Cost
How much does an LLC cost in 2026?
The honest answer: $50 to $1,500 in Year 1, then $0 to $850/year ongoing. The spread comes from five line items.
- State filing fee — $35 (Montana) to $500 (Massachusetts). One-time. Most states $50–$200.
- Annual report — $0 (NM, MO, OH) to $500 (MA). Annual or biennial.
- Franchise / business tax minimum — $0 in most states. $300 flat in Delaware. $800 minimum in California. Often the largest line item.
- Registered agent — $0 if you serve as your own. $35–$300/year for a service.
- Publication — required only in NY ($1,200–$1,500 in NYC counties), AZ (~$60), NE (~$40).
The cheapest long-run state is New Mexico: $50 filing fee, no annual report, no franchise tax. The most expensive is California, where the $800 minimum franchise tax recurs every year regardless of revenue.
Service costs (LegalZoom, ZenBusiness, Northwest, etc.) are on top of the state fees above. Most charge $0–$299 for the formation itself plus $99–$299/year for registered agent service. Run the per-state calculator on the homepage for your specific number.