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LLC Cost Calculator: every state's real fees (2026)

What an LLC actually costs — the one-time filing fee, the recurring state fee most guides gloss over, and the registered-agent line — for all 50 states + DC, verified against official sources.

By Abdullah Riahi, Founder & Editor·Last full 51-state audit June 13, 2026 · last verified change August 8, 2026
summarize

The short answer

Forming an LLC costs between $35 (Montana) and $500 (Massachusetts) in one-time state filing fees. After that, most states charge a recurring report or franchise fee — anywhere from $0 to $800/yr (California) — and a registered-agent service runs about $125/yr (being your own agent is $0 but puts your address on the public record). Across all 50 states + DC, the average first-year cost is about $338 with a typical agent service. Every fee below is checked against the official state source and carries its own verification date — the last full 51-row sweep was June 13, 2026, and the most recent verified change was August 8, 2026. Pick your state for exact numbers.

Estimate your LLC's cost

Pick your state and how you'll handle the registered agent — every number comes from the verified table below.

LLC filing & annual fees in all 50 states + DC

Every fee is checked against the official state source linked in its row, and each row carries the date it was last verified — the last time all 51 rows were swept together was June 13, 2026. First-year total assumes a typical registered-agent service at $125/yr; subtract $125 if you'll be your own agent. Click a column to sort.

Most recent change (August 8, 2026): Delaware's annual tax rose from $300 to $400 (HB 400) and Georgia's online filing fee was corrected from $110 to $100. Rows we re-checked after the full audit show their own later date below. Every change we log is published in the LLC Fee Change Wire, with RSS and JSON feeds.

LLC formation filing fees, recurring state fees, and first-year totals for all 50 US states and DC. Each row shows the date that state's fees were last verified against its official source; the last full sweep of all rows was June 13, 2026.
State Filing fee Recurring state fee First-year total* Notes Verified
Alabama $200 (source) Business Privilege Tax (fully exempt for most small LLCs) $325 Since tax year 2024, businesses whose privilege tax computes to $100 or less are fully exempt and file no BPT return — typical small LLCs owe $0. August 8, 2026
Alaska $250 (source) $100 every 2 years — Biennial Report $375 Alaska also requires a separate state business license ($50/yr) for most businesses — not included in this total. June 13, 2026
Arizona $50 (source) None — no annual report for LLCs $175 One-time publication requirement (~$60–$200) unless the statutory agent is in Maricopa or Pima County. September 21, 2026
Arkansas $45 (source) $150/yr — Annual Franchise Tax $320 June 13, 2026
CaliforniaFull California cost breakdown → $70 (source) $800/yr — Annual Franchise Tax ($800 minimum) $995 $800/yr minimum franchise tax owed regardless of income (rises with revenue over $250k); plus a separate $20 Statement of Information due within 90 days of forming, then every 2 years. June 13, 2026
Colorado $50 (source) $25/yr — Periodic (Annual) Report $200 July 11, 2026
Connecticut $120 (source) $80/yr — Annual Report $325 June 13, 2026
DelawareFull Delaware cost breakdown → $110 (source) $400/yr — Annual Tax (flat) $635 Flat $400 annual tax for LLCs (raised from $300 by HB 400 in 2026; not the share-based corporate franchise tax); due June 1. September 12, 2026changed August 8, 2026: annual tax $300 → $400 (HB 400, signed 21 May 2026)
FloridaFull Florida cost breakdown → $125 (source) $138.75/yr — Annual Report $388.75 Late filing adds a $400 penalty. July 11, 2026
GeorgiaFull Georgia cost breakdown → $100 (source) $60/yr — Annual Registration $285 Online filing is $100; paper adds $10 ($110). Annual registration is $60 total ($50 fee + mandatory $10 service charge). August 8, 2026changed August 8, 2026: filing fee $110 → $100 (online rate; paper is $110)
Hawaii $51 (source) $12.5/yr — Annual Report $188.5 $51 filing = $50 + mandatory $1 State Archives fee; annual report $12.50 online ($15 paper). June 13, 2026
Idaho $100 (source) Annual Report (free) $225 Annual report is required but carries no fee if filed on time. June 13, 2026
Illinois $150 (source) $75/yr — Annual Report $350 June 13, 2026
Indiana $95 (source) $32 every 2 years — Business Entity Report (biennial) $220 $32 online ($50 by mail), filed every two years. June 13, 2026
Iowa $50 (source) $30 every 2 years — Biennial Report $175 Due in odd-numbered years; online fee (paper costs more). June 13, 2026
Kansas $85 (source) $90 every 2 years — Information Report (biennial) $210 Kansas cut fees effective Feb 27, 2026: formation $85 online ($90 paper); the Information Report is now biennial — $90 online ($110 paper). June 13, 2026
Kentucky $40 (source) $15/yr — Annual Report $180 June 13, 2026
Louisiana $100 (source) $30/yr — Annual Report $255 August 8, 2026
Maine $175 (source) $85/yr — Annual Report $385 June 13, 2026
Maryland $100 (source) $300/yr — Annual Report $525 Filed with SDAT, not the Secretary of State; $300 base fee. June 13, 2026
Massachusetts $500 (source) $500/yr — Annual Report $1,125 Online filing may carry a small additional fee. June 13, 2026
MichiganFull Michigan cost breakdown → $50 (source) $25/yr — Annual Statement $200 June 13, 2026
Minnesota $155 (source) Annual Renewal (free) $280 Annual renewal is free if filed on time; missing it leads to dissolution and a reinstatement fee. June 13, 2026
Mississippi $50 (source) Annual Report (free for domestic) $175 June 13, 2026
Missouri $50 (source) None — no annual report $175 June 13, 2026
Montana $35 (source) Annual Report (fee waived through 2027) $160 On-time annual-report fee (normally $20) is waived through 2027 if filed by April 15 — renewed every year since 2024; $35 if filed late. Budget $20/yr if the waiver lapses. July 12, 2026
Nebraska $100 (source) $25 every 2 years — Biennial Report $225 Due in odd-numbered years: $25 online, $30 paper — the default fee for all LLC Act filings under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 21-192(1). (The 'occupation tax' report is a corporation filing, not an LLC one.) August 31, 2026
NevadaFull Nevada cost breakdown → $425 (source) $350/yr — Annual List + State Business License $900 Two stacked charges: $150 annual list + $200 state business license = $350/yr. The $425 filing total likewise bundles articles $75 + initial list $150 + license $200. September 12, 2026
New Hampshire $100 (source) $100/yr — Annual Report $325 June 13, 2026
New JerseyFull New Jersey cost breakdown → $125 (source) $75/yr — Annual Report $325 September 12, 2026
New MexicoFull New Mexico cost breakdown → $50 (source) None — no annual report $175 September 12, 2026
New YorkFull New York cost breakdown → $200 (source) $9 every 2 years — Biennial Statement $325 First-year total excludes NY's one-time publication requirement (~$600–$1,200 depending on county, due within 120 days). June 13, 2026
North CarolinaFull North Carolina cost breakdown → $125 (source) $203/yr — Annual Report $453 $203 filed online (includes the $3 electronic-filing fee); $200 by paper. June 13, 2026
North Dakota $135 (source) $50/yr — Annual Report $310 June 13, 2026
OhioFull Ohio cost breakdown → $99 (source) None — no annual report $224 June 13, 2026
Oklahoma $100 (source) $25/yr — Annual Certificate $250 June 13, 2026
Oregon $100 (source) $100/yr — Annual Report $325 June 13, 2026
PennsylvaniaFull Pennsylvania cost breakdown → $125 (source) $7/yr — Annual Report (new since 2025) $257 Replaced the old decennial report starting January 2025 — pre-2025 sources are stale. July 11, 2026
Rhode Island $150 (source) $50/yr — Annual Report $325 June 13, 2026
South Carolina $110 (source) None for default-taxed LLCs $235 No SoS annual report for LLCs taxed as partnerships/disregarded; LLCs electing corporate taxation file with the DOR. June 13, 2026
South Dakota $150 (source) $55/yr — Annual Report $330 $150 online ($165 paper); annual report $55 online ($70 paper). June 13, 2026
Tennessee $300 (source) $300/yr — Annual Report (minimum) $725 $50 per member, $300 minimum / $3,000 maximum. TN LLCs also owe franchise & excise tax (franchise minimum $100/yr) unless exempt — not included here. June 13, 2026
TexasFull Texas cost breakdown → $300 (source) Franchise Tax (most small LLCs owe $0) $425 No franchise tax due below the revenue threshold ($2,650,000 for 2026 reports), but a Public Information Report must still be filed each year. July 11, 2026
Utah $59 (source) $18/yr — Annual Report / Renewal $202 Utah's FY2026 fee schedule (effective July 1, 2025): $59 to file the Certificate of Organization, $18 annual report/renewal (includes a $5 single sign-on surcharge), $10 late renewal fee, $17 to change the registered agent, $54 reinstatement, $75 expedite. July 12, 2026
Vermont $155 (source) $45/yr — Annual Report $325 August 31, 2026
Virginia $100 (source) $50/yr — Annual Registration Fee $275 Filed with the State Corporation Commission, not a Secretary of State. June 13, 2026
WashingtonFull Washington cost breakdown → $200 (source) $70/yr — Annual Report $395 $200 online formation = $180 fee + $20 processing; annual report $70 (delinquent $95) re-verified 2026-09-01 against the SoS fee schedule and WAC 434-112-085. September 1, 2026
Washington DC $99 (source) $300 every 2 years — Biennial Report (BRA-25) $224 June 13, 2026
West Virginia $100 (source) $25/yr — Annual Report $250 Still required — $25 (+$1 online portal fee); waived for the first 4 years for veteran-owned businesses. June 13, 2026
Wisconsin $130 (source) $25/yr — Annual Report $280 June 13, 2026
WyomingFull Wyoming cost breakdown → $100 (source) $60/yr — Annual Report License Tax (minimum) $285 $60 minimum, or $0.0002 per dollar of Wyoming-located assets above $300,000. September 12, 2026

*First-year total = filing fee + first-year recurring state fee (annual fees counted from year one; biennial fees start in year two) + $125 typical registered-agent service. New York's one-time publication requirement (~$600–$1,200) is excluded — see the row note. Recurring taxes that scale with revenue or assets are shown at their minimum.

Get Northwest — $39 + your state fee → registered agent free for year one, ~$125/yr after · Privacy by Default Affiliate link — if you sign up we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

What an LLC costs in each state, in one sentence

Each line is generated from the verified table above (first-year total with a typical $125/yr registered-agent service).

Alabama: costs $200 to file, plus a business privilege tax (fully exempt for most small LLCs) and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $325 in year one.

Alaska: costs $250 to file, plus a $100 biennial report and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $375 in year one.

Arizona: costs $50 to file, plus no annual report for LLCs and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $175 in year one.

Arkansas: costs $45 to file, plus a $150/yr annual franchise tax and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $320 in year one.

California: costs $70 to file, plus an $800/yr annual franchise tax ($800 minimum) and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $995 in year one.

Colorado: costs $50 to file, plus a $25/yr periodic (annual) report and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $200 in year one.

Connecticut: costs $120 to file, plus an $80/yr annual report and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $325 in year one.

Delaware: costs $110 to file, plus a $400/yr annual tax (flat) and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $635 in year one.

Florida: costs $125 to file, plus a $138.75/yr annual report and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $388.75 in year one.

Georgia: costs $100 to file, plus a $60/yr annual registration and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $285 in year one.

Hawaii: costs $51 to file, plus a $12.5/yr annual report and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $188.5 in year one.

Idaho: costs $100 to file, plus an annual report (free) and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $225 in year one.

Illinois: costs $150 to file, plus a $75/yr annual report and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $350 in year one.

Indiana: costs $95 to file, plus a $32 business entity report (biennial) and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $220 in year one.

Iowa: costs $50 to file, plus a $30 biennial report and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $175 in year one.

Kansas: costs $85 to file, plus a $90 information report (biennial) and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $210 in year one.

Kentucky: costs $40 to file, plus a $15/yr annual report and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $180 in year one.

Louisiana: costs $100 to file, plus a $30/yr annual report and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $255 in year one.

Maine: costs $175 to file, plus an $85/yr annual report and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $385 in year one.

Maryland: costs $100 to file, plus a $300/yr annual report and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $525 in year one.

Massachusetts: costs $500 to file, plus a $500/yr annual report and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $1,125 in year one.

Michigan: costs $50 to file, plus a $25/yr annual statement and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $200 in year one.

Minnesota: costs $155 to file, plus an annual renewal (free) and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $280 in year one.

Mississippi: costs $50 to file, plus an annual report (free for domestic) and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $175 in year one.

Missouri: costs $50 to file, plus no annual report and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $175 in year one.

Montana: costs $35 to file, plus an annual report (fee waived through 2027) and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $160 in year one.

Nebraska: costs $100 to file, plus a $25 biennial report and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $225 in year one.

Nevada: costs $425 to file, plus a $350/yr annual list + state business license and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $900 in year one.

New Hampshire: costs $100 to file, plus a $100/yr annual report and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $325 in year one.

New Jersey: costs $125 to file, plus a $75/yr annual report and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $325 in year one.

New Mexico: costs $50 to file, plus no annual report and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $175 in year one.

New York: costs $200 to file, plus a $9 biennial statement and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $325 in year one.

North Carolina: costs $125 to file, plus a $203/yr annual report and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $453 in year one.

North Dakota: costs $135 to file, plus a $50/yr annual report and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $310 in year one.

Ohio: costs $99 to file, plus no annual report and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $224 in year one.

Oklahoma: costs $100 to file, plus a $25/yr annual certificate and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $250 in year one.

Oregon: costs $100 to file, plus a $100/yr annual report and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $325 in year one.

Pennsylvania: costs $125 to file, plus a $7/yr annual report (new since 2025) and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $257 in year one.

Rhode Island: costs $150 to file, plus a $50/yr annual report and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $325 in year one.

South Carolina: costs $110 to file, plus no annual report for default-taxed LLCs and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $235 in year one.

South Dakota: costs $150 to file, plus a $55/yr annual report and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $330 in year one.

Tennessee: costs $300 to file, plus a $300/yr annual report (minimum) and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $725 in year one.

Texas: costs $300 to file, plus a franchise tax (most small LLCs owe $0) and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $425 in year one.

Utah: costs $59 to file, plus an $18/yr annual report / renewal and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $202 in year one.

Vermont: costs $155 to file, plus a $45/yr annual report and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $325 in year one.

Virginia: costs $100 to file, plus a $50/yr annual registration fee and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $275 in year one.

Washington: costs $200 to file, plus a $70/yr annual report and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $395 in year one.

Washington DC: costs $99 to file, plus a $300 biennial report (BRA-25) and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $224 in year one.

West Virginia: costs $100 to file, plus a $25/yr annual report and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $250 in year one.

Wisconsin: costs $130 to file, plus a $25/yr annual report and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $280 in year one.

Wyoming: costs $100 to file, plus a $60/yr annual report license tax (minimum) and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $285 in year one.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest state to form an LLC?expand_more
Montana has the lowest filing fee at $35, and its annual-report fee is currently waived through 2027. For the lowest long-term cost, New Mexico and Arizona charge $50 once with no annual report at all. But the cheapest state is almost always the one you actually live and operate in — forming elsewhere means registering as a foreign LLC and paying fees in both states (see our cheapest-LLC guide for the worked example).
How much does it cost to start an LLC?expand_more
The one-time state filing fee ranges from $35 (Montana) to $500 (Massachusetts); most states fall between $50 and $200. Add about $125/yr if you use a registered-agent service. Across all 51 jurisdictions, the average first-year total with a service is about $338.
What is the average cost of an LLC?expand_more
Across all 50 states and DC the average one-time filing fee is $128.29, and the median is $100 — the median is the more useful number, because a handful of expensive states pull the average up. Recurring cost averages $95.89 a year, though that too is skewed by California's $800. Realistically: about $212.69 for the first year acting as your own registered agent, or about $338 using a service at $125/yr.
How much money should you have before starting an LLC?expand_more
Enough for the filing fee plus the first year's upkeep, which for most people is $100 to $338. The EIN is free from the IRS and an operating agreement can be free, so the state fee is the only unavoidable cost — budget $125/yr more if you want a registered-agent service instead of putting your own address on the public record. Two things catch people out: the recurring fee starts the year after you form in most states, and a few states front-load costs badly (Massachusetts at $500 to file, Nevada at $425 for articles plus initial list plus business licence).
Is an LLC more expensive than a sole proprietorship?expand_more
Yes, and the gap is easy to quantify: a sole proprietorship costs nothing to create, so the LLC premium is exactly the state filing fee plus whatever your state charges each year. That is a median $100 up front and an average $95.89 a year. What you buy for it is the liability separation between your business and your personal assets, which a sole proprietorship does not give you at any price. Look up your own state in the table above rather than the averages — the real spread runs from $35 in Montana to $500 in Massachusetts.
Do I have to pay LLC fees every year?expand_more
In most states, yes — an annual report or franchise fee ranging from a few dollars to California's $800 minimum. A handful charge nothing recurring at all (Alabama, Arizona, Idaho, Minnesota and a few others), and several bill every two years instead. Check your state's row in the table for the exact recurring obligation and what it's called.
Can I be my own registered agent?expand_more
In most states, yes — if you have a physical street address in the formation state and you're available during business hours. It saves the ~$125/yr fee, but your address goes on the public record and a missed legal notice can become a default judgment. Our guide on being your own registered agent walks through the trade-off.
How much does a registered agent service cost?expand_more
Typically $100–$150 per year. Northwest charges a flat $125/yr (first year included when you form for $39 + state fee) and Bizee renews around $119/yr after a free first year. The calculator above uses $125/yr as the typical figure.
What happens if I don't pay my annual fee?expand_more
States add late penalties (Florida's is $400), revoke your good standing, and eventually dissolve the LLC administratively — at which point your liability protection can lapse until you pay to reinstate. If your state's report is due, file it even when the fee is $0; the filing itself is what keeps you in good standing.
Why does a California LLC cost $800 a year?expand_more
California charges every LLC an $800 minimum annual franchise tax regardless of income, plus a $20 Statement of Information due within 90 days of forming and every two years after. The $800 follows you even if you form elsewhere and register in California as a foreign LLC — you can't structure your way around it by picking a different state.
Does forming in a cheap state actually save money?expand_more
Usually not. If you live and operate in one state, forming in another means registering as a foreign LLC where you really do business — so you pay filing fees, agent fees, and often annual fees in both states. The cheap-state strategy mainly works for fully online businesses and non-US residents with no fixed US operations.
What is the most expensive state to form an LLC?expand_more
Massachusetts — $500 to file and $500 every year after. California has the highest recurring cost at $800/yr minimum, and Nevada's $425 first filing (articles + initial list + business license) is the priciest bundle. Tennessee scales with membership: $50 per member, $300 minimum.

Sources & methodology

We track three separate dates and never collapse them into one: the last full sweep of all 51 rows (June 13, 2026), the date each individual row was last verified (shown in the table's Verified column — some rows are newer than the full sweep because we re-check states when a law or fee schedule changes), and the last time a value actually changed (August 8, 2026). A page that shows only one date implies an audit it may not have run. Every fee is checked against that state's official source (Secretary of State, corporations division, or revenue department — linked in every table row). Figures are for a domestic LLC filed online where online and paper fees differ. "First-year total" counts annual fees from year one (conservative — some states' first report isn't due until the following year) and biennial fees from year two. Recurring taxes that scale with revenue or assets (California, Tennessee, Wyoming) are shown at their minimum. The registered-agent line assumes a typical service at $125/yr; acting as your own agent is $0 but puts your address on the public record. One-time extras like New York's publication requirement appear as notes, not in totals. This is general cost information, not legal or tax advice.

What changed in 2026

Use this data

The full 51-jurisdiction fee table is free to reuse with attribution: download it as CSV (state, filing fee, ongoing fee, frequency, official source URL, verification date).

Suggested citation: "US LLC Formation & Annual Fees by State (2026), RegisteredAgentHub, full-table audit June 13, 2026, data current to September 21, 2026, https://www.registeredagenthub.com/llc-cost-calculator/"

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Affiliate disclosure: RegisteredAgentHub is reader-supported. If you sign up through links on this page, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. State fees are charged by governments and are identical no matter how you file — commissions never change the numbers above.

Each row's fee data is accurate to the best of our knowledge as of that row's verification date (shown in the table) — states change fees without notice, so confirm on the official source linked in each row before filing. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice.