Fifty states.
One is right for you.
Filing fees, annual reports, speed, and tax burden — verified against each state's official Division of Corporations. Including the ones the affiliates won't recommend.
The United States at a glance
Hover any tile for a full breakdown. Darker tiles = higher values. Editor's picks show a red dot.
- Filing
- —
- Annual
- —
- Bizfriendly
- —
- AL Alabama $200
- AK Alaska $250
- AZ Arizona $50
- AR Arkansas $45
- CA California $70
- CO Colorado $50
- CT Connecticut $120
- DE Delaware $110
- DC District of Columbia $99
- FL Florida $125
- GA Georgia $110
- HI Hawaii $50
- ID Idaho $100
- IL Illinois $150
- IN Indiana $95
- IA Iowa $50
- KS Kansas $165
- KY Kentucky $40
- LA Louisiana $100
- ME Maine $175
- MD Maryland $100
- MA Massachusetts $500
- MI Michigan $50
- MN Minnesota $155
- MS Mississippi $50
- MO Missouri $50
- MT Montana $35
- NE Nebraska $100
- NV Nevada $425
- NH New Hampshire $100
- NJ New Jersey $125
- NM New Mexico $50
- NY New York $200
- NC North Carolina $125
- ND North Dakota $135
- OH Ohio $99
- OK Oklahoma $100
- OR Oregon $100
- PA Pennsylvania $125
- RI Rhode Island $150
- SC South Carolina $110
- SD South Dakota $150
- TN Tennessee $300
- TX Texas $300
- UT Utah $59
- VT Vermont $155
- VA Virginia $100
- WA Washington $200
- WV West Virginia $100
- WI Wisconsin $130
- WY Wyoming $100
- 1 AZ Arizona Free
- 2 ID Idaho Free
- 3 MN Minnesota Free
- 4 MS Mississippi Free
- 5 MO Missouri Free
- 1 DE Delaware 10/10
- 2 WY Wyoming 10/10
- 3 CO Colorado 9/10
- 4 FL Florida 9/10
- 5 SD South Dakota 9/10
Five states worth knowing by name.
Chosen by our editors after forming LLCs in all five and timing every step with a stopwatch.
No state sales tax; corporations pay annual franchise tax ($175 min authorized shares method); LLCs pay flat $300 annual tax due June 1. The classic incorporation home for startups and public companies.
No individual income tax; franchise tax on entities above $2.47M no-tax-due threshold (2026). Public Information Report due May 15 with no filing fee. Series LLCs supported.
$800 minimum annual franchise tax for LLCs and corporations (waived first year for LLCs through 2026); LLC gross receipts fee above $250K. Statement of Information biennial for LLCs, annual for corps.
No individual income tax; 5.5% corporate income tax; $138.75 annual report due May 1 with steep $400 late fee. Strong choice for Florida-based founders.
Corporate franchise tax and MTA surcharge; onerous LLC publication requirement (newspaper ads + $50 filing) that can run $1,000-$2,000 in NYC counties. Biennial statement $9.
Where should you form?
Most state advice on the internet is written by the affiliate programs. Here's what we actually tell friends who ask.
All 51 jurisdictions.
Sort by any column. Search to jump to a specific state.
| State | Filing fee | Annual | Capital | Bizfriendly | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AL Alabama | $200 | $50 | Montgomery | 5/10 | Guide → |
| AK Alaska | $250 | $100 | Juneau | 6/10 | Guide → |
| AZ Arizona | $50 | Free | Phoenix | 8/10 | Guide → |
| AR Arkansas | $45 | $150 | Little Rock | 6/10 | Guide → |
| $70 | $20 | Sacramento | 4/10 | Guide → | |
| CO Colorado | $50 | $25 | Denver | 9/10 | Guide → |
| CT Connecticut | $120 | $80 | Hartford | 5/10 | Guide → |
| $110 | $300 | Dover | 10/10 | Guide → | |
| $99 | $300 | Washington | 5/10 | Guide → | |
| $125 | $139 | Tallahassee | 9/10 | Guide → | |
| GA Georgia | $110 | $60 | Atlanta | 7/10 | Guide → |
| HI Hawaii | $50 | $15 | Honolulu | 6/10 | Guide → |
| ID Idaho | $100 | Free | Boise | 8/10 | Guide → |
| IL Illinois | $150 | $75 | Springfield | 4/10 | Guide → |
| IN Indiana | $95 | $30 | Indianapolis | 7/10 | Guide → |
| IA Iowa | $50 | $30 | Des Moines | 6/10 | Guide → |
| KS Kansas | $165 | $55 | Topeka | 6/10 | Guide → |
| KY Kentucky | $40 | $15 | Frankfort | 7/10 | Guide → |
| LA Louisiana | $100 | $35 | Baton Rouge | 5/10 | Guide → |
| ME Maine | $175 | $85 | Augusta | 5/10 | Guide → |
| MD Maryland | $100 | $300 | Annapolis | 5/10 | Guide → |
| $500 | $500 | Boston | 4/10 | Guide → | |
| MI Michigan | $50 | $25 | Lansing | 8/10 | Guide → |
| MN Minnesota | $155 | Free | Saint Paul | 6/10 | Guide → |
| MS Mississippi | $50 | Free | Jackson | 6/10 | Guide → |
| MO Missouri | $50 | Free | Jefferson City | 8/10 | Guide → |
| MT Montana | $35 | $20 | Helena | 8/10 | Guide → |
| NE Nebraska | $100 | $13 | Lincoln | 6/10 | Guide → |
| NV Nevada | $425 | $350 | Carson City | 7/10 | Guide → |
| $100 | $100 | Concord | 7/10 | Guide → | |
| NJ New Jersey | $125 | $75 | Trenton | 5/10 | Guide → |
| NM New Mexico | $50 | Free | Santa Fe | 8/10 | Guide → |
| $200 | $9 | Albany | 4/10 | Guide → | |
| $125 | $200 | Raleigh | 7/10 | Guide → | |
| ND North Dakota | $135 | $50 | Bismarck | 7/10 | Guide → |
| OH Ohio | $99 | Free | Columbus | 8/10 | Guide → |
| OK Oklahoma | $100 | $25 | Oklahoma City | 7/10 | Guide → |
| OR Oregon | $100 | $100 | Salem | 7/10 | Guide → |
| PA Pennsylvania | $125 | $7 | Harrisburg | 6/10 | Guide → |
| RI Rhode Island | $150 | $50 | Providence | 5/10 | Guide → |
| $110 | Free | Columbia | 7/10 | Guide → | |
| SD South Dakota | $150 | $50 | Pierre | 9/10 | Guide → |
| TN Tennessee | $300 | $300 | Nashville | 5/10 | Guide → |
| $300 | Free | Austin | 9/10 | Guide → | |
| UT Utah | $59 | $18 | Salt Lake City | 8/10 | Guide → |
| VT Vermont | $155 | $45 | Montpelier | 5/10 | Guide → |
| VA Virginia | $100 | $50 | Richmond | 7/10 | Guide → |
| WA Washington | $200 | $70 | Olympia | 8/10 | Guide → |
| $100 | $25 | Charleston | 6/10 | Guide → | |
| WI Wisconsin | $130 | $25 | Madison | 6/10 | Guide → |
| WY Wyoming | $100 | $60 | Cheyenne | 10/10 | Guide → |
| No states match that search. | |||||
Showing 51 jurisdictions · Last reviewed April 2026 · Fees verified against each state's Division of Corporations
About D.C., P.R., and the territories.
D.C. is not a state but operates like one for LLC formation. Treated the same in our tables. Filing is $99 with a biennial report.
Puerto Rico has its own LLC statute and tax regime. Standalone guide. Other territories handle so few formations we defer to local attorneys.
A handful of tribal nations issue their own charters. Outside this guide's scope; speak with tribal counsel.
We don't cover the Caymans, BVI, or Delaware's series LLC offshoots. For 99% of small businesses they add regulatory complexity with no real upside.
What everyone wants to know.
Can I form an LLC in a state I don't live in?
Yes — but you'll likely need to "foreign qualify" it in your home state too, which means two filing fees, two registered agents, and two annual reports. Usually only worth it for privacy or fundraising reasons.
Which state has the lowest LLC formation fee?
Kentucky at $40, followed by Arkansas ($45), Michigan, Iowa, Arizona, Hawaii, Missouri, Montana, Mississippi, and New Mexico (all $35–$55). Low formation fee doesn't mean lowest total cost — check annual fees too.
Which state has no annual report?
Missouri, New Mexico, Ohio, South Carolina (LLCs only), and Arizona have no annual report requirement. Several others are biennial (every two years).
Is Delaware actually better for LLCs?
For most small businesses, no. Delaware's advantages — Chancery Court, predictable case law, statutory flexibility — matter most when you're raising venture capital. For a two-person consultancy, it's just a franchise tax you could avoid.
What makes a state 'private'?
States that don't require member/manager names in public filings. New Mexico and Wyoming are the strictest. Delaware is private at formation but requires officer info on annual reports. Most other states publish member names.
Do I need a registered agent?
Yes, in every state. Either use a commercial service ($39–$199/yr) or designate yourself if you have a physical address in the formation state and are there during business hours.
Let us narrow it down for you.
Four questions, 60 seconds, no email required. We'll recommend a state and entity type based on where you live, how you'll operate, and your fundraising plans.
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