LLC Cost Calculator

Estimate what it costs to form an LLC and keep it in good standing. Pick your state to pre-fill the filing and annual fees, adjust the registered agent and optional services, and see your first-year, ongoing, and five-year totals instantly.

📖 How it works & FAQ

State of formation

State filing fee ($, one-time)

Annual report / franchise fee ($ per year)

Registered agent ($ per year, 0 if you act as your own)

EIN service ($ one-time, 0 if you file free with the IRS)

Operating agreement ($ one-time, 0 for a DIY template)

Formation service ($ one-time, 0 if you file yourself)

What an LLC really costs

Forming an LLC has two kinds of costs: one-time setup fees and recurring annual fees. The one-time part is your state filing fee for the Articles of Organization, anywhere from $35 in Montana to $500 in Massachusetts, with a national average around $132, plus anything you pay for help: a formation service, an EIN filing service, or a lawyer-drafted operating agreement. The recurring part keeps the LLC alive: annual report or franchise fees charged by the state (from $0 in Arizona, New Mexico and Ohio to $800+ in California) and a registered agent service if you do not act as your own. This calculator adds those pieces up and shows your first-year cost, ongoing annual cost, and a five-year total so you can compare states honestly. Fees are pre-filled from published state schedules but change often, so every field is editable. These figures are estimates only, not legal, tax, or financial advice.

How to use it

Pick your state of formation. The filing fee and annual fee fill in automatically, or choose Custom and type your own numbers.
Set the registered agent cost: 0 if you will serve as your own agent, or a typical $100 to $300 per year for a service.
Add optional one-time extras such as an EIN service, an operating agreement, or a formation service. Enter 0 for the free DIY route.
Read the cards: first-year cost, ongoing per-year cost, one-time setup, and five-year total. Every edit updates the totals instantly.

FAQ

Which states are cheapest for an LLC?: For total cost of ownership, look at states with no annual fee: New Mexico ($50 to file, $0 per year), Arizona, Missouri, and Ohio. A cheap filing fee matters less than the recurring fee you pay every single year.
Do I need to pay for a registered agent?: No. In every state you can act as your own agent for free if you have an in-state street address and are available during business hours. Services ($100 to $300 per year) add privacy and reliability.
Is an EIN really free?: Yes. The IRS issues EINs at no charge on its website in minutes. Companies that charge $50 to $100 are selling convenience, not access.
What costs does this not cover?: Possible extras include New York newspaper publication, local business licenses, DBA filings, expedited processing, and state income or gross-receipts taxes on what the LLC earns.