Updated May 28, 2026

Albuquerque · NM · Vetted Directory

LLC Formation Lawyers in Albuquerque

You are starting a business in Albuquerque and want it set up right — liability protection in place, the paperwork clean, and the tax side handled before you take your first dollar. New Mexico is one of the cheaper and simpler states to form an LLC: a $50 filing fee with the Secretary of State and no annual report. The pieces that trip people up are the operating agreement, gross receipts tax registration, and keeping the LLC separate enough to actually protect you. Below are vetted Albuquerque firms that handle business formation, most offering a free first consultation.

5
Vetted Firms
$50
NM LLC filing fee
$0
Annual report
Free
First consultations

When you need an Albuquerque LLC formation lawyer

You can file an LLC yourself through the New Mexico Secretary of State for $50, and plenty of simple one-owner businesses do exactly that. A lawyer earns their fee when the stakes go up — multiple owners, outside money, real property, employees, or a business where one lawsuit could wipe you out. The real protection of an LLC comes from the documents and habits around it, not just the filing, and that is where an Albuquerque business attorney is worth the cost.

Consider talking to an LLC formation lawyer in Albuquerque if any of the following fits:

  • You have business partners and need an operating agreement that spells out ownership, money, and what happens if someone leaves.
  • You are taking on investors or issuing membership interests.
  • Your business owns or leases real estate, or carries meaningful liability risk.
  • You are converting a sole proprietorship or partnership into an LLC.
  • You need to choose between an LLC, an S-corp tax election, or a corporation.
  • You are buying an existing business or bringing on a co-owner.
  • You want contracts — client agreements, leases, vendor terms — drafted alongside the formation.
  • You are not sure how New Mexico's gross receipts tax applies to what you sell.

How forming an LLC in New Mexico actually works

Step 1: pick and clear a name with the New Mexico Secretary of State. Step 2: appoint a registered agent with a New Mexico street address. Step 3: file the Articles of Organization online with the Secretary of State and pay the $50 fee — approval is often quick. Step 4: adopt an operating agreement; New Mexico does not file it, but it is the document that defines ownership and protects the liability shield, especially for single-member LLCs. Step 5: get an EIN from the IRS and open a separate business bank account. Step 6: register with the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department for a business tax (CRS) identification number and set up gross receipts tax. New Mexico does not require LLCs to file an annual report, so once you are set up, ongoing state paperwork is light.

What LLC formation costs in Albuquerque

$50
NM state filing fee
$0
Annual report fee
$500–$1,500
Typical attorney flat fee
Free
First consultation

The hard cost to form a New Mexico LLC is just the $50 state filing fee, and there is no annual report fee to keep it alive — one of the lowest ongoing burdens of any state. Many Albuquerque business attorneys handle a straightforward formation for a flat fee of roughly $500 to $1,500, which usually includes the filing, a registered agent for the first year, and a tailored operating agreement. More complex setups — multiple owners, investor terms, or an S-corp election — cost more. Ask any firm exactly what the flat fee covers and whether the operating agreement is custom or a template.

What's specific about New Mexico LLCs

  • Filing is cheap — $50. New Mexico charges a $50 fee to file Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State, among the lowest in the country.
  • No annual report for LLCs. Unlike most states, New Mexico does not require LLCs to file an annual report or pay an annual fee, so upkeep is minimal.
  • It's gross receipts tax, not sales tax. New Mexico taxes business through a gross receipts tax (GRT) rather than a traditional sales tax; you register with Taxation and Revenue for a CRS business tax ID.
  • Registered agent required. Your LLC must keep a registered agent with a physical New Mexico address to receive legal papers.
  • Operating agreements matter most for solos. Single-member LLCs in New Mexico still need a written operating agreement and clean finances to keep the liability shield from being pierced.

Albuquerque firms that handle business formation

Verified across Expertise.com, Justia, Avvo, and firm records. We do not accept payment for placement. Where a firm's aggregate client rating is not yet compiled, we say so rather than invent one.

1

Law 4 Small Business (L4SB)

Business formation & small bizAlbuquerqueFree consultation

An Albuquerque firm built around small-business and startup formation, from LLC filings to operating agreements and contracts. A strong fit for first-time founders who want a flat-fee package and ongoing access to a business lawyer as the company grows.

Free ConsultationStartup FocusFlat-Fee PackagesOperating Agreements
2

21st Century Law Office

Corporate formationAlbuquerqueFree consultation

An Albuquerque practice whose founding attorney has handled corporate formation for over 30 years, including Secretary of State filings and operating-agreement drafting. A good fit for owners who want experienced, hands-on guidance through the whole setup.

Free Consultation30+ YearsEntity FormationLocal NM
3

Briones Business Law Consulting

Business & entity lawAlbuquerqueFree consultation

An Albuquerque business attorney with decades of experience advising entrepreneurs and organizations on formation and ongoing business matters. A fit for founders who want strategic business counsel, not just a one-time filing.

Free ConsultationBusiness Counsel30+ YearsEntrepreneur-Focused
4

The Garrison Law Firm, LLC

Business, real estate & land useAlbuquerqueFree consultation

An Albuquerque firm experienced in corporate entity formation, business law, and real estate and land use. A good match when your new business will own property or your formation overlaps a real-estate deal.

Free ConsultationFormation + Real EstateLand UseLocal NM
5

Higgins Law

Business formation & disputesAlbuquerqueFree consultation

An Albuquerque practice that helps clients form corporations, partnerships, sole proprietorships, and LLCs, with experience resolving disputes through mediation in New Mexico's Second Judicial District Court. A fit for owners who want formation handled by someone who also knows how business disputes play out.

Free ConsultationEntity FormationDispute-AwareSecond Judicial District

Talk to an Albuquerque business formation lawyer — free.

Tell us briefly about your business and how you want it set up. We route a confidential request to a best-fit Albuquerque business firm in this directory. Getting the structure right early is far cheaper than fixing it later.

Submitting this form does not create an attorney-client relationship. Do not send confidential documents until you have signed an engagement letter.

Albuquerque LLC formation — FAQ

How much does it cost to form an LLC in New Mexico?
$50 to file with the Secretary of State, with no annual report fee. An Albuquerque attorney typically charges a flat ~$500–$1,500 including the filing, first-year agent, and operating agreement.
Do I even need a lawyer to start an LLC?
Not always — a simple solo business can self-file. A lawyer pays off with partners, investors, employees, property, or real liability risk.
Does New Mexico require an annual report?
No. New Mexico does not require an annual report or fee for LLCs. You still need a registered agent and current gross receipts tax.
What is gross receipts tax and does it apply to me?
New Mexico uses a gross receipts tax (GRT) instead of sales tax, and it can apply to services. Register for a CRS ID and ask how it hits what you sell.
Do single-member LLCs need an operating agreement?
Yes, in practice. Even solo LLCs need a written operating agreement and separate finances to protect the liability shield.
How fast can my LLC be formed?
Online filings are often processed within a few business days; EIN, bank account, and GRT registration add a little time.
LLC, S-corp, or corporation — which is right?
Depends on owners, profit, and taxes. Many start as an LLC and later elect S-corp treatment. Run the numbers with a lawyer or CPA.

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