Every state's business rules, in plain English.
Look up a company, start an LLC or stay in good standing. We send you to the right official site, then explain what you'll find there, with every fee checked against the state's own pages.
- Fees checked November 8, 2026
- All 50 states and DC
- Independent guide. Not a government website.
All 50 states and DCWhat do you need to do?
- Look up a businessFind the official search for any state and learn what the status means.
- Start an LLCThe form, the state fee and the steps, for the state you are in.
- File an annual reportWhether you need one, when it is due, and what happens if you miss it.
- Get a good standing certificateWhat it costs and how fast you can get one, by state.
- Choose a registered agentWhether you can be your own, and who to pay if not.
- Compare LLC servicesRanked on what you pay in year two, not the year-one teaser.
The most-searched states
Each guide covers the official search, what the status words mean, where to find owners and agents, and the fees that come after.
- To form an LLC
- $70
- Recurring report
- $20
- To form an LLC
- $300
- Recurring report
- No fee
- To form an LLC
- $110
- Recurring report
- $400
- To form an LLC
- $125
- Recurring report
- $138.75
- To form an LLC
- $50
- Recurring report
- $25
- To form an LLC
- $200
- Recurring report
- $9
- To form an LLC
- $150
- Recurring report
- $75
- To form an LLC
- $99
- Annual report
- None
- To form an LLC
- $125
- Recurring report
- $7
- To form an LLC
- $125
- Recurring report
- $200
- To form an LLC
- $59
- Recurring report
- $18
- To form an LLC
- $100
- Recurring report
- $300
Rules that changed recently
States change fees and deadlines more often than you'd think. Our fact-checks turned up these. Each one is confirmed on the state's own website.
- LouisianaOct 1, 2026The LLC filing fee went up from $100 to $125, and the annual report from $30 to $35.
- UtahOct 1, 2026A new LLC law moved the annual renewal deadline to the last day of your anniversary month, and filings moved to a new state portal.
- DelawareJune 1, 2027The flat LLC annual tax rises from $300 to $400, starting with tax year 2026.
- Kansas2026The yearly report became a biennial Information Report, and the online LLC filing fee dropped to $85.
- PennsylvaniaReports due in 2027LLCs that skip the annual report will be administratively dissolved six months after the deadline.
Rather not file it yourself?
You can form an LLC on your state's website in about half an hour. If you'd rather pay someone, these are our top picks, ranked on what they cost in year two, when the promotions are over.
How we make money.Links marked "sponsored" pay us a commission if you buy. That keeps the site free. It doesn't change the order we rank providers in, which follows our published scoring method.
1Northwest Registered Agent
Best overallOur top pick
People who want privacy and a fair renewal price.
- To form an LLC
- $39
- plus state fee
- Registered agent
- $125/yr
- after a free first year
Visit Northwest(sponsored link, opens in a new tab)Sponsored · on northwestregisteredagent.comRead our reviewPrices from Northwest's pricing page, checked November 8, 2026.
2Bizee
Best $0 start
Owners who want a $0 filing and a free first year of registered agent service.
- To form an LLC
- $0
- plus state fee
- Registered agent
- $149/yr
- after a free first year
Prices from Bizee's pricing page, checked November 8, 2026.
3ZenBusiness
Best for hands-off compliance
First-time owners who want annual report filing handled for them.
- To form an LLC
- $0
- plus state fee
- Registered agent
- $199/yr
- add-on
Prices from ZenBusiness's pricing page, checked November 8, 2026.
Popular guides
All guides- What business entity status meansActive, not in good standing, dissolved, suspended. What each one means for you.Read the guide Business search
- How to find the owner of an LLCWhich states list owners, and where else a name shows up.Read the guide Business search
- How much an LLC costs in every stateThe filing fee, the yearly fee, and the costs nobody mentions.Read the guide LLC formation
- How to check if a business name is availableState registry, trademarks, domains and county DBAs, in the order that saves time.Read the guide Business search
- How to find a company's EINThere's no public EIN database. Here's where the number actually appears.Read the guide Business search
- How to dissolve an LLCClose it properly so the state stops charging you.Read the guide Compliance
Looking for another state?
Use the search at the top of the page, or open the full list of all 50 states and DC.
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