Professional Tool • No Email Required
LLC Cost Calculator — Your True LLC Cost by State
The real LLC cost is not $0 or $49. It’s State filing fee + Annual report + Registered Agent + EIN + Operating Agreement + BOI + Publication. This calculator shows first-year and ongoing costs, plus how to save $300+ and which service to pick.
Calculate Your LLC Cost
Live Estimate
Your LLC Cost Breakdown
What You Actually Pay For
5 Components That Make Up Your LLC Cost (Most Sites Hide 3 of Them)
1. State Filing Fee — One-Time
Mandatory to Secretary of State. Ranges $50-$500. Wyoming $102, Delaware $90, New Mexico $50, Texas $300, Massachusetts $500. No way around it.
2. Annual Report / Franchise Tax — Yearly
Almost every state charges yearly. Wyoming $60, Delaware $300, California $800 minimum even with $0 revenue + $20 biennial, Florida $138.75, New York $9 biennial.
3. Registered Agent — $0 to $249/yr
Required by law to have physical address open 9-5 for legal mail. Bizee free year 1 then $119 (cheapest), ZenBusiness $199, LegalZoom $249. Being your own saves money but your address becomes public.
4. EIN + Operating Agreement
EIN is free from IRS.gov in 5 minutes, services charge $50-100. Operating Agreement is required by banks to open account, not always required by state. Included in ZenBusiness Pro and Doola, upsell elsewhere.
5. Hidden: Publication, BOI, Licenses
New York, Arizona, Nebraska require newspaper publication $100-1500. BOI report to FinCEN is mandatory within 90 days and free if you file yourself, services charge $100. City business license $0-500.
💰 Real-World Examples
Wyoming + Bizee Free + Free RA = $102 first year, then $179/yr ($60+$119). California + Bizee = $70 + $800 + $0 RA = $870 first year + $800/yr forever. Texas = $300 + $0 + $0 = $300 first year, $119/yr after if you keep RA.
State Fees Compared
LLC Filing Fees — Official State Fees Table
Official fees only, no service markup. Cheapest: New Mexico, Mississippi, Colorado, Arizona at $50. Most expensive upfront: Texas $300, Massachusetts $500, Nevada $425 total. Cheapest long-term: New Mexico $0 annual, Ohio $0, Wyoming $60.
| State | Filing Fee | Annual / Biennial | Publication? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | $102 | $60 or 0.0002% assets min $60 | No | Best privacy, anonymous, low fees |
| Delaware | $90 | $300 franchise tax + $50 report | No | Best for VC, investors expect DE |
| New Mexico | $50 | $0 | No | Cheapest overall, no annual |
| Colorado | $50 | $10 | No | Cheap and simple |
| Arizona | $50 | $0 | Yes, but no fee in some counties | Very cheap |
| Ohio | $99 | $0 | No | No annual report |
| California | $70 | $20 biennial + $800 min tax | No | Most expensive to maintain |
| Texas | $300 | $0 (Franchise tax report $0 if under threshold) | No | No state income tax, high upfront |
| Florida | $125 | $138.75 | No | No state income tax |
| New York | $200 | $9 biennial | Yes $300-1200 | Publication mandatory, costly in NYC |
| Nevada | $75 filing + $150 list + $200 license = $425 | $350 (150+200) | No | Privacy but expensive |
| Illinois | $150 | $75 | No | |
| Georgia | $100 online | $50 | No |
After You Calculate — Pick a Service
4 Best LLC Formation Services Compared
Bizee (Incfile)
- Truly $0 formation, pay only state
- Free RA year 1, cheapest renewal $119
- EIN + BOI included on Gold
- 30k+ reviews, 4.8 rating
ZenBusiness
- Operating agreement included
- Worry-Free compliance guarantee
- Fast filing, great support
- Best for first-timers
Doola
- Built for non-US residents
- EIN without SSN, 2-3 weeks
- US bank + Stripe + BOI
- Annual compliance included
LegalZoom
- 20+ years, most trusted brand
- Attorney consults on higher plans
- Full legal library beyond LLC
- Best if you need ongoing legal
Expert FAQ
LLC Cost FAQ — Everything They Don’t Tell You
Why does my LLC cost more than the advertised $0 or $49?
Because advertised price is service fee only. You always pay state filing fee ($50-$500) on top. Then RA after free year ($119-$249/yr), annual report ($0-$300), and extras like EIN ($0 if DIY), publication ($300-1200 in NY), BOI ($0 if DIY). Example: Bizee Free in Wyoming = $102 state + $0 service + $0 RA year 1 = $102 total first year.
Is Bizee really free? What’s the catch?
Yes, Bizee Silver is $0 + state fee. No catch, but they earn on RA after year 1 ($119/yr vs competitors $199-$249) and optional upsells like EIN ($70) and operating agreement. You can decline upsells and get EIN free at IRS.gov. Still cheapest long-term.
Do I need registered agent every year? Can I be my own?
Yes, every LLC must have a registered agent with physical address in state open 9-5 Mon-Fri. You can be your own if you live in state, but your home address becomes public record, you must be available always, and you risk missing lawsuits. Most founders pay $119-$199/yr for privacy and compliance.
What is EIN and BOI? Do I need them?
EIN is tax ID from IRS, needed for bank account, taxes, hiring. Free at IRS.gov (5 min online). BOI (Beneficial Ownership Information) report to FinCEN is mandatory within 90 days of formation and free if filed yourself at fincen.gov. Services charge $70-$100 for both. Operating Agreement is not required by most states but banks require it to open account.
Wyoming vs Delaware vs New Mexico — which is cheapest and best?
New Mexico cheapest ever: $50 filing, $0 annual. Wyoming best overall value: $102 filing, $60 annual, anonymous ownership (your name not public), strong asset protection, no state income tax. Delaware best for startups raising VC because investors expect Delaware C-Corp eventually, but Delaware LLC costs $300/yr ongoing vs Wyoming $60/yr.
How much to keep LLC alive each year? What if I don’t pay?
Ongoing = Annual report + RA. Wyoming: $60 + $119 = $179/yr. California: $800 tax + $20 biennial + $119 RA = $939/yr. Florida: $138.75 + $119 = $257.75/yr. If you don’t pay annual report, state dissolves your LLC administratively, you lose liability protection and name, and may owe penalties to reinstate.
How to save $300+ on LLC formation?
1) Use Bizee Free ($0+state). 2) Get EIN free at IRS.gov, not via service. 3) File BOI free at FinCEN. 4) Be own RA year 1 only if you have in-state address and don’t mind public address. 5) Skip expedited unless you need same-day. 6) Form in Wyoming or New Mexico if you don’t need to be in expensive state. Saves $200-$400 vs LegalZoom Pro + $249 RA.