Get a 2026 estimate for your total LLC formation cost based on state, service level, and optional add-ons — then connect with a licensed business attorney in your area.
Formation Method
Registered Agent
Processing Speed
Location
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Disclaimer: This calculator provides fee estimates only. It does not constitute legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Attorney fees vary widely by jurisdiction, case complexity, specialization, and experience. Some services may be offered on contingency, flat-fee, or hourly basis — this calculator estimates typical ranges, not specific quotes. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for advice specific to your situation. Emergency legal matters, class-action settlements, and pro-bono eligibility are outside the scope of this estimate. Licensing rules differ by jurisdiction and practice area; nothing here should be construed as a recommendation of any particular attorney or firm.
Did You Know?
Forming an LLC in 2026 costs $50–$500 if you file directly with your state, $50–$800 with an online formation service, or $550–$2,500 with an attorney — plus $100–$300 per year for a registered agent if required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q
How much does it cost to form an LLC in 2026?
Forming an LLC in the US in 2026 costs $50–$500 if you file the Articles of Organization directly with your state, $50–$800 if you use an online formation service like LegalZoom or ZenBusiness, and $550–$2,500 if an attorney handles the formation. These are informational estimates; consult a licensed attorney for advice specific to your situation. State filing fees vary widely and are the unavoidable baseline cost regardless of which path you choose.
DIY self-file (state fee only): $50–$500 depending on the state
Online formation service (LegalZoom, ZenBusiness): $50–$800 total
Attorney-formed LLC: $550–$2,500 total (attorney fee + state fee)
Registered agent service (optional but often required): $100–$300 per year
Expedited state filing surcharge: $50–$200 additional
What is the cheapest state to form an LLC in 2026?
New Mexico has the lowest combined cost of any state: a $50 filing fee and no annual report or recurring LLC fee, making it the cheapest state for LLC formation if you do not need a physical presence there. Wyoming ($100 filing, $60 annual report) and Montana ($70 filing, $20 annual report) are the next cheapest options. Delaware ($90 filing) is popular with investors but adds a $300 annual franchise tax. The cheapest state on paper is rarely the best choice for your business — operating in your home state avoids the need to register as a foreign LLC there, which can add another $100–$300 in duplicate fees.
New Mexico: $50 filing fee, no annual report fee — cheapest US state
Montana: $70 filing fee, $20 annual report
Wyoming: $100 filing fee, $60 annual report — most popular non-resident option
Delaware: $90 filing fee but $300 annual franchise tax — preferred by VC-backed startups
California: $70 filing fee but $800 minimum annual franchise tax — one of the most expensive ongoing
State
Filing Fee
Annual Report / Fee
Notes
New Mexico
$50
None
Lowest total cost; no recurring fees
Montana
$70
$20/yr
Low ongoing cost; obscure but legitimate
Wyoming
$100
$60/yr
Privacy-friendly, popular for non-residents
Delaware
$90
$300 franchise tax/yr
Investor-preferred; costly annually
California
$70
$800 min franchise tax/yr
Required if operating in CA regardless of home state
Texas
$300
None (franchise tax may apply)
No annual LLC fee; competitive for Texas residents
Massachusetts
$500
$500/yr
Most expensive combined cost in the US
Q
Do I need a registered agent for my LLC?
Yes, every state requires an LLC to designate a registered agent — a person or service with a physical street address in the state who is available during business hours to receive legal notices, tax documents, and service of process. You can serve as your own registered agent in most states if you have a stable street address in that state and are comfortable having legal papers served there. Many founders hire a registered agent service ($100–$300 per year) for privacy, consistency, and to avoid public listing of their home address in state records.
Registered agent is legally required in every US state for LLC formation
You can serve as your own agent if you have a street address in the state
Commercial registered agent services cost $100–$300 per year
Using a service keeps your home address off public state databases
Non-residents forming out-of-state LLCs must always hire a registered agent
Option
Annual Cost
Privacy
Best For
Self as registered agent
$0
Address appears in public records
Residents with stable business address
Commercial service (ZenBusiness, Northwest)
$100–$300/yr
Your address stays private
Non-residents, privacy-conscious founders
Attorney as registered agent
Varies (often bundled)
Private
Clients who already retain an attorney
Q
Can I form an LLC myself without using an attorney or online service?
Yes. Every state allows you to file Articles of Organization directly with the Secretary of State (or equivalent agency) by completing the form on their website and paying the filing fee. For a simple single-member LLC with no complex ownership structure, DIY filing is legally valid and saves money. The main risks are making errors in the filing, drafting an inadequate operating agreement, or missing state-specific requirements (like publication in New York or an initial report in California). For multi-member LLCs, businesses with intellectual property, or any situation where ownership or liability allocation is non-trivial, attorney involvement significantly reduces the risk of costly disputes later.
DIY filing is legal in all 50 states; you file the Articles of Organization directly with the state
State filing fees are the only unavoidable cost; no attorney or service fee required
Operating agreements are strongly recommended even for single-member LLCs but are not required in all states
New York requires LLC publication in local newspapers, adding $400–$2,000 to formation costs
California requires an additional Statement of Information ($20) within 90 days of formation
Q
What are the ongoing annual costs of an LLC after formation?
Beyond the one-time formation cost, an LLC typically carries recurring annual costs that vary by state. Most states charge an annual report or renewal fee; a registered agent service (if you use one) renews annually. California's minimum franchise tax of $800 per year applies to all LLCs doing business there regardless of profit. Some states have no annual fee at all (Texas, New Mexico), while others charge several hundred dollars. The total ongoing cost in an average state runs $50–$500 per year for the LLC itself, not counting accounting, insurance, or other business operating costs.
Annual report or renewal fees: $0 (Texas, New Mexico) to $500 (Massachusetts) per year
Registered agent service renewal: $100–$300 per year if using a commercial service
California minimum franchise tax: $800/year for all LLCs operating in CA
Registered agent service often bundles with compliance reminders for added value
Accounting and bookkeeping costs ($500–$2,000/yr) are separate from state LLC fees
State
Annual LLC Fee
Notes
New Mexico
$0
No annual report; lowest ongoing cost
Wyoming
$60/yr
Low-cost maintenance; popular for non-residents
Florida
$138/yr
Annual report due May 1
Delaware
$300/yr franchise tax
Assessed on authorized shares
California
$800/yr minimum
Applies to all LLCs operating in CA
Massachusetts
$500/yr
Highest combined annual cost in US
Example Calculations
1DIY self-file, no registered agent, standard processing (Wyoming)
Inputs
Service levelDIY self-file
Registered agentNo (self-serve)
Expedited filingNo
StateWyoming
Result
Estimated total formation cost$50 – $500
Wyoming state filing fee$100
Annual report fee (ongoing)$60/yr
Wyoming's $100 filing fee sits near the low end of the $50–$500 DIY range. With no service fee and self-serving as registered agent, this is the absolute minimum-cost LLC formation path. Wyoming is popular for privacy and asset protection; it has no state income tax and allows anonymous members.
2Online service, registered agent, standard processing (Florida)
Inputs
Service levelOnline service (LegalZoom, ZenBusiness)
Registered agentYes (commercial service)
Expedited filingNo
StateFlorida
Result
Estimated total formation cost$150 – $1,100
Online service fee range$0–$300
Florida state filing fee$125
Registered agent (year one)$100–$300
Online service base ($50–$800) plus registered agent ($100–$300) produces a $150–$1,100 total. Florida's $125 filing fee sits in the mid-range nationally. ZenBusiness often bundles registered agent service in the first year, which can reduce the effective year-one total cost toward the lower end of this range.
Expedited filing surcharge$350 (CA 24-hr processing)
Attorney base ($550–$2,500) plus registered agent ($100–$300) plus expedited filing ($50–$200) yields $700–$3,000. California's Articles of Organization filing fee is just $70, but attorney fees dominate the total. Expedited 24-hour processing in California costs approximately $350 above standard. Note that California also imposes an $800 minimum annual franchise tax separate from formation costs.
Formulas Used
LLC formation cost build-up
Total cost = Base service-level range + Registered agent add-on + Expedited filing add-on
LLC formation costs are calculated from a base range that already includes both the service fee (if any) and a typical state filing fee, then flat dollar add-ons for optional registered agent service and expedited processing are layered on top. State filing fees are the unavoidable core; the choice of formation method (DIY, online, attorney) determines the service component.
Where:
Base service-level range= DIY self-file $50–$500 (state fee only); online service $50–$800 (state fee + $0–$300 service fee); attorney $550–$2,500 (state fee + $500–$2,000 attorney fee)
Registered agent add-on= No (self-serve) adds $0; yes (commercial service) adds $100–$300 per year
Expedited filing add-on= Standard processing adds $0; expedited or same-day filing adds $50–$200 depending on the state
Break-even: registered agent service vs. self-serving
Break-even years = Privacy value estimate / Annual registered agent cost
Deciding whether to pay for a registered agent service comes down to weighing the annual fee against the privacy and convenience benefits. Self-serving is free but lists your home or office address on public state databases. If avoiding that exposure is worth $150 per year to you, a commercial registered agent service pays for itself immediately. The break-even is effectively year one for anyone who values address privacy.
Where:
Annual registered agent cost= Typically $100–$300 per year for commercial services such as Northwest Registered Agent, ZenBusiness, or Incfile
Privacy value= Keeping your home address off public state records and avoiding direct mail from process servers at your residence
Convenience value= Professional handling of legal notices, compliance reminders, and scanning of mail received at the registered address
LLC Formation Costs in 2026: What You Will Actually Pay
1
What Does It Cost to Form an LLC in 2026?
The estimates shown by this calculator are informational only and do not constitute legal advice — see the disclaimer above. With that framing in place, the figures reflect 2026 US market data: total LLC formation costs run $50–$500 if you file the Articles of Organization directly with the state yourself, $50–$800 if you use an online formation service such as LegalZoom or ZenBusiness, and $550–$2,500 if you hire an attorney to handle the formation. State filing fees — the core mandatory cost in all three paths — vary significantly by state, running as low as $50 in New Mexico to $500 in Massachusetts; your actual total will depend heavily on which state you form in.
The single most important thing to understand about LLC formation pricing is that the state filing fee is not the same as the total formation cost. When you see an online service advertise formation for a very low price, that figure is typically the service fee only — the state filing fee is charged separately on top. Conversely, some states with low filing fees impose substantial annual franchise taxes that make the true ongoing cost far higher. The calculator's base ranges already incorporate a typical state fee midpoint; your specific state will shift the actual total up or down from the estimate.
Add-on costs are optional but common. A registered agent service ($100–$300 per year) is required in many states for non-residents and is strongly recommended for privacy reasons even when self-serving is technically permitted. Expedited filing ($50–$200 extra) cuts processing time from weeks to days or hours. Neither add-on is mandatory for the LLC itself to be legally formed, but both are routinely included in the budgets of founders who want faster turnaround or address privacy.
LLC formation cost ranges by service level, US, 2026. State filing fees vary; see state-specific table below.
Formation Method
One-Time Cost Range
State Fee Included?
Best For
DIY self-file
$50–$500
Yes (the entire cost)
Simple single-member LLCs in low-fee states
Online service
$50–$800
Yes (state fee + service fee)
First-time founders wanting guided document prep
Attorney-formed
$550–$2,500
Yes (bundled with attorney fee)
Multi-member LLCs or complex operating agreements
The state filing fee is the one cost you cannot avoid regardless of which formation path you choose. Before comparing online services or attorney quotes, look up your specific state's Articles of Organization fee on the Secretary of State website — it determines the floor of your total formation cost.
2
DIY vs. Online Service vs. Attorney: Choosing the Right Formation Path
The DIY route — filing Articles of Organization directly on your state's Secretary of State website — is the cheapest path and entirely legal in all 50 states. The process typically takes 30–60 minutes of form-filling online and pays only the state filing fee. The main risks are clerical errors (wrong registered agent address, incorrect member names, missing required provisions), an inadequate or missing operating agreement, and ignorance of state-specific requirements such as New York's newspaper publication mandate or California's initial Statement of Information. For a straightforward single-member LLC with no complex ownership or liability considerations, DIY is a perfectly adequate approach that the vast majority of solo founders use successfully.
Online formation services such as LegalZoom, ZenBusiness, Incfile, and Northwest Registered Agent sit between DIY and attorney. They handle the actual filing on your behalf, provide name availability checks, generate a basic operating agreement template, and often bundle registered agent service. Their service fees range from $0 (Incfile's starter tier, which bundles only if you add registered agent) to $300 for premium tiers that include EIN application, operating agreement review, and compliance reminders. The key limitation is that online services provide standardized documents, not legal advice. They will not spot unusual tax implications, flag non-standard ownership structures, or advise on the choice between an LLC and an S-corp or sole proprietorship for your specific situation.
Attorney-formed LLCs cost more upfront but provide the most protection and customization. A business attorney drafts a custom operating agreement that reflects your actual ownership structure, profit-sharing arrangement, buyout provisions, and decision-making rules — not a generic template. Attorney hourly rates for business formation work typically run $250–$400 in mid-cost markets and $400–$600 in major metros; flat fees for simple single-member LLC formation (state filing + basic operating agreement) often run $500–$1,000, while multi-member LLCs with custom operating agreements typically cost $1,000–$2,000 in attorney fees. For any LLC with more than one member, different profit-sharing percentages, or business assets or IP being contributed, attorney involvement is a strong investment relative to the cost of fixing a poorly structured operating agreement later.
LLC formation method comparison, US, 2026.
Formation Method
Upfront Cost
Operating Agreement Quality
Time to Form
Legal Advice Included?
DIY self-file
$50–$500
None (self-drafted) or template online
1–4 weeks (standard processing)
No
Online service
$50–$800
Standardized template
1–2 weeks
No
Attorney-formed
$550–$2,500
Custom to your structure
1–2 weeks
Yes
The operating agreement is where most LLC disputes originate. A generic online template handles profits-split and voting in simple equal-share scenarios but often falls short for unequal ownership, sweat-equity arrangements, or situations where one member contributes cash and another contributes IP. Investing in a custom agreement upfront costs $500–$1,000; fixing a badly structured one after a dispute starts can cost $5,000–$50,000.
3
State Filing Fees: The Hidden Variable in LLC Formation Cost
State filing fees are the only mandatory cost of LLC formation and they vary dramatically across states — from $50 in New Mexico to $500 in Massachusetts. The fee is set by the state legislature and is paid when you submit your Articles of Organization. It is a one-time charge; unlike annual report fees or franchise taxes, it does not recur. Most states accept online filing with immediate confirmation; a few states still require paper filing by mail, which adds 4–6 weeks of processing time.
Forming an LLC in a state other than where you operate is a popular strategy — Wyoming, Delaware, and New Mexico are frequently cited as favorable — but it creates a complication many founders overlook: if you operate your business in your home state, you will likely be required to register the out-of-state LLC as a foreign LLC in your home state, paying a second filing fee ($50–$300) and ongoing annual compliance costs. The result is often a higher total cost than simply forming in your home state in the first place. Non-resident founders without a fixed US operating base are the primary beneficiaries of out-of-state formation in Wyoming or New Mexico.
Annual fees are a separate cost from the formation filing fee and deserve careful attention when choosing a state. California's $800 minimum annual franchise tax applies to every LLC doing business in California regardless of where the LLC was formed — if you operate in California, you pay it even if you formed in Wyoming. Delaware's $300 annual franchise tax similarly applies to Delaware LLCs regardless of where they operate. Low-cost states like Wyoming ($60/year), Montana ($20/year), and New Mexico ($0/year) have much more favorable ongoing cost structures for small businesses that do not trigger other states' tax obligations.
LLC formation and ongoing fees by state, US, 2026. Franchise tax rules vary by revenue; consult a CPA.
State
Formation Fee
Annual Report / Franchise Tax
Foreign LLC Registration Fee
Best For
New Mexico
$50
$0/yr
$100
Lowest ongoing cost; no recurring state fees
Montana
$70
$20/yr
$70
Very low cost; practical for MT residents
Wyoming
$100
$60/yr
$100
Privacy, asset protection, no income tax
Delaware
$90
$300 franchise tax/yr
$200
VC-backed startups; investor familiarity
Florida
$125
$138/yr
$125
Major business state with reasonable ongoing fees
Texas
$300
$0 LLC fee (franchise tax may apply)
$750
Residents; no state income or annual LLC fee
California
$70
$800 min/yr
$70
Required if operating in CA regardless of home state
New York
$200
$9/yr + publication ($400–$2,000)
$250
Residents only; avoid if not operating in NY
Massachusetts
$500
$500/yr
$500
Most expensive US state for LLC formation + annual cost
Annual fees can exceed the one-time formation cost many times over. California's $800 annual minimum franchise tax costs $8,000 over ten years — more than most California LLC formation costs. Always model the ten-year total cost of state fees, not just the one-time formation filing fee, when choosing a formation state.
4
When to Consult an Attorney
This calculator provides a general cost estimate and is not a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney. Consulting a business attorney is advisable in any of the following situations: your LLC will have more than one member with different ownership percentages, profit-sharing arrangements, or roles; one or more members are contributing intellectual property, real estate, or existing business assets rather than cash; your LLC will engage in a regulated profession such as law, medicine, architecture, or financial services; you are a non-US citizen or non-resident forming a US LLC; the business will take on investors or issue membership units beyond the founding members; or you anticipate the business growing to a point where conversion to a corporation or different tax election (S-corp, C-corp) may be beneficial.
Even founders who choose to self-file or use an online formation service benefit from a one-time attorney review of the operating agreement before it is signed. Operating agreements govern how profits are distributed, how decisions are made, what happens when a member wants to exit, and how disputes are resolved — getting these provisions wrong creates expensive problems that can take years and tens of thousands of dollars to resolve through litigation. A one-time operating agreement review by an attorney typically costs $300–$1,000, far less than the cost of fixing a structural problem after a dispute arises. To find a licensed business attorney in your state, the American Bar Association's lawyer referral service (americanbar.org/groups/lawyer_referral) and your state's bar association directory are good starting points. Many business attorneys offer a free initial consultation. Do not make final formation and ownership decisions without speaking to a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.
This calculator is provided for informational and educational purposes only. Results are estimates and should not be considered professional financial, medical, legal, or other advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making important decisions. UseCalcPro is not responsible for any actions taken based on calculator results.