You are starting a business in Hartford and want to set it up the right way: pick the entity, file with the state, split ownership cleanly, and keep your personal assets protected. Most of this runs through the Connecticut Secretary of the State, which sits right here in Hartford. Below are vetted Hartford and Connecticut firms that handle LLC and business formation, operating agreements, and the early-stage legal work that saves you trouble later.
Updated May 9, 2026
Forming a business is two jobs. The first is filing: in Connecticut you create an LLC by filing a Certificate of Organization with the Secretary of the State and paying $120. You can do that yourself online. The second job is the part that protects you, choosing the right entity, writing an operating agreement among the owners, and setting up the company so your personal house and savings stay separate from business debts. That second job is where a Hartford business lawyer earns the fee.
A good formation lawyer does more than file paperwork. They help you decide between an LLC, an S-corp, and a C-corp based on how you plan to make money and pay yourself, draft an operating agreement that spells out ownership and what happens if a partner leaves, register you with the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services for state taxes, and flag licenses you need before you open. If you have a co-founder, the operating agreement is the single most important document you will sign.
Talk to a Hartford business formation lawyer if any of the following fits your situation.
Step 1 is choosing a name and confirming it is available with the Secretary of the State. Step 2: filing the Certificate of Organization and naming a registered agent with a Connecticut address. The state usually processes online filings within a few business days. Step 3, the one people skip, is the operating agreement among the owners. Step 4 is getting an EIN from the IRS, opening a business bank account, and registering with the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services. After that, you file an annual report with the state every year and pay the $80 fee. A lawyer can do the whole setup as a flat-fee package, and for a multi-owner business the operating agreement is worth doing carefully.
Most Hartford business lawyers bill $250 to $450 an hour, but formation is usually sold as a flat fee. A simple single-owner LLC setup with a basic operating agreement often runs $750 to $1,200; a multi-owner company with a custom operating agreement, ownership splits, and tax planning runs $1,500 to $2,000 or more. On top of legal fees you pay the state's $120 filing fee and, every year after, the $80 annual report fee. Ask for the flat fee in writing and confirm whether it includes the operating agreement and the EIN.
Updated May 9, 2026. Verified across Super Lawyers, Avvo, Justia, 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.
A downtown Hartford business firm that treats entity formation as one piece of a larger plan, advising on governance, contracts, commercial transactions, and compliance. A strong fit for owners who want a lawyer who stays on as general counsel after the LLC is filed.
A long-established Connecticut firm whose business attorneys have guided many clients through entity formation and the state filings that go with it. A good fit for owners who want experienced local counsel and a firm that also handles disputes if one comes up.
A Connecticut firm serving clients from Hartford, Manchester, and New Britain, with a corporate practice that includes LLC formation and ongoing business counsel. A fit for small and mid-size companies that want straightforward setup and someone to call as the business grows.
A Connecticut business firm that routinely forms LLCs, limited partnerships, S-corporations, and C-corporations, and offers part-time general counsel and outside business-law services. A fit for founders who want entity choice and tax structure handled together.
A Connecticut business team that helps owners choose among the available entity types and complete formation, with experience representing small business clients. A solid choice for a first-time owner who wants the options explained in plain English before filing.
Tell us briefly what you are building. We route a confidential request to a best-fit Hartford firm in this directory. No obligation, and most offer a free first consultation.