- Filing fee
- $520
- Annual Report
- $520
- First-year gov. cost
- $520
- Publication
- Not required
The steps, in order
Pick a name Massachusetts will accept
Name must contain limited liability company, limited company, or standard abbreviations. Restricted words require state clearance.
Search existing Massachusetts business names before you commit. Massachusetts naming rules in detail.
Appoint a registered agent
Known locally as a Resident Agent. Must have a physical street address in Massachusetts (no PO boxes).
File the Certificate of Organization
Submit it to the Secretary of the Commonwealth, Corporations Division through the official filing portal and pay $520. Base fee is $500 for mail or in-person. Online and fax filings carry an inescapable automatic $20 expedite fee, bringing the total to $520.
Processing: online Expedited included; by mail Standard paper processing times vary. Expedite: Electronic/fax filings automatically incur the $20 expedite fee to prioritize processing..
Write an operating agreement
Not filed.
Get an EIN from the IRS
An Employer Identification Number is free from IRS.gov. You'll need it for a business bank account and, if you hire, for payroll.
Stay in good standing
File the Annual Report ($520), due On or before the anniversary date of the original formation.. Not specified Massachusetts report deadlines.
Every Massachusetts LLC fee
| Filing | State fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Organization | $520 | Base fee is $500 for mail or in-person. Online and fax filings carry an inescapable automatic $20 expedite fee, bringing the total to $520. |
| Annual Report | $520 | annual, On or before the anniversary date of the original formation. |
| Name reservation (optional) | $30 | 60 days |
| Change of registered agent | $25 | $25 by paper or fax, but $0 (free) if filed electronically. |
| Amendment | $100 | |
| Certificate of good standing | $15 | |
| Foreign Registration | $500 | For LLCs formed in another state |
| Certificate of Cancellation | $100 | |
| DBA / assumed name | $25 to $65 | county (city/town level) |
How Massachusetts compares nationally
- Massachusetts's filing fee of $520 is the highest of 51 jurisdictions (median $104).
- Massachusetts's first-year government cost of $520 is the 3rd highest of 51 jurisdictions (median $125).
- Massachusetts's yearly cost after that of $520 is the 2nd highest of 51 jurisdictions (median $45).
See every state side by side in our LLC cost by state table.
File it yourself or use a service?
Filing directly with the Secretary of the Commonwealth, Corporations Division costs $520 and nothing else, but you'll need a registered agent with a Massachusetts street address, and that address goes on the public record. A formation service files for you and acts as your agent. Here's what that adds over three years, before Massachusetts's own fees:
| Route | Year one with Massachusetts fee | 3-year service fees |
|---|---|---|
| File yourself, be your own agent | $520 | $0 |
| Northwest | $559 | $289 |
| Bizee Basic | $520 | $298 |
Bizee vs Northwest, compared · All LLC services ranked
State taxes to plan for
Standard pass-through LLCs face no entity-level tax. If taxed as a corporation, minimum corporate excise tax is $456. Profits pass through to personal income tax.
What's different about Massachusetts
- Uses the term Certificate of Organization instead of Articles, and Resident Agent instead of Registered Agent.
- Automatic $20 electronic surcharge is relentlessly applied to both formation and annual reporting, punishing digital efficiency.
More Massachusetts LLC guides
Massachusetts LLC questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Massachusetts?
The Secretary of the Commonwealth, Corporations Division charges $520 to file the Certificate of Organization. Counting mandatory first-year items, expect about $520 in government fees ($500 to $520 for the first year.).
How long does it take to form an LLC in Massachusetts?
Online: Expedited included. By mail: Standard paper processing times vary. Expedited: Electronic/fax filings automatically incur the $20 expedite fee to prioritize processing..
Does a Massachusetts LLC have to file an annual report?
Yes. Massachusetts requires the Annual Report, which costs $520, filed annual. Due: On or before the anniversary date of the original formation.. Not specified
Can I be my own registered agent in Massachusetts?
Usually, if you meet the requirements. Known locally as a Resident Agent. Must have a physical street address in Massachusetts (no PO boxes). Your agent's address becomes public record.
Does Massachusetts require publishing a notice for a new LLC?
No. Massachusetts has no newspaper publication requirement for LLCs, based on our latest check.
Is an operating agreement required in Massachusetts?
Not filed.
What taxes does a Massachusetts LLC pay to the state?
Standard pass-through LLCs face no entity-level tax. If taxed as a corporation, minimum corporate excise tax is $456. Profits pass through to personal income tax.
Sources and verification
Last checked against official state sources on . States change fees with little notice, so confirm on the filing portal before you pay. How we verify.
Still being confirmed with the state: ra.self allowed, report.late penalty.