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LLC Cost by State and How to Form an LLC (2026)
LLC requirements by state differ: every state has its own filing fee, yearly report and tax rules. Pick your state to see the real cost and steps, or ask us which state fits your business.
Quick answer: If you live in the US, form your LLC in the state where you live or work. If you live outside the US, most founders choose Wyoming, New Mexico or Delaware. Our packages start at $190 in New Mexico, with the state fee included.
What Is an LLC?
An LLC (limited liability company) is a type of business that a US state creates when you file Articles of Organization with its Secretary of State. The owners are called members. The LLC is separate from you, so in most cases your personal savings are protected from the business’s debts. For federal tax, the IRS treats a one-owner LLC as part of its owner by default, unless the owner chooses otherwise. IRS: Limited liability company
Short on time? Compare our 3 most popular states side by side.
Which State Should You Choose?
- You live or work in the US: form your LLC in the state where you live or run the business. Forming elsewhere usually means registering in your home state too.
- You live outside the US and sell online: most founders compare Wyoming, New Mexico and Delaware for low yearly costs.
- You plan to raise money from US investors: many founders choose Delaware.
LLC Requirements by State: Choose Your State
Every price above is our complete package and already includes the state filing fee, so there is nothing extra to add at checkout. Not sure which state fits you? Message us and we’ll help you choose.
LLC Filing Fees by State (2026)
This table shows what each state charges to form an LLC and what you must file after that to keep it active. The state filing fee is the government’s charge. Our package price already includes it.
| State | Ongoing state filing | Our package |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Annual report + business privilege tax | $403 |
| Alaska | Biennial report, every 2 years | $414 |
| Arizona | No annual report | $216 |
| Arkansas | Annual franchise tax report | $209 |
| California | $800 yearly franchise tax | $234 |
| Colorado | Periodic report $25 | $214 |
| Connecticut | Annual report | $284 |
| Delaware | $400 annual tax by June 1 | $274 |
| Florida | Annual report $138.75 by May 1 | $299 |
| Georgia | Annual registration $60 by April 1 | $274 |
| Hawaii | Annual report | $218 |
| Idaho | Annual report | $268 |
| Illinois | Annual report | $320 |
| Indiana | Business entity report, every 2 years | $262 |
| Iowa | Biennial report, odd-numbered years | $214 |
| Kansas | Annual report | $324 |
| Kentucky | Annual report | $204 |
| Louisiana | Annual report | $294 |
| Maine | Annual report | $339 |
| Maryland | Annual report + personal property return | $269 |
| Massachusetts | Annual report | $664 |
| Michigan | Annual statement | $214 |
| Minnesota | Annual renewal | $319 |
| Mississippi | Annual report | $218 |
| Missouri | No annual report required | $216 |
| Montana | Annual report by April 15 | $199 |
| Nebraska | Biennial report, odd years + newspaper publication requirement | $267 |
| Nevada | $350 every year | $600 |
| New Hampshire | Annual report | $266 |
| New Jersey | Annual report | $268 |
| New Mexico | No annual report | $190 |
| New York | $9 biennial statement | $364 |
| North Carolina | Annual report $200 by April 15 | $292 |
| North Dakota | Annual report | $299 |
| Ohio | No annual report | $263 |
| Oklahoma | Annual certificate | $268 |
| Oregon | Annual report | $264 |
| Pennsylvania | Annual report $7 by September 30 | $289 |
| Rhode Island | Annual report | $320 |
| South Carolina | No annual report required | $289 |
| South Dakota | Annual report | $318 |
| Tennessee | Annual report | $472 |
| Texas | Franchise tax report by May 15 | $450 |
| Utah | Annual renewal | $225 |
| Vermont | Annual report | $320 |
| Virginia | $50 annual registration fee | $264 |
| Washington | Annual report | $364 |
| West Virginia | Annual report | $267 |
| Wisconsin | Annual report | $299 |
| Wyoming | Annual report from $60 | $199 |
Cheapest and Most Expensive States for an LLC
Cheapest to keep: Arizona, New Mexico, Ohio, Missouri and South Carolina, which have no annual report fee. Most expensive to keep: California (an $800 franchise tax every year), Massachusetts ($500 annual report) and Nevada ($350 a year). Compare the package prices in the table above for the full first-year cost. For a full breakdown, read how much an LLC costs, the cheapest state to form an LLC and the best state for an LLC.
A low filing fee is not the whole story. Look at the yearly cost too, because you pay it every year for as long as the LLC exists.
How to Form an LLC in 5 Steps
- Choose your state. If you live in the US, pick the state where you live or work. If you live abroad, most founders choose Wyoming or New Mexico.
- Pick a name that is free in that state and ends with “LLC”.
- Appoint a registered agent with a street address in the state to receive legal mail.
- File Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State and pay the state fee shown in the table above.
- Get an EIN from the IRS, sign an operating agreement, and open a business bank account.
Want one price for everything? See our LLC package prices for all 50 states, with the state fee, registered agent and EIN within 24 hours included.
Why Most Founders Use a Formation Service
Forming an LLC means checking the name, filing the right form with the state, appointing a registered agent, getting an EIN and keeping up with yearly filings. Each step has its own rules, and founders outside the US cannot use the IRS online EIN tool at all.
With LLCPronto, the state fee, filing, registered agent and your EIN within 24 hours are in one clear price, and we remind you of every yearly deadline. You get a working company without learning each state’s system yourself.
LLC Advantages and Disadvantages
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Protects your personal assets from business debts in most cases | State fees each year in many states (up to $800 in California) |
| Simple to run: few formalities compared with a corporation | Some investors prefer a C corporation |
| Flexible tax treatment | Owners in the US usually pay self-employment tax on profits |
| Can be owned by people anywhere in the world | Foreign-owned single-member LLCs must file Form 5472 each year |
LLC vs Corporation
| LLC | C corporation | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Freelancers, agencies, online sellers, small businesses | Startups raising venture capital |
| Paperwork | Light: annual report in most states | Heavier: board, bylaws, minutes |
| Federal tax by default | Passes through to the owner | Taxed at the company level, then again on dividends |
| Usual state for founders abroad | Wyoming or New Mexico | Delaware |
LLC by State: Common Questions
Which state is the cheapest to form an LLC in?
Look at the package price in our table for the first-year cost. For yearly costs, Arizona, New Mexico, Ohio, Missouri and South Carolina have no annual report fee at all, which makes them the cheapest to keep running.
Which state is best for an LLC if I live outside the US?
Most non-US founders choose Wyoming, New Mexico or Delaware. Wyoming has a $60 annual report for most small LLCs and no state income tax. New Mexico has no annual report. Delaware is the usual choice if you plan to raise money from US investors.
Do I have to form my LLC in the state where I live?
If you live in the US and run your business there, form it in your home state. Forming somewhere else usually means you must also register in your home state and pay two sets of fees. If you live outside the US, you can choose any state.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in 2026?
Buying separately means a state fee, a registered agent and an EIN. Our packages include the state fee, a registered agent for one year and your EIN in one price.
What is the difference between the state fee and your package price?
The state fee is what the government charges to file your LLC. Our package price already includes that state fee, plus our service, a registered agent and your EIN, so there is nothing extra to pay the state.
How much does it cost to start an LLC?
Buying everything separately means a state fee, a registered agent and often an EIN service. Our packages include the state fee, registered agent and EIN in one price.
Can I form an LLC in a state where I don’t live?
Yes. You can form an LLC in any state. If you run the business from a different US state, you will usually also need to register it there as a foreign LLC, which means a second set of fees. Founders outside the US can choose any state.
Not Sure Which State Is Best?
Tell us where you live and what you sell. We’ll recommend a state and show the full cost before you pay.
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