How much does it cost to start an LLC?
One number matters most: your state's filing fee. It runs from $35 in Montana to $500 in Massachusetts, with a median around $100. Nearly everything else you'll be offered along the way is optional.
$35 – $500
One-time state filing fee, depending on where you file
$0
Cost of an EIN from the IRS — always free
$0 – $100/yr
Typical annual report fee in most states
What you actually pay for
Only two of these are unavoidable. Knowing which is which is the difference between a $100 LLC and a $600 one.
State filing fee
Required$35 – $500
The one-time fee to file your articles of organization. This is the only cost every LLC has to pay.
EIN from the IRS
Required$0
Free on IRS.gov and issued in minutes. Never pay a third party for this.
Annual or biennial report
Required$0 – $800/yr
Most states charge a small report fee. California's $800 franchise tax is the outlier.
Registered agent service
Optional$0 – $150/yr
Optional. You can be your own agent for free — it just puts your address on the public record.
Formation service
Optional$0 – $350
Optional. Services file for you and handle reminders; the state fee is charged on top.
Operating agreement
Optional$0
Optional in most states and easy to write yourself from a free template.
Business bank account
Optional$0 – $15/mo
Many banks offer free business checking with no minimum balance.
DBA / name registration
Optional$10 – $100
Only if you'll operate under a name that differs from your LLC's legal name.
LLC fees by state
Filing fee is what you pay once to create the LLC. Ongoing is what the state charges to keep it in good standing.
| State | Filing fee | Ongoing state fee |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $200 | $0 for most small LLCs |
| Alaska | $250 | $100 every 2 years |
| Arizona | $50 | $0 (no annual report) |
| Arkansas | $45 | $150/yr franchise tax |
| California | $70 | $800/yr franchise tax + $20 every 2 years |
| Colorado | $50 | $25/yr |
| Connecticut | $120 | $80/yr |
| Delaware | $110 | $300/yr flat tax |
| District of Columbia | $99 | $300 every 2 years |
| Florida | $125 | $138.75/yr |
| Georgia | $100 | $50/yr |
| Hawaii | $50 | $15/yr |
| Idaho | $100 | $0 (report is free) |
| Illinois | $150 | $75/yr |
| Indiana | $95 | $31 every 2 years |
| Iowa | $50 | $30 every 2 years |
| Kansas | $160 | $55/yr |
| Kentucky | $40 | $15/yr |
| Louisiana | $100 | $35/yr |
| Maine | $175 | $85/yr |
| Maryland | $100 | $300/yr |
| Massachusetts | $500 | $500/yr |
| Michigan | $50 | $25/yr |
| Minnesota | $155 | $0 (no fee to renew) |
| Mississippi | $50 | $0 |
| Missouri | $50 | $0 (no annual report) |
| Montana | $35 | $20/yr |
| Nebraska | $100 | $10 every 2 years |
| Nevada | $425 | $350/yr |
| New Hampshire | $100 | $100/yr |
| New Jersey | $125 | $75/yr |
| New Mexico | $50 | $0 (no annual report) |
| New York | $200 | $9 every 2 years |
| North Carolina | $125 | $200/yr |
| North Dakota | $135 | $50/yr |
| Ohio | $99 | $0 (no annual report) |
| Oklahoma | $100 | $25/yr |
| Oregon | $100 | $100/yr |
| Pennsylvania | $125 | $7 every 10 years |
| Rhode Island | $150 | $50/yr |
| South Carolina | $110 | $0 (no annual report) |
| South Dakota | $150 | $50/yr |
| Tennessee | $300 | $300/yr minimum |
| Texas | $300 | $0 for most LLCs |
| Utah | $54 | $18/yr |
| Vermont | $125 | $35/yr |
| Virginia | $100 | $50/yr |
| Washington | $200 | $60/yr |
| West Virginia | $100 | $25/yr |
| Wisconsin | $130 | $25/yr |
| Wyoming | $100 | $60/yr minimum |
Figures reflect standard online filing in 2026 and exclude expedited processing, local licenses, and publication requirements (notably Arizona, Nebraska, and New York). Always confirm the current fee on your Secretary of State's website before you file.
Four ways to keep the cost down
File in your own state
Forming in Wyoming or Delaware to save money usually backfires — you still have to register at home and pay both states.
Be your own registered agent
Free in every state if you have a physical address there. Pay for a service only if you want your address off the public record.
Get your EIN directly from the IRS
It takes minutes on IRS.gov and costs nothing. Bundled 'EIN packages' are reselling a free service.
Skip the upsells
Seals, kits, and certificates of good standing are almost never needed on day one. You can add them later if a bank asks.
Common questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC?
The only required cost is the state filing fee, which ranges from $35 in Montana to $500 in Massachusetts. The median state charges about $100. Getting your EIN from the IRS is free, and you can skip registered agent services and formation services entirely, so a bare-bones LLC often costs only the filing fee.
What is the cheapest state to form an LLC?
Montana has the lowest filing fee at $35, followed by Kentucky at $40 and Arkansas at $45. However, you should generally form your LLC in the state where you actually do business — filing out of state usually means registering as a foreign LLC at home and paying both sets of fees.
Are there ongoing costs after forming an LLC?
Most states require an annual or biennial report with a fee, typically $0 to $100. A handful of states charge much more: California has an $800 minimum franchise tax, Massachusetts charges $500 per year, and Delaware charges a $300 flat tax. Nine states charge nothing to keep an LLC in good standing.
Do I need to pay for a registered agent?
No. In every state you can serve as your own registered agent for free, as long as you have a physical address in that state and are available during business hours. Paid services cost roughly $100 to $150 a year and mainly buy you privacy and reliable mail handling.
Do I have to pay for an EIN?
No. The IRS issues Employer Identification Numbers free of charge through its online application, usually in a few minutes. Any site charging a fee for an EIN is reselling a free government service.
Where to go next
Know your fee? Then you're ready to file.
Grab the free checklist so nothing gets missed, or compare formation services.