What an LLC costs to start, and to keep
To start an LLC the state charges $35 to $500 (median $100), and 6 states charge nothing after that. With a service that handles the agent and the filings, the number to add is $199 a year: that is Mainstay Filing, our pick.
Mainstay Filing
$199 / year plus the state fee at cost
- LLC formation, prepared and filed
- Registered agent, all year
- EIN application (with an SSN or ITIN)
- Annual report filed every year it is due where the state requires one
- Compliance reminders and stored documents
Price from the Mainstay Filing pricing and FAQ pages, checked October 21, 2026. State fees are passed through at cost and shown before you pay.
- State fees from official pages, August 2026 to October 2026
The cost in your state
| State | Filing fee | State report | State-side year 1 | With Mainstay Filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $236 | None | $236 | $435 |
| Alaska | $250 | $100 / 2 yrs | $250 | $449 |
| Arizona | $50 | None | $50+ | $249+ |
| Arkansas | $45 | $150 tax report | $45 | $244 |
| California | $70 | $20 / 2 yrs | $870 | $1,069 |
| Colorado | $50 | $25 / yr | $50 | $249 |
| Connecticut | $120 | $80 / yr | $120 | $319 |
| Delaware | $110 | $400 tax | $110 | $309 |
| Florida | $125 | $138.75 / yr | $125 | $324 |
| Georgia | $110 | $60 / yr | $110 | $309 |
| Hawaii | $51 | $12.50 / yr | $51 | $250 |
| Idaho | $100 | $0 report | $100 | $299 |
| Illinois | $150 | $75 / yr | $150 | $349 |
| Indiana | $95 | $32 / 2 yrs | $95 | $294 |
| Iowa | $50 | $30 / 2 yrs | $50 | $249 |
| Kansas | $85 | $90 / 2 yrs | $85 | $284 |
| Kentucky | $40 | $15 / yr | $215 | $414 |
| Louisiana | $125 | $35 / yr | $125 | $324 |
| Maine | $175 | $85 / yr | $175 | $374 |
| Maryland | $100 | $300 / yr | $100 | $299 |
| Massachusetts | $500 | $500 / yr | $500 | $699 |
| Michigan | $50 | $25 / yr | $50 | $249 |
| Minnesota | $155 | $0 renewal | $155 | $354 |
| Mississippi | $50 | $0 / yr | $50 | $249 |
| Missouri | $50 | None | $50 | $249 |
| Montana | $35 | $20 / yr | $35 | $234 |
| Nebraska | $100 | $25 / 2 yrs | $125+ | $324+ |
| Nevada | $425 | $350 annual list | $425 | $624 |
| New Hampshire | $100 | $100 / yr | $100 | $299 |
| New Jersey | $100 | $75 / yr | $100 | $299 |
| New Mexico | $50 | None | $50 | $249 |
| New York | $200 | $9 / 2 yrs | $275+ | $474+ |
| North Carolina | $125 | $200 / yr | $125 | $324 |
| North Dakota | $135 | $50 / yr | $135 | $334 |
| Ohio | $99 | None | $99 | $298 |
| Oklahoma | $100 | $25 / yr | $100 | $299 |
| Oregon | $100 | $100 / yr | $100 | $299 |
| Pennsylvania | $125 | $7 / yr | $125 | $324 |
| Rhode Island | $150 | $50 / yr | $550 | $749 |
| South Carolina | $110 | None | $110 | $309 |
| South Dakota | $150 | $55 / yr | $150 | $349 |
| Tennessee | $300 | $300 / yr | $300 | $499 |
| Texas | $300 | $0 report | $300 | $499 |
| Utah | $59 | $18 / yr | $59 | $258 |
| Vermont | $155 | $45 / yr | $155 | $354 |
| Virginia | $100 | $50 fee | $100 | $299 |
| Washington | $200 | $70 / yr | $200 | $399 |
| West Virginia | $100 | $25 / yr | $100 | $299 |
| Wisconsin | $130 | $25 / yr | $130 | $329 |
| Wyoming | $100 | $60 / yr | $100 | $299 |
More
Questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC?
The state charges $35 to $500 to file, with a median of $100. Add a registered agent ($149 a year alone at Mainstay Filing, or included in its $199 formation price) and the cost of the first year is the filing fee plus that.
What’s the total yearly cost of an LLC, including state fees?
After year one it is the state report (6 states have none; the median is $30 a year across all 50) plus the registered agent. With Mainstay Filing: $199 a year plus the state’s report fee.
Which state is cheapest to start an LLC in?
Montana on the filing fee alone ($35). Counting required extras, the lowest year-one state cost is Montana at $35.