Start a business · all states

How to start a business, state by state

The ten steps are the same. The fees, agencies and deadlines are not.

As of 6 min readVermilion Vitez Team

Find your state
GUIDES FOR50 STATES + DCFILEDSTATE FILING OFFICEEINOPENEVERY STATE · 10 STEPSFrom structure to open door

Short answer

Starting a business takes ten steps in every state: pick a structure, file with the state, name a registered agent, get an EIN and register for taxes. Pick your state below for its own fees.

Last checked .

What does it take to start a business?

Every state asks for the same ten things, each with its own office and price: a structure, a name, a state filing, a registered agent, an EIN, state tax accounts, employer registrations, licenses, yearly filings and local help. Pick your state to see its own fees, agencies and deadlines.

How do you start a business in your state?

51 guides. The LLC filing fee is the state's own; a general state license means one license from the state for any business.
StateLLC filing feeGeneral state license
Alabama$236 1For many businesses 2
Alaska$250 3Yes 4
Arizona$50 5See page
Arkansas$45 6See page
California$70 7See page
Colorado$50 8See page
Connecticut$120 9See page
Delaware$110 10Yes 11
District of Columbia$99 12For many businesses 13
Florida$125 14See page
Georgia$100 15See page
Hawaii$51 16See page
Idaho$103 17No 18
Illinois$150 19See page
Indiana$97 20No 21
Iowa$50 22See page
KansasSee pageSee page
Kentucky$40 23No 24
Louisiana$125 25See page
Maine$178 26See page
Maryland$155 27For many businesses 28
Massachusetts$520 29See page
Michigan$50 30See page
Minnesota$155 31See page
Mississippi$53 32See page
Missouri$50 33See page
MontanaSee pageSee page
Nebraska$100 34No 35
Nevada$425 36Yes 37
New Hampshire$102 38See page
New Jersey$129 39See page
New MexicoSee pageSee page
New York$200 40See page
North Carolina$128 41No 42
North Dakota$135 43See page
Ohio$99 44See page
Oklahoma$104 45See page
Oregon$100 46See page
Pennsylvania$125 47No 48
Rhode Island$156 49See page
South Carolina$125 50No 51
South Dakota$153 52See page
Tennessee$300 53For many businesses 54
Texas$300 55No 56
Utah$59 57See page
Vermont$155 58See page
Virginia$100 59See page
Washington$200 60For many businesses 61
West Virginia$130 62Yes 63
Wisconsin$130 64See page
Wyoming$103 65See page
5.0 on Google 17 reviews Vinny and Ray (888) 419-0771 Filed right, or we fix it free
Ready to file?

Start your business

We file the paperwork, with the state fee shown before you pay.

Start my LLC

Common questions

How do I start a business in any state?

File a formation document with the state, name a registered agent, get an EIN, register for state taxes and check licenses. Each state's page lists its own fees and agencies.

Do I need a business license?

It depends on the state, the city and the trade. The table shows whether a state issues one general license; local and trade licenses are separate.

Can I start with no money?

Every state charges a filing fee, and the IRS issues the EIN for free. Your state's page shows its own figures.

Sources 65 links, checked Nov 13, 2026
  1. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings sos.alabama.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  2. Alabama: general business license revenue.alabama.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  3. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings commerce.alaska.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  4. Alaska: general business license commerce.alaska.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  5. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings azcc.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  6. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings sos.arkansas.gov, checked Oct 18, 2026
  7. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings bpd.cdn.sos.ca.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  8. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings sos.state.co.us, checked Oct 17, 2026
  9. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings business.ct.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  10. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings corpfiles.delaware.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  11. Delaware: general business license revenue.delaware.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  12. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings dlcp.dc.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  13. District of Columbia: general business license dlcp.dc.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  14. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings dos.fl.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  15. Official fee schedule for LLC filings (plus a $10 service charge) sos.ga.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  16. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings cca.hawaii.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  17. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings sos.idaho.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  18. Idaho: general business license business.idaho.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  19. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings ilsos.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  20. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings iga.in.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  21. Indiana: general business license in.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  22. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings sos.iowa.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  23. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings sos.ky.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  24. Kentucky: general business license onestop.ky.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  25. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings static.sos.la.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  26. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings maine.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  27. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings egov.maryland.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  28. Maryland: general business license marylandtaxes.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  29. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings sec.state.ma.us, checked Oct 17, 2026
  30. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings michigan.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  31. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings sos.mn.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  32. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings sos.ms.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  33. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings sos.mo.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  34. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings sos.nebraska.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  35. Nebraska: general business license sos.nebraska.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  36. Official fee schedule for LLC filings (articles, first annual list and state business license) leg.state.nv.us, checked Oct 17, 2026
  37. Nevada: general business license leg.state.nv.us, checked Nov 13, 2026
  38. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings sos.nh.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  39. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings nj.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  40. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings dos.ny.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  41. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings sosnc.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  42. North Carolina: general business license nc.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  43. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings sos.nd.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  44. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings ohiosos.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  45. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings sos.ok.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  46. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings sos.oregon.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  47. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings pa.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  48. Pennsylvania: general business license business.pa.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  49. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings docs.sos.ri.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  50. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings scstatehouse.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  51. South Carolina: general business license scbos.sc.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  52. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings sdsos.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  53. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings sos.tn.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  54. Tennessee: general business license tn.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  55. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings direct.sos.state.tx.us, checked Oct 17, 2026
  56. Texas: general business license gov.texas.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  57. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings commerce.utah.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  58. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings sos.vermont.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  59. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings scc.virginia.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  60. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings sos.wa.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  61. Washington: general business license dor.wa.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  62. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings sos.wv.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  63. West Virginia: general business license tax.wv.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  64. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings dfi.wi.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  65. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings sos.wyo.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026

Last verified Nov 13, 2026.

This page explains the rules; it is not legal or tax advice.

Start my LLC