What it costs to start a business in every state
The year-one cost to form an LLC, doing it yourself — the state filing fee plus any unavoidable state charge (a mandatory annual tax, newspaper publication, a state business license). An EIN is always free, and in most states you can be your own registered agent for $0. Cheapest first.
Cheapest to form
Montana ~$35 · Kentucky ~$40 · Arkansas ~$45 · Colorado ~$50 · Hawaii ~$50
Most expensive
California ~$870 · New York ~$500 · Massachusetts ~$500 · Nevada ~$425 · Texas ~$300
| State | Year one (DIY) |
|---|---|
| Montana | ~$35 |
| Kentucky | ~$40 |
| Arkansas | ~$45 |
| Colorado | ~$50 |
| Hawaii | ~$50 |
| Iowa | ~$50 |
| Michigan | ~$50 |
| Missouri | ~$50 |
| Mississippi | ~$50 |
| New Mexico | ~$50 |
| Utah | ~$59 |
| Arizona | ~$80 |
| Indiana | ~$95 |
| District of Columbia | ~$99 |
| Ohio | ~$99 |
| Georgia | ~$100 |
| Idaho | ~$100 |
| Louisiana | ~$100 |
| Maryland | ~$100 |
| New Hampshire | ~$100 |
| Oklahoma | ~$100 |
| Oregon | ~$100 |
| Virginia | ~$100 |
| West Virginia | ~$100 |
| Wyoming | ~$100 |
| Delaware | ~$110 |
| South Carolina | ~$110 |
| Connecticut | ~$120 |
| Florida | ~$125 |
| North Carolina | ~$125 |
| New Jersey | ~$125 |
| Pennsylvania | ~$125 |
| Vermont | ~$125 |
| Wisconsin | ~$130 |
| North Dakota | ~$135 |
| Nebraska | ~$140 |
| Illinois | ~$150 |
| Rhode Island | ~$150 |
| South Dakota | ~$150 |
| Minnesota | ~$155 |
| Kansas | ~$160 |
| Maine | ~$175 |
| Alabama | ~$200 |
| Washington | ~$200 |
| Alaska | ~$250 |
| Tennessee | ~$300 |
| Texas | ~$300 |
| Nevada | ~$425 |
| Massachusetts | ~$500 |
| New York | ~$500 |
| California | ~$870 |
Don't just budget it — do it
FirstBearing builds a step-by-step plan for your state and your business — the filing, the EIN, the licenses, filled-in forms, and the official links so you pay the government fee and nothing extra. $99/month, cancel anytime.
Build my planFigures are commonly-cited amounts last reviewed 2025-06 and change often — confirm on each state's official site (linked from every state page). Educational information, not legal or tax advice.