Entities
Articles of organization
Also known as Certificate of formation
Articles of organization is the document filed with a US state to create an LLC. It typically lists the company name, its registered agent and address, and its management structure. Once the state accepts it, the LLC legally exists. Some states call it a certificate of formation.
In plain terms: The form that brings the company into existence.
Why it matters
Filing it creates the entity and does nothing else. It does not register you for tax, get you a bank account, or permit you to operate in another state. Founders regularly assume the certificate is the finish line when it is closer to the starting gun.
Read the full guideUS company formation