Wyoming Business Guide
How to Start a Business in Wyoming
Everything you need to form your Wyoming LLC, corporation, or sole proprietorship, with exact fees, timelines, and step-by-step instructions.
Wyoming offers advantages for starting a business due to its tax structure. The state levies no personal income tax, no corporate income tax, and no franchise tax. Filing an LLC costs $100, and the annual report fee is $60 for entities with $300,000 or less in Wyoming assets.
This guide covers every step to start a business in Wyoming, from choosing your business structure through obtaining the necessary licenses.
Choosing Your Wyoming Business Structure
This is the first decision and it affects everything: taxes, liability, paperwork. If you are unsure, an LLC is the right default for most Wyoming small businesses.
| Entity Type | Liability Protection | Taxation | Wyoming Filing Fee | Annual Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LLC | Yes | Pass-through | $100 | $60 Annual Report (annual license tax) | Most small businesses |
| Corporation | Yes | Double (C-Corp) or pass-through (S-Corp) | $100 | $60 Annual Report (annual license tax) | Raising investment, stock options |
| Sole Proprietorship | No | Pass-through | $0 | $0 | Freelancers, side hustles |
| Partnership | No | Pass-through | $0 | $0 | 2+ owners (consider an LLC instead) |
8 Steps to Start Your Wyoming Business
- 1
Choose your business structure
LLC, corporation, or sole proprietorship. Each has different costs, tax treatment, and liability protection.
- 2
Pick and reserve your business name
Search the Wyoming Secretary of State, Business Division database. Reserve for $60 (120 days).
- 3
Appoint a registered agent
Must have a physical Wyoming street address. Can be yourself (free) or a service ($100 to $300 per year).
- 4
File your formation documents
Articles of Organization (LLC-ArticlesOrganization) ($100) or Articles of Incorporation (Profit Corporation, P-ArticlesIncorporation) ($100) with the Wyoming Secretary of State, Business Division.
- 5
Get your EIN from the IRS
Free, online, takes about 5 minutes. Do not pay anyone for this.
- 6
Register for a sales and use tax license if you make taxable sales
Through the Wyoming Department of Revenue, Excise Tax Division ($60 application fee). The state rate is 4%, and counties add their own option taxes, so the total depends on the county.
- 7
Get required licenses and permits
Wyoming has no general statewide business license.
- 8
Register for Wyoming taxes
Personal income tax: none.
How Much Does It Cost to Start a Business in Wyoming?
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| LLC filing fee (Wyoming Secretary of State, Business Division) Required | $100 | Online filings through WyoBiz are active as soon as the filing is completed. |
| Corporation filing fee Required | $100 | If forming a corporation instead |
| Annual Report (annual license tax) Required | $60 | The first day of the anniversary month of formation, every year. It may be filed up to 120 days before the due date. |
| Name reservation | $60 | 120 days |
| Registered agent service | $0 to $300/yr | Free if you serve as your own |
| EIN (IRS) Required | $0 | Always free |
| Business license | Varies | Wyoming has no general statewide business license. |
| Operating agreement | $0 to $500+ | Free template or attorney-drafted |
| Realistic LLC total (year 1) | $100 to $460 |
Start a Specific Business in Wyoming
How to Start a Courier and Delivery BusinessLicenses, permits, startup costs and first steps in WyomingRead the guide →How to Start a Catering BusinessLicenses, permits, startup costs and first steps in WyomingRead the guide →How to Start a Junk Removal BusinessLicenses, permits, startup costs and first steps in WyomingRead the guide →How to Start a Handyman BusinessLicenses, permits, startup costs and first steps in WyomingRead the guide →How to Start a Bakery BusinessLicenses, permits, startup costs and first steps in WyomingRead the guide →How to Start a Towing BusinessLicenses, permits, startup costs and first steps in WyomingRead the guide →How to Start a Coffee Shop BusinessLicenses, permits, startup costs and first steps in WyomingRead the guide →How to Start a Lawn Care BusinessLicenses, permits, startup costs and first steps in WyomingRead the guide →How to Start a Contractor Business: No State License, City Licenses in Cheyenne and Casper, and the 4% Nonresident BondLicenses, permits, startup costs and first steps in WyomingRead the guide →How to Start an Electrician Business: State Electrical Contractor License ($400), Master of Record and the Owner and 40-Acre ExemptionsLicenses, permits, startup costs and first steps in WyomingRead the guide →How to Start a Plumbing or HVAC Business: No State License, City Licenses in Cheyenne and Casper, and the State Limited-Electrical TrapLicenses, permits, startup costs and first steps in WyomingRead the guide →How to Start a Home Health Agency: $150 State License, Facility Fee Table Under W.S. 35-2-904 and the 2026 Certificate-of-Need RepealLicenses, permits, startup costs and first steps in WyomingRead the guide →
Starting a Business in Your Wyoming City
Which Wyoming Cities Require a Business License: Jackson $136 to $891, Rock Springs $75, Evanston $40, and No License From CountiesLocal licenses, permits and costsRead the guide →Wyoming Sales Tax Rates by County and Resort District: 4% State Rate, 4% to 7% by County, 9% Resort Districts, Rates Dated October 2026Local licenses, permits and costsRead the guide →Wyoming Liquor License Quota by City and County: Retail Licenses by Population, Bar and Grill Caps That Rise 2023 and 2028Local licenses, permits and costsRead the guide →Wyoming County Zoning, Building Permits and the 30-Day Permit Clock: 8 Counties Have No Zoning (2023 Survey) and HB0002 Starts July 2026Local licenses, permits and costsRead the guide →Wyoming Contractor Licensing City by City: Cheyenne $200 to $600, Gillette $75 to $500 Plus $5,000 Bond, Rock Springs $125, No State LicenseLocal licenses, permits and costsRead the guide →Wyoming Mobile Food Vendor Permits by City: Cheyenne $75 per Site, Gillette $75 per Truck, Rock Springs $25 a Month or $100 a YearLocal licenses, permits and costsRead the guide →Starting a Business on the Wind River Reservation: DOR Vendor License for Sales to Non-Members and the 2 Percent TERO FeeLocal licenses, permits and costsRead the guide →Doing Business in or Near Yellowstone and Grand Teton: Commercial Use Authorizations, the 3 to 5 Percent Fee and BLM and Forest PermitsLocal licenses, permits and costsRead the guide →
Wyoming Business Guides
Formation and Entity Types
- How to Start an LLC in Wyoming
- How to Start a Corporation in Wyoming
- Sole Proprietorship in Wyoming
- Wyoming LLC vs Corporation
- Benefits of a Wyoming LLC
- Wyoming Series LLC (W.S. 17-29-211)
- Register a Foreign LLC or Corporation in Wyoming
- How to Start a Nonprofit in Wyoming
- Form a Wyoming LLC as a Non-Resident
- Wyoming LLC Asset Protection
- Wyoming LLC Privacy
- Dissolve or Reinstate a Wyoming LLC or Corporation
- Wyoming LLC Annual Report and License Tax
- Wyoming LLC vs Delaware LLC
Licenses, Permits and Registrations
- Wyoming Business License
- Wyoming Trade Name Registration
- Wyoming Business Name Search
- How to Get an EIN in Wyoming
- How to Get a Resale Certificate in Wyoming
- Wyoming Home-Based Business Laws
- Wyoming Certificate of Good Standing
Taxes and Compliance
- Wyoming Business Taxes Explained for New Owners
- Wyoming Workers' Compensation
- Hiring Your First Employee in Wyoming
- Wyoming Business Personal Property Tax
- Wyoming Lodging Tax and Short-Term Rental Tax
- Wyoming Lodging Tax and Short-Term Rental Tax
- Get a Wyoming Sales and Use Tax License
Costs, Money and Services
Why Start a Business in Wyoming?
- Filing Articles of Organization for an LLC costs $100, the same as Articles of Incorporation for a profit corporation, and an online filing is active immediately.
- Wyoming levies no personal income tax, no corporate income tax and no franchise tax, so state entity costs are limited to filing and annual report fees.
- The annual report license tax is $60 for any entity holding $300,000 or less in assets located and employed in Wyoming, or $0.0002 per dollar of Wyoming assets above that.
- The state sales tax rate is 4% under W.S. 39-15-104, and the sales and use tax license itself is a one time $60 application fee.
- There is no general statewide business license; licensing is handled by industry regulators and by city clerks where the business operates.
Wyoming Business Resources
Wyoming Secretary of State, Business DivisionEntity filing, name search, online filingsos.wyo.gov →Wyoming Department of Revenue, Excise Tax DivisionSales tax permits, business tax registrationexcise-tax-div.wyo.gov →Wyoming SBDC NetworkFree business counseling and trainingwww.wyomingsbdc.org →SBA Wyoming District OfficeFederal loans, programs, and mentoringwww.sba.gov →
Frequently Asked Questions
- How long does it take to form an LLC in Wyoming?
- An LLC formed online through WyoBiz becomes active immediately upon completion of the filing. Paper filings are processed in the order received and take up to 15 business days.
- What does it cost to start an LLC in Wyoming in the first year?
- Filing Articles of Organization costs $100. The annual report fee is $60, due on the anniversary month of formation. If you make taxable sales, a sales and use tax license requires a one-time $60 application fee.
- Can a non-resident form a Wyoming LLC?
- Wyoming does not impose a residency requirement for forming an LLC. You can file Articles of Organization online through WyoBiz or submit a paper filing.
- What is the cheapest way to start a business in Wyoming?
- The cheapest way is to form an LLC by filing Articles of Organization, which costs $100 to file. The annual report costs $60 each year, due on the anniversary month of formation.
- Is an operating agreement required for a Wyoming LLC?
- The required formation document for an LLC is Articles of Organization, filed with the Secretary of State. An operating agreement is not a filing requirement.