How to start a business in Alabama
- Point of contact - Alabama Secretary of State
- P.O. Box 5616, Montgomery, AL 36103-5616
- Phone: (334) 242-7200
- Fax: (334) 242-4993
- Corporations
- Business name requirements - For-profit domestic and foreign corporations are required to reserve a corporate name. Alabama does not reserve names for the following: non-profit corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships or limited liability partnerships. Note that Alabama distinguishes between name registration & reservation.
- Fees
- Secretary of State: $40.00
- Minimum Probate Judge fee: $35.00
- Procedures - Your corporate name must include the word "Corporation" or "Incorporated" or an abbreviation of one of these words ("Inc." or "Corp."). File the original and two copies of the Articles of Incorporation and the Certificate of Name Reservation in the county where the corporation's registered office is located.
- LLC's
- Business name requirements - None
- Fees
- Secretary of State: $40.00
- Minimum Probate Judge fee: $35.00
- Procedures - Your corporate name must end with the words Limited Liability Company or an abbreviation of these words (L.L.C. or LLC). File the original and two copies of the Articles of Organization in the county where the LLC's registered office is located. The Probate Judge will collect the Secretary of State filing fee and forward it, along with the filed copy, to the Secretary of State.
- LLP's
- Business name requirements - None
- Fees
- Secretary of State: $40.00
- Minimum Probate Judge fee: $35.00
- Procedures - The name must contain the words Limited Liability Partnership or its abbreviations L.L.P. or LLP. File original and two copies of LLP registration in the Probate Judge's office in the county where the LLPs registered agent or office is located. The Probate Judge will collect the Secretary of State's filing fees. Annual notices are due on or before March 15. The Secretary of State will notify the LLPs registered agent of the annual notice filing during the month of January and provide an annual notice form.
Form Available From Secretary of State's Office Filing Fee For-profit Domestic Articles of Incorporation Guidelines $40 For-profit Domestic Articles of Amendment changing the corporate name $10 For-profit Corporation Change of Registered Agent/Office $5 For-profit Articles of Dissolution $20 Foreign Corporation Certificate of Authority $175 Foreign Corporation Amended Certificate of Authority $25 Foreign Corporation Withdrawal $20 Foreign Corporation Change of Registered Agent/Office $5 Domestic Limited Liability Company Articles of Organization Guidelines $40 LLC, LP and LLP Change of Registered Agent/Office $5 Foreign Limited Liability Company Registration $75 Non-profit Articles of Incorporation $20 Non-profit Articles of Amendment changing the corporate name $10 Non-profit Change of Registered Agent/Office $5 Non-profit Articles of Dissolution $5 Report of a Domestic Limited Partnership $5 Foreign Limited Partnership Registration $75 Foreign Limited Partnership Change of Registered Agent/Office $10 Name Reservation $10 Name Registration $1 per month Name Registration Renewal $12 Professional Association Renewal Trademark, Service Mark & Trade Name Application $30
