State filing fees range from $35 to $500, and that's before registered agent and annual report costs. Here's the full breakdown, state by state, plus what most guides leave out.
When people ask "how much does an LLC cost," they're usually thinking of the one-time state filing fee — and that number alone varies more than most expect, from $35 in Montana to $500 in Massachusetts. But the filing fee is only the entry cost. Every state also requires a registered agent, which either costs $100–$300 a year through a commercial service or is free if you act as your own (with the tradeoff of your home address becoming public record). On top of that, most states require some form of ongoing annual report or franchise tax filing to keep your LLC in good standing — miss it, and a state can administratively dissolve your LLC even if you're otherwise compliant.
So the real first-year cost of an LLC is closer to: state filing fee + registered agent (if you use one) + any formation service fee, and the real ongoing cost is whatever your state charges annually plus your registered agent renewal. The table below breaks out the filing fee and processing time for all 50 states, so you can see exactly where your state lands before you file.
The single cheapest state filing fee in the country, with processing in as little as 7–10 days.
One of the fastest-and-cheapest combinations, often processing in 1–3 days.
Popular for privacy-focused filers, but one of the priciest states to actually form in.
The most expensive state filing fee nationwide, more than 14x Montana's rate.
Whatever your state's fee, the registered agent still matters. Northwest includes it free for year one.
See The Deal →Use the search box to jump straight to your state, or plug your numbers into our LLC Cost Calculator for your real total.
Every single state on this list requires an LLC to maintain a registered agent — a person or company with a physical address in that state, available during business hours, to receive legal and state correspondence. This isn't optional in any state, which means it's effectively part of your real filing cost whether or not it's included in the headline number.
Commercial registered agent services typically run $100–$300 per year. Some formation services, like Northwest Registered Agent, include a full year of registered agent service in their formation price at no extra charge, which can make their effective first-year cost lower than a service that advertises a cheaper formation fee but bills the registered agent separately.
Form in your home state, not the "cheapest" one. A $35 Montana filing sounds appealing if you live in Massachusetts, but operating a business somewhere you don't actually reside almost always triggers a foreign LLC registration requirement back home — meaning you end up paying both states' fees instead of saving money.
Bundle your registered agent with formation. Paying for LLC formation and a registered agent as two separate purchases usually costs more in year one than a service that includes the registered agent in the formation price itself.
Set a calendar reminder for your annual report. Missing your state's annual report or franchise tax deadline doesn't just risk a late fee — in most states it can eventually lead to administrative dissolution, meaning you'd have to pay to re-form the LLC entirely.
Files your LLC in any state and includes a full year of registered agent service at no extra cost — often making the real first-year total lower than a "cheaper" formation fee billed separately from the agent.