What an LLC costs in Massachusetts
Massachusetts is the most expensive flat combination in the country: $520 to form online plus a $520 annual report, roughly $1,040 in year one.
Every LLC has two kinds of cost: a one-time state filing fee to form it, and recurring costs to keep it in good standing — the annual or biennial report, any franchise/privilege tax, and a registered agent. The calculator above adds these up for your first year and over five years so you can compare Massachusetts honestly against other states.
How this is calculated
- Filing fee — the standard online Articles of Organization fee, charged once.
- Report fee — Massachusetts's annual or biennial report; biennial fees are shown as a per-year average.
- Franchise / privilege tax — any flat state tax an LLC owes each year regardless of income.
- Publication — a one-time newspaper-publication cost, which only New York, Arizona, and Nebraska require.
- Registered agent — $0 if you act as your own, or a yearly fee for a commercial service.
What it doesn't include: income-based taxes (e.g. gross-receipts or margin taxes that only apply above high revenue thresholds), business licenses specific to your industry, or professional fees. It's a clean baseline of the mandatory state costs.
Data as of July 2026. Massachusetts filing and report fees are from the state Secretary of State, cross-checked against LLC-cost datasets. Fees change — confirm on the state's own site before filing.
LLC cost in other states
Massachusetts LLC cost FAQ
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Massachusetts?
It costs $520 to form a Massachusetts LLC (the standard online filing). With first-year upkeep and acting as your own registered agent, budget roughly $1040 for year one.
What are the annual LLC fees in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts requires a $520 annual report. Being your own registered agent keeps the agent cost at $0; a commercial agent adds about $125/yr.
Can I be my own registered agent in Massachusetts?
Yes, if you have a physical street address in Massachusetts (not a PO box) and are available during business hours to receive legal mail. That makes the registered-agent cost $0. Otherwise a commercial service runs about $100-$300 per year.
This calculator is an educational estimate, not legal or tax advice. State fees change frequently — verify with the Massachusetts Secretary of State before filing. Income-based and industry-specific costs are not included. Data as of July 2026.