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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 Luis Cornado, Founder & Editor·Fees verified June 13, 2026
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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 $336 with a typical agent service. Every fee below was verified against the official state source on June 13, 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 verified against the official state source linked in the row (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.

LLC formation filing fees, recurring state fees, and first-year totals for all 50 US states and DC, verified June 13, 2026
State Filing fee Recurring state fee First-year total* Notes
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.
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.
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.
Arkansas $45 (source) $150/yr — Annual Franchise Tax $320
California $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.
Colorado $50 (source) $25/yr — Periodic (Annual) Report $200
Connecticut $120 (source) $80/yr — Annual Report $325
Delaware $110 (source) $300/yr — Annual Tax (flat) $535 Flat $300 annual tax for LLCs (not the share-based corporate franchise tax); due June 1.
Florida $125 (source) $138.75/yr — Annual Report $388.75 Late filing adds a $400 penalty.
Georgia $110 (source) $60/yr — Annual Registration $295
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).
Idaho $100 (source) Annual Report (free) $225 Annual report is required but carries no fee if filed on time.
Illinois $150 (source) $75/yr — Annual Report $350
Indiana $95 (source) $32 every 2 years — Business Entity Report (biennial) $220 $32 online ($50 by mail), filed every two years.
Iowa $50 (source) $30 every 2 years — Biennial Report $175 Due in odd-numbered years; online fee (paper costs more).
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).
Kentucky $40 (source) $15/yr — Annual Report $180
Louisiana $100 (source) $30/yr — Annual Report $255
Maine $175 (source) $85/yr — Annual Report $385
Maryland $100 (source) $300/yr — Annual Report $525 Filed with SDAT, not the Secretary of State; $300 base fee.
Massachusetts $500 (source) $500/yr — Annual Report $1,125 Online filing may carry a small additional fee.
Michigan $50 (source) $25/yr — Annual Statement $200
Minnesota $155 (source) Annual Renewal (free) $280 Annual renewal is free if filed on time; missing it leads to dissolution and a reinstatement fee.
Mississippi $50 (source) Annual Report (free for domestic) $175
Missouri $50 (source) None — no annual report $175
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.
Nebraska $100 (source) $25 every 2 years — Biennial Report $225 Due in odd-numbered years: $25 online (+ small portal fee), $30 paper. (The 'occupation tax' report is a corporation filing, not an LLC one.)
Nevada $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.
New Hampshire $100 (source) $100/yr — Annual Report $325
New Jersey $125 (source) $75/yr — Annual Report $325
New Mexico $50 (source) None — no annual report $175
New York $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).
North Carolina $125 (source) $203/yr — Annual Report $453 $203 filed online (includes the $3 electronic-filing fee); $200 by paper.
North Dakota $135 (source) $50/yr — Annual Report $310
Ohio $99 (source) None — no annual report $224
Oklahoma $100 (source) $25/yr — Annual Certificate $250
Oregon $100 (source) $100/yr — Annual Report $325
Pennsylvania $125 (source) $7/yr — Annual Report (new since 2025) $257 Replaced the old decennial report starting January 2025 — pre-2025 sources are stale.
Rhode Island $150 (source) $50/yr — Annual Report $325
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.
South Dakota $150 (source) $55/yr — Annual Report $330 $150 online ($165 paper); annual report $55 online ($70 paper).
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.
Texas $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.
Utah $59 (source) $18/yr — Annual Report / Renewal $202
Vermont $155 (source) $45/yr — Annual Report $325
Virginia $100 (source) $50/yr — Annual Registration Fee $275 Filed with the State Corporation Commission, not a Secretary of State.
Washington $200 (source) $70/yr — Annual Report $395 $200 online formation = $180 fee + $20 processing; annual report raised to $70.
Washington DC $99 (source) $300 every 2 years — Biennial Report (BRA-25) $224
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.
Wisconsin $130 (source) $25/yr — Annual Report $280
Wyoming $100 (source) $60/yr — Annual Report License Tax (minimum) $285 $60 minimum, or $0.0002 per dollar of Wyoming-located assets above $300,000.

*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.

See our Northwest Registered Agent review → why it's our pick for the registered-agent line in the totals above

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 $300/yr annual tax (flat) and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $535 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 $110 to file, plus a $60/yr annual registration and a registered agent (~$125/yr) — about $295 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 $336.
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

Fees last verified June 13, 2026 against each 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.

To update: edit state-data.json, bump calculator_last_updated, rerun the build.

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How we make money: RegisteredAgentHub is independent and reader-supported. Links to providers on this page are plain editorial links — we currently earn no commission from them. State fees are charged by governments and are identical no matter how you file.

Fee data is accurate to the best of our knowledge as of June 13, 2026 — 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.