LLC Fees by State: first-year and ongoing costs
Use the calculator to mix filing options, registered agent, expedite, and publication where it applies. Figures are modeled from our dataset—not a substitute for official fee schedules.
Cost drivers
What goes into the total
The formation fee is one line. Useful comparisons include recurring reports, taxes that apply to your entity, publication in a few states, and where you actually operate.
- FormationSOS filing, optional expedite, optional third-party formation package.
- OngoingPeriodic reports (annualized when biennial), modeled franchise-style taxes when flagged, registered agent.
- Multi-stateIf you work outside the formation state, budget foreign registration and home-state obligations—not only the “headline” filing fee.
Examples
States visitors often open first
Cards use one baseline: self-file, include registered agent, no expedite. Change inputs on the calculator for your situation.
California
Low formation fee, high ongoing load for many businesses: FTB minimum tax is often the dominant annual line item alongside SOS compliance.
Last data edit: 2025-01-15 (editorial)
- Year 1 (modeled)
- $219
- Annual (modeled)
- $959
Delaware
Widely used for corporate law infrastructure; compare registered agent, annual tax, and any foreign registration where you actually operate—not the filing fee alone.
Last data edit: 2025-01-15 (editorial)
- Year 1 (modeled)
- $189
- Annual (modeled)
- $699
New York
Publication can exceed SOS fees in year one—treat the band as directional until you have newspaper quotes.
Last data edit: 2025-01-15 (editorial)
- Year 1 (modeled)
- $1,479
- Annual (modeled)
- $134
Arizona
Ongoing obligations still apply (e.g., statutory agent, tax accounts). Confirm your filing path on the Arizona SOS site.
Last data edit: 2025-01-15 (editorial)
- Year 1 (modeled)
- $149
- Annual (modeled)
- $99
Florida
Annual report amount and due window are easy to miss—late filings pick up penalties quickly. Confirm the current fee on Sunbiz.
Last data edit: 2025-01-15 (editorial)
- Year 1 (modeled)
- $244
- Annual (modeled)
- $258
Cash flow
Plan year one and year two
A cheap filing can pair with expensive annual compliance. Look at both before you optimize a single fee.
First-year totals often include one-time steps (publication in some states). Annual recurring totals focus on reports, taxes modeled in the data, and registered agent—annualized from biennial fees where we split the cost across years for comparison.
Multi-state
Operating at home but forming elsewhere
If you have real activity in another state, you may need to register or file there. That can matter more than saving on formation.
Use the calculator toggle for operating outside the formation state and read your home-state page. This site does not rank states as “best”—it helps you list costs to investigate.
How estimates are builtFAQ
Questions
Short answers—confirm details for your entity.
Are these numbers exact?+
No. They are estimates built from fee categories in our data file. Schedules change, and your taxes and filings depend on your facts—always confirm with the official filing office and tax agencies.
Is the lowest filing fee state the best deal?+
Not necessarily. Annual taxes, reports, publication, registered agent, and multi-state registration can matter more than the one-time formation fee.
Do I need a registered agent?+
Most states require a registered agent with a physical address in the state. Founders often pay a commercial service; some use a qualifying address if permitted.
What if I form in one state but work in another?+
You may need to register or file taxes where you operate. Map every state with real activity—do not assume a “popular” formation state avoids home-state compliance.
Browse
State pages
Detail pages mirror the dataset and link to official sources.