Pennsylvania · Start a business

How to start a business in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has no general business license, and fictitious names register with the Department of State, not counties.

As of 4 min readVermilion Vitez Team

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STATE FILING FEE$125FILEDDEPARTMENT OF STATEEINSEPOPENPENNSYLVANIA · 10 STEPSFrom structure to open door

Short answer

To start a business in Pennsylvania, pick a structure and file with the Department of State: $125 for an LLC, $125 for a corporation's articles. Then name a registered agent, get an EIN and register for state taxes. Pennsylvania has no general state business license.

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What do you file before you open in Pennsylvania?

  1. Pick a structure

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

  2. Check and register the name

    Search the Department of State records before you pick a name: state name search. Any business in Pennsylvania using an assumed or fictitious name registers it with the Department of State, and fictitious names have not been filed at the county seat since the early 1980s. 1 See Pennsylvania name search guide.

  3. File with the state

    Pennsylvania charges the state filing fee once: an LLC costs $125 2 and a corporation's articles of incorporation cost $125 3. See LLC cost.

  4. Name a registered agent

    Pennsylvania articles must give the street address of the corporation's initial registered office in the state, or name a commercial registered office provider instead. 4 Our registered agent service runs through our partner Registered Agents Inc (RAI), the registered agent of record. See Pennsylvania registered agent rules.

Which accounts do you open after you file in Pennsylvania?

  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

    New Pennsylvania businesses register for state tax accounts with the Department of Revenue, and can do so online through the myPATH Tax Registration Form. 6 See Sales tax permit.

  3. Register as an employer

    A new Pennsylvania employer registers with the Department of Labor and Industry's Office of UC Tax Services within 30 days after covered services are first performed for the employer. 7 Employers doing business in Pennsylvania report each new hire to the state's New Hire Reporting Program within 20 days of the date of hire. 8 Workers' compensation coverage is mandatory for most employers in Pennsylvania, through a licensed insurance carrier or the State Workers' Insurance Fund. Exemptions include domestic servants, where coverage is optional. 9

What keeps your Pennsylvania business in good standing?

  1. Check licenses and permits

    Pennsylvania has no general business license that all businesses must obtain. Depending on the business activity, a business may need registrations or licenses from one or more government agencies. 10

  2. Calendar the yearly filings

    Pennsylvania annual report: $7, due September 30 every year. 11 See Pennsylvania annual report.

  3. Use free local help

    Small business advising in Pennsylvania runs through the Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers. 12 The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development runs the PA Business One-Stop Shop, a guide to starting, registering, operating and growing a business in the state. 13

What it costs to start a business in Pennsylvania

$125to file an LLC 2
$125to file a corporation's articles 3
$70for a fictitious name 2
$7each year, annual report 11
161,839business applications filed in Pennsylvania in 2025 14

Do you need a business license in Pennsylvania?

Not from the state. Pennsylvania has no general state business license. 10 Where to look up licenses: PA Business One-Stop Shop.

  • Home improvement contractor license. A Pennsylvania business that performs home improvement contracting work needs the Home Improvement Contractor license from the Attorney General's Office. 15

How to register a business name in Pennsylvania

QuestionPennsylvania
Where it is filedWith the state 1
OfficeDepartment of State
What it is calledfictitious name

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

Also in Pennsylvania

  • Local earned income and services tax withholding. Pennsylvania employers with worksites in the state withhold and remit the local Earned Income Tax and Local Services Tax for their employees working there, including home-based employees' residences. 16
  • Fictitious name registration fee. The Pennsylvania Department of State's fee schedule lists a $70 fee for a fictitious name registration. 17

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Common questions

What are the steps to start a business in Pennsylvania?

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

What does it cost to register a business in Pennsylvania?

In Pennsylvania, an LLC filing is $125 and a corporation's articles of incorporation are $125. The annual report is $7 each year.

Can I start a business in Pennsylvania with no money?

Pennsylvania charges $125 to file an LLC, and the annual report is $7 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 Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers offer free, confidential consulting, with offices hosted at 15 universities and 49 outreach centers across the state.

Are there small business grants in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania's One-Stop Shop says small business funding is often available at the federal, state, county and local level, and points to the Department of Community and Economic Development's Programs and Funding page.

What is the Pennsylvania SBDC?

The Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers offer free, confidential consulting, with offices hosted at 15 universities and 49 outreach centers across the state.

Sources 18 links, checked Nov 13, 2026
  1. DBA or trade name registration pa.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  2. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings pa.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  3. Corporation filing pa.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
  4. Registered agent rule legis.state.pa.us, checked Nov 7, 2026
  5. IRS: employer identification number irs.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  6. State tax registration business.pa.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  7. Unemployment insurance registration pa.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  8. New hire reporting pacareerlink.pa.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  9. Workers' compensation coverage pa.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  10. General business license business.pa.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  11. Pennsylvania annual report pa.gov, checked Sep 1, 2026
  12. Small Business Development Center business.pa.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  13. State business portal business.pa.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  14. US Census Bureau, Business Formation Statistics (monthly file, 2025 added up) census.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  15. Home improvement contractor license business.pa.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  16. Local earned income and services tax withholding business.pa.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  17. Fictitious name registration fee pa.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  18. State small business funding business.pa.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026

Last verified Nov 13, 2026.

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

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