Form an LLC,
the right way.
What it really costs to form an LLC — and keep it open year after year. Filing fees, annual reports, franchise taxes, registered agent service. All 50 states + DC. 2026 rates.
Look up your formation cost.
Estimates only — fees vary by entity type, year, and individual circumstance. Always verify with your state's Secretary of State before paying. Not legal advice.
Cheapest vs. fastest vs. most private.
Seven LLC formation services worth your attention. All seven file the exact same Articles of Organization — what you're really paying for is registered agent, mailing address, EIN service, and how much hand-holding you get.
The four numbers that decide LLC cost.
Filing an LLC is straightforward. The cost isn't — every state writes its own rules. Four numbers explain 95% of the variation.
Why "form in Delaware" is usually wrong.
Delaware, Wyoming, and Nevada market themselves to people who'd be better off forming at home. Five reasons forming out-of-state is usually a mistake.
- Foreign qualification doubles your fees. Forming in Wyoming while operating in California means $100 WY filing + $60 WY annual + $90 WY RA + $800 CA franchise tax + $20 CA filing + $90+ CA foreign-qualification fee + a CA RA. ~$1,300/year vs ~$870 if you'd just stayed in California.
- The "tax haven" myth. An LLC pays state income tax wherever it operates, not where it's formed. Forming in Wyoming doesn't dodge California tax if you live and work in California.
- Banks ask questions. Foreign LLCs trip more KYC reviews. Some banks won't open an account at all unless you're foreign-qualified locally.
- Privacy doesn't survive operating elsewhere. An "anonymous" Wyoming LLC that foreign-qualifies in California has its members listed on California's public registry.
- The court argument is overstated. Delaware Chancery is a real advantage — for VC-backed startups and multi-state holdcos. For a one-state operating LLC, a state-court LLC dispute is the same legal experience anywhere.
Real reasons to form out-of-state: pure IP holdcos, real estate holdcos in the property state, asset-protection structures, non-US residents with no US nexus, VC-funded entities. Full breakdown of when it's right →
Every state, covered.
State-by-state filing fee, annual report fee + cadence, franchise tax minimums, registered agent rules, publication requirements where they apply. All 50 states plus DC.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- District of Columbia
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Plain-English guides to LLC formation.
The questions that don't fit on the Secretary of State homepage — answered with sources.
Best LLC formation services 2026 — tested, compared, ranked
Seven services, three test states, every upsell counted. Best overall, best for privacy, best for non-US founders, cheapest base price.
Best states to form an LLC — a data-driven ranking
Wyoming, Delaware, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas, Florida — when each one wins and when forming at home is the right answer.
How much does an LLC really cost?
Filing fee + first-year franchise + annual report + RA + publication where required. The all-in budget for any state.
Articles of Organization — what they are, what to put on them
The one-page form that creates an LLC. Every required field, the optional ones, and what to skip.
LLC operating agreement template
Single-member and multi-member templates, every clause explained. Required by law in CA, NY, MO, ME, DE.
LLC vs S-corp — when the tax election pays off
The reasonable-salary math, the SE-tax savings curve, the break-even revenue point. Plus the costs nobody mentions.
Registered agent — what they do, who needs one
Required in every state, every year. When DIY makes sense, when it doesn't, and the privacy-vs-cost trade.
Foreign qualification — the fee that breaks "form in Delaware"
When you operate in a state you didn't form in, that state wants its filing fee + RA + annual report too. The math that beats Delaware.
The LLC publication requirement (NY, AZ, NE)
Three states require new LLCs to publish formation notices in newspapers. NY can run $1,500 in the wrong county. The plan that minimizes the bill.
Common questions.
How much does it cost to form an LLC?
State filing fees range from $35 (Montana) to $500 (Massachusetts). Most states charge $50–$200 for the one-time Articles of Organization. Then annual cost: California has an $800 minimum franchise tax, Delaware has a flat $300, most states are under $200/yr. Three states (NY, AZ, NE) require publication notices that add $40–$1,500.
What's the cheapest state to form an LLC?
For filing fee alone: Kentucky ($40), Arkansas ($45), Arizona ($50), Colorado ($50), Hawaii ($50), Missouri ($50), Mississippi ($50), New Mexico ($50). For total ongoing cost: New Mexico, Missouri, and Ohio have no annual report and no franchise tax. New Mexico is the cheapest in perpetuity. But forming in a cheap state while operating somewhere else usually costs more, not less. Why →
Should I form an LLC in Delaware or my home state?
Form in your home state unless you have a specific legal reason not to (VC funding, IP holdco, real estate holdco in another state, anonymous asset-protection structure). Forming in Delaware while operating in California means paying both states' fees plus a foreign-qualification fee — typically $1,300+/year vs $820 if you'd just stayed in California.
Do I need a registered agent?
Yes — every state requires an LLC to designate a registered agent with a physical address in the state of formation. You can be your own RA in your home state for free, but most LLCs use a service ($35–$300/year) for privacy or to avoid having a public street address. More →
How long does it take to form an LLC?
Standard processing: 5–15 business days in most states. Expedited filing: 1–3 business days for an extra $50–$100. Online filing in Delaware, Wyoming, and a few other states processes same-day. Add 7–14 days on top for an EIN if you're filing the Form SS-4 by mail.
What's the publication requirement?
Three states (New York, Arizona, Nebraska) require new LLCs to publish a formation notice in local newspapers. New York is the most expensive: counties around NYC charge $1,200–$1,500; upstate counties $200–$400. Arizona and Nebraska are minor (~$40–$80). Forming in NY without budgeting for publication is the most common surprise cost.