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LLC Cost by State
Where you form your LLC changes what you pay — at filing, and every year after. This tool compares the base state fee estimates for all 50 states and DC, so you can sort by filing fee, yearly cost, or base fee budget and check the recurring cost and any excluded charges.
The state fee is one part of the bill.
Compare filing fees and ongoing costs separately. The base budget excludes agent services, accounting, other-state registration and variable charges. It is not a first-year payment schedule.
Base government fees checked September 10, 2026: Wyoming, Delaware and California. Other states retain earlier estimates and need confirmation. No personal income tax does not mean no business taxes.
51 of 51 states
| State | Filing fee | Recurring | Ongoing / year | Base fee budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona Low filingPublication required Earlier estimate · verify | $50 | None Newspaper publication required (except Maricopa/Pima) | $0 | $50 |
| Iowa Low filing Earlier estimate · verify | $50 | Biennial report | $15 | $50 |
| Mississippi Low filing Earlier estimate · verify | $50 | Annual report (free) Annual report required but $0 | $0 | $50 |
| Missouri Low filingNo annual report Earlier estimate · verify | $50 | None No annual report | $0 | $50 |
| New Mexico Popular Low filingNo annual reportPrivacy-friendly Earlier estimate · verify | $50 | None No annual report | $0 | $50 |
| Kentucky Low filingLow annual Earlier estimate · verify | $40 | Annual report | $15 | $55 |
| Montana Low filing Earlier estimate · verify | $35 | Annual report $20/yr report fee — waived by the Secretary of State through 2027 | $20 | $55 |
| Hawaii Low filing Earlier estimate · verify | $50 | Annual report | $15 | $65 |
| Colorado Low filing Earlier estimate · verify | $50 | Periodic report | $25 | $75 |
| Michigan Low filing Earlier estimate · verify | $50 | Annual statement | $25 | $75 |
| Utah Low filingLow annual Earlier estimate · verify | $59 | Annual renewal | $18 | $77 |
| Indiana Earlier estimate · verify | $95 | Biennial report | $16 | $95 |
| Ohio No annual report Earlier estimate · verify | $99 | None No annual report | $0 | $99 |
| District of Columbia High annual cost Earlier estimate · verify | $99 | Biennial report | $150 | $99 |
| Idaho Earlier estimate · verify | $100 | Annual report (free) Annual report required but $0 | $0 | $100 |
| Nebraska Publication required Earlier estimate · verify | $100 | Biennial report Newspaper publication required | $6.5 | $100 |
| South Carolina No annual report Earlier estimate · verify | $110 | None No annual report (unless taxed as an S-corp) | $0 | $110 |
| Oklahoma Earlier estimate · verify | $100 | Annual certificate | $25 | $125 |
| West Virginia Earlier estimate · verify | $100 | Annual report | $25 | $125 |
| Louisiana Earlier estimate · verify | $100 | Annual report | $30 | $130 |
| Pennsylvania Low annual Earlier estimate · verify | $125 | Annual report New annual report as of 2025 | $7 | $132 |
| Virginia Earlier estimate · verify | $100 | Annual registration fee | $50 | $150 |
| Minnesota Earlier estimate · verify | $155 | Annual renewal (free) Annual renewal required but $0 | $0 | $155 |
| Wisconsin Earlier estimate · verify | $130 | Annual report | $25 | $155 |
| Kansas Earlier estimate · verify | $160 | Biennial report | $25 | $160 |
| Wyoming Popular No income taxPrivacy-friendly Base fees checked · Sep 10, 2026 Wyoming Secretary of State — Articles instructions ↗Wyoming Secretary of State — annual report FAQ ↗ | $100 | Annual report (license tax) $60 min, based on in-state assets | $60+ | $160+ |
| Georgia Earlier estimate · verify | $110 | Annual registration Includes $10 service charge added Sept 2025 | $60 | $170 |
| North Dakota Earlier estimate · verify | $135 | Annual report | $50 | $185 |
| Arkansas Low filing Earlier estimate · verify | $45 | Annual franchise tax Flat $150 franchise tax | $150 | $195 |
| Alabama Earlier estimate · verify | $200 | Business Privilege Tax (conditional) No privilege-tax filing/payment when calculated tax is $100 or less; above that threshold, tax depends on apportioned net worth. $0 is the exempt baseline, not a universal exemption. Alabama DOR 2026 instructions checked September 28, 2026: https://www.revenue.alabama.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/26fcptinstr.pdf | $0+ | $200+ |
| Connecticut Earlier estimate · verify | $120 | Annual report | $80 | $200 |
| New Hampshire No income tax Earlier estimate · verify | $100 | Annual report | $100 | $200 |
| New Jersey Earlier estimate · verify | $125 | Annual report | $75 | $200 |
| New York Publication required Earlier estimate · verify | $200 | Biennial statement Newspaper publication required (~$300–$1,500+ by county) | $4.5 | $200 |
| Oregon Earlier estimate · verify | $100 | Annual report | $100 | $200 |
| Rhode Island Earlier estimate · verify | $150 | Annual report | $50 | $200 |
| Vermont Earlier estimate · verify | $155 | Annual report | $45 | $200 |
| South Dakota No income tax Earlier estimate · verify | $150 | Annual report | $55 | $205 |
| Illinois Earlier estimate · verify | $150 | Annual report | $75 | $225 |
| Alaska No income tax Earlier estimate · verify | $250 | Biennial report | $50 | $250 |
| Maine Earlier estimate · verify | $175 | Annual report | $85 | $260 |
| Florida Popular No income tax Earlier estimate · verify | $125 | Annual report | $138.75 | $263.75 |
| Washington No income tax Earlier estimate · verify | $200 | Annual report | $70 | $270 |
| Texas Popular No income tax Earlier estimate · verify | $300 | Public Information Report (free) Franchise tax — no tax due below ~$2.65M revenue (2026); report still required | $0 | $300 |
| North Carolina High annual cost Earlier estimate · verify | $125 | Annual report | $200 | $325 |
| Maryland High annual cost Earlier estimate · verify | $100 | Annual report (PPR) $300 min Personal Property Return | $300 | $400 |
| Delaware Popular Privacy-friendly Base fees checked · Sep 10, 2026 Delaware Division of Corporations — August 2026 fee schedule ↗Delaware Division of Corporations — LLC annual tax ↗Delaware enacted HB 400 — sections 23 and 45 ↗ | $110 | Annual franchise tax $400 annual LLC tax for 2026 onward, due June 1 following the tax year; no LLC annual report | $400 | $510 |
| Tennessee No income taxHigh filing Earlier estimate · verify | $300 | Annual report $50/member ($300 min–$3,000 max) | $300 | $600 |
| Nevada Popular No income taxHigh filingHigh annual cost Earlier estimate · verify | $425 | Annual list + business license $150 annual list + $200 state business license | $350 | $775 |
| California Popular High annual cost Base fees checked · Sep 10, 2026 California Secretary of State — LLC fees ↗California FTB — LLC tax and fees ↗ | $70 | Annual franchise tax $800 annual LLC tax + $20 initial statement within 90 days, then $20 biennially; additional income-dependent fees and exceptions apply | $810+ | $890+ |
| Massachusetts High filingHigh annual cost Earlier estimate · verify | $500 | Annual report | $500 | $1,000 |
Want the raw numbers? Download or cite the open LLC-cost-by-state dataset (CSV / JSON, source-cited, CC BY 4.0) — or embed the table on your own site.
Workflow
How to use it
- 1 Search for a state, or sort the table by what matters to you.
- 2 Compare the one-time filing fee against the recurring annual cost.
- 3 Check the base fee budget and any franchise tax or publication note.
- 4 When you're ready, compare formation services or file directly with the state.
Why this matters
The headline “$0 LLC” offers hide the real cost: every state charges a filing fee, and most charge an annual report or franchise fee forever after. California’s $800/yr franchise tax dwarfs its $70 filing fee; Wyoming and New Mexico stay cheap year after year. If you’ll operate from one state, forming there usually beats registering as a “foreign LLC” twice — so compare the full multi-year picture, not just the sign-up price.
Frequently asked questions
Which state is the cheapest to form an LLC?
On the filing fee alone, Montana ($35), Kentucky ($40) and Arkansas ($45) are among the lowest. But the recurring cost matters more over time: New Mexico and Missouri pair a low filing fee with no annual report, which keeps the multi-year cost down. Sort the table by base fee budget or yearly cost to see it.
Should I form my LLC in Delaware, Wyoming, or my home state?
If your business operates from one state, forming in that state is usually simplest and cheapest — forming elsewhere often means registering as a “foreign LLC” back home too, paying both sets of fees. Delaware and Wyoming shine for specific reasons (investor familiarity, privacy, no state income tax), not as a default. This is general information, not legal advice — ask an attorney or CPA about your situation.
What ongoing fees does an LLC have?
Most states require an annual or biennial report with a fee, and some add a franchise or privilege tax — California’s $800/yr is the most famous. A few states, like Ohio, Missouri and New Mexico, have no annual report at all. The “Per year” column shows the recurring cost amortized over its filing cycle.
Do these fees include a formation service?
No — these are the state government’s fees only. A formation service or registered agent charges its own fee on top, sometimes $0 plus state fees, sometimes $100–$300. Always confirm the current state fee on the official Secretary of State website before you file.
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