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Free LLC formation cost calculator for state filing, registered agent, operating agreement, publication, and compliance reserves. Use with other Legal & Compliance tools—illustrative only, not legal or tax advice.
Last updated: April 19, 2026
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Verify current fee on your secretary of state website.
Use 0 if your state does not require newspaper notice.
Some states bill in year one; set to 0 if due later.
EIN assistance, certified copies, foreign qualification, etc.
State & notices
$150
Formation services
$849
Compliance & other
$425
First-year total (illustrative)
$1,424
Recurring annual (RA + annual report lines)
$250
Formula summary
Total first-year estimate = state filing + expedited + publication + formation/attorney + operating agreement + registered agent + annual report/franchise + licenses/permits + other
Illustrative first-year LLC formation spend of $1,424, with about $250 per year in registered agent and annual report–style recurring items (verify fees with your state and vendors).
Important:
Best for
Founders
See how attorney or DIY service choices change the first-year total.
Best for
Domestication choice
Re-run with different state fee and notice requirements.
Best for
Cash planning
The recurring line helps separate one-time formation from yearly obligations.
Best for
CPAs & counsel
Align on what is in scope before you engage a firm.
Best for
Next steps
After formation, model contract drafting cost separately.
Remember
Accuracy
Fees change; always confirm with your state before you file.
Default inputs (moderate DIY-friendly package with typical state and compliance lines):
First-year total
$1,424
Recurring annual (proxy)
$250
The calculator groups your inputs into three buckets: state filing, expedited processing, and legally required notices; formation services and operating agreement drafting; and registered agent, annual report or franchise taxes, licenses, and miscellaneous fees. The first-year total is the sum of every line. The recurring figure is a simple sum of registered agent and annual report inputs to flag ongoing obligations.
State & notices = filing + expedite + publicationServices = formation or attorney + operating agreementCompliance & other = RA + annual report + licenses + otherFirst-year total = all groups combinedArticles, agent, agreement—then annual compliance
Illustrative first-year total: $1,424; recurring-style annual $250 from registered agent and annual report lines.
Foreign qualification, industry licensing, and payroll setup are not included unless you add them in other fees.
Share it with anyone budgeting a new LLC
Suggested hashtags: #LLC #BusinessFormation #Startup #Calculator