Vendor setup
Register a business in Idaho
The filing office, forms, steps and next stops for registering a business in Idaho. Every line shows the official page it came from, and the day we read it.
The order to do it in
Choose a business type and get your EIN first. Then file with the state filing office below, and check your city and county before you start work.
Filing office
- Idaho entities are registered with the Secretary of State through the SOSBiz online system. Idaho Secretary of State, as of
Forming an LLC
- An Idaho LLC is formed by a Certificate of Organization, filed online at SOSBiz or on paper. Filing online avoids the manual processing fee. Idaho Secretary of State, as of
- Certificate of Organization base filing fee: $100 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Idaho Secretary of State, as of
- Manual processing fee, added on a paper filing: $20 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Idaho Secretary of State, as of
Forming a corporation
- An Idaho corporation is formed by Articles of Incorporation, filed online at SOSBiz or on paper. Idaho Secretary of State, as of
- Articles of Incorporation base filing fee: $100 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Idaho Secretary of State, as of
- Manual processing fee, added on a paper filing: $20 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Idaho Secretary of State, as of
Annual or biennial report
- Idaho corporations and LLCs file annual reports with the Secretary of State, mostly online through SOSBiz. Idaho Secretary of State, as of
Assumed name (DBA)
- Idaho registers assumed business names (DBAs) with the Secretary of State, on a Certificate of Assumed Business Name. Idaho Secretary of State, as of
- Certificate of Assumed Business Name, base fee: $25 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Idaho Secretary of State, as of
- Manual processing fee, added on a paper filing: $20 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Idaho Secretary of State, as of
State tax registration
- Idaho businesses register for tax permits (such as a seller’s permit) through the Idaho Business Registration process with the State Tax Commission. Idaho State Tax Commission, as of
Statewide business licence
- Idaho does not have a state business licence. Registering a business is a registration, not a licence. Local cities and counties may require their own. Idaho Business.Idaho.gov (State of Idaho), as of
State rules for pool, lifeguard and contractor work
These lines point to the state’s own rules. Whether one applies to your work is for the state to say, so confirm with the agency named in each line.
- A Public Works Contractor licence is needed for publicly funded projects at or above the amount below. Private residential and commercial contractors need no Public Works Contractor licence, but DOPL says they should register as a general contractor. Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses, as of
- Publicly funded project size at which the licence is needed: $50,000 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses, as of
City and county licences
City and county licences vary by place. Check with your city hall or county clerk before you start work.
Sources
- Starting a Business Idaho Secretary of State. As of .
- Business Forms Idaho Secretary of State. As of .
- Business Entities FAQ Idaho Secretary of State. As of .
- Getting Tax Permits Idaho State Tax Commission. As of .
- Licenses, Permits and Registrations Idaho Business.Idaho.gov (State of Idaho). As of .
- Public Works Contractors FAQs Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses. As of .
Official pages change. Each line shows the day we last read it.
Last checked