hire.

This Is Not Legal or Tax Advice

Which structure, filings, and registrations fit a specific business depend on its industry and where it actually operates. Talk to a tax professional if you're considering Wyoming primarily for its tax treatment rather than because the business operates there.