Check the costs in your state
Every cost of an LLC
An LLC has one cost you cannot avoid, the state fee to form it, and in most states a yearly charge to keep it. The rest are services you can buy or do yourself.
| Cost | When | Required? | With StartGlobal |
|---|---|---|---|
| State filing fee | Once, to form | Yes, every state | Included in $399 |
| Registered agent | Every year | Yes, but you can be your own | Year one included, then $99/yr |
| EIN | Once | For a bank account or staff | Included in $399 |
| Operating agreement | Once | Required in some states, wise in all | Included in $399 |
| Annual or biennial report | Every year or two | In most states | Optional filing service, $299/yr |
| State franchise or privilege tax | Yearly | In some states | Paid to the state |
| Newspaper publication | Once, after forming | In a few states | Paid to the newspapers |
| Business licences | Varies | Depends on city, county and trade | Paid to the issuer |
One-time costs
The state filing fee is what your state charges to accept your formation document. It varies widely between states and is the same whether you file yourself or use a service. The EIN is free from the IRS; services charge to prepare the application. An operating agreement can be written yourself with our free generator, bought from a service, or drafted by a lawyer for complex ownership.
Yearly costs
Most states require an annual or every-other-year report, usually with a fee, to keep the LLC in good standing. A few charge an annual tax or minimum tax instead of, or as well as, a report, and a few, including Missouri, Ohio, New Mexico and South Carolina, have no annual report for LLCs at all. You also need a registered agent with an address in the state every year; you can be your own, but your address becomes public and you must be there in business hours.
What a "$0" LLC costs over three years
Formation, a registered agent every year and an EIN, at each provider's published prices (checked October 2026). Their state fee is added on top; ours is included.
| Year one | Three years | |
|---|---|---|
| ZenBusiness Starter Registered agent is a $199/yr add-on from day one. | $298 + state fee | $696 + state fee |
| LegalZoom Basic Registered agent is $249/yr. | $328 + state fee | $826 + state fee |
| Bizee Basic Registered agent free for year one, then $149/yr. | $70 + state fee | $368 + state fee |
| StartGlobal State fee, first-year agent and EIN included. Agent $99/yr after. | $399 | $597, all in |
Over three years our price is lower than ZenBusiness or LegalZoom in every state. Bizee's first agent year is free, so it costs less than we do in most states. Filing yourself costs only the state fee.
LLC cost by state
What each state requires to form and keep an LLC: the yearly report, any state tax on LLCs, publication rules and timing.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC?
The state charges a one-time filing fee that varies by state. Beyond that, you may pay for a registered agent, an EIN service and an operating agreement, or do them yourself. With StartGlobal it is $399 in any state, with the state fee, EIN, operating agreement and first-year agent service included.
How much does an LLC cost per year?
Most states charge a yearly or every-other-year report fee, and a few charge an annual tax or minimum tax instead. Add a registered agent if you use one (ours is $99 a year) and any business licences your city or county requires. A handful of states have no annual report for LLCs.
Is a $0 LLC really free?
No. "$0" is the provider’s formation fee; the state fee is always charged on top, and registered agent service, the EIN and the operating agreement are usually add-ons. The three-year comparison on this page uses each provider’s own prices.
What is the cheapest way to form an LLC?
Filing it yourself with your state, being your own registered agent and applying for your EIN with the IRS directly. That costs only the state fee and your time. The trade-off is your home address on the public record as the agent address, and handling every step yourself.
Do I need to pay for an EIN?
No. The IRS issues EINs for free. Services charge for preparing and submitting the application; with StartGlobal it is included in the $399.
Are there hidden LLC costs?
The ones people miss are the yearly report or state tax, publication requirements in a few states, local business licences, and the registered agent after a free first year. Each state’s cost page lists what applies there.
