What an LLC really costs, by state and by company
State fees plus what each formation company charges, in year one and after the first renewal. Pick a state, then compare any two or three side by side.
In California, state fees come to $2,510 over 3 years, whoever files. The lowest a company adds is $289 (Northwest); the highest is $747 (LegalZoom).
Company cost is the cheapest plan that forms the LLC plus that company's registered agent, at the standard rate. Add-ons a checkout preselects are left out. State fees are the same on every row.
Compare two or three side by side
What you gain, what you give up, and what it costs. The state and years follow your choice above.
| California, 3 years | Northwest$289company cost over 3 yearsLowest of theseVisit Northwest | Bizee$298company cost over 3 years$9 more than NorthwestVisit Bizee |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Offers, and the other does not | Nothing extra |
|
| Does not offer, and the other does |
| Nothing missing |
| Good to know |
|
|
| Watch for | – |
|
| Price | ||
| Forming the LLC | $39 LLC formation | $0 Basic |
| Registered agent, year 1 | Included | Included |
| Registered agent, each year after | $125/yr | $149/yr |
| Total with California fees, 3 years | $2,799 | $2,808 |
Every filing side by side (13)
| Starting out | ||
|---|---|---|
| EIN (tax ID) | $50$200 without an SSN | $70 |
| DBA (business name) | Not offeredfree state-by-state guide only | $99 |
| Business address and mail | $20/momail forwarding, select states; office $29/mo | $29/mono packages |
| Staying in good standing | ||
| File the annual report | $100per report | Yesprice at checkout |
| Deadline reminders | Includedwith its agent | Freelifetime notifications |
| Register in another state | $225with a year of agent | $199 |
| Certificate of good standing | $50 | $99 to $119order page shows both |
| Switch your registered agent | Freepays the state fee too | $99 |
| Change name, address or members | $100for its agent clients | $99 |
| Fixing, moving or closing | ||
| Reinstate a dissolved LLC | Not offeredfree guide only | $199 |
| Close the LLC | Not offeredfree guide only | $199 |
| Leave a state you registered in | Not offeredfree guide only | Not offered |
| Move the LLC to another state | Not offered | Not offered |
$289 company cost over 3 years · $2,799 with state fees
$39 year 1, then $125/yr
Does not offer, and the other does
- DBA filing
- Reinstatement
- Closing the LLC
Good to know
- $100/yr per state if you have 5 or more
- Switching your agent to Northwest is free; Northwest pays the state fee
$298 company cost over 3 years · $2,808 with state fees
$0 year 1, then $149/yr
Offers, and the other does not
- DBA filing
- Reinstatement
- Closing the LLC
Good to know
- Free deadline reminders for life
Watch for
- Basic files in about 4 weeks; Premium ($299) files in 2 business days
In depth: Northwest vs Bizee for forming an LLC
How much does it cost to form an LLC?
The state filing fee runs from $35 (Montana) to $520 (Massachusetts); the median is $100. That fee is only the first bill. Many states also charge a yearly report fee or a minimum tax, and year two is where most of the difference between companies shows up: registered agent service renews at $125 to $249 a year. Each state guide breaks down that state's fees.
Doing it yourself is always cheapest on paper. It means listing your own street address on the public record and being there in business hours to accept legal papers. A registered agent, the person or company named to accept legal papers for the LLC, is what you pay to avoid that.
Other costs, other pages
- How much a registered agent costsAlready have an LLC? Agent prices alone, first year and renewal, company by company.
- Registered agent switch calculatorAlready paying an agent? See what you would save by switching.
- Who files what after formationAnnual reports, good standing, DBAs and reinstatement, by company and price.
- Registering your LLC in a second stateWhat it costs to add a state you already do business in.
- Northwest's $39 LLC, line by lineWhat the price includes and what year two costs.
Questions
Why is the agent's first year free with some companies?
Northwest, Bizee and Registered Agents Inc include the first year of registered agent service with formation and charge for it from year two. ZenBusiness, LegalZoom, Harbor Compliance and Tailor Brands charge for the agent from the start. Switch the calculator to 2 or 3 years and the difference shows.
Does the state charge more if a company files for me?
No. The state fee is the same whoever files. The company's charge is on top of it.
What is newspaper publication?
Arizona, Nebraska and New York require a new LLC to announce itself in a newspaper. The cost depends on the county and the paper, so the figure here is an estimate. In Arizona it is waived when the agent's address is in Maricopa or Pima County.
Can I skip the registered agent?
You can be your own agent if you have a street address in the state and are there in business hours. Missing a lawsuit served there can mean a judgment against the LLC without a hearing.
Sources and method
State fees come from each state's own fee schedule, the same figures our state guides use. Yearly costs count annual reports and minimum taxes; a report or licence due every two years is counted in years one, three and five. Company prices were read on each company's own pricing page: formation plans and registered agent rates, standard prices, no coupons. What each company files comes from our services comparison, read on each company's site. CorpNet is not in the calculator because we list it for one-off filings, not as a registered agent.