Fees for Incorporating by State: Understand Your Costs

Here’s a question I get almost daily: what’s the best state to incorporate in? For many, this answer will depend on the fees for incorporating.

It’s interesting that the fees for incorporating vary so much by individual state. For example, to incorporate in Connecticut, it costs $455. That’s on the high end! On the opposite end is Mississippi, at just $50.

Where to Incorporate?

But before we look at the state fees for incorporation, let’s answer that question of where to incorporate.

The first states that people think of to incorporate in are Delaware and Nevada. Delaware has very pro-business laws and regulations, and Nevada has no state corporate income, franchise, or personal income tax. Even though they are both popular choices for incorporating, they aren’t always the best choice.

Here’s why: many states will charge you filing fees for the state you incorporate in, even if you don’t do business there. It can be difficult to open a business bank account in a state where you don’t actually do business.

My suggestion is if you start a business with five or fewer shareholders, incorporate in the state where you have a physical office and/or do the bulk of your business.

What are the Fees for Incorporating a Business in Each State?

This list will give you an idea of what it will cost to incorporate your business as well as how much to form an LLC and the ongoing fees for filing your Annual Report each year. Keep in mind: these fees are subject to change, and are accurate as of March 2015.

Starting Corporation Fees by State

Alabama:

LLC filing fees: $165; LLC Annual Report; $0
Incorporation filing fees: $165; Annual Report: $0

Alaska:

LLC filing fees: $250; LLC Initial Report: $0; LLC Annual Report: $100
Corporation filing fees: $250; Initial Report: $0; Annual Report: $100

Arizona:

LLC filing fees: $50; LLC Publication fee: $299 (required); LLC Annual Report: $0
Incorporation filing fees: $60; Publication fee: $299 (required); Annual Report: $45

Arkansas:

LLC filing fees: $50; LLC Annual Report: $150
Incorporation filing fees: $50; Annual Report: $150

California:

LLC filing fees: $75; LLC Initial Report $20; LLC Annual Report: $20
Corporation filing fees: $105; Initial Report: $25; Annual Report: $25

Colorado:

LLC filing fees: $50; LLC Annual Report: $10
Incorporation filing fees: $50; Annual Report: $10

Connecticut:

LLC filing fees: $175; LLC Annual Report: $20
Incorporation filing fees: $455; Annual Report: $100

District of Columbia:

LLC filing fees: $220; LLC Annual Report: $300
Incorporation filing fees: $220; Annual Report: $300

Delaware:

LLC filing fees: $140; LLC Annual Report: $300
Incorporation filing fees: $140; Annual Report: $225 (based on a minimum number of authorized shares)

Florida:

LLC filing fees: $155; LLC Annual Report: $138.75
Incorporation filing fees: $78.75; Annual Report: $150

Georgia:

LLC filing fees: $100; LLC Annual Report: $50
Incorporation filing fees: $100 Publication fees: $150; Initial Report: $50; Annual Report: $50

Hawaii:

LLC filing fees: $50; LLC Annual Report: $15
Incorporation filing fees: $50; Annual Report: $15

Idaho:

LLC filing fees: $100; LLC Annual Report: $0
Corporation filing fees: $101; Annual Report: $0

Illinois:

LLC filing fees: $500; LLC Annual Report: $305
Incorporation filing fees: $175; Annual Report: $155

Indiana:

LLC filing fees: $90; LLC Annual Report: $30
Incorporation filing fees: $90; Annual Report: $30

Iowa:

LLC filing fees: $50; LLC Annual Report: $45
Corporate filing fees: $50; Annual Report: $45

Kansas:

LLC filing fees: $160; Annual Report: $55
Incorporation filing fees: $90; Annual Report: $55

Kentucky:

LLC filing fees: $55; LLC Annual Report: $15
Corporation filing fees: $55; Annual Report: $15

Louisiana:

LLC filing fees: $100; LLC Annual Report: $30
Corporate filing fees: $100; Annual Report: $30

Maine:

LLC filing fees: $175; Annual Report: $85
Incorporation filing fees: $145; Annual Report: $85

Maryland:

LLC filing fees: $155; LLC Annual Report: based on revenue (minimum $300)
Incorporation fees: $155; Annual Report: based on revenue (minimum $300)

Massachusetts:

LLC filing fees: $520; Annual Report: $520
Incorporation filing fees: $295; Annual Report: $135

Michigan:

LLC filing fees: $50; LLC Annual Report: $25
Incorporation filing fees: $60; Corporation Annual Report: $25

Minnesota:

LLC fees: $160; LLC Annual Report: $0
Incorporation filing fees: $160; Annual Report: $0

Mississippi:

LLC filing fees: $50; LLC Annual Report: $25
Corporate filing fees: $50; Annual Report: $25

Missouri:

LLC filing fees: $50; Annual Report: $0
Corporation filing fees: $58; Initial Report: $45; Annual Report: $45

Montana:

LLC filing fees: $70; LLC Annual Report: $15
Incorporation filing fees: $70; Annual Report: $15

Nebraska:

LLC filing fees: $120; LLC Publication fees: $150; Annual Report: $26
Incorporation filing fees: $65; Publication fees: $150; Annual Report: $26

Nevada:

LLC filing fees: $75; Initial Report: $325; Annual Report: $325
Incorporation filing fees: $75; Initial Report: $325; Annual Report: $325

New Hampshire:

LLC filing fees: $100; Annual Report: $100;
Corporate filing fees: $100; Annual Report: $100

New Jersey:

LLC filing fees: $125; Annual Report: $50
Incorporation filing fees: $125; Annual Report: $50

New Mexico:

LLC filing fees: $50; Annual Report: $0
Incorporation filing fees: $100; Initial Report: $25; Annual Report: $25

New York:

LLC filing fees: $210; Annual Report: $9; Publication fees: $425-$1200
Incorporation filing fees: $145; Annual Report: $9

North Carolina:

LLC filing fees: $125; Annual Report: $202
Incorporation filing fees: $125; Annual Report: $20

North Dakota:

LLC filing fees: $135; Annual Report: $50
Corporate filing fees: $100; Annual Report: $25

Ohio:

LLC filing fees: $125; Annual Report: $0
Incorporation filing fees: $125; Annual Report: $0

Oklahoma:

LLC filing fees: $104; Annual Report: $25
Incorporation filing fees: $52; Annual Report: $0

Oregon:

LLC filing fees: $100; LLC Annual Report: $100
Incorporation filing fees: $100; Annual Report: $100

Pennsylvania:

LLC filing fees: $125; Annual Report: $0
Corporation filing fees: $125; Annual Report: $0 Publication fees: $299

Rhode Island:

LLC filing fees: $150; LLC Annual Report: $50
Corporate filing fees: $230; Annual Report: $50

South Carolina:

LLC filing fees: $110; Annual Report: $0
Incorporation filing fees: $135; Annual Report: $0; Attorney Signature fees: $100

South Dakota:

LLC filing fees: $150; LLC Annual Report: $50
Incorporation filing fees: $150; Annual Report: $50

Tennessee:

LLC filing fees: $325; LLC Annual Report: $310
Corporate filing fees: $125; Annual Report: $20

Texas:

LLC filing fees: $310; LLC Annual Report: (based on gross annual revenue);
Incorporation filing fees: $310; Annual Report: (based on gross annual revenue)

Utah:

LLC filing fees: $72; LLC Annual Report: $15
Incorporation filing fees: $72; Annual Report: $15

Vermont:

LLC filing fees: $125; Annual Report: $25
Incorporation filing fees: $125; Annual Report: $35

Virginia:

LLC filing fees: $104; LLC Annual Report: $50
Incorporation filing fees: $79; Annual Report: $100

Washington:

LLC filing fees: $200; Initial Report: $10; Annual Report: $73
Incorporation filing fees: $200; Initial Report: $10; Annual Report: $73

West Virginia:

LLC filing fees: $132; LLC Annual Report: $25
Incorporation filing fees: $82; Annual Report: $25

Wisconsin:

LLC filing fees: $130; LLC Annual Report: $25
Corporate filing fees: $100; Annual Report: $40

Wyoming:

LLC filing fees: $103; LLC Annual Report: $52
Incorporation filing fees: $103; Annual Report: $52

If you need help with the filing paperwork, please don’t hesitate to give us a call! CorpNet can prepare and file the paperwork you need to start a business in any state.