LLC services compared on three-year cost (2026)
A low first-year price can cost more by year three. For every state this table adds up the service, the registered agent and the state’s own fees over three years. Mainstay Filing, our best overall pick, is $597 in service charges over three years; the others range from $289 to $747.
- State fees from official sources, checked August 2026 to October 2026
- Provider prices verified October 2026
Mainstay Filing
$199 / year, $597 over three years, plus state fees
- LLC formation, prepared and filed
- Registered agent, all year
- EIN application (with an SSN or ITIN)
- Annual report filed every year it is due where the state requires one
- Compliance reminders and stored documents
Price from the Mainstay Filing pricing and FAQ pages, checked October 21, 2026. State fees are passed through at cost and shown before you pay.
Cost of ownership, state by state
| State | Filing fee | State reports (3 yrs) | Mainstay Filing | Northwest | ZenBusiness | Bizee | LegalZoom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $236 | $0 | $833 | $525 | $733 | $534 | $983 |
| Alaska | $250 | $100 | $947 | $639 | $847 | $648 | $1,097 |
| Arizona | $50 | $0 | $647 | $339 | $547 | $348 | $797 |
| Arkansas | $45 | $300 | $942 | $634 | $842 | $643 | $1,092 |
| California | $70 | $20 | $687 | $379 | $587 | $388 | $837 |
| Colorado | $50 | $50 | $697 | $389 | $597 | $398 | $847 |
| Connecticut | $120 | $160 | $877 | $569 | $777 | $578 | $1,027 |
| Delaware | $110 | $800 | $1,507 | $1,199 | $1,407 | $1,208 | $1,657 |
| Florida | $125 | $277.50 | $999.50 | $691.50 | $899.50 | $700.50 | $1149.50 |
| Georgia | $110 | $120 | $827 | $519 | $727 | $528 | $977 |
| Hawaii | $51 | $25 | $673 | $365 | $573 | $374 | $823 |
| Idaho | $100 | $0 | $697 | $389 | $597 | $398 | $847 |
| Illinois | $150 | $150 | $897 | $589 | $797 | $598 | $1,047 |
| Indiana | $95 | $32 | $724 | $416 | $624 | $425 | $874 |
| Iowa | $50 | $30 | $677 | $369 | $577 | $378 | $827 |
| Kansas | $85 | $90 | $772 | $464 | $672 | $473 | $922 |
| Kentucky | $40 | $30 | $667 | $359 | $567 | $368 | $817 |
| Louisiana | $125 | $70 | $792 | $484 | $692 | $493 | $942 |
| Maine | $175 | $170 | $942 | $634 | $842 | $643 | $1,092 |
| Maryland | $100 | $600 | $1,297 | $989 | $1,197 | $998 | $1,447 |
| Massachusetts | $500 | $1,000 | $2,097 | $1,789 | $1,997 | $1,798 | $2,247 |
| Michigan | $50 | $50 | $697 | $389 | $597 | $398 | $847 |
| Minnesota | $155 | $0 | $752 | $444 | $652 | $453 | $902 |
| Mississippi | $50 | $0 | $647 | $339 | $547 | $348 | $797 |
| Missouri | $50 | $0 | $647 | $339 | $547 | $348 | $797 |
| Montana | $35 | $40 | $672 | $364 | $572 | $373 | $822 |
| Nebraska | $100 | $25 | $722 | $414 | $622 | $423 | $872 |
| Nevada | $425 | $700 | $1,722 | $1,414 | $1,622 | $1,423 | $1,872 |
| New Hampshire | $100 | $200 | $897 | $589 | $797 | $598 | $1,047 |
| New Jersey | $100 | $150 | $847 | $539 | $747 | $548 | $997 |
| New Mexico | $50 | $0 | $647 | $339 | $547 | $348 | $797 |
| New York | $200 | $9 | $806 | $498 | $706 | $507 | $956 |
| North Carolina | $125 | $400 | $1,122 | $814 | $1,022 | $823 | $1,272 |
| North Dakota | $135 | $100 | $832 | $524 | $732 | $533 | $982 |
| Ohio | $99 | $0 | $696 | $388 | $596 | $397 | $846 |
| Oklahoma | $100 | $50 | $747 | $439 | $647 | $448 | $897 |
| Oregon | $100 | $200 | $897 | $589 | $797 | $598 | $1,047 |
| Pennsylvania | $125 | $14 | $736 | $428 | $636 | $437 | $886 |
| Rhode Island | $150 | $100 | $847 | $539 | $747 | $548 | $997 |
| South Carolina | $110 | $0 | $707 | $399 | $607 | $408 | $857 |
| South Dakota | $150 | $110 | $857 | $549 | $757 | $558 | $1,007 |
| Tennessee | $300 | $600 | $1,497 | $1,189 | $1,397 | $1,198 | $1,647 |
| Texas | $300 | $0 | $897 | $589 | $797 | $598 | $1,047 |
| Utah | $59 | $36 | $692 | $384 | $592 | $393 | $842 |
| Vermont | $155 | $90 | $842 | $534 | $742 | $543 | $992 |
| Virginia | $100 | $100 | $797 | $489 | $697 | $498 | $947 |
| Washington | $200 | $140 | $937 | $629 | $837 | $638 | $1,087 |
| West Virginia | $100 | $50 | $747 | $439 | $647 | $448 | $897 |
| Wisconsin | $130 | $50 | $777 | $469 | $677 | $478 | $927 |
| Wyoming | $100 | $120 | $817 | $509 | $717 | $518 | $967 |
Service profiles
- Mainstay Filing: $647 to $2,097 over three years
- Northwest Registered Agent: $339 to $1,789 over three years
- ZenBusiness: $547 to $1,997 over three years
- Bizee: $348 to $1,798 over three years
- LegalZoom: $797 to $2,247 over three years
Questions
What does an LLC really cost over three years?
Service and agent charges alone run Mainstay Filing $597, Northwest Registered Agent $289, ZenBusiness $497, Bizee $298 and LegalZoom $747 over three years, before the state’s own fees (a one-time filing fee of $35 to $500 plus any report fees).
Why does the cheapest first year not stay cheapest?
Several services price the registered agent low or free in year 1 and raise it later: ZenBusiness goes from $99 to $199, Bizee from free to $149. Mainstay Filing is $199 in every year.
Which service is best overall?
Our pick is Mainstay Filing. Over three years it is $597 and includes the EIN application and every annual report, which most of the others charge for separately.
Which state reports are counted?
One annual report per year starting in year 2 (one in the window for two-year states, none for the 6 states without one). Each state’s page lists its own.
Can I change the number of years?
Yes: use the cost calculator for 1 to 10 years in any state.