11 · jurisdiction profile

District of Columbia business filings, made easier to navigate.

This is the practical starting point for researching entities administered by District of Columbia Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, Corporations Division. Find the public search tool, understand the state’s filing rhythm, and plan the evidence and maintenance steps that follow.

Open official entity search ↗

Domestic LLC

$99.00 for domestic LLC Articles of Organization through CorpOnline, with the current fee schedule controlling. The District's public business checklist gives corporate-registration costs as approximately $80–$220 depending on entity and filing; same-day walk-in service adds $100 and three-day service adds $50. The LLC must designate a DC registered agent and then register for District taxes/licenses separately.

Domestic corporation

$99.00 for a standard domestic for-profit corporation with up to $100,000 authorized capital; higher authorized-capital tiers can increase the fee, including a publicly listed $550 tier for $100,001–$500,000. Nonprofit formation is separately listed at $80. The filing is through CorpOnline and may be subject to the $50 three-day or $100 same-day expedite fee.

Standard turnaround

The DC Business Portal states corporate registration generally takes 1–15 business days, depending on filing type and review. CorpOnline provides instant receipts and 24/7 access, but an instant receipt is not the same as acceptance. Mail and walk-in filings can be slower, while web-eligible expedited filings can use the published three-day or same-day service.

Executive overview

What this state profile helps you decide

A state registry profile has two jobs. First, it tells you where the official record lives and how to search it. Second, it gives you enough compliance context to understand what the record means after you find it.

For District of Columbia, the filing office is District of Columbia Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, Corporations Division. The current public-facing portal is powered or identified as CorpOnline / Access DC; BOSS transition announced for August 2026. The agency page and search engine should be treated as the final source for live forms, accepted payment methods, processing queues, and entity-specific notices.

Use this page when you need a high-level answer. Use the linked modules when you are preparing an actual filing, trying to cure a delinquency, ordering documentary evidence, or changing the statutory agent.

State filing snapshot

The numbers and obligations to surface first

Decision point	What the current profile says
Domestic formation	LLC: $99.00 for domestic LLC Articles of Organization through CorpOnline, with the current fee schedule controlling. The District's public business checklist gives corporate-registration costs as approximately $80–$220 depending on entity and filing; same-day walk-in service adds $100 and three-day service adds $50. The LLC must designate a DC registered agent and then register for District taxes/licenses separately. Corporation: $99.00 for a standard domestic for-profit corporation with up to $100,000 authorized capital; higher authorized-capital tiers can increase the fee, including a publicly listed $550 tier for $100,001–$500,000. Nonprofit formation is separately listed at $80. The filing is through CorpOnline and may be subject to the $50 three-day or $100 same-day expedite fee.
Foreign qualification	LLC: Foreign LLC registration is handled through CorpOnline; the current DLCP fee schedule must be selected by entity type and filing. The public business portal gives a broad $80–$220 registration range and the foreign-entity fee pages provide the exact category. The foreign LLC must provide a DC registered agent, home-jurisdiction information, and any certificate of good standing required by the form. Corporation: Foreign corporation registration is handled by the DLCP Corporations Division through CorpOnline and the applicable foreign-entity fee schedule. The exact fee depends on entity type, authorized capital, and filing category; confirm the 2026 schedule before payment. The corporation must appoint a DC registered agent and register for District tax and business-license accounts.
Recurring maintenance	LLC: DC entities file the BRA-25 Biennial Report. The first report is due by April 1 of the calendar year after registration and every two years thereafter. The public DLCP schedule lists a $300.00 biennial-report fee for domestic and foreign filing entities, plus a $100.00 late fee. The report updates principal office, registered agent, business affairs, and ownership/control information; false statements can carry criminal penalties. Corporation: DC for-profit and nonprofit corporations file the same BRA-25 biennial report cycle, due April 1 in the applicable year. For-profit corporation biennial reports are generally $300.00 and nonprofit reports are generally $80.00 under the current public fee materials; the exact entity schedule controls. A $100.00 late fee is listed for delinquent reports. The report is separate from District corporate-franchise-tax returns and business-license renewals.
Registered agent	A DC registered agent must be an eligible individual resident or authorized entity with a physical District address for service of process. Agent name and registered office information are public and must remain current. The agent must be available to receive service; a mail-only address is not sufficient. DC forms and biennial reports also require disclosure of certain ownership/control information, but that is separate from agent eligibility.

Choose your next guide

01↗

Business lookup

A focused District of Columbia operating guide for business lookup.

02↗

Annual reports

A focused District of Columbia operating guide for annual reports.

03↗

Good standing

A focused District of Columbia operating guide for good standing.

04↗

Registered agent

A focused District of Columbia operating guide for registered agent.

Formation is the beginning, not the compliance plan

The cheapest formation route is not always the simplest operating route. Before filing, confirm the name standard, statutory agent requirements, authorized-share or member information, local licensing, tax registrations, and any professional-entity restrictions that apply to the planned activity.

After formation, calendar the first report or statement immediately. A newly created entity may have a first-year exception, an anniversary-month due date, a quarterly filing window, or a separate tax obligation. Treat the agency record, revenue department account, and local license file as related—but separate—workstreams.

How to use the official record responsibly

Save the entity ID, legal name, status, registered agent and office, formation or qualification date, and the most recent filed document. When a third party asks for “proof,” ask whether it needs a current certificate, certified charter, tax clearance, apostille, or a plain search result. Those are different documents with different evidentiary value.