Data verified April 10, 2026 — Primary sources: state .gov websites
LLC Formation Filing Fees — All 37 Covered States
Filing fees are paid to the state Secretary of State when forming an LLC. Sorted by fee (low to high). Source: Official Secretary of State websites for each state — links provided below each entry. Primary source methodology
| State | Formation Fee | Annual Report / Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | $40 | $15/yr | Lowest filing fee in US |
| Arkansas | $45 | $150/yr | — |
| Arizona | $50 | None | No annual report |
| Colorado | $50 | $10/yr | — |
| Iowa | $50 | $60/yr | Biennial |
| Michigan | $50 | $25/yr | — |
| Mississippi | $50 | None | No annual report |
| Missouri | $50 | None | No annual report |
| New Mexico | $50 | $25/yr | Biennial; lowest region fee |
| California | $70 | $800/yr | Annual franchise tax min $800 |
| Nevada | $75 | $350/yr | No income tax; ~$350/yr total annual costs |
| Delaware | $90 | $300/yr | No income tax on DE-only LLCs |
| Indiana | $95 | $50/yr | Biennial |
| Ohio | $99 | None | No annual report |
| Georgia | $100 | $50/yr | — |
| Idaho | $100 | None | No annual report fee |
| Louisiana | $100 | $30/yr | — |
| Maryland | $100 | $300/yr | — |
| Oregon | $100 | $100/yr | — |
| Wyoming | $100 | $52/yr | No income tax; privacy-friendly |
| South Carolina | $110 | None | No annual report |
| Connecticut | $120 | $80/yr | — |
| Florida | $125 | $138/yr | No state income tax |
| New Jersey | $125 | $75/yr | — |
| North Carolina | $125 | $200/yr | — |
| Pennsylvania | $125 | $7/yr | Annual report $7 (effective 2025) |
| Wisconsin | $130 | $25/yr | — |
| Illinois | $150 | $75/yr | — |
| Minnesota | $155 | None | No annual report fee; non-competes VOID |
| Kansas | $160 | $55/yr | — |
| Maine | $175 | $85/yr | — |
| Washington | $180 | $60/yr | No state income tax |
| Alabama | $200 | $100/yr | — |
| New York | $200 | $9/yr | Publication requirement adds $300–$2,000+ |
| Alaska | $250 | $100/yr | — |
| Texas | $300 | None | No annual report; no state income tax; franchise tax for larger entities |
| Massachusetts | $500 | $500/yr | Highest filing fee in US |
Sources: State Secretary of State official websites. Kentucky SOS — LLC Fees • Massachusetts SOS — Fees
Non-Compete Enforceability by State
Employment non-compete enforceability varies drastically by state. Employers and employees in multi-state companies must comply with the law of each state where employees work.
Banned / Void
4 states
California, Minnesota, North Dakota, Oklahoma
Salary-threshold required
3 states
Oregon ($113,241+), Illinois ($75,000+), Massachusetts ($75,000+)
Capped by statute
2 states
Louisiana (2 years max), North Dakota (capped)
Generally enforceable
43 states
Most remaining states — if reasonable in scope, geography, duration
Sources: CA Bus. & Prof. Code § 16600 • MN Stat. § 181.988 • NDCC § 9-08-06 • 15 Okla. Stat. § 219A
State Consumer Data Privacy Law Matrix
14+ states have enacted comprehensive consumer data privacy laws. All 50 states have data breach notification requirements. This matrix covers states with comprehensive statutes only.
| State | Law | Effective Date | Primary Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | CCPA/CPRA | 2020/2023 | Official Source ↗ |
| Virginia | VCDPA | 2023 | Official Source ↗ |
| Colorado | CPA | 2023 | Official Source ↗ |
| Connecticut | CTDPA | 2023 | Official Source ↗ |
| Oregon | OCPA | 2024 | Official Source ↗ |
| New Jersey | NJDPA | 2025 | Official Source ↗ |
| Maryland | MOPA | 2024 | Official Source ↗ |
| Montana | MCPA | 2024 | Official Source ↗ |
| Iowa | ICDPA | 2025 | Official Source ↗ |
| Indiana | ICDPA | 2026 | Official Source ↗ |
| Tennessee | TIPA | 2025 | Official Source ↗ |
| Florida | FDBR | 2024 | Official Source ↗ |
| Texas | TDPSA | 2024 | Official Source ↗ |
| New Hampshire | NHDPA | 2025 | Official Source ↗ |
Frequently Asked Questions
Self-contained answers to the most common small business legal questions. Each answer includes primary source citations.
What does it cost to form an LLC in each US state?
LLC formation filing fees range from $40 (Kentucky) to $500 (Massachusetts) as of April 2026. The national average is approximately $132. Wyoming, Nevada, and Delaware are popular for lower ongoing costs. Twelve states — including Ohio, Mississippi, Missouri, Idaho, and South Carolina — require no annual report, reducing long-term maintenance costs. Sources: official Secretary of State websites for each state.
Which states have banned non-compete agreements?
Four states have effectively banned employment non-compete agreements: California (void under Bus. & Prof. Code § 16600 since 1872), Minnesota (void since July 2023, Minn. Stat. § 181.988), North Dakota (void under NDCC § 9-08-06), and Oklahoma (banned under 15 Okla. Stat. § 219A). Several states impose salary thresholds: Oregon ($113,241+), Illinois ($75,000+), and Massachusetts ($75,000+). Montana uniquely bans arbitrary at-will termination after 6 months — the only US state with just-cause employment protections under the WDEA.
Which states have consumer data privacy laws?
As of April 2026, 14+ states have enacted comprehensive consumer data privacy laws. California's CCPA/CPRA (2020/2023) was the first. Subsequent laws: Virginia VCDPA (2023), Colorado CPA (2023), Connecticut CTDPA (2023), Oregon OCPA (2024), New Jersey NJDPA (2025), Maryland MOPA (2024), Texas TDPSA (2024), Florida FDBR (2024), Montana MCPA (2024), Iowa ICDPA (2025), Indiana ICDPA (2026), Tennessee TIPA (2025), New Hampshire NHDPA (2025). All 50 states have data breach notification requirements.
Which states have no state income tax?
Six states have no general state income tax on wages: Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. New Hampshire taxes interest and dividend income (phased out by 2025). Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax. These states are popular for business formation, though local taxes, payroll taxes, and other business taxes still apply. Delaware has no income tax on LLC income sourced outside the state for non-Delaware-resident members.
How does LegalStack maintain its state legal data?
LegalStack sources all data from government-official primary sources: Secretary of State offices (LLC fees, annual reports), Department of Labor websites (minimum wage), and official state statutes (employment law, privacy law). Each data point carries a confidence score and a source URL. Data is verified quarterly, with high-volatility data reviewed monthly. Data points not re-verified within 90 days are automatically flagged as potentially stale. LegalStack does not fabricate data — if a primary source is unavailable, the data point is removed rather than guessed.
Data Collection Methodology
How LegalStack collects, verifies, and maintains its state legal database.
Primary Source Only
All data sourced exclusively from official .gov websites, state statutes, and Secretary of State offices. No secondary sources used for numerical data.
Confidence Scoring
Each data point is assigned a confidence score (high/medium/low) based on source reliability and how recently it was verified against the primary source.
Quarterly Verification
All data is re-verified against primary sources at least quarterly. High-volatility data (minimum wage, filing fees) reviewed monthly. Data older than 90 days is flagged with a staleness warning.
Auto-Degradation
Data points that cannot be re-verified are automatically downgraded to a lower confidence tier and surfaced with a staleness warning rather than silently displayed as current.
Source URLs Published
Every data point includes a link to its primary source URL so researchers can independently verify LegalStack's data against the original government source.
No Data Fabrication
LegalStack does not estimate or interpolate missing data. If a primary source is unavailable or ambiguous, the data point is omitted rather than guessed or estimated.
Browse State Law Hubs
Full legal compliance guides for 37 states — LLC formation steps, employment law, privacy law requirements, and compliance deadlines.
$200 LLCAlabama$250 LLCAlaska$50 LLCArizona$45 LLCArkansas$70 LLCCalifornia$50 LLCColorado$120 LLCConnecticut$90 LLCDelaware$125 LLCFlorida$100 LLCGeorgia$100 LLCIdaho$150 LLCIllinois$95 LLCIndiana$50 LLCIowa$160 LLCKansas$40 LLCKentucky$100 LLCLouisiana$175 LLCMaine$100 LLCMaryland$500 LLCMassachusetts$50 LLCMichigan$155 LLCMinnesota$50 LLCMississippi$50 LLCMissouri$75 LLCNevada$125 LLCNew Jersey$50 LLCNew Mexico$200 LLCNew York$125 LLCNorth Carolina$99 LLCOhio$100 LLCOregon$125 LLCPennsylvania$110 LLCSouth Carolina$300 LLCTexas$180 LLCWashington$130 LLCWisconsin$100 LLCWyoming
Citing This Resource
When citing LegalStack's legal data, please reference: LegalStack Research Hub, Steeled Inc. Available at: https://www.legalstacktools.com/research. Last updated: April 10, 2026.