Massachusetts · Start a business

How to start a business in Massachusetts

Massachusetts business name certificates are filed with the clerk of each city or town where an office sits.

As of 4 min readVermilion Vitez Team

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STATE FILING FEE$520FILEDCORPORATIONS DIVISIONEINANNIVOPENMASSACHUSETTS · 10 STEPSFrom structure to open door

Short answer

To start a business in Massachusetts, pick a structure and file with the Corporations Division: $520 for an LLC, $275 for a corporation's articles. Then name a registered agent, get an EIN and register for state taxes.

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What do you file before you open in Massachusetts?

  1. Pick a structure

    Most owners choose an LLC or a corporation; the S corp or C corp tax choice comes later. See Massachusetts LLC guide, Massachusetts corporation guide, S corp or C corp in Massachusetts. By trade: cleaning business, handyman.

  2. Check and register the name

    Search the Corporations Division records before you pick a name: state name search. Massachusetts requires a person doing business under a name other than their real name to file a certificate with the clerk of each city or town where an office is located. The certificate stays in force for four years and is then renewed. 1 See Massachusetts name search guide.

  3. File with the state

    Massachusetts charges the state filing fee once: an LLC costs $520 2 and a corporation's articles of incorporation cost $275 3. See LLC cost.

  4. Name a registered agent

    A Massachusetts corporation must continuously maintain a registered office and a registered agent in the commonwealth. 4 Our registered agent service runs through our partner Registered Agents Inc (RAI), the registered agent of record. See Massachusetts registered agent rules.

Which accounts do you open after you file in Massachusetts?

  1. Get an EIN

    An EIN is the business's federal tax ID. The IRS issues it online, for free, and warns about websites that charge for one. 5

  2. Open your state tax accounts

    The Massachusetts Department of Revenue has businesses register online through MassTaxConnect to file and pay state taxes. 6 See Sales tax permit.

  3. Register as an employer

    The Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance requires employers who pay wages for work done in Massachusetts to register with it. 7 Massachusetts employers report newly hired employees and independent contractors to the Department of Revenue within 14 days of their first day of work. 8 Massachusetts requires every employer to provide workers' compensation to employees, either by insurance with an insurer or by membership in a workers' compensation self-insurance group. 9

What keeps your Massachusetts business in good standing?

  1. Check licenses and permits

    Massachusetts directs a new business to check with the licensing boards in its city or town to see whether it needs a license to operate. 10

  2. Calendar the yearly filings

    Massachusetts annual report: $500, due by your formation anniversary date. 11 See Massachusetts annual report.

  3. Use free local help

    Small business advising in Massachusetts runs through the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network. 12 Massachusetts runs the Business Front Door, a Team MA hub that connects businesses starting, growing or relocating in the state with its resources. 13

What it costs to start a business in Massachusetts

$520to file an LLC 2
$275to file a corporation's articles 3
$500each year, annual report 11
79,347business applications filed in Massachusetts in 2025 14

Do you need a business license in Massachusetts?

It depends on the trade and the place. The U.S. Small Business Administration says most small businesses need a combination of licenses and permits from federal and state agencies, and that requirements and fees depend on the business activity and the issuing agency. 15 Massachusetts's own rule is in step 8. 10 Where to look up licenses: Business Front Door.

How to register a business name in Massachusetts

QuestionMassachusetts
Where it is filedWith the city or town 1
OfficeCity or town clerk
What it is calledbusiness certificate

Check that the name is free first: state name search.

Also in Massachusetts

  • Paid family and medical leave contributions. Massachusetts employers remit contributions for each employee to the Family and Employment Security Trust Fund, and for medical leave may not deduct more than 40 per cent of the contribution from wages. 16

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Common questions

What are the steps to start a business in Massachusetts?

Pick a structure, file with the Corporations Division, name a registered agent, get an EIN, register for state taxes with the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, then handle hiring, licenses, yearly filings and local help.

What does it cost to register a business in Massachusetts?

In Massachusetts, an LLC filing is $520 and a corporation's articles of incorporation are $275. The annual report is $500 each year.

Can I start a business in Massachusetts with no money?

Massachusetts charges $520 to file an LLC, and the annual report is $500 each year. An EIN is the business's federal tax ID. The IRS issues it online, for free, and warns about websites that charge for one. The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network offers no-cost, confidential business advising to prospective and existing small businesses through six regional centers and three specialty programs.

Are there small business grants in Massachusetts?

The U.S. Small Business Administration says it does not provide grants for starting or expanding a business; its grants go to nonprofits, resource partners and educational organizations.

What is the Massachusetts SBDC?

The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network offers no-cost, confidential business advising to prospective and existing small businesses through six regional centers and three specialty programs.

Sources 17 links, checked Nov 13, 2026
  1. DBA or trade name registration malegislature.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  2. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings sec.state.ma.us, checked Oct 17, 2026
  3. Corporation filing sec.state.ma.us, checked Nov 7, 2026
  4. Registered agent rule malegislature.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
  5. IRS: employer identification number irs.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  6. State tax registration mass.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  7. Unemployment insurance registration mass.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  8. New hire reporting mass.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  9. Workers' compensation coverage malegislature.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  10. General business license mass.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  11. Massachusetts annual report sec.state.ma.us, checked Oct 4, 2026
  12. Small Business Development Center msbdc.org, checked Nov 12, 2026
  13. State business portal mass.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  14. US Census Bureau, Business Formation Statistics (monthly file, 2025 added up) census.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  15. SBA: licenses and permits sba.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  16. Paid family and medical leave contributions malegislature.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  17. SBA: grants sba.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026

Last verified Nov 13, 2026.

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

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