LLC Cost Calculator — What an LLC Costs in Your State (2026)

Pick a state to see the real bill: state filing fee, yearly report/franchise costs, optional registered agent, and first-year vs 5-year totals — with the famous gotchas (CA $800, NY publication, MA $500) called out.

Quick answer: Free LLC cost calculator: filing fee, annual report/franchise fees, registered agent and DIY-vs-service cost for all 50 states + DC — first-year, ongoing and 5-year totals.

First-year cost
Ongoing / year
5-year total
Upkeep rank
ItemCost

⚖️ Compiled 2026 from state fee schedules — labeled estimates; verify with your Secretary of State before filing. Toolfyra is not a law firm; this is planning info, not legal advice.

How to use

  1. Choose your state — the fee table fills in automatically.
  2. Toggle registered agent: yourself ($0) or a service (~$120/yr typical).
  3. Toggle DIY vs formation service to see the markup services add.
  4. Read first-year, ongoing and 5-year totals — and the state notes for expensive gotchas.

General information only — not medical, financial or legal advice. Figures cross-checked against public official sources (IRS / HMRC / NHS / WHO guidance) as of 2026-08. For decisions that matter, confirm with a licensed professional in your country.

About this tool

LLC formation quotes online hide the difference between the state's own fees and the service's markup. This calculator separates them honestly: every state's filing fee and recurring report/franchise cost, an optional registered-agent line (free if you act as your own agent in your home state, roughly $100–$150/yr if you hire one), and a DIY-vs-service toggle so you can see exactly what a formation service adds on top. States with expensive surprises get flagged in plain text — California's $800/yr franchise tax, New York's mandatory newspaper publication (often $300–$1,200+), Massachusetts' $500/yr annual report, Tennessee's per-member filing. Totals show first-year, ongoing-yearly and 5-year total cost of ownership. Fee figures are the standard published 2026 amounts — always confirm on your Secretary of State's site before paying (linked for the most-used states). We name formation services in FAQs only as examples — no placement, no affiliate influence on these numbers.

FAQ

What is the cheapest state to form an LLC in?
Home-state filing is almost always right: Oklahoma charges just $25 to file, Kentucky $40, Arizona/Missouri/Ohio-area states are $50–$100, and several states charge no annual report at all. Forming in Delaware/Wyoming/Nevada while living elsewhere usually adds cost and a foreign-LLC registration back home — double fees for most small businesses.
Why is California so expensive?
California adds an $800/yr franchise tax from year one (plus a $20 Statement of Information). It is the single biggest upkeep cost among all states — budget it before forming.
What is the New York publication requirement?
New York LLCs must publish in two newspapers for six weeks — commonly $300–$1,200+ depending on county (NYC is the priciest). It is mandatory and separate from the $200 filing.
What does a registered agent do?
Receives legal mail at a public address during business hours. You can be your own agent in your home state if you have a physical address there; hiring one (~$100–$150/yr) adds privacy and convenience, especially for out-of-state formations.
Do I need a formation service?
No. DIY filing is straightforward in most states and this calculator shows the $50–$300 service markup you skip. Services like ZenBusiness, Northwest or LegalZoom add convenience and compliance reminders — compare three before paying.
Are these the exact current fees?
They are the standard published 2026 figures, labeled as estimates; legislatures do adjust them. Every row says 'verify with your Secretary of State' — we link the SoS for the ten most-used states.

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