The Real Cost of a US LLC Over the First 3 Years

Providers' advertised prices usually cover only the first year. To compare properly, look at the multi-year total. Below is an illustrative estimate for two popular states, using typical service prices at the time of writing — see each provider's comparison page for exact numbers.

The basic fees

• Formation service fee: roughly $0–100 depending on provider and package.
• State filing fee: Wyoming about $100, New Mexico about $50.
• Registered Agent: usually free in year one, then roughly $50–200 a year depending on the provider.
• Annual report: Wyoming from about $60/year, New Mexico none required.
• EIN: free when you apply directly with the IRS.

Estimated 3-year total

• Wyoming: service fee + 100 (state fee) + about 100–400 (Registered Agent, years 2–3) + 180 (3 years of annual reports), for a total of roughly $400–700 depending on the provider.
• New Mexico: service fee + 50 (state fee) + about 100–400 (Registered Agent, years 2–3), for a total of roughly $200–500 depending on the provider.

Costs that are easy to forget

• An accountant or service to help with yearly IRS reporting.
• Bank or payment-platform fees.
• A virtual address or mail forwarding, if needed.
• Foreign qualification fees if you really operate in another state.
• Penalties and reinstatement costs if an annual report is late.
• Add-on packages offered during checkout.

All figures are illustrative and change over time. You can use USBizViet's cost calculator to compare several states at once, then check against the official pages before you file.

This article is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules and fees change by state and over time — check the official state/IRS pages and consult a professional before you decide.