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Biz Formation Academy

A plain textbook on LLC paperwork, one state per chapter.

Unit · Start an LLC

How to Start an LLC: Lessons for All 50 States (2026)

How to form an LLC in your state, explained in plain sections with sources. Choose a state to read its chapter.
Written by the Biz Formation Academy editorial board

Chapters by state

1 Alabama
$236 the state's charge at filing · no yearly paperwork First choice: AL Registered Agent.org
2 Alaska
$250 the state's charge at filing · Biennial report $100 First choice: AK Registered Agent.org
3 Arizona
$50 the state's charge at filing · no yearly paperwork First choice: Arizona Registered Agent.co
4 Arkansas
$45 the state's charge at filing · Yearly report $150 First choice: AR Registered Agent.org
5 California
$70 the state's charge at filing · Statement of Information $20 First choice: Mainstay Filing
6 Colorado
$50 the state's charge at filing · Periodic report $25 First choice: Mainstay Filing
7 Connecticut
$120 the state's charge at filing · Annual report $80 First choice: Mainstay Filing
8 Delaware
$110 the state's charge at filing · Annual LLC Tax $400 First choice: Mainstay Filing
9 Florida
$125 the state's charge at filing · Annual report $138.75 First choice: Mainstay Filing
10 Georgia
$110 the state's charge at filing · Annual registration $60 First choice: Mainstay Filing
11 Hawaii
$51 the state's charge at filing · Yearly report $12.50 First choice: Mainstay Filing
12 Idaho
$100 the state's charge at filing · Annual report free First choice: ID Registered Agent.org
13 Illinois
$150 the state's charge at filing · Yearly report $75 First choice: Illinois Registered Agent.co
14 Indiana
$95 the state's charge at filing · Business entity report $32 First choice: Mainstay Filing
15 Iowa
$50 the state's charge at filing · Biennial report $30 First choice: Mainstay Filing
16 Kansas
$85 the state's charge at filing · Information report $90 First choice: KS Registered Agent.org
17 Kentucky
$40 the state's charge at filing · Annual report $15 First choice: Mainstay Filing
18 Louisiana
$125 the state's charge at filing · Annual report $35 First choice: Louisiana Registered Agent.co
19 Maine
$175 the state's charge at filing · Annual report $85 First choice: Maine Registered Agent.co
20 Maryland
$100 the state's charge at filing · Business Entity Annual Report $300 First choice: MD Registered Agent.org
21 Massachusetts
$500 the state's charge at filing · Yearly report $500 First choice: Mainstay Filing
22 Michigan
$50 the state's charge at filing · Annual statement $25 First choice: Michigan Registered Agent.co
23 Minnesota
$155 the state's charge at filing · Annual renewal free First choice: Mainstay Filing
24 Mississippi
$50 the state's charge at filing · Annual report free First choice: Registered Agent MS.org
25 Missouri
$50 the state's charge at filing · no yearly paperwork First choice: MO Registered Agent.org
26 Montana
$35 the state's charge at filing · Annual report $20 First choice: Mainstay Filing
27 Nebraska
$100 the state's charge at filing · Biennial report $25 First choice: Mainstay Filing
28 Nevada
$425 the state's charge at filing · Yearly report $350 First choice: Nevada Registered Agent.co
29 New Hampshire
$100 the state's charge at filing · Annual report $100 First choice: NH Registered Agent.org
30 New Jersey
$100 the state's charge at filing · Annual report $75 First choice: Mainstay Filing
31 New Mexico
$50 the state's charge at filing · no yearly paperwork First choice: Mainstay Filing
32 New York
$200 the state's charge at filing · Biennial statement $9 First choice: Mainstay Filing
33 North Carolina
$125 the state's charge at filing · Annual report $200 First choice: Mainstay Filing
34 North Dakota
$135 the state's charge at filing · Annual report $50 First choice: Mainstay Filing
35 Ohio
$99 the state's charge at filing · no yearly paperwork First choice: Mainstay Filing
36 Oklahoma
$100 the state's charge at filing · Annual certificate $25 First choice: Mainstay Filing
37 Oregon
$100 the state's charge at filing · Annual report $100 First choice: Mainstay Filing
38 Pennsylvania
$125 the state's charge at filing · Annual report $7 First choice: PA Registered Agent.org
39 Rhode Island
$150 the state's charge at filing · Yearly report $50 First choice: Mainstay Filing
40 South Carolina
$110 the state's charge at filing · no yearly paperwork First choice: Mainstay Filing
41 South Dakota
$150 the state's charge at filing · Annual report $55 First choice: SD Registered Agent.org
42 Tennessee
$300 the state's charge at filing · Annual report $300 First choice: Tennessee Registered Agent.co
43 Texas
$300 the state's charge at filing · Yearly report free First choice: TX Registered Agent.org
44 Utah
$59 the state's charge at filing · Annual Report/Renewal $18 First choice: UT Registered Agent.org
45 Vermont
$155 the state's charge at filing · Annual report $45 First choice: Mainstay Filing
46 Virginia
$100 the state's charge at filing · Annual Registration Fee $50 First choice: VA Registered Agent.org
47 Washington
$200 the state's charge at filing · Annual report $70 First choice: WA Registered Agent.org
48 West Virginia
$100 the state's charge at filing · Annual report $25 First choice: Mainstay Filing
49 Wisconsin
$130 the state's charge at filing · Annual report $25 First choice: WI Registered Agent.org
50 Wyoming
$100 the state's charge at filing · Annual report $60 First choice: Mainstay Filing

For all states at once

Across the country we recommend Mainstay Filing first. Full list.

Where each number comes from

  1. Alabama: Reference: alison.legislature.state.al.us, consulted October 2026
  2. Alaska: Reference: akleg.gov, consulted August 2026
  3. Arizona: Reference: azcc.gov, consulted October 2026
  4. Arkansas: Reference: sos.arkansas.gov, consulted October 2026
  5. California: Reference: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, consulted August 2026
  6. Colorado: Reference: coloradosos.gov, consulted October 2026
  7. Connecticut: Reference: business.ct.gov, consulted October 2026
  8. Delaware: Reference: delcode.delaware.gov, consulted October 2026
  9. Florida: Reference: flsenate.gov, consulted October 2026
  10. Georgia: Reference: sos.ga.gov, consulted October 2026
  11. Hawaii: Reference: cca.hawaii.gov, consulted October 2026
  12. Idaho: Reference: legislature.idaho.gov, consulted October 2026
  13. Illinois: Reference: ilsos.gov, consulted October 2026
  14. Indiana: Reference: forms.in.gov, consulted August 2026
  15. Iowa: Reference: legis.iowa.gov, consulted October 2026
  16. Kansas: Reference: sos.ks.gov, consulted October 2026
  17. Kentucky: Reference: sos.ky.gov, consulted October 2026
  18. Louisiana: Reference: static.sos.la.gov, consulted October 2026
  19. Maine: Reference: legislature.maine.gov, consulted October 2026
  20. Maryland: Reference: egov.maryland.gov, consulted October 2026
  21. Massachusetts: Reference: sec.state.ma.us, consulted October 2026
  22. Michigan: Reference: legislature.mi.gov, consulted September 2026
  23. Minnesota: Reference: revisor.mn.gov, consulted October 2026
  24. Mississippi: Reference: sos.ms.gov, consulted August 2026
  25. Missouri: Reference: sos.mo.gov, consulted October 2026
  26. Montana: Reference: sosmt.gov, consulted October 2026
  27. Nebraska: Reference: nebraskalegislature.gov, consulted October 2026
  28. Nevada: Reference: leg.state.nv.us, consulted October 2026
  29. New Hampshire: Reference: gc.nh.gov, consulted October 2026
  30. New Jersey: Reference: pub.njleg.gov, consulted October 2026
  31. New Mexico: Reference: nmonesource.com, consulted October 2026
  32. New York: Reference: dos.ny.gov, consulted October 2026
  33. North Carolina: Reference: sosnc.gov, consulted October 2026
  34. North Dakota: Reference: sos.nd.gov, consulted October 2026
  35. Ohio: Reference: codes.ohio.gov, consulted October 2026
  36. Oklahoma: Reference: sos.ok.gov, consulted October 2026
  37. Oregon: Reference: sos.oregon.gov, consulted October 2026
  38. Pennsylvania: Reference: pa.gov, consulted October 2026
  39. Rhode Island: Reference: docs.sos.ri.gov, consulted October 2026
  40. South Carolina: Reference: scstatehouse.gov, consulted October 2026
  41. South Dakota: Reference: sdlegislature.gov, consulted October 2026
  42. Tennessee: Reference: sos.tn.gov, consulted October 2026
  43. Texas: Reference: sos.texas.gov, consulted October 2026
  44. Utah: Reference: commerce.utah.gov, consulted October 2026
  45. Vermont: Reference: legislature.vermont.gov, consulted October 2026
  46. Virginia: Reference: law.lis.virginia.gov, consulted October 2026
  47. Washington: Reference: sos.wa.gov, consulted October 2026
  48. West Virginia: Reference: sos.wv.gov, consulted October 2026
  49. Wisconsin: Reference: dfi.wi.gov, consulted October 2026
  50. Wyoming: Reference: wyobiz.wyo.gov, consulted October 2026