Filed my articles of organization last month. The state fee was $125. I figured that was the bulk of it. Then came the registered agent service at $150/year, a business address because I work from home and don't want my address public, that's $30/month. My city requires a business license, $200. Then the county wanted a separate fee. And my bank charged $50 to open the business account. I'm not even selling anything yet. Just wondering if everyone else got surprised like this.
LLC Costs
The filing fee was the cheapest part of starting my LLC
The registered agent fee gets people every time. Some states let you act as your own agent if you have a physical address there, but then your address is public record.
Wait until you file your first annual report. That's another fee, different mount depending on state.
I knew about the annual report but not the county license. Nobody mentiwons the county.
Do you actually need the business bank account yet? i used my personal account for the first six months because I wasn't making money. Probably not best practice for liability but it saved the fee.
The bank account is the one I'd push back on. $50 to open is steep. Most credit unions around here will do a business checking with no oppening fee if you keep a small minimum balance. Shop that around before you accept it.
Also worth checking whether your city license is actually required for a home-based business with no foot traffic. Mine wasn't, and I paid it for two years before anyone told me.
Registered agent at $150 is on the high end depending on the state. Some services are closer to $50. But cheap ones sometimes tack on fees later, so read the renewal terms.
The county thing is real though. I got a letter about a year in saying I owed back fees plus a penalty because I'd registered with the state but not the county. Nobody at the state office mentioned it.
Whole system is set up so you find out by getting a bill. Budget a few hundred extra beyond the filing fee and you won't be caught off guard next time.
Back fees plus penalty is the part that stings.Once you're on the county's radar they don't let it go.