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What to do after you form an LLC

The week after the state approves your LLC: EIN, operating agreement, a Relay account, and how to pay vendors with Melio.

Last reviewed Oct 30, 2026. Written by New Bank Account.

The state approval is a PDF and a date. The company can take payments, sign a contract, and open a bank account only after you finish the next few steps. This is the order we use. It is not legal or tax advice.

1. Save the filed documents

Download the articles of organization, or whatever your state calls the filing, from Bizee or from the state. You will upload them to the bank. If Bizee filed it, the formation walkthrough is how to open an LLC.

2. Get the EIN

The IRS issues an Employer Identification Number and does not charge for it (IRS). A package may file this for you. If you do it yourself, use the IRS site, not a search ad. Banks ask for this number when the account is in the company's name. The document list is in what you need to open a business bank account.

3. Write down who can sign

A single-member LLC is still a company, and you are the person who signs. A multi-member LLC should already know who may open the account. The bank will identify the people who own or control the company. That is covered in business checking for an LLC.

4. Open the business account

The Small Business Administration says to open a business account so company money stays separate from personal money (SBA). Our editor's choice for a new business account is Relay. Relay is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services are provided by Thread Bank, Member FDIC. The fee and savings rate on our Relay card are copied from Relay's pricing page.

Open a Relay account

Put every client payment and every business bill through that account. Mixing them back into a personal account undoes the reason you formed the company. Keep the statements. The IRS recordkeeping page is the standard (IRS recordkeeping).

5. Pay vendors without forcing them onto a card

Some vendors will not take a card. Melio charges your card and sends the vendor a bank transfer or a check. The fee and the arrival date are on the screen before you confirm. The full walkthrough is how to pay business bills with a credit card.

Pay a vendor with Melio

Questions people ask

Is the LLC real on the day I pay Bizee?
No. It is real when the state approves the filing and you have the filed documents. Paying a formation service starts the process.
What is the first thing the bank will ask for?
Usually the filed articles, an EIN, and ID for the owners. The full list is in our LLC checking guide. We do not publish a minimum deposit until we copy it from the provider.
Which account should a new LLC open?
Our editor's choice for a new business account is Relay. Relay is not a bank. Thread Bank provides the banking services. Confirm the current fee on Relay's site.
How do I pay a vendor who will not take a card?
Melio lets you pay with your card and delivers a bank transfer or a check to the vendor. Read the fee on the confirmation screen.

Sources

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