Formation fees range from $35 (Kentucky) to $500+ (Massachusetts series-LLC). Annual fees range from $0 (NM, others) to $800+ (California's annual franchise tax). This Anonymousllc.co reference compares formation and ongoing fees across all 50 states with the four anonymous states (Wyoming, NM, Delaware, Nevada) highlighted in context.
Wyoming — $100 filing fee. $60 minimum annual license tax. Total year-1 state cost: $160. Total year-2+ state cost: $60. New Mexico — $50 filing fee. NO annual report. NO annual franchise tax. Total year-1 state cost: $50. Total year-2+ state cost: $0. Cheapest US state for LLCs over their lifetime. Delaware — $110 filing fee. $300 annual franchise tax due June 1. Total year-1 state cost: $410. Total year-2+ state cost: $300. Nevada — $75 Articles + $150 Initial List + $200 Business License = $425 at formation. $350 Annual List + $200 Business License = $550 each subsequent year. Most expensive among the four anonymous states. Anonymousllc.co pricing layers $297-$397 fulfillment on top: • Wyoming: $397 total ($297 + $100 state) • NM: $347 total ($297 + $50 state) • Delaware: $407 total ($297 + $110 state) • Nevada: $722 total ($297 + $425 state) • Anonymous LLC (all-in): $397 (Wyoming-fulfilled)
These states are CHEAPER than Wyoming on formation cost but DO require public member listing, so they don't offer the anonymity layer: • Kentucky — $40 filing + $15 annual report = $40 year 1, $15/year ongoing. Cheapest US state for non-anonymous formation. • Missouri — $50 filing + no annual report. $50 year 1, $0 ongoing. • Arkansas — $45 filing + $150 annual franchise tax. $45 year 1, $150/year. • Mississippi — $50 filing + $25 annual report. $50 year 1, $25/year. • Iowa — $50 filing + $30 biennial report. $50 year 1, $15/year average. These states are good cost choices for LLCs that don't need anonymity (e.g., owner-operator in-state businesses where ownership is already disclosed). For anonymous LLCs, NM at $50 + $0 still wins because it adds anonymity.
California — $70 filing + $800 annual franchise tax + $20 Statement of Information biennial. The $800 minimum franchise tax applies regardless of revenue. AVOID for any LLC that doesn't specifically need California presence. Massachusetts — $500 filing + $500 annual report. The most expensive standard formation in the US. Used by buyers who specifically need Massachusetts series-LLC structure. New York — $200 filing + $25 biennial statement + publication requirement ($800-$2,000 in NYC counties). NY's publication requirement alone makes it the most expensive practical formation in the US. Illinois — $150 filing + $75 annual report + state income tax on LLC profits if Illinois nexus. Washington DC — $99 filing + $300 biennial report.
Cheapest 10 (year-1 state cost): Kentucky $40, Missouri $50, Mississippi $50, New Mexico $50, Arizona $50, Iowa $50, Arkansas $45-$195 (with FT), Indiana $95, Michigan $50, Idaho $100. Next 10 (year-1 state cost $100-$200): Wyoming $160, Nebraska $100, Oklahoma $100, Utah $70, Wisconsin $130, Maryland $100, Pennsylvania $125, Virginia $100, Colorado $50, Texas $300. Next 10 ($200-$400): Delaware $410, Florida $125 + $138.75 annual, Georgia $100 + $50 annual, Tennessee $300, Vermont $125 + $35 annual, Connecticut $120 + $80 annual, Minnesota $135 + $0 annual, Hawaii $50 + $15 annual. Expensive ($400+): Nevada $425 (year 1) / $550 (subsequent), California $870 (year 1 with FT) / $820 ongoing, Massachusetts $1,000, New York $200-$2,200 (with publication), Illinois $150-$300. The full breakdown lives in /resources/state-filing-fee-chart/ and /resources/state-annual-fee-chart/ — search-friendly tables you can sort by formation fee, annual fee, or anonymous-state status.
Anonymousllc.co only forms LLCs in the four anonymous states (WY, NM, DE, NV). For buyers who want a non-anonymous state because of in-state operations: 1. Form your operating-state LLC yourself with a state-specific provider (cheaper for low-cost states like Kentucky or Missouri). 2. Form a Wyoming or NM anonymous LLC with Anonymousllc.co to own the operating-state LLC. This is the standard 'parent holding structure' for asset protection — the operating LLC is in your operating state, the anonymous holding LLC is the member of the operating LLC. This layered structure costs $347-$397 (anonymous holding) + $40-$200 (operating state) per year. The holding LLC owns the operating LLC; lawsuits against the operating LLC don't reach the holding LLC's members. For pure anonymity with no in-state operating need, the four anonymous states are sufficient. NM at $347 total + $0 ongoing is the cheapest US anonymous LLC over its lifetime.
Government, regulator, and primary-source documents underpinning this page.
5-minute WhatsApp intake. 5-10 day turnaround.