Idaho · Start a business

How to start a business in Idaho

Idaho has no state business license; any local licenses come from city or county clerks.

As of 4 min readVermilion Vitez Team

See the checklist
STATE FILING FEE$103FILEDSECRETARY OF STATEEINANNIVOPENIDAHO · 10 STEPSFrom structure to open door

Short answer

To start a business in Idaho, pick a structure and file with the Secretary of State: $103 for an LLC, $100 for a corporation's articles. Then name a registered agent, get an EIN and register for state taxes. Idaho has no general state business license.

Last checked .

What do you file before you open in Idaho?

  1. Pick a structure

    Most owners choose an LLC or a corporation; the S corp or C corp tax choice comes later. See Idaho LLC guide, Idaho corporation guide, S corp or C corp in Idaho. By trade: cleaning business, handyman.

  2. Check and register the name

    Search the Secretary of State records before you pick a name: state name search. The Idaho Secretary of State registers assumed business names, and its paper Certificate of Assumed Business Name lists a $25 base filing fee plus a $20 manual processing fee, $45 in total. 1 See Idaho name search guide.

  3. File with the state

    Idaho charges the state filing fee once: an LLC costs $103 2 and a corporation's articles of incorporation cost $100 3. See LLC cost.

  4. Name a registered agent

    An Idaho corporation must designate and maintain a registered agent in Idaho, and the address in the filing must be a street address in Idaho. 4 Our registered agent service runs through our partner Registered Agents Inc (RAI), the registered agent of record. See Idaho registered agent rules.

Which accounts do you open after you file in Idaho?

  1. Get an EIN

    An EIN is the business's federal tax ID. The IRS issues it online, for free, and warns about websites that charge for one. 5

  2. Open your state tax accounts

    The Idaho State Tax Commission requires businesses to register for certain tax permits, including seller's permits, through the Idaho Business Registration process, and employers also get an income tax withholding account. 6 See Sales tax permit.

  3. Register as an employer

    The Idaho Department of Labor taxes employers that paid $1,500 or more in wages in a calendar quarter or had workers in 20 different weeks, and its registration form is due within six months of becoming a covered employer. 7 Idaho employers report each new employee to the Idaho Department of Labor within 20 days of the date of hire. 8 The Idaho Industrial Commission requires workers' compensation coverage for employers with one or more full-time, part-time, seasonal or occasional employees unless exempt; exemptions include the owner of a sole proprietorship and working members of a partnership or limited liability company. 9

What keeps your Idaho business in good standing?

  1. Check licenses and permits

    Idaho does not have a state business license, and registering a business is a registration, not a license. Local business licenses and home occupation permits are handled by city and county clerk offices. 10

  2. Calendar the yearly filings

    Idaho annual report, due the last day of your formation anniversary month. 11 See Idaho annual report.

  3. Use free local help

    Small business advising in Idaho runs through the Idaho SBDC. 12 Business.Idaho.gov, maintained by the Idaho Small Business Development Center, has a Business Wizard that asks 4 questions to list the federal, state or local agencies a new business may need to contact. 13

What it costs to start a business in Idaho

$103to file an LLC 2
$100to file a corporation's articles 3
$25for an assumed business name 1
33,463business applications filed in Idaho in 2025 14

Do you need a business license in Idaho?

Not from the state. Idaho has no general state business license. 10 Where to look up licenses: Business.Idaho.gov.

How to register a business name in Idaho

QuestionIdaho
Where it is filedWith the state 1
OfficeSecretary of State
What it is calledassumed business name
Fee$25

Check that the name is free first: state name search.

Also in Idaho

  • Permanent Building Fund tax. The Idaho business portal lists a Permanent Building Fund Tax and says individuals and businesses pay a $10 per year tax. 15
  • Unemployment account for corporate officers. Idaho corporations whose owners or officers provide services must open an unemployment insurance tax account with the Idaho Department of Labor and either report wages or opt out as a corporate officer. 16

More for Idaho

5.0 on Google 17 reviews Vinny and Ray (888) 419-0771 Filed right, or we fix it free
Ready to file?

Start your Idaho business

We file it, and the state fee shows before you pay.

Start my LLC
ORDER YOUR FILING

Form your Idaho LLC

We file it for $123.75 plus the state fee, with the total shown before you pay.

  1. 1State & name
  2. 2Ownership & agent
  3. 3Add-ons
  4. 4Review & pay

Where are you forming, and what is it called?

Your state and entity type set the filing fee. Your total updates the moment you pick them.

Entity type

No name yet? Generate a few, free, no email asked. · Compare what every state charges

Your total
Formation service fee$123.75
State filing feeSelect a state
Card processing fee—
TotalSelect a state to see your total

“Ray and Vinny explained LLC formation and asset protection in plain English. No pressure, just real guidance.”

James R. · January 2026

Founded 2023 · 5.0 on Google, 17 reviews · Stripe handles your card · If we make a filing error, we refile free

If we ever charge your card for something you did not choose, tell us within 60 days and we refund it in full.

Common questions

What are the steps to start a business in Idaho?

Pick a structure, file with the Secretary of State, name a registered agent, get an EIN, register for state taxes with the Idaho State Tax Commission, then handle hiring, licenses, yearly filings and local help.

What does it cost to register a business in Idaho?

In Idaho, an LLC filing is $103 and a corporation's articles of incorporation are $100.

Can I start a business in Idaho with no money?

Idaho charges $103 to file an LLC. An EIN is the business's federal tax ID. The IRS issues it online, for free, and warns about websites that charge for one. The Idaho Small Business Development Center, based at Boise State University, has six office locations across the state and offers consulting at no cost.

Are there small business grants in Idaho?

The U.S. Small Business Administration says it does not provide grants for starting or expanding a business; its grants go to nonprofits, resource partners and educational organizations.

What is the Idaho SBDC?

The Idaho Small Business Development Center, based at Boise State University, has six office locations across the state and offers consulting at no cost.

Sources 17 links, checked Nov 12, 2026
  1. DBA or trade name registration sos.idaho.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  2. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings sos.idaho.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  3. Corporation filing sos.idaho.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
  4. Registered agent rule legislature.idaho.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
  5. IRS: employer identification number irs.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  6. State tax registration tax.idaho.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  7. Unemployment insurance registration labor.idaho.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  8. New hire reporting labor.idaho.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  9. Workers' compensation coverage iic.idaho.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  10. General business license business.idaho.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  11. Idaho annual report sosbiz.idaho.gov, checked Sep 1, 2026
  12. Small Business Development Center idahosbdc.org, checked Nov 12, 2026
  13. State business portal business.idaho.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  14. US Census Bureau, Business Formation Statistics (monthly file, 2025 added up) census.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  15. Permanent Building Fund tax business.idaho.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  16. Unemployment account for corporate officers business.idaho.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  17. SBA: grants sba.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026

Last verified Nov 12, 2026.

This page explains the rules; it is not legal or tax advice.

Start my LLC