Compare formation fees, annual requirements, and total first-year costs across all 50 states. Updated for 2026.
| State | Filing Fee | Annual Fee | First-Year Total |
|---|
Every state charges a filing fee to form an LLC. This is the cost to file your Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State. Fees range from $40 (Kentucky) to $500 (Massachusetts).
Beyond the filing fee, most states require an annual report or franchise tax to keep your LLC in good standing. Some states like Wyoming and New Mexico have no annual report for LLCs. Others like California charge an $800 minimum franchise tax regardless of revenue.
A registered agent is required in every state. This is a person or service that receives legal documents on behalf of your LLC. You can serve as your own registered agent in most states (free) or hire a service ($100-300/year).
A few states have unique requirements. New York requires LLCs to publish formation notices in local newspapers, which can cost $200-2,000+ depending on the county. Arizona has a similar but cheaper publication requirement.
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