CNR Consulting’s

Small Business Formation Compliance

Interested in Starting a Business? Begin here, to review business types and select a business structure.

Step 1: Apply for a Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Start by clicking this link here, which will take you to the landing page for the IRS application for EIN.
Please review steps 1 and 2 before selecting the blue button under option 3 that says, “Apply online now”.
After clearing that popup that warns you that this site is for authorized use only, click on the button to begin the application.
Under the type of legal structure you are applying for, select your preferred business type. Limited Liability Company (LLC) is the most common for small business entities. When you select continue the next screen will explain more about the business type you have selected; select continue again.
The next page will ask for the number of members in the LLC or Partnership (enter the correct number), and the state or territory where the business is physically located. (Kansas.) Select continue.
If you selected LLC, the next page will explain that you are single or multi-member member LLC and that you will be filing your business tax returns via a Schedule C added to your personal tax returns. Select continue.
The next page will ask why you are requesting an EIN. Select, ‘Started a new business.’ Click continue.
The next page is the Authentication page. Enter all your personal details here, including your Social Security Number. Make certain that the way you enter this information matches the information used to file your personal tax return. Under the option for ‘Choose One’, select that you are one of the owners or members of the LLC. Click Continue.
The next page is the addresses page. Enter your business address here. If you operate out of your home, make certain you enter that address exactly as it appears on your personal tax return. Enter your phone number, then confirm via selection if the address you entered is different from where you want business mail to be sent (such as a PO Box). Select continue.
On the next page, and after having confirmed through the Kansas Secretary of State that the name of your business is available, enter that business name here. If you plan to operate under a “doing business as” business name that differs from the name of the LLC, enter that here. Select the county and state where the business is located and where the Articles of Organization will be filed. Then select the LLC start date (current month & year). Select continue.
On the next page asking for additional details, select ‘No’ for all of them, unless you plan to hire any employees within one year; in which case select ‘Yes’ for that last question.
On the next page you will be asked what your business or organization does. Make the appropriate selection, then click continue. If you do not see what your business or organization does on this list, select “Other”.
The next page will confirm your selection or that you have selected ‘Other’ and will ask for what best describes your primary business activity. Make the appropriate selection here for ‘Products’, ‘Service’ or both, then select continue. You will then be asked to type the primary product or service you provide – enter your service description here in as few words as possible. Select continue.
The last page is the EIN confirmation page. Select to receive your letter online so that your EIN is generated and produced within minutes. You will need this to proceed to Step 2 below for registering your business in the State of Kansas. Select continue.

Step 2: Register with the Kansas Secretary of State (Online)

Start by clicking this link here, which will take you to the login page for the Secretary of State website.
Click the blue button to the right to create a new account.
Follow the prompts to enter all your business information to register a new LLC in Kansas, including entering the established Federal EIN. Select the business type that matches what you selected when registering your new business with the Internal Revenue Service.
Kansas industry codes can sometimes differ slightly from federal ones. Select the appropriate industry code from this list here.
Enter yourself as the registered agent.
Pay the fee ($160 online, $165 if mailed). Registering online shortens the registration process.
When you submit the registration, you should be presented with an option to generate the certificate of good standing.
Select yes, then pay the fee for filing your annual report. ~$60 registration fee.)
Once all steps are completed, the site will have generated your Articles of Organization. Be sure to save a copy of this to PDF.

**It is important to save all receipts and documents that are generated during the registration process. These will be your official registration and business formation documents for the State of Kansas, granting you the pleasure of operating a business entity in the state. Once the Secretary of State has created a business entity ID number for you, you can then move on to the KDOR and KDOL registrations.

Step 3: Register with the Kansas Department of Revenue (Online)

**These registrations are only necessary if you plan to hire employees, or if your business operation requires that you pay certain sales or other taxes to the state. If you unsure of what tax types you may be required to pay, review this list here to make that determination. The most common tax types for small businesses are Sales Tax (for product sales) and Withholding (for employees).

Start by clicking on this link here, which will take you the new registration page for the Kansas Department of Revenue.
The Kansas Department of Revenue is the agency with which we must register to pay the state payroll taxes, as well as various other sales and use, or other special business taxes.
Enter all the business information, then fill in the fields to create your username and password.
Complete the security questionnaire – be sure to note these questions and answers so that third party payroll services can login on your behalf to file payroll taxes.
Near the bottom of the registration form under Settings, select “Accounts“.
Click “yes” to receive email notifications, then click continue.
This system will either take you to the KDOR dashboard for business taxes, or it will prompt you to log in with your new credentials.
Once at the dashboard, select the option for “New Tax Registration”, then select withholding tax or whichever tax is applicable for the business you have formed. Repeat these steps if you will be subject to more than one tax type (Ex: Payroll & Sales)
Complete the tax account application and save. If you are registering for payroll tax, the system should automatically designate a quarterly withholding tax cadence. If it does not and asks you what you would like your cadence to be, select quarterly. For sales and other taxes, it is good practice to select the most frequent cadence available. (Monthly)
Submit, and like the Secretary of State registration, save every document produced by the KDOR during this process.
It may or may not issue you a withholding account number or other tax type number right away. If not, you will be notified by email when it has been generated. Once you have that number, you can move on to registering with the Kansas Department of Labor (if you registered a withholding tax account.)

Step 4: Register with the Kansas Department of Labor (Online)

Start by clicking on this link here, which will take you to the new registration page for the Kansas Department of Labor. The link to register is near the bottom of the page.
Fill in the two fields with the information exactly as it appears on your IRS form SS4 (EIN Letter). Click submit.
Under ‘New Establishments’, select the option to register the business for an unemployment tax account.
Follow all the prompts requesting the business information as it pertains to employees and your industry.
Submit your registration, then save all documents generated during this process, as these documents will determine your UI contribution rate, and will also be required when getting the workers compensation insurance policy established. (Required.)