The Real Price of Starting a Business
Setting up a Limited Liability Company (LLC) is the gold standard for protecting your personal assets from business liabilities. However, the startup and annual compliance costs are heavily dependent on which US state you register in.
Some business owners rush to form LLCs in Delaware or Wyoming because of viral social media advice, only to realize they must pay double registration and registered agent fees to operate in their actual home state.
State Fee Outliers: The Top & Bottom States
Here is a comparison of startup filing fees and annual franchise taxes in popular registration states:
| US State | Initial Filing Fee | Annual Compliance Fee / Franchise Tax |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | $40 | $15 |
| Wyoming | $100 | $60 |
| Delaware | $90 | $300 (Flat franchise tax) |
| California | $70 | $800 (Minimum annual franchise tax) |
Try the Live How Much Does it Cost to Start an LLC? State-by-State Filing & Annual Fees Comparison
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