Staring down the idea of registering your own LLC is exciting, but the costs can trip up anyone—especially when the numbers are all over the place online. Some states make it look cheap, some hit you with fees that feel like hidden taxes. And then you find out the sticker price isn’t all there is to pay.
The truth? There’s no flat rate for getting an LLC in the USA. Each state sets its own filing fees, and they range from a chill $40 in Kentucky to over $500 if you’re aiming for Massachusetts or California. That’s just to get your paperwork stamped—you haven’t even started thinking about recurring costs or random charges some states sneak in.
On top of the base registration, stuff like annual reports, franchise taxes, or publishing requirements can add up fast. If you hire someone to help file, or if you need a registered agent because you don’t have a physical office, that’s extra money out of pocket. The real cost isn’t just a one-time hit.
Knowing exactly what to expect before you file can save you from major headaches. This isn’t just for big companies—plenty of solo founders and side hustlers go through the same process. I’ve been there, and trust me, reading the fine print will keep your budget from blowing up later.
- The Basic Filing Fees: How Much and Why They Vary
- Hidden and Ongoing Costs You Can’t Ignore
- State-by-State Price Examples
- Tips to Save Money and Avoid Surprises
The Basic Filing Fees: How Much and Why They Vary
The main cost upfront for starting an LLC is the state filing fee. This is different depending on where you decide to set up your business. There’s no one-size-fits-all number. You could pay as little as $40, but in some places that number shoots past $500. What gives?
The fee mainly covers processing your LLC registration paperwork. But every state handles its own business admin, so they all decide on their own rates. California currently charges $70 for filing, but then hits you with an $800 annual franchise tax, which throws people off. Meanwhile, Delaware—famous for its business-friendly vibe—charges $90 to form an LLC, but then you’ll get a $300 annual tax after year one. Flip to Texas and there’s no filing fee for the annual report, but the initial filing is $300. It’s all over the map.
Why the huge gap? State governments set these numbers based on their budgets, admin costs, and sometimes just to encourage or discourage new businesses from flocking in. There’s nothing sneaky about it, but you have to check your state’s website to know exactly what to expect.
| State | LLC Filing Fee (2025) |
|---|---|
| Kentucky | $40 |
| Delaware | $90 |
| Texas | $300 |
| California | $70 |
| Massachusetts | $500 |
If you’re thinking you’ll save big by choosing the cheapest state, watch out—other ongoing charges might cost you more down the line. And even when you go through online services that promise a “free LLC,” you’ll still pay the official LLC registration cost to the government. The only real shortcut here is knowing the real prices for the state you’ve picked.
Hidden and Ongoing Costs You Can’t Ignore
The price tag to register your LLC looks pretty clear at first, but as you dig in, you’ll spot more costs sneaking up right behind you. If you focus only on the main state filing fee, you’ll end up missing the real number you should be budgeting for. Here’s what often catches people off guard:
- Annual Report Fees: Most states make you file a report every year (or every other year) to keep your LLC registration active. The fee can be as low as $10 in states like New York, or shoot up to $800 in California.
- Franchise Taxes: Even if you’re not running a franchise, many states charge an annual franchise tax just for being an LLC. Delaware is famous for this—it charges at least $300 every year, no matter your profits.
- Registered Agent Costs: You need a registered agent to get official mail from the state. If you don’t have a physical address in the state, you’ll need to hire one. The typical bill? $100 to $300 per year.
- Business Licenses: Lot of cities and counties will want you to pay for a local business license. This isn’t included when you register your LLC, and costs are all over the place depending on what you do and where you’re set up.
- Publication Fees: Three states (New York, Arizona, Nebraska) make you publish a notice about your new company in a local newspaper. Just for New York, businesses in New York City can spend over $1,200 to meet this rule—ouch.
| Ongoing Cost Type | Low End (per year) | High End (per year) |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Report Fee | $0 | $800 |
| Registered Agent | $100 | $300 |
| Franchise Tax | $50 | $800 |
| Publication Fee* | $40 | $1,200 |
*Publication fee applies only in specific states upon formation.
Don’t forget, if you decide to close down, there’s a fee for dissolving your LLC too. Add up all these pieces before you commit, so your LLC registration cost doesn’t balloon out of control later.
State-by-State Price Examples
If you’ve ever tried Googling how much it costs to register an LLC in the USA, you probably ended up more confused than when you started. The truth is, these numbers swing wildly—from downright affordable in some places, to pretty steep in others. It all comes down to which state you’re filing in. Here’s a breakdown, with the most up-to-date official state fees as of 2025—because these change more than you’d think.
- Wyoming: $100 filing fee. Wyoming’s a favorite for online businesses—simple rules, low taxes, and it won’t mess with your wallet.
- Kentucky: $40 to file. If you want super-low up-front costs, this is where it’s at.
- Florida: $125 to register. You’ll also cough up an annual report fee ($138.75) every year after.
- California: $70 for the initial filing. But wait—they’ve got an $800 minimum annual franchise tax that’ll hit you every year, even if your company makes zero profit. Ouch.
- Texas: $300 to file. No annual franchise fee if you make less than $2.47 million a year, which is a solid deal for smaller folks.
- New York: $200 to file, and you have to publish a public notice in newspapers (not cheap—can go from $500 up to $1,200 depending on county).
- Delaware: $90 filing fee. It’s a business hotspot, but count in the $300 annual franchise tax here too.
- Massachusetts: $500 to file—one of the more expensive states for starting your LLC.
Check out this handy table for a quick peek at some popular states:
| State | Filing Fee | Noteworthy Ongoing Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | $40 | Annual report: $15 |
| Wyoming | $100 | Annual report: $60 minimum |
| California | $70 | Franchise tax: $800/year |
| New York | $200 | Publication cost + biennial report: $9 every 2 yrs |
| Florida | $125 | Annual report: $138.75 |
| Texas | $300 | Franchise tax if revenue >$2.47M |
| Delaware | $90 | Franchise tax: $300/year |
| Massachusetts | $500 | Annual report: $520 |
Why do these costs matter? States make rules to attract different types of businesses, and those fees (plus annoying extra steps) are how they play the game. For most people, picking a state just because it’s cheap isn’t always the smartest move—if you plan to operate mainly in your home state, you’ll usually want to register there to avoid even more paperwork and fees. If you’re selling nationally or online only, a place like Wyoming or Delaware could save you big bucks over time.
Long story short, always check the LLC registration cost for your exact state, keep an eye out for mandatory annual/biennial fees, and think twice before jumping to register your LLC just because a YouTuber called a state “business-friendly.” The real price tag might hit harder than you think.
Tips to Save Money and Avoid Surprises
Trimming down costs when starting your LLC isn’t just about being cheap—it’s about not getting blindsided by fees that aren’t obvious at first. Here are moves most first-time owners wish they knew before they filed the paperwork.
- Check your state’s website first. Always start with the official Secretary of State page for your state. That’s where you’ll get the actual rates. Don’t depend on random Google results—plenty of websites post outdated or flat-out wrong LLC registration cost ranges.
- DIY the filing. Most states make it pretty easy to file on your own. If you go this route, you only pay the state’s filing fee—no extra charges to middlemen. Filers who use "LLC services" often pay $100–$300 more, and half the time those folks use the same state forms you can find for free.
- Go paperless if possible. Some states charge extra for paper filings versus doing everything online. For example, California’s online filing saves you about $10, plus the headache of mailing back-and-forth.
- Skip unnecessary add-ons. You’ll get pitched "EIN setup," "certified copies," and every kind of document prep the moment you look up business registration. But the IRS gives you an EIN for free online, and you rarely need those other extras. Only pay for what’s required to finish registration.
- Plan for ongoing costs. Don’t forget the annual report or franchise tax. Some states only ask for $10–$20 per year, but others (like Illinois) want $75 or more. Put these numbers in your budget from the start.
If you want to see just how much these costs can swing, check out this table of sample LLC filing fees and annual maintenance (as of 2025):
| State | LLC Filing Fee | Annual/Biennial Report Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | $125 | $138.75 |
| California | $70 | $800 (franchise tax) |
| Texas | $300 | $0 (if income is under threshold) |
| New York | $200 + publication costs | $9 |
One last tip: be careful with publication fees. States like New York require you to publish your new LLC in local newspapers, and that can eat $1,000 or more. That’s not something most people plan for, and it’s not obvious up front.
Scout out all these details before you commit your cash. If you keep an eye on these specific costs, your business will stay lean, and you won't get walloped by surprise expenses later on.
