Cost Calculator AI
Taxes & Government Fees50-State Corporate Model

LLC Formation & Maintenance Cost Calculator

Estimate first-year and 5-year LLC formation costs including Secretary of State Articles of Organization fees, annual franchise taxes, Registered Agents, and Operating Agreements.

State LLC Filing, Registered Agent & Legal Method

Currency:
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Operating Agreement, EIN & Local Permits

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First-Year LLC FormationSave $801 vs Attorney
$544Year 1 Total
Year 2+ Compliance
$225/yr
State tax + Reg Agent
5-Year Total Cost
$1,444
5-year entity upkeep

Itemized LLC Setup Breakdown

State Articles of Organization Fee
$125
Filing Service / Legal Drafting Fee
$149
Registered Agent Service (Year 1)
$125
Operating Agreement & City License
$145

First-Year & 5-Year LLC Compliance Formula

Year 1 Cost = State Filing Fee + Prep Fee (DIY $0 / Service $149 / Attorney $950) + Registered Agent + Operating Agreement + Local License; Year 2+ = Annual Franchise Tax + Registered Agent
  • Articles of Organization State Fee: Mandatory one-time government filing fee paid to the Secretary of State ($40 in Kentucky up to $300 in Texas and $500 in Massachusetts; US average is ~$125).
  • Annual Report & Franchise Tax: Recurring state fee to keep the LLC in "Good Standing" ($0/yr in Texas/Ohio/Missouri, $60/yr in Wyoming, $300/yr in Delaware, $800/yr minimum in California).
  • Commercial Registered Agent ($100–$150/yr): Keeps your personal home address off public Secretary of State databases and receives legal Service of Process.
  • Operating Agreement & EIN: Internal governing contract defining member equity ownership, profit distributions, and liability protection (IRS EIN is $0 free directly at irs.gov).
  • Formation Method: Direct DIY state portal filing ($0 markup), online incorporation platform (~$149), or business attorney (~$950).

Step-by-Step Worked Example

Scenario: Forming a single-member LLC in an average US state ($125 filing fee, $100 annual report) using an online incorporation service and commercial registered agent

Calculation Steps:

  1. State Articles of Organization Fee = $125.00
  2. Online Incorporation Prep Fee = $149.00
  3. Registered Agent Service (Year 1) = $125.00
  4. Operating Agreement & City Permit = $95 + $50 = $145.00
  5. Total Year 1 Formation Cost = $544.00 (Saves $801 vs hiring a $950 attorney)
  6. Ongoing Year 2+ Annual Compliance = $100 (State) + $125 (Agent) = $225.00 / year ($1,444 over 5 years)
Result: Forming the LLC costs $544 in Year 1 and $225/year in ongoing compliance, totaling $1,444 over a 5-year business horizon.

How to Use This Calculator

  1. 1Click a quick state preset (Wyoming, Delaware, Texas, or California) or enter your state’s specific Articles of Organization fee and annual report tax.
  2. 2Select your filing method: DIY Direct on the Secretary of State website, Online Incorporation Service, or Business Attorney.
  3. 3Enter your annual Commercial Registered Agent fee (set to $0 if acting as your own agent at your home address).
  4. 4Input any Operating Agreement drafting fee and local municipal business license cost.
  5. 5Compare your Year 1 formation cost against your ongoing Year 2+ compliance run-rate.

Assumptions & Limitations

  • Assumes the federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) is obtained for $0 directly from the official IRS.gov online portal.
  • Does not include New York’s mandatory 6-week newspaper publication requirement ($300–$1,200 depending on NY county).
  • Does not include CPA tax preparation fees for multi-member Partnership (Form 1065) or S-Corp (Form 1120-S) tax returns.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I file an LLC myself for just the state filing fee?

Yes! Every US state has an online Secretary of State business portal where you can file Articles of Organization yourself in 15 minutes for just the state government fee ($40–$300), and get your federal EIN from IRS.gov for $0 in 5 minutes.

Why do people hire a Registered Agent instead of using their own address?

Whatever address you list as Registered Agent on your Articles of Organization becomes permanent, searchable public record—meaning anyone can look up where you live, and your mailbox will be flooded with junk mail. A $125/yr Commercial Registered Agent lets you list their corporate address on public filings instead.

Should I form my LLC in Delaware or Wyoming if I live in another state?

For 95% of small businesses and freelancers, no. If you form an LLC in Wyoming or Delaware while living and working in California, New York, or Illinois, your home state requires you to register as a "Foreign LLC"—meaning you end up paying filing fees, annual franchise taxes, and registered agent fees in TWO states instead of one.

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