Alabama Secretary of State
Form your Alabama LLC, Corporation, or Nonprofit with chat-first AI business formation. State filing, registered agent, EIN, and ongoing compliance workflows — connected from the start.
Alabama Business Filing Overview
The Office of the Secretary of State is the state authority responsible for registering LLCs, corporations, nonprofits, and other business entities in Alabama. The standard LLC formation fee is $200 with a processing time of 5-7 days. Online filing is available.
Alabama Entity Requirements
State-specific governance rules for Alabama LLCs, Corporations, and Nonprofits.
Members
| Minimum required | 1 |
|---|---|
| Residency required | No |
Management Structure
| Default | Member Managed |
|---|
May be directed by members, managers, or another governance structure as specified in the LLC agreement
Operating Agreement
| Required to file | Yes |
|---|
An LLC agreement must be entered into; it may be written, oral, or implied and is not filed with the state.
Annual Meeting
| Required | No |
|---|
No statutory requirement for annual meetings
Formation Filings in Alabama
These are the primary documents filed with the Office of the Secretary of State to create a new legal entity. Each entity type has different requirements, fees, and processing times.
Articles of Incorporation
Corporation| Agency: | Secretary of State |
|---|---|
| Filing Fee: | $200 + processing fee if filing online |
| Processing Time: | 5-7 days |
| Filing Method: | Online or Mail |
| Law: | AL Code § 10A-2A-1.01 et seq. |
What to know
- Includes authorized shares and par value
- Names the registered agent
- Sets the corporation's purpose
Articles of Organization
LLC| Agency: | Secretary of State |
|---|---|
| Filing Fee: | $200 + processing fee if filing online |
| Processing Time: | 5-7 days |
| Filing Method: | Online or Mail |
| Law: | AL Code § 10A-5A-1.01 et seq. |
Alabama requires a Privilege License in addition to LLC formation.
What to know
- Names the registered agent and required filing contact information
- Sets the registered office address
- May include an optional effective date
Articles of Incorporation (Nonprofit)
Nonprofit| Agency: | Secretary of State |
|---|---|
| Filing Fee: | $100 + processing fee if filing online |
| Processing Time: | 5-7 days |
| Filing Method: | Online or Mail |
| Law: | AL Code § 10A-3-1.01 et seq. |
What to know
- Public benefit purpose statement required
- Asset dedication language for IRS
- Members or directors structure
Foreign Qualification
LLCCorporation| Agency: | Secretary of State |
|---|---|
| Filing Fee: | $150 + processing fee if filing online |
| Processing Time: | 5-7 days |
| Filing Method: | Online or Mail |
What to know
- Required when operating, hiring employees, or owning property in another state
- Needs Certificate of Good Standing from home state
- Creates registered agent and annual report obligations in the new state
Ongoing Compliance in Alabama
After formation, Alabama entities must maintain ongoing filings to remain in good standing. Missing deadlines can result in late fees, administrative dissolution, and loss of liability protection.
Annual Report
LLCCorporationNonprofit| Agency: | Secretary of State |
|---|---|
| Filing Fee: | $100 + processing fee if filing online |
| Processing Time: | Immediate (online) |
| Filing Method: | Online or Mail |
| Due Date: | April 15 |
| Filing Period: | Annual |
What to know
- Due date varies by state (often anniversary date or fixed month)
- Filing fees range $10–$825 by state
- Failure to file results in administrative dissolution
Amendment to Formation Documents
LLCCorporationNonprofit| Agency: | Secretary of State |
|---|---|
| Filing Fee: | $50 + processing fee if filing online |
| Processing Time: | 5-7 days |
| Filing Method: | Online or Mail |
What to know
- Board or member approval typically required
- Certified copy may be needed for banks and contracts
- Most states allow online amendment filing
Articles of Dissolution
LLCCorporationNonprofit| Agency: | Secretary of State |
|---|---|
| Filing Fee: | $100 + processing fee if filing online |
| Processing Time: | 5-7 days |
| Filing Method: | Online or Mail |
| Tax Clearance: | Not required |
What to know
- May require tax clearance before filing
- Assets must be distributed before dissolution
- Protects against future liability claims
Change of Registered Agent
LLCCorporationNonprofit| Agency: | Secretary of State |
|---|---|
| Filing Fee: | $25 + processing fee if filing online |
| Processing Time: | 5-7 days |
| Filing Method: | Online or Mail |
What to know
- Must be maintained at all times
- Registered agent must be available during business hours
- Can be an individual or registered agent service
Document Retrieval in Alabama
Certified documents from the Office of the Secretary of State are often required by banks, investors, lenders, and for foreign qualification in other states.
Certificate of Good Standing
LLCCorporationNonprofit| Agency: | Secretary of State |
|---|---|
| Filing Fee: | $14 + processing fee if filing online |
| Processing Time: | 1-2 days |
| Filing Method: | Online or Mail |
What to know
- Required by most banks when opening accounts
- Needed for foreign qualification in other states
- Typically valid for 30–90 days
Apostille
LLCCorporationNonprofit| Agency: | Secretary of State |
|---|---|
| Filing Fee: | $10 |
| Processing Time: | 5-10 days |
| Filing Method: | Mail Only |
What to know
- Required for international business expansion
- Issued by Secretary of State office
- Attaches to formation documents and good standing certificates
Alabama Tax Snapshot
Understanding Alabama's tax environment is critical for choosing the right formation state and planning your entity's ongoing obligations.
Alabama has a state income tax (2–5% individual, 6.5% corporate). Local sales taxes can add 4–8% on top of the state rate.
Alabama Agency Directory
Key government agencies for Alabama business formation, tax registration, and employer compliance.
Office of the Secretary of State
Primary filing authority for Alabama business entities
Secretary of State — Business Division
Entity formation, annual reports, amendments
Alabama Department of Revenue
State income tax, sales tax, business privilege tax
Alabama Department of Labor
Employer registration, unemployment insurance, workers' compensation
Form your Alabama entity today.
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