LLC Costs by State
State filing fees range from $50 to $500. Annual fees range from $0 to $800+. Form your LLC in the state where you do business - not Delaware or Wyoming unless you have a specific reason.
For most solo operators and small businesses: form your LLC in the state where you live and work. Forming in Delaware or Wyoming adds complexity (registered agent fees, two state filings) unless you have investors or specific privacy needs.
California
Filing fee
$70
Annual fee
$800/yr
$800/yr minimum franchise tax regardless of revenue. High annual cost.
Texas
Filing fee
$300
Annual fee
$0
No state income tax. Annual report required but no annual fee beyond $0.
Florida
Filing fee
$125
Annual fee
$139/yr
Annual report $138.75. No state income tax. Popular for small businesses.
New York
Filing fee
$200
Annual fee
$9/yr
Low annual fee but NYC and Albany county publication requirement can add $1,000-$2,000 one-time.
Pennsylvania
Filing fee
$125
Annual fee
$0
No annual report fee. No state income tax on LLC income itself.
Illinois
Filing fee
$150
Annual fee
$75/yr
Annual report $75. State income tax of 4.95% on net income.
Ohio
Filing fee
$99
Annual fee
$0
No annual report required. No franchise tax. One of the easier states.
Georgia
Filing fee
$100
Annual fee
$50/yr
Annual registration $50. Low cost, business-friendly environment.
Colorado
Filing fee
$50
Annual fee
$10/yr
One of the cheapest states. Annual report $10. No franchise tax.
Wyoming
Filing fee
$100
Annual fee
$60/yr
Very business-friendly. No state income tax. Strong asset protection laws.
Delaware
Filing fee
$90
Annual fee
$300/yr
Popular for multi-state and investor-backed businesses. $300/yr franchise tax.
Nevada
Filing fee
$75
Annual fee
$350/yr
No state income tax but $350/yr annual list fee. Strong privacy laws.
The True First-Year Cost
To calculate your real first-year LLC cost, add: state filing fee + first-year annual fee + registered agent ($50-$150/yr if required) + operating agreement (free if DIY, $300-$500 if attorney-drafted) + EIN (free).
For most states and most businesses: $50-$700 total in year one. Then $0-$800/year ongoing. Compare that to the personal assets at risk as a sole proprietor.