How much does a US LLC cost in 2026: the real all-in price

"$50 to form an LLC." That is the figure everyone repeats, and it is accurate: it is exactly what New Mexico charges to register a company. Except an LLC does not run on those $50 alone. It needs a registered agent, an address, a tax ID, a bank account, and IRS filings every year. Here is the 2026 price of each line, then the total, so you can compare honestly.

State fees, line by line

Each state sets its own formation and annual fees. For a non resident, three states account for almost every formation.

So far, a New Mexico LLC costs $50 once, a Wyoming LLC $100 then $60 a year, a Delaware LLC $110 then $300 a year. These are the only amounts that go to the state. Everything else is a service.

The registered agent: $50 to $300 a year

Every state requires a registered agent, a person or firm located in the state, in charge of receiving official mail and legal notices. A non resident cannot be their own agent. US providers charge between $50 and $300 a year depending on the state and service level. It is the first recurring cost that comparisons forget.

The business address: $15 to $50 a month

The registered agent does not provide a business address. You need a separate US address for the bank, Stripe, the platforms and the IRS, with mail reception and scanning. Expect $15 to $50 a month with a specialized provider, so $180 to $600 a year.

The EIN: free at the IRS, paid in practice

The IRS does not charge for the EIN, the company's tax identification number. But without a US Social Security number the online application is impossible: you go through Form SS-4 by fax or mail, wait several weeks, and face a real risk of rejection over one badly filled field. Providers charge $50 to $300 for this. At LLC Place it is included.

The operating agreement and the bank account

The operating agreement, the company's internal contract, is requested by every bank when opening the account. A template bought online costs $50 to $200, drafting by a lawyer far more. The bank account itself is free at Mercury or Relay, but the application for a non resident is where most attempts fail when the file is poorly prepared.

IRS filings: the cost nobody advertises

An LLC owned by a non resident files Form 5472 with a cover Form 1120 every year, before April 15. Missing it costs a $25,000 penalty. A US accountant charges $300 to $800 a year for this. It is the hidden cost that turns a "$50 LLC" into a structure costing several hundred dollars a year.

The à la carte total

Assembling the providers yourself, a Wyoming LLC therefore costs between $730 and $2,300 the first year, then between $590 and $1,760 a year, with five different vendors and as many renewals to watch.

The price with LLC Place

The Basic plan is €389 for the first year, plus only the state fee billed at cost, €50 in New Mexico or €100 in Wyoming. It includes the filing of the articles, the registered agent, the US business address, the EIN without a Social Security number, the operating agreement in English and French, help opening the bank account with a physical card. Renewal is €379 a year. The annual IRS filings, Forms 5472 and 1120, can be added with the state report for €398 a year, and are included in the Pro and Founder plans.

The Pro plan, at €699, adds IRS Forms 5472 and 1120, automatic compliance reminders, one cross-border tax consultation a year and priority support. The Founder plan, at €1,428, adds a dedicated US tax expert, automated monthly bookkeeping and an annual tax review. In all three cases everything is provided by LLC Place and tracked from a single dashboard, with a reminder before each deadline. No forgotten renewal, no penalty.

What costs nothing

An LLC owned by a non resident, with no office or employee in the United States, generally pays no federal income tax on its profits. There is no minimum capital, no US sales tax on services sold outside the United States, no travel to plan. The cost of an LLC is its running cost, and it is known in advance.