LLC Formation Costs

When starting an LLC in your state of choice you will face both direct and indirect fees which vary by state. Here is an overview of all possible one-time and recurring costs associated with starting an LLC.

Many states require that you reserve a business name for your LLC before you start filing the formation paperwork. The costs for reserving an LLC name typically range from $10 to $50. In most states, though, reserving a company name before the formation is not obligatory.

The period for which you can reserve a name for your LLC varies from one to two months, or sometimes up to 120 days.

To legally form your business you need to file the Articles of Organization (in some states called "Certificate of Formation", "Certificate of Organization") with the Secretary of State. You can file the LLC filing documents online, by mail, or in-person when visiting the local SOS office. The filing costs usually vary from $50 to $150 which is a single-time fee.

If you plan to form your company in another state, then you might have to provide additional documentation and pay a higher formation fee.

In some states, there are additional costs related to LLC formation. For example, you might be required to publish notification about your LLC formation in a state-approved newspaper. Publishing costs vary depending on the state and newspaper. Some other states require filing an annual report with general information about your company and pay a small fee.

In the table below you can find the filing fees for domestic LLCs in every state as well as annual recurring expenses. Keep in mind, that if you plan to form a company in a state which is not your state of residence, you will have to pay a foreign LLC formation fee, which may be higher for some states.

We try to keep this table up to date, but you can always double-check with your local Secretary Of State website for the most actual information regarding LLC formation and all associated fees.