LLC cost calculator
Pick your state, check any optional extras, and see what your LLC will cost in the first year and every year after. Every figure comes from the state fee table in our full cost guide.
Estimate your LLC cost
Optional add-ons
Formation service
Pick your state to see what your LLC will cost in the first year and every year after.
Want the full picture? See how much an LLC costs.
What an LLC costs in every state
If you do nothing but file the paperwork and stay current on your state's report, your total cost is the filing fee in year one, then the ongoing fee each year after. For example, an LLC in Colorado costs $50 to file and $25 a year after — $75 in year one. In California, the $70 filing fee is modest, but the $800 franchise tax makes the first year about $870.
| State | Filing fee | Year one minimum | Each year after |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $200 | $200 | $0 |
| Alaska | $250 | $300 | $50/yr |
| Arizona | $50 | $50 | $0 |
| Arkansas | $45 | $195 | $150/yr |
| California | $70 | $880 | $810/yr |
| Colorado | $50 | $75 | $25/yr |
| Connecticut | $120 | $200 | $80/yr |
| Delaware | $110 | $410 | $300/yr |
| District of Columbia | $99 | $249 | $150/yr |
| Florida | $125 | $264 | $138.75/yr |
| Georgia | $100 | $150 | $50/yr |
| Hawaii | $50 | $65 | $15/yr |
| Idaho | $100 | $100 | $0 |
| Illinois | $150 | $225 | $75/yr |
| Indiana | $95 | $111 | $15.5/yr |
| Iowa | $50 | $65 | $15/yr |
| Kansas | $160 | $215 | $55/yr |
| Kentucky | $40 | $55 | $15/yr |
| Louisiana | $100 | $135 | $35/yr |
| Maine | $175 | $260 | $85/yr |
| Maryland | $100 | $400 | $300/yr |
| Massachusetts | $500 | $1,000 | $500/yr |
| Michigan | $50 | $75 | $25/yr |
| Minnesota | $155 | $155 | $0 |
| Mississippi | $50 | $50 | $0 |
| Missouri | $50 | $50 | $0 |
| Montana | $35 | $55 | $20/yr |
| Nebraska | $100 | $105 | $5/yr |
| Nevada | $425 | $775 | $350/yr |
| New Hampshire | $100 | $200 | $100/yr |
| New Jersey | $125 | $200 | $75/yr |
| New Mexico | $50 | $50 | $0 |
| New York | $200 | $205 | $4.5/yr |
| North Carolina | $125 | $325 | $200/yr |
| North Dakota | $135 | $185 | $50/yr |
| Ohio | $99 | $99 | $0 |
| Oklahoma | $100 | $125 | $25/yr |
| Oregon | $100 | $200 | $100/yr |
| Pennsylvania | $125 | $126 | $0.7/yr |
| Rhode Island | $150 | $200 | $50/yr |
| South Carolina | $110 | $110 | $0 |
| South Dakota | $150 | $200 | $50/yr |
| Tennessee | $300 | $600 | $300/yr |
| Texas | $300 | $300 | $0 |
| Utah | $54 | $72 | $18/yr |
| Vermont | $125 | $160 | $35/yr |
| Virginia | $100 | $150 | $50/yr |
| Washington | $200 | $260 | $60/yr |
| West Virginia | $100 | $125 | $25/yr |
| Wisconsin | $130 | $155 | $25/yr |
| Wyoming | $100 | $160 | $60/yr |
"Year one minimum" is the filing fee plus the annualized ongoing fee, with nothing optional added. Figures reflect standard online filing in 2026 and exclude expedited processing, local licenses, and publication requirements (notably Arizona, Nebraska, and New York).
Required vs optional, in one breath
Only two things are unavoidable: the state filing fee (one-time) and your state's annual or biennial report (usually small; California's $800 franchise tax is the outlier). Your EIN is free from the IRS, you can be your own registered agent, an operating agreement costs nothing from a template, and formation services are pure convenience. That's the difference between a $100 LLC and a $600 one.
See the full cost breakdown, line by lineCommon questions
How much does an LLC cost in my state?
It comes down to two numbers: your state's one-time filing fee (anywhere from $35 in Montana to $500 in Massachusetts) and its ongoing fee to stay in good standing (usually $0 to $100 a year, but up to $800 in California). Pick your state in the calculator above and you'll see both, plus what optional add-ons like a registered agent service would add.
Is the estimate exactly what I'll pay?
Treat it as a close estimate, not a quote. It covers standard online filing — the state filing fee, typical annual or biennial report fees, and market-rate prices for optional services. It excludes local business licenses, newspaper publication requirements in a few states, and any recent fee changes, so confirm the current numbers on your Secretary of State's website.
What is the cheapest way to start an LLC?
Pay only your state's filing fee and skip everything else: be your own registered agent (free in every state), get your EIN directly from the IRS (free), write your own operating agreement from a free template, and choose a bank with free business checking. In states with no annual report, that makes a bare-bones LLC cost only the filing fee.
Which states are cheapest and most expensive?
Montana has the lowest filing fee at $35, followed by Kentucky at $40 and Arkansas at $45. On the expensive end, Massachusetts charges $500 to file and $500 every year, Nevada charges $425 plus $350 a year, and California's $800 annual franchise tax makes it the costliest state for most small LLCs despite a modest $70 filing fee.
Do I pay a formation service every year?
No. A formation service is a one-time fee to prepare and submit your paperwork. The recurring costs are separate: your state's annual or biennial report fee, and a registered agent service if you hire one (about $125 a year). Many formation packages bundle the first year of registered agent service, then renew at full price.
Where to go next
Know your total? Then you're ready to file.
Grab the free checklist so nothing gets missed, or compare formation services.