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Costs and rankings
Most expensive states for an LLC (2026)
California is the most expensive state on our list at $4,130 in state filing fees over 5 years, against a median of $335. In 4 of the ten costliest states the yearly minimum tax is the biggest part.
The 10 highest totals and the fee behind them
| State | Year one | 5-year total | Biggest cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $890 | $4,130 | minimum state tax |
| Massachusetts | $500 | $2,500 | recurring report |
| Rhode Island | $550 | $2,350 | minimum state tax |
| Tennessee | $400 | $2,000 | recurring report |
| Nevada | $425 | $1,825 | recurring report |
| Delaware | $90 | $1,690 | minimum state tax |
| Maryland | $100 | $1,300 | recurring report |
| Kentucky | $215 | $975 | minimum state tax |
| North Carolina | $125 | $925 | recurring report |
| District of Columbia | $99 | $699 | recurring report |
Reading the table
"Biggest cost" compares the formation fee with what the recurring report and the minimum state tax add over the period. A state with a high yearly tax gets more expensive every year the LLC stays open; a state with a high filing fee costs the same after the first year. Fees based on income or gross receipts and newspaper publication costs are not included; the state pages describe them where they apply.
Not included until its fees are confirmed on official pages: Texas.
Sources, read verified 2026-11-15: sos.ca.gov/business-programs/cannabizfile/cannabis-forms-and-fees/limi · sos.ca.gov/business-programs/business-entities/faqs · ftb.ca.gov/forms/misc/3556.html · mass.gov/info-details/starting-a-limited-liability-company-llc-in-mass · sos.ri.gov/divisions/business-services/business-basics/your-structure · docs.sos.ri.gov/documents/BusinessServices/LLCArticlesOfOrganizationFi · sos.tn.gov/businesses/services/business-forms-fees · sos.tn.gov/businesses/faqs · tn.gov/revenue/taxes/franchise---excise-tax.html · leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-086.html · leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-076.html · corpfiles.delaware.gov/LLCFormation.pdf · corp.delaware.gov/howtoform/ · corp.delaware.gov/alt-entitytaxinstructions/ · dat.maryland.gov/businesses/documents/fees.pdf · dat.maryland.gov/SDAT%20Forms/PPR_Forms/2024Form1IAnnualnstructions_Bu · sos.ky.gov/bus/business-filings/Pages/Fees.aspx · sos.ky.gov/bus/business-filings/Pages/Annual-Reports.aspx · revenue.ky.gov/Business/Corporation-Income-and-Limited-Liability-Entit · sosnc.gov/fees/by_title/_Business_Registration_limited_liability_compa · sosnc.gov/manual/launching_a_business/maintaining_registration · dlcp.dc.gov/node/1621921
Questions
- Which state has the highest LLC fees?
- California: $4,130 in state fees over 5 years on the official pages we read.
- Why do some states cost so much more?
- Mostly a yearly minimum tax or a high recurring report fee, which repeat every year the LLC exists.
Related
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up to $800 a year