Who this is for: You want Durable to form a new U.S. LLC or C-Corp, including state filing, EIN, and registered agent services.
If your company is already formed, use Add Details for an Already Formed Business instead.
Durable's Business Formation feature can legally establish a new U.S. business for you, including state filings, EIN acquisition, and registered agent services.
Open Business Formation from the left-hand navigation menu in your Durable dashboard, then click Get started.
Form your company
Choose your company structure
From the Business Formation section, click Get started.
Select your desired entity type: LLC (Limited Liability Company) or C-Corp (C Corporation).
Click Next.
Determine your residency
Answer the question: Are you personally based in the U.S.?
If you select No, choose your Country of residence (e.g., "Canada") and answer Does anyone who owns this company have a U.S. SSN or ITIN?
EIN processing typically takes 1-2 business days with a U.S. tax ID (SSN/ITIN), or about 6-8 weeks without one.
Click Next.
Select your state of formation
Choose the state where you want to form your business from the Which state do you want to form your business in? dropdown (e.g., "Arizona").
It is generally recommended to form your business in the state where you live or primarily conduct business.
Click Next.
Name your company
Enter your desired Company name (e.g., "Your Business Name").
Select the appropriate legal ending (e.g., LLC, L.L.C., Limited Liability Company). Durable may pre-fill this based on your entity type.
Click Next.
Review payment
Review the summary of services, which typically includes state filing, formation documents, EIN, and registered agent services.
View the cost breakdown, including the annual Business Formation fee (e.g., $150/year) and the one-time state filing fee (e.g., $85.00 for Arizona).
Click Pay now.
On the secure checkout page, enter your contact email (e.g., [email protected]) and payment card details.
Click Subscribe to complete your purchase.
Add backup names (optional)
You can provide up to two alternate names for your business in case your primary choice is unavailable.
Click Next.
Provide a business description
Select your Industry from the dropdown (e.g., "Marketing services").
Enter a brief Business description. This information is used for your IRS application.
Click Next.
Choose your registered address
Decide Where will your company be registered? You can choose Use our address (Durable's address, with mail scanning services) or Use my own address.
If selecting Use my own address, enter the full address details.
Click Next.
Choose your mailing address
Decide Where will your company's mailing address be located? You can choose Use our address (letter mail only, no packages) or Use my own address.
If selecting Use my own address, enter the full address details.
Click Next.
Add owners
Specify Who owns the company? You can click Add yourself (which pre-fills your information) or Add a member.
For each owner, provide their Type (Individual/Company), First name, Last name, Phone, and Address.
You can optionally provide an SSN. Durable assists with SSN processing but does not store the number.
Click Add for each owner, then Next when all owners are added.
Define ownership split
Adjust the percentages for each owner under How is ownership split? The total must equal 100%.
Click Next.
Designate a responsible party
Select Who will be the designated responsible party? from the list of owners.
Confirm the email address for IRS communications and signing requests.
Click Next.
Review and submit
Review all the information you entered.
Check the box that states By checking the box, I confirm the accuracy...
Click Submit.
If you skipped providing an SSN, a modal will appear asking if you wish to Proceed without an SSN? You can choose Add SSN or Proceed without.
After you submit. Signing, status, and documents happen next. You do not start over in Business Formation.
Sign your formation documents
After submission, particularly for non-U.S. founders, you may need to sign IRS forms like Form SS-4. Durable provides an on-screen signature process:
Follow the prompts to sign Form SS-4.
Draw your signature using your mouse or trackpad.
Click I accept my signature.
Check the consent box for electronic signatures.
Click Sign all documents.
You will receive email reminders for any outstanding signatures. For expedited services, you may need to sign multiple forms.
Check your formation status
Track progress from Settings > Business formation:
Application submitted: Your application has been received.
Filed with [State]: Your application has been submitted to the state for processing.
EIN issued: Your Employer Identification Number has been obtained.
We hit a snag: Something needs your attention, such as Waiting for signature or New company name needed.
EIN processing can take about 6-8 weeks if no U.S. tax ID (SSN/ITIN) was provided.
Download your documents
Go to Settings from the left-hand menu.
Click Business formation.
Click the Documents tab.
You can download documents such as your signed SS-4 form, certificates of formation, and scanned government mail. Durable's registered agent service includes scanning and uploading letter mail; packages are not handled. Physical mail forwarding is an additional service.
What's next
After your business is formed, keep checking status and download documents as they become available. You can review the company details in Edit Your Business Information. For billing, renewal, or cancellation of the add-on, see Business Formation Add-on and Cancellation.