Forming a Limited Liability Company (LLC) is one of the most effective ways to protect personal assets and establish operational credibility in the United States. However, LLC formation costs vary significantly depending on the state in which you register. While some states offer fast, low-cost online processing, others mandate substantial upfront fees, statutory licenses, or publication requirements.
Important cost factor: Filing fees listed below represent primary state government online filing costs for forming a standard LLC. Most states add minor credit card processing fees ($2 to $15 or 2%-3%) during online checkout.
1. Comprehensive State-by-State Online Fee Directory
Below is the complete fee table for online LLC registration across all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
| State / Territory | Online Fee | Filing Portal / Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $200 | AL Dept. of Revenue / Secretary of State |
| Alaska | $250 | AK DCCED (Corporations Division) |
| Arizona | $50 | AZ Corporation Commission (eCorp) |
| Arkansas | $45 | AR Secretary of State |
| California | $70 | CA Secretary of State (bizfile Online) |
| Colorado | $50 | CO Secretary of State (Online only) |
| Connecticut | $120 | CT Secretary of the State |
| Delaware | $110 | DE Division of Corporations |
| District of Columbia | $99 | DC DLCP (CorpOnline) |
| Florida | $125 | FL Dept. of State (Sunbiz) |
| Georgia | $100 | GA Secretary of State (eCorp) |
| Hawaii | $50 | HI DCCA (Hawaii Business Express) |
| Idaho | $100 | ID Secretary of State (SOSBiz) |
| Illinois | $150 | IL Secretary of State |
| Indiana | $85 | IN Secretary of State (INBiz) (+$10-$15 portal fee) |
| Iowa | $50 | IA Secretary of State (Fast Track Filing) |
| Kansas | $85 | KS Secretary of State |
| Kentucky | $40 | KY Secretary of State (One Stop) |
| Louisiana | $100 | LA Secretary of State (geauxBIZ) |
| Maine | $175 | ME Secretary of State |
| Maryland | $100 | MD State Dept. of Assessments & Taxation |
| Massachusetts | $500 | MA Secretary of the Commonwealth |
| Michigan | $50 | MI LARA (Corporations Division) |
| Minnesota | $155 | MN Secretary of State |
| Mississippi | $50 | MS Secretary of State |
| Missouri | $50 | MO Secretary of State |
| Montana | $35 | MT Secretary of State |
| Nebraska | $100 | NE Secretary of State |
| Nevada | $425 | NV SOS (SilverFlume) - Incl. Initial List & License |
| New Hampshire | $100 | NH Department of State (+$2 processing fee) |
| New Jersey | $100 | NJ Division of Revenue & Enterprise Services |
| New Mexico | $50 | NM Secretary of State (Online only) |
| New York | $200 | NY Dept. of State (Excl. required publication) |
| North Carolina | $125 | NC Secretary of State |
| North Dakota | $135 | ND Secretary of State (FirstStop) |
| Ohio | $99 | OH Secretary of State (Business Central) |
| Oklahoma | $100 | OK Secretary of State |
| Oregon | $100 | OR Secretary of State |
| Pennsylvania | $125 | PA Department of State (PennFile) |
| Rhode Island | $150 | RI Dept. of State |
| South Carolina | $110 | SC Secretary of State |
| South Dakota | $150 | SD Secretary of State |
| Tennessee | $300 | TN SOS (Base fee; $50/member over 6) |
| Texas | $300 | TX Secretary of State (SOSDirect) |
| Utah | $59 | UT Division of Corporations |
| Vermont | $155 | VT Secretary of State |
| Virginia | $100 | VA State Corporation Commission (CIS) |
| Washington | $200 | WA Secretary of State (CCFS) |
| West Virginia | $100 | WV Secretary of State (One Stop) |
| Wisconsin | $130 | WI Dept. of Financial Institutions |
| Wyoming | $100 | WY Secretary of State (WyoBiz) (+$2 convenience fee) |
2. Crucial State-Specific Considerations
Nevada LLC Formation Breakdown
While Nevada promotes an initial $75 Articles of Organization filing fee, forming an active LLC online requires completing the Initial List of Managers/Members ($150) and obtaining the mandatory State Business License ($200) simultaneously via the SilverFlume portal. The true minimum cost to form a Nevada LLC is $425.
New York Newspaper Publication Requirement
Under Section 206 of the New York Limited Liability Company Law, new LLCs must publish a copy of their Articles or a notice of formation in two local newspapers designated by the county clerk once a week for six consecutive weeks. After publication, a Certificate of Publication must be submitted to the state ($50 fee). Total publication costs range from $300 in rural counties to over $1,200 in New York County (Manhattan).
California Minimum Franchise Tax
Although California's initial filing fee is relatively modest at $70, all LLCs doing business in California are subject to an annual $800 minimum Franchise Tax paid to the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB), regardless of gross revenues or profit.
3. Strategic Advice: Where Should You Incorporate?
- Home State Registration (Recommended for Most Businesses): If you operate a physical business, office, store, or have localized employees, you should register in your home state. Registering in an out-of-state 'tax haven' like Delaware or Wyoming will require you to register as a Foreign LLC in your home state anyway, doubling your filing fees and ongoing annual compliance burden.
- Holding Companies & Venture-Backed Startups: Delaware remains the industry standard for venture capital-backed startups due to its well-established Chancery Court and flexible corporate law. Wyoming and Nevada are preferred choices for holding companies seeking privacy and strong asset protection.
