Part of our guide to the registered agent service in Illinois. More guides on this topic
You have the name. Maybe a logo. Maybe your first customer already paid you. Now you want to make it official, and the first question is simple: how much does it cost to start an LLC?
The short answer is $35 to $520 in state filing fees. That's true. It's also not the full bill.
What you really pay depends on two things. The state's fee to file. And what that state charges you every year after. A cheap filing state can cost more by year two than an expensive one.
Why this matters: The filing fee is a one-time bill. The yearly fees, taxes and reports keep coming whether you make money or not. Pick a state by its year-one total, not its sticker price.
Here's what states charge, as of November 2026.
State LLC fees in 2026
| State | Filing fee | What you pay every year after | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montana | $35 | Annual report, no fee if filed Jan 1 to Apr 15 | Lowest filing fee in the country |
| Kentucky | $40 | $15 annual report | |
| New Mexico | $50 | No annual report | |
| Michigan | $50 | $25 annual statement | |
| Ohio | $99 | No annual report | |
| Wyoming | $100 | $60 minimum annual license tax | Tax grows only with assets in Wyoming |
| Georgia | $110 | $50 annual registration, plus a small service charge | |
| Delaware | $110 | $400 annual tax, due June 1 | Was $300 through 2025 |
| Florida | $125 ($100 + $25 agent designation) | $138.75 annual report | Jumps to $538.75 after May 1 |
| Illinois | $150 | $75 annual report | |
| California | $70 | $800 annual tax, plus $20 statement every 2 years | You owe the $800 even with $0 in sales |
| New York | $200 | $9 every 2 years | Newspaper publication, $600 to $2,000 |
| Texas | $300 | Franchise tax report, based on revenue | |
| Nevada | $425 ($75 + $150 initial list + $200 business license) | $150 annual list + $200 business license | Three state charges at formation |
| Massachusetts | $520 (filed online) | $500 annual report | Highest filing fee in the country |
Filing fees are the same numbers our checkout charges, checked against each state's fee page. Yearly fees from Wolters Kluwer's state-by-state LLC cost table, confirmed with the state's own documents for Wyoming (fee schedule effective July 1, 2026), Delaware (LLC formation instructions), Florida (Sunbiz LLC fees), California (Franchise Tax Board) and Montana (Secretary of State help center). Nevada yearly fees from Nolo. Fees change. Check your state's site the day you file.
The fees nobody puts in the headline
The state fee is the first bill. Here's what else can show up in year one.
A registered agent. Every LLC needs one. That's the person or company that accepts legal papers for your business at a real street address during business hours. You can be your own in most states. You'll pay a service if you don't want your home address on the public record, or you're not there all day.
An EIN. Free. Get it from the IRS directly. If a site charges you for "EIN filing," you're paying for someone to fill out a free form.
An operating agreement. Most states don't make you file one. You still want one, especially with a partner. It's the document a bank or a court reads when you and your partner disagree.
Local licenses. Your city or county may want its own business license. That's separate from the state.
Publication. New York makes new LLCs publish a notice in two newspapers for six weeks, then file a $50 Certificate of Publication. Wolters Kluwer puts the newspaper cost at $600 to $2,000.
Skip the add-on maze. Lobi's Launch package covers your filing, your EIN, an operating agreement and a year of registered agent for $195 plus state fees (regular $295), for a limited time. Start my LLC
What year one really costs: three examples
New Mexico. $50 to file. No annual report. Add a registered agent if you're not in the state. One of the cheapest year-one totals in the country.
California. $70 to file. $20 Statement of Information within 90 days. Then the $800 annual tax. California's tax board is direct about it: "Every LLC that is doing business or organized in California must pay an annual tax of $800." The first payment is due by the 15th day of the 4th month after you file. That's $890 before you've sold anything. The old first-year break only covered tax years starting before January 1, 2024.
New York. $200 to file. $50 to file proof of publication. $600 to $2,000 for the newspapers. Call it $850 to $2,250 in year one, depending on the county.
Can I open an LLC with no money?
No. Every state charges something. The lowest is Montana at $35. What you can skip is the upsell: paid EIN filing, a gold-foil kit, a "compliance package" that sends you reminders you could set on your phone.
If you want to see what's worth paying for, we broke down every common add-on in The LLC Formation Package, Decoded. Filing in Illinois? Here's what it costs to file an Illinois LLC.
What if my LLC makes no money?
You still owe the yearly fees. Annual reports and state taxes aren't based on profit in most states. California's $800 is the one that surprises people most. Wyoming's $60 minimum and Delaware's $400 work the same way.
If you formed an LLC you're not using, dissolve it on purpose. Letting it lapse can leave you with penalties and a messy record.
The bottom line
Don't pick a state by the filing fee. Add the filing fee, the first year of annual fees, any publication, and your registered agent. That's your real number.
For most people, the cheapest LLC is the one formed in the state where they actually live and work. We explain why in The Best State to Form an LLC.
If you'd rather hand it off, Lobi Space files LLCs and corporations in all 50 states. We show the state fee as its own line, not buried in a bundle. And if we get a filing wrong, the Lobi Guarantee means we fix or amend it at our cost. See filing prices or grab our free formation guide first.
Get it done at Lobi
| Service | What you get | Price | Start |
|---|---|---|---|
| File an LLC or corporation | Launch package: the filing, your EIN, an operating agreement or bylaws, and 1 year of registered agent | $195 plus state fees, regular $295 (limited time) | Start my LLC |
| Registered agent, any state | We accept legal papers and state notices and scan them to your portal. In states other than Illinois, a trusted Lobi Space partner serves as your registered agent. | $95 first year (limited time), then $125 a year | Buy registered agent |
| Virtual office (Illinois) | A Chicago street address with a suite number, mail handling and a member portal. 50% off your first year of registered agent | From $50/mo plus $95 setup | See virtual office plans |
| Business mailbox (Illinois) | A real Chicago address for mail and packages, scanned to your portal | From $30/mo plus $95 setup | See mailbox pricing |
| Virtual phone number | A local 312 number with call forwarding and voicemail to email | From $15.95/mo | Get a business number |
| Meeting rooms | Rooms for client meetings in Pilsen, 2-hour minimum | From $75/hr | Book a room |
| Notary | Walk-in notary, including USPS Form 1583 | $25 each | Notary services |
Also at Lobi: private offices, day offices and a podcast studio in Pilsen. Not sure what fits? Build your plan.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC?
State filing fees run from $35 in Montana to $520 in Massachusetts (filed online). Add the yearly fees, a registered agent if you use a service, and any publication your state requires.
Can I open an LLC with no money?
No. Every state charges a filing fee. The lowest is Montana at $35.
What if my LLC makes no money its first year?
You still owe annual fees and state taxes in most states. California's $800 annual tax is due even with no sales.
*Current as of November 2026. Government fees change. Confirm on your state's website before you file. This article is general information, not legal or tax advice.*
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