LLC Filing Fees by State (2026): Full Cost Table for All 50 States
By UpToNova Team · July 24, 2026 · 15 min read
LLC filing fees by state range from about $35 in Montana to $500 in Massachusetts as of 2026, with most states charging between $50 and $200 for the one-time Articles of Organization. For non-US residents, the state fee is only one line item — you also budget a formation service, registered agent, and an EIN obtained without an SSN.
This guide gives you the full 50-state fee table, plus the one number most articles skip: your total first-year cost as a non-resident. Because state governments do not care where you live, a founder in Lagos, Manila, or São Paulo pays the same state filing fee as someone in New York. What changes is the wrapper around that fee — the registered agent, the paperwork, and how you actually pay when you have no US bank account or Social Security Number. We cover all of it below.
Last updated: July 2026. Fees change often. Every figure here reflects widely cited 2026 amounts published by each state Secretary of State, but you should verify the current fee on the official state website before you file.
Quick answer: cheapest, most expensive, and average LLC filing fees
If you only remember three numbers about LLC filing fees by state, remember these. They frame every decision below and explain why "cheapest state" is rarely the same as "best state" for a non-resident.
- Cheapest state: Montana at $35, followed by Kentucky ($40) and Arkansas ($45).
- Most expensive state: Massachusetts at $500, followed by Nevada (~$425) and a tie between Tennessee and Texas ($300).
- National average: roughly $130 for the one-time filing fee across all 50 states.
The filing fee is a one-time cost paid when you submit your Articles of Organization (some states call the document a Certificate of Formation or Certificate of Organization). It is separate from the recurring annual or biennial report fees, which we break out in their own table further down.
LLC filing fees by state: full 2026 table (all 50 states)
The table below lists the one-time state filing fee, the recurring annual or biennial report cost, a typical standard processing time, and a "Total 1st-Year (non-resident)" column. That last column assumes you use UpToNova's flat $200 service fee — which already includes registered agent, EIN filing, and an operating agreement — plus the state's own filing fee. So the total is simply $200 + the state fee, with no hidden add-ons.
Verify before relying: these are 2026 reference figures. Processing times swing widely with state backlogs and whether you pay for expedited service, and several states adjust fees mid-year. Always confirm on the official Secretary of State site.
| State | Filing Fee | Annual / Biennial Report | Processing Time | Total 1st-Year (non-resident) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $200 | $50+ (annual) | 1-2 weeks | $400 |
| Alaska | $250 | $100 (biennial) | 1-2 weeks | $450 |
| Arizona | $50 | $0 (none) | 2-3 weeks | $250 |
| Arkansas | $45 | $150 franchise (annual) | 1-2 weeks | $245 |
| California | $70 | $800 franchise + $20 (biennial) | 1-2 weeks | $270 |
| Colorado | $50 | $25 (annual) | Same day (online) | $250 |
| Connecticut | $120 | $80 (annual) | 1-2 weeks | $320 |
| Delaware | $110 | $300 franchise (annual) | 1-2 weeks | $310 |
| Florida | $125 | $138.75 (annual) | 1-2 weeks | $325 |
| Georgia | $100 | $50 (annual) | 1-2 weeks | $300 |
| Hawaii | $50 | $15 (annual) | 1-2 weeks | $250 |
| Idaho | $100 | $0 (annual, no fee) | 1-2 weeks | $300 |
| Illinois | $150 | $75 (annual) | 1-2 weeks | $350 |
| Indiana | $95 | $31 (biennial) | 1 week | $295 |
| Iowa | $50 | $30-45 (biennial) | 1-2 weeks | $250 |
| Kansas | $160 | $50 (annual) | 1-2 weeks | $360 |
| Kentucky | $40 | $15 (annual) | 1-2 weeks | $240 |
| Louisiana | $100 | $35 (annual) | 1-2 weeks | $300 |
| Maine | $175 | $85 (annual) | 2-4 weeks | $375 |
| Maryland | $100 | $300 (annual) | 1-2 weeks | $300 |
| Massachusetts | $500 | $500 (annual) | 1-2 weeks | $700 |
| Michigan | $50 | $25 (annual) | 1-2 weeks | $250 |
| Minnesota | $155 | $0 (annual, no fee) | Same day (online) | $355 |
| Mississippi | $50 | $0 (annual, no fee) | 1-2 weeks | $250 |
| Missouri | $50 | $0 (none) | Same day (online) | $250 |
| Montana | $35 | $20 (annual) | 1-2 weeks | $235 |
| Nebraska | $100 | $10 (biennial) | 1-2 weeks | $300 |
| Nevada | $425 | $350 (annual list + license) | 1-2 weeks | $625 |
| New Hampshire | $100 | $100 (annual) | 1-3 weeks | $300 |
| New Jersey | $125 | $75 (annual) | 1-2 weeks | $325 |
| New Mexico | $50 | $0 (none) | 1-3 weeks | $250 |
| New York | $200 | $9 (biennial) + publication | 1-2 weeks | $400 |
| North Carolina | $125 | $200 (annual) | 1-2 weeks | $325 |
| North Dakota | $135 | $50 (annual) | 1-2 weeks | $335 |
| Ohio | $99 | $0 (none) | 1-2 weeks | $299 |
| Oklahoma | $100 | $25 (annual) | 1-2 weeks | $300 |
| Oregon | $100 | $100 (annual) | 1-2 weeks | $300 |
| Pennsylvania | $125 | $7 (annual) | 1-3 weeks | $325 |
| Rhode Island | $150 | $50 (annual) | 1-2 weeks | $350 |
| South Carolina | $110 | $0 (none, if not taxed as corp) | 1-2 weeks | $310 |
| South Dakota | $150 | $50 (annual) | 1-2 weeks | $350 |
| Tennessee | $300 | $300+ (annual) | 1-2 weeks | $500 |
| Texas | $300 | $0 under franchise threshold | 1-2 weeks | $500 |
| Utah | $59 | $18 (annual) | Same day (online) | $259 |
| Vermont | $125 | $35 (annual) | 1-2 weeks | $325 |
| Virginia | $100 | $50 (annual) | 1-2 weeks | $300 |
| Washington | $200 | $70 (annual) | 1-2 weeks | $400 |
| West Virginia | $100 | $25 (annual) | 1-2 weeks | $300 |
| Wisconsin | $130 | $25 (annual) | 1-2 weeks | $330 |
| Wyoming | $100 | $60 min (annual) | 1-2 weeks | $300 |
A few cells deserve an asterisk. Nevada's headline number bundles the annual list ($150) and state business license ($200) with the articles ($75), which is why its real entry cost is high. New York charges a modest filing fee but adds a publication requirement that can cost hundreds of dollars depending on the county. California's $70 filing fee looks cheap until you meet the $800 minimum annual franchise tax. Headline fees, in other words, mislead — read the whole row.
Wyoming vs Delaware vs other popular states for non-US founders
Most non-residents do not form in their "home" state, because they have no home state in the US. That freedom means you can pick the jurisdiction with the best mix of low cost, privacy, and simple compliance. Three names dominate the conversation: Wyoming, Delaware, and New Mexico.
Wyoming
Wyoming is the most popular choice for non-resident, self-funded businesses. The $100 filing fee is mid-range, the annual report minimum is only $60, there is no state income tax, and owner names are not listed in the public filing. For a solo founder running an online business, Wyoming hits the sweet spot of cost and privacy. If you are weighing it against the East Coast option, read our detailed Wyoming vs Delaware comparison.
Delaware
Delaware is the default for startups that plan to raise venture capital, because investors know its Court of Chancery and corporate law. The trade-off is cost: a $300 flat annual franchise tax for LLCs (far higher than Wyoming's $60) and less relevance if you are not raising money. If you are bootstrapping, Delaware's prestige rarely justifies the extra annual expense.
New Mexico
New Mexico has the lowest ongoing burden of the popular three: a $50 filing fee and no annual report and no annual fee at all. The catch is that it offers less case law and less name recognition than Wyoming or Delaware, so it suits cost-focused founders who value simplicity over prestige.
For a full walkthrough of choosing an entity and state as a foreigner, see our guide on how to form a US LLC as a non-resident.
What's included (and not included) in the state filing fee
The state filing fee buys exactly one thing: the government's acceptance of your Articles of Organization, which legally creates the LLC. That is it. Many first-time founders assume the fee covers everything needed to operate — it does not.
What the state fee includes:
- Legal formation of the LLC as a registered entity.
- A stamped or certified copy of your formation document (sometimes for a small extra fee).
- Your entity's official record in the Secretary of State database.
What the state fee does NOT include:
- A registered agent — every state requires one with a physical in-state address; the state does not provide it.
- An EIN (Employer Identification Number) from the IRS — a separate federal step, free from the IRS but slower without an SSN.
- An operating agreement, which banks and partners expect to see.
- A US business bank account, which is a private banking relationship, not a government service.
- Any annual report or franchise tax due in later years.
Additional costs non-US residents should budget for
Because the state fee covers so little, your real budget is a stack. Here is what a non-resident realistically pays in year one, beyond the filing fee itself.
- Registered agent: typically $50-$150/year if bought standalone. With UpToNova the first year is included in the flat $200 service fee.
- EIN obtained without an SSN: the IRS charges nothing for an EIN, but the no-SSN route is manual. You file Form SS-4 — and can get an EIN without an SSN by writing "Foreign" on line 7b and submitting by fax or mail. Budget the time, not the money.
- Operating agreement: often $50-$200 from a service; included with UpToNova.
- US business bank account: providers like Mercury, Relay, and Wise generally charge no setup fee, but you need the LLC and EIN in hand first. See our guide to opening a US business bank account as a non-resident.
- Formation service fee: UpToNova charges a flat $200 that bundles the filing, registered agent, EIN filing, and operating agreement.
Add it up and the non-resident's first-year total is clean: $200 + your chosen state's filing fee. Form in Wyoming and you are at roughly $300 all-in for year one; form in Massachusetts and it is closer to $700, driven entirely by that state's fee.
How long does the EIN really take without an SSN?
This is the step that surprises people. If you had an SSN or ITIN you could get an EIN online in minutes — but the IRS online tool requires an SSN or ITIN, so non-residents cannot use it. Instead you submit SS-4 by fax to the IRS international line at +1 (304) 707-9471 (a few business days) or by mail (roughly 4-6 weeks). There is no same-day online EIN for applicants without an SSN or ITIN. Formation of the LLC itself is fast — often about 3 days — but plan around the EIN timeline.
Ongoing annual compliance costs by state
Your filing fee is paid once. The costs that actually add up over the life of the business are the recurring ones — annual reports, biennial reports, and franchise taxes. A state that is cheap to enter can be expensive to keep. The table below compares popular states on ongoing cost.
| State | Report Frequency | Recurring State Cost | State Income / Franchise Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | Annual | $60 minimum | None |
| New Mexico | None | $0 | None on the LLC itself |
| Delaware | Annual (franchise tax) | $300 flat | None on out-of-state income |
| Florida | Annual | $138.75 | None (personal) |
| Texas | Annual (Public Info Report) | $0 under franchise threshold | Franchise tax above threshold |
| California | Biennial + tax | $20 + $800 franchise | $800 minimum franchise tax |
| Nevada | Annual | $350 (list + license) | None |
| New York | Biennial | $9 + publication | State income tax may apply |
The lesson: Wyoming and New Mexico stay cheap year after year, while California and Nevada carry heavy recurring costs regardless of how little you earned. Verify each state's current amounts, since franchise-tax thresholds and report fees are adjusted periodically.
How non-US residents pay state filing fees without a US bank or SSN
A practical question blocks many founders: if I have no US bank account and no SSN, how do I even pay the state? You do not need either one. Here is how it works.
- Pay with a non-US card. State online portals and formation services accept international Visa and Mastercard. Your home-country debit or credit card works for the filing fee.
- Let a formation service pay on your behalf. When you use UpToNova, you pay one flat charge and we remit the state fee for you — no direct dealing with the state portal.
- No SSN is required to form. Forming an LLC never requires an SSN. The SSN question only comes up at the EIN stage, and the workaround (SS-4 with "Foreign" on line 7b) is exactly what removes that blocker.
- Fund the bank account later. You open the US bank account after formation and EIN, then wire money in from abroad. The state fee is paid long before any US bank exists.
In short, the order is: pay the state (foreign card) → form the LLC → get the EIN → open the US bank account. No US bank or SSN is needed at the point of paying the filing fee.
Cheapest states to form an LLC
If pure entry cost is your priority, these are the lowest 2026 filing fees:
- Montana — $35: the outright cheapest, though Montana is rarely the strategic choice for an online business.
- Kentucky — $40: low entry with a tiny $15 annual report.
- Arkansas — $45: cheap to file but a $150 annual franchise tax follows.
- Arizona, Hawaii, Iowa, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico — $50: a cluster of low-cost states; New Mexico stands out because it also has no annual report.
Cheapest to file is not the same as cheapest to run. Arkansas is inexpensive on day one but its recurring franchise tax outweighs Wyoming's over a few years. Weigh entry cost against the annual table above.
Most expensive states to form an LLC
At the other end of the range:
- Massachusetts — $500: the highest filing fee in the country, matched by a $500 annual report.
- Nevada — ~$425: the total of articles, annual list, and state business license at formation.
- Tennessee — $300: scales with the number of members (a per-member fee, subject to a minimum and maximum).
- Texas — $300: a flat fee; popular despite the cost thanks to no personal state income tax.
High fees can still be worth it when a state offers something specific — Texas's market access, Delaware's investor familiarity. But for a self-funded non-resident, paying $500 in Massachusetts to run a purely online business is hard to justify when Wyoming exists.
Do filing fees determine where you should form your LLC?
No — and this is the most important takeaway. The filing fee is usually the smallest long-run number in the decision. A $65 difference between Montana and Wyoming is trivial next to the recurring franchise tax, privacy rules, and banking friction you live with for years.
Prioritize, roughly, in this order:
- Ongoing annual cost — the recurring number you pay forever.
- Privacy — whether your name appears in the public record.
- Banking and reputation — how easily fintech banks onboard the state's entities.
- State income/franchise tax — avoid states like California that impose a flat minimum.
- Filing fee — a one-time cost, and the last thing to optimize.
For most non-resident, online, self-funded founders, this ordering points to Wyoming or New Mexico. Whether your US LLC owes any US tax is a separate question — see our overview of whether non-resident LLCs pay tax before assuming a zero-tax outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average LLC filing fee across all states?
The average one-time LLC filing fee across all 50 states is roughly $130 as of 2026. Most states cluster between $50 and $200. Outliers such as Massachusetts ($500) and Montana ($35) pull the range wide, so the average is a rough guide rather than a number you will actually pay in any single state.
Which state has the cheapest LLC filing fee in 2026?
Montana has the cheapest one-time filing fee at $35, followed by Kentucky at $40 and Arkansas at $45. However, cheapest to file is not cheapest to maintain. New Mexico's $50 fee comes with no annual report at all, which often makes it cheaper over several years than a lower-fee state with a franchise tax.
Do non-US residents pay higher LLC filing fees?
No. State filing fees are identical regardless of where the owner lives or their citizenship. A founder abroad pays the same Articles of Organization fee as a US resident. The extra costs non-residents face are for services — registered agent, EIN filing without an SSN, and formation support — not for the state fee itself.
Are annual report fees included in the filing fee?
No. The filing fee is a one-time charge to create the LLC. Annual or biennial report fees and franchise taxes are separate recurring costs paid in later years. Some states such as Arizona, Ohio, and Missouri have no annual report, while others like California ($800) and Delaware ($300) charge substantial yearly amounts.
How do I pay a state filing fee without a US bank account?
You pay with an international Visa or Mastercard, or let a formation service remit the fee for you. No US bank account or SSN is required to pay a state filing fee or to form the LLC. The US bank account is opened later, after formation and after you receive your EIN, then funded by wire from abroad.
Is there an annual federal filing besides the state report?
Yes. A foreign-owned single-member LLC that is a disregarded entity must file Form 5472 attached to a pro forma Form 1120 every year, even with $0 US tax. The minimum penalty for missing it is $25,000 under IRC Section 6038A, and it is generally due April 15 (or October 15 with extension). Separately, verify the current FinCEN Beneficial Ownership Information requirement, which changed in 2025 and remains volatile.
Next step: form your US LLC without the guesswork
You now have the full 2026 fee picture: a one-time state fee from $35 to $500, modest-to-heavy recurring costs, and a clean non-resident total of $200 + the state fee when everything essential is bundled. UpToNova forms US LLCs for founders in 50+ countries — no SSN, no US address, no travel — with the filing, one year of registered agent, EIN filing, an operating agreement, and bank-account guidance all included. Formation typically completes in about 3 days. Ready to see transparent pricing and start your LLC today? It is the simplest way to form your US LLC as a non-resident.
This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice — consult a licensed attorney or CPA for your situation.
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