Filter & Sort States
All 50 States LLC Formation Costs
Complete breakdown of fees and requirements for every state. Click any column header to sort.
| State | Filing Fee | Annual Fee | Franchise Tax | Total 1st Year | Processing | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona AZ | $50 | FREE | — | $50 | ✓ 5-10 business days | |
| Missouri MO | $50 | FREE | — | $50 | ✓ 5-7 business days | |
| New Mexico NM | $50 | FREE | — | $50 | ⏱ 7-10 business days | |
| Mississippi MS | $50 | FREE | — | $50 | ✓ 5-7 business days | |
| Kentucky KY | $40 | $15 | — | $55 | ✓ 5-7 business days | |
| Colorado CO | $50 | $10 | — | $60 | ⚡ 1-2 business days | |
| Hawaii HI | $50 | $15 | — | $65 | ✓ 3-5 business days | |
| Utah UT | $54 | $18 | — | $72 | ⚡ 2-3 business days | |
| Michigan MI | $50 | $25 | — | $75 | ⏱ 7-10 business days | |
| Montana MT | $70 | $20 | — | $90 | ✓ 5-10 business days | |
| Iowa IA | $50 | $45 | — | $95 | ✓ 5-10 business days | |
| Ohio OH | $99 | FREE | — | $99 | ✓ 3-5 business days | |
| Idaho ID | $100 | FREE | — | $100 | ✓ 5-7 business days | |
| South Carolina SC | $110 | FREE | — | $110 | ✓ 5-10 business days | |
| Nebraska NE | $105 | $10 | — | $115 | ✓ 5-7 business days | |
| Pennsylvania PA | $125 | FREE | — | $125 | ⏱ 7-10 business days | |
| West Virginia WV | $100 | $25 | — | $125 | ✓ 5-7 business days | |
| Indiana IN | $95 | $30 | — | $125 | ⏱ 7-10 business days | |
| Oklahoma OK | $100 | $25 | — | $125 | ✓ 3-5 business days | |
| Louisiana LA | $100 | $35 | — | $135 | ✓ 5-7 business days | |
| Georgia GA | $100 | $50 | — | $150 | ⏱ 7-10 business days | |
| Virginia VA | $100 | $50 | — | $150 | ⏱ 7-10 business days | |
| Wisconsin WI | $130 | $25 | — | $155 | ✓ 5-7 business days | |
| Minnesota MN | $155 | FREE | — | $155 | ✓ 5-7 business days | |
| Wyoming WY | $100 | $60 | — | $160 | ✓ 3-5 business days | |
| Vermont VT | $125 | $35 | — | $160 | ⏱ 7-10 business days | |
| Alabama AL | $183 | FREE | — | $183 | ✓ 5-10 business days | |
| North Dakota ND | $135 | $50 | — | $185 | ✓ 5-7 business days | |
| Arkansas AR | $45 | $150 | — | $195 | ✓ 5-7 business days | |
| Connecticut CT | $120 | $80 | — | $200 | ✓ 5-7 business days | |
| South Dakota SD | $150 | $50 | — | $200 | ✓ 3-5 business days | |
| New Hampshire NH | $100 | $100 | — | $200 | ✓ 5-7 business days | |
| Rhode Island RI | $150 | $50 | — | $200 | ✓ 3-5 business days | |
| New Jersey NJ | $125 | $75 | — | $200 | ✓ 5-10 business days | |
| Oregon OR | $100 | $100 | — | $200 | ⚡ 1-2 business days | |
| New York NY | $200 | $9 | — | $209 | ⏱ 7-10 business days | |
| Kansas KS | $165 | $55 | — | $220 | ✓ 5-7 business days | |
| Illinois IL | $150 | $75 | — | $225 | ✓ 5-10 business days | |
| Maine ME | $175 | $85 | — | $260 | ⏱ 7-10 business days | |
| Washington WA | $200 | $60 | — | $260 | ⚡ 2-3 business days | |
| Florida FL | $125 | $138.75 | — | $263.75 | ✓ 3-5 business days | |
| Texas TX | $300 | FREE | — | $300 | ✓ 5-7 business days | |
| North Carolina NC | $125 | $200 | — | $325 | ⏱ 7-10 business days | |
| Alaska AK | $250 | $100 | — | $350 | ⏱ 10-15 business days | |
| Maryland MD | $100 | $300 | — | $400 | ⏱ 7-10 business days | |
| Nevada NV | $75 | $350 | — | $425 | ⚡ 1-2 business days | |
| Delaware DE | $90 | $300 | $300 | $690 | ✓ 5-10 business days | |
| California CA | $75 | $20 | $800 | $895 | ⏱ 10-15 business days | |
| Tennessee TN | $300 | $300 | $300 | $900 | ✓ 5-7 business days | |
| Massachusetts MA | $500 | $500 | — | $1000 | ✓ 5-7 business days |
Top 5 Most Affordable States
These states offer the lowest total first-year costs for LLC formation.
Top 5 Fastest Processing States
Get your LLC formed quickly in these states with expedited processing.
Colorado
CO
Processing Time
1-2 business days
Nevada
NV
Processing Time
1-2 business days
Oregon
OR
Processing Time
1-2 business days
Washington
WA
Processing Time
2-3 business days
How to Choose Your LLC State
Key Considerations
-
Physical Presence
If you have an office, employees, or inventory in a state, you must register there.
-
State Income Tax
Consider the state's income tax rates and how they'll affect your bottom line.
-
Privacy Protection
Some states offer better privacy protection for LLC owners.
Popular Choices
- 1
Wyoming
No state income tax, strong privacy, low fees.
- 2
Delaware
Business-friendly laws, sophisticated court system.
- 3
Nevada
No state income tax, strong privacy protections.
Remember: Most businesses should form their LLC in their home state where they operate. The savings from choosing a different state are often offset by the costs and complexity of registering as a foreign LLC in your home state.
National LLC Formation Statistics
Understanding the national landscape of LLC formation costs and requirements.
Average Costs
Fee Distribution
Processing Times
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about choosing the right state for your LLC.
Do I have to form an LLC in my home state?
In most cases, yes. If your business has a physical presence (office, store, employees) in a state, you'll need to register there. However, online businesses without physical presence can sometimes choose more favorable states like Wyoming or Delaware, though you'll still need to register as a 'foreign LLC' in your home state if you operate there.
Which state is best for online businesses?
Wyoming, Nevada, and Delaware are popular choices for online businesses due to their business-friendly laws, privacy protections, and tax advantages. Wyoming offers no state income tax and strong privacy protection. Nevada has no state income tax and doesn't share information with the IRS. Delaware offers advanced business laws and court systems.
What are franchise taxes?
Franchise taxes are fees that some states charge LLCs for the privilege of doing business in that state. They're separate from income taxes and are often flat annual fees. For example, California charges an $800 minimum franchise tax, while Tennessee charges $300. Many states have no franchise tax at all.
Can I change my LLC's state later?
Yes, but it can be complex and expensive. You typically need to either form a new LLC in the desired state and transfer assets, or go through a formal 'domestication' process if both states allow it. It's usually better to choose the right state from the start to avoid these complications and costs.
Why do some states have no annual fees?
States like New Mexico, Arizona, and Missouri don't charge annual fees to attract businesses and simplify administration. They may generate revenue through other taxes or fees. However, always consider the complete picture including filing fees, franchise taxes, and state income taxes when evaluating total costs.
Skip the Complexity - Let Professionals Handle Your LLC
Why deal with state websites and confusing forms? Professional LLC formation services handle everything for you, ensure compliance, and often include valuable extras like registered agent service.
ZenBusiness
First-time business owners, solopreneurs, and side-hustle-to-business transitions who want one trusted platform for formation, compliance, banking, bookkeeping, and a website
ZenBusiness is the all-in-one platform for small business owners, offering everything needed to start, run, and grow a company. Services include LLC and corporation formation in all 50 states, registered agent, ongoing compliance monitoring with a worry-free guarantee, business banking, bookkeeping and invoicing, a website builder, and Velo — an AI business assistant trained on customer data. Three packages: Starter ($0 + state fees), Pro ($199/yr) with rush processing and EIN, and Premium ($399/yr) with registered agent, business documents, and advisor consultation. All packages include 100% accuracy guarantee, award-winning lifetime support, Velo AI assistant, and mobile app.
Pros:
- ✓ Starter package is $0 plus state fees
- ✓ Optional Worry-Free Compliance at 50% off (Starter)
- ✓ Rush 1-day processing (Pro/Premium)
- ✓ Premium saves $199/yr on registered agent
- ✓ 100% accuracy & 60-day money-back guarantee
- ✓ Award-winning lifetime support included
- ✓ Velo AI assistant and mobile app
- ✓ Business advisor consultation (Premium)
Cons:
- ✗ Registered agent not included in Starter/Pro
- ✗ Special offers auto-renew after trial period
Bizee
Budget-conscious startups needing fast formation
Bizee (formerly Incfile) offers lightning-fast LLC formation with their $0 package. They're perfect for entrepreneurs who need to form their LLC quickly and affordably. With same-day processing in many states and a year of free registered agent service, Bizee provides exceptional value for basic LLC formation needs.
Pros:
- ✓ $0 basic formation package
- ✓ Same-day processing available
- ✓ Free registered agent for first year
- ✓ Compliance alerts included
- ✓ Dashboard for document management
- ✓ Free business tools and templates
Cons:
- ✗ Operating agreement not included in basic package
- ✗ Limited customer support hours
Rocket Lawyer
Businesses needing ongoing legal support beyond formation
Rocket Lawyer offers comprehensive legal services beyond just LLC formation. Their platform provides access to attorneys, unlimited legal documents with membership, and ongoing legal support. While the formation takes 5-7 days, they're ideal for businesses that anticipate needing regular legal assistance.
Pros:
- ✓ Full legal services platform
- ✓ Operating agreement included
- ✓ Attorney consultations available
- ✓ Mobile app for on-the-go access
- ✓ Document library with membership
- ✓ Phone and chat support
Cons:
- ✗ No rush processing available
- ✗ Registered agent costs $149/year
- ✗ EIN service costs extra (+$99)
Inc Authority
Budget-conscious entrepreneurs comfortable with DIY approach
Inc Authority offers genuinely free LLC formation with free registered agent service for the first year. While their basic package is unbeatable for price, be prepared for upselling attempts and note that the registered agent service renews at $119/year. They're perfect for entrepreneurs who want the absolute lowest cost and don't mind a more hands-off approach.
Pros:
- ✓ Truly free basic formation
- ✓ Free registered agent for first year
- ✓ Free tax planning consultation
- ✓ No hidden fees on basic package
- ✓ Phone and chat support available
- ✓ Basic compliance tools included
Cons:
- ✗ Aggressive upselling tactics
- ✗ Processing can be slow (7-10 days)
- ✗ Registered agent renews at $119/year
Ready to Form Your LLC?
Whether you choose the cheapest state or form in your home state, we've got the information and services to help you get started.