Free tool

What Does a U.S. LLC Really Cost?

Formation fee, annual state cost, registered agent, and EIN — by state.

See your state's fees up front — then what it actually takes to start and run a U.S. LLC from outside the U.S.

State of formation

Do you need someone in the state to receive official mail?

Wyoming government fee

State filing fee: $100.00Annual state cost: $60.00 / yrEIN (IRS): FreeState income tax: None

Wyoming adds ~2.4% if you pay the state online by card.

State income tax follows where you actually operate — your nexus, meaning an office, staff, or property in a state. Running everything from abroad with no U.S. presence, there's usually no state that can tax your income. A state with no income tax and no minimum — like Wyoming — leaves nothing to file or owe beyond the small annual report. An income-tax state means a state return even when your bill is $0, and a few (California) charge a yearly minimum just for being registered. If you do have a U.S. office, staff, or inventory, you may owe tax in that state — that's separate.

Report an issue

Do it yourself

Year one$225.00

Each year after$185.00

Registered agent$125.00

EIN (IRS)Free

Mizu — all-in

$499.00

$399 / year (optional compliance)

Includes LLC, EIN, U.S. bank, Stripe, registered agent, dashboard & support — not just the state filing.

The government filing fee is the cheap part. As a non-U.S. founder, here's what actually takes work — and what Mizu handles for you.

You can't fly to the U.S.

On your ownWork out which states allow fully remote filing, and line up a registered agent yourself.

With Mizu100% online — you never need to visit the U.S.

English & U.S. law

On your ownRead the English forms and each state's rules yourself.

With MizuFull Chinese support; we lay out every step — no need to learn U.S. law.

An EIN with no SSN

On your ownFax the IRS yourself and wait weeks.

With MizuWe get your EIN (rush option available) — no SSN needed.

U.S. bank account + Stripe

On your ownTry bank after bank, clear KYC, risk getting rejected.

With MizuU.S. business bank and Stripe, set up together.

Year-2 compliance & filings

On your ownTrack each state's annual report and your Form 5472 deadline yourself.

With MizuOptional $399/year — we watch every deadline and file for you.

How soon you can start

On your ownWeeks to months — one mistake and you start over.

With MizuUp and running in days.

One flat $499 covers all of it — remote, in Chinese, no SSN required, with your EIN, U.S. bank, and Stripe. Year-2 compliance is an optional $399/year.

Incorporate for $499

Estimate only, based on state fees reviewed 2026-06-25. Fees and tax thresholds change — confirm with the state and IRS before filing.

What a U.S. LLC actually costs

The real cost of a U.S. LLC is the state filing fee up front, plus a recurring annual cost (an annual report, franchise tax, or minimum tax depending on the state). An EIN is free from the IRS, and most non-residents also pay a registered agent (~$125/year). Cheap states like New Mexico have no annual report; others like California ($800/year) and Delaware ($300/year) cost more to keep alive.

U.S. LLC cost FAQ

On fees alone, New Mexico (~$50, no annual report) and Ohio ($99, no annual report) are among the cheapest. But the best state also depends on privacy, banking, and where you actually do business.

Yes. The IRS issues EINs at no cost. You never need to pay a fee for the EIN itself, though a service may charge to obtain it for you.

Yes — every U.S. LLC must have a registered agent in its state. Non-residents typically pay a service, usually around $100–$300 per year.

State fees only get you a bare LLC. The $499 also includes your EIN, a U.S. bank account, Stripe setup, a registered agent, and a dashboard with support — the full stack to actually operate.

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Non-U.S. founder setup planner

See your next step from forming an LLC to banking and Stripe.