There is no single all-in price to start an LLC. Your state’s formation filing fee is the starting point, but the real budget can also include reports, state taxes, publication, local permits, and optional services. The U.S. Small Business Administration says that in most cases the total cost to register a business is less than $300, while noting that fees vary by state and business structure. That is a general registration estimate—not a guaranteed total for your LLC.
What determines the cost of starting an LLC?
The total depends mainly on where the LLC is formed and where it actually operates. Begin with the state filing fee, then check for obligations that can apply at formation or recur later.
- Formation filing: Most LLCs file articles of organization or an equivalent document with a state agency. The form, fee, and filing process vary by jurisdiction.
- Initial state filings: Some states require a separate tax or franchise-tax registration soon after formation. The SBA says these filings may be due within 30–90 days; check the state’s instructions for the exact requirement and deadline.
- Periodic reports and taxes: A state may require annual or biennial reports and may impose separate annual, franchise, or privilege taxes. These recurring costs can matter as much as—or more than—the initial filing fee over time.
- Registered agent: An LLC needs an agent located in its formation state before filing. An owner may be able to serve, or the LLC can hire a commercial service.
- Publication, permits, and licenses: Some states require newspaper publication, while business activity and location may call for city, county, or state licenses and permits.
- Optional help: A formation service, lawyer, or tax professional may charge for assistance. These are not universal state formation fees, and a service charge does not replace the state filing fee.
An operating agreement sets out how the LLC will make financial and functional decisions, including member duties and powers. The SBA describes one as widely recommended even where state law does not require it.
State filing fees are only a starting point
A 2026 state-fee tracker, based on state pages it says it reviewed September 28–30, 2026, recorded standard domestic LLC formation fees ranging from $35 in Montana to $500 in Massachusetts. The tracker also found periodic-report requirements in 43 of 51 jurisdictions it reviewed: 35 annual and eight biennial. It identified publication requirements in Arizona, Nebraska, and New York, but did not provide a publication price in its main table. These are dated tracker figures, not a recommendation to form in the state with the lowest initial fee. Verify current obligations and amounts with the relevant state office.
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Those figures are state-level examples, not all-in startup budgets. The tracker covers standard domestic LLCs and says it does not consistently include foreign registrations, expedited filing, registered-agent charges, local licenses, publication costs, local taxes, or income taxes. It also warns that a missing figure does not mean the cost is zero; its documentation says the state office is authoritative, and it notes that some taxes were not determined.
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How to compare the cost of two states
Compare the full set of obligations that apply to your situation rather than choosing by the formation fee alone:
- One-time formation fee: Check the official filing fee for the LLC document you need.
- Recurring reports: Find the report fee, filing frequency, due date, and any separate annual, franchise, or privilege tax.
- Additional formation requirements: Check for initial reports, tax registrations, or newspaper publication, including their deadlines and costs.
- Where you will operate: If the LLC does business in another state, it may need foreign qualification there. That can mean additional filings, reports, and taxes in both states.
- Local and business-specific requirements: Check the city and county rules, plus licenses and permits tied to the LLC’s activity.
There is no reliable universal all-in figure without knowing the business location and activity, ownership and tax situation, required permits, and whether the owners will pay for registered-agent or professional services. A state’s posted formation fee is only one line in that budget.
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Ways to save money without missing requirements
Form where the business is actually active
Start by checking the state where the LLC will operate. Forming in a different state because its initial fee looks lower can add foreign-qualification filings, reports, and taxes where the business is active, leaving you with obligations in both jurisdictions.
Compare paid filing help with filing directly
If you are comfortable preparing the paperwork, compare a formation service’s charge with the state agency’s direct filing route. Any service fee is separate from the state’s filing fee, so check what the service actually includes before paying.
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Decide who will serve as registered agent
If you are legally eligible and can reliably receive official papers at the required in-state location, serving as your own agent may avoid a commercial service charge. If you hire a service, compare its recurring price and included services.
Get an EIN from the IRS at no charge
When the LLC needs an Employer Identification Number, eligible applicants can apply directly through the IRS online at no cost. The IRS says to form the LLC with the state before applying and states, “You never have to pay a fee for an EIN.” That refers to getting the number directly from the IRS; a third-party service may charge for assistance or a bundle.
Track deadlines instead of skipping compliance
Confirm report, tax-registration, license, and permit requirements and due dates with the relevant state and local offices. Missing a required filing to avoid its fee can create avoidable problems; the lower-cost approach is to understand the obligation and meet it on time.
Quick Recap
Sources for current fees and requirements
- U.S. Small Business Administration: Register your business (last updated March 7, 2025).
- U.S. Small Business Administration: Choose a business structure.
- U.S. Small Business Administration: Get federal and state tax ID numbers.
- LLC Cost by State (LABS), 2026 fee tracker. Its figures reflect the tracker’s review dates noted above; confirm material costs with the state authority.
- Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations: Fees.
- Internal Revenue Service: Get an Employer Identification Number.
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