Home › States › Pennsylvania LLC Cost
How Much Does an LLC Cost in Pennsylvania?
An LLC in Pennsylvania costs $132 in Year 1: a $125 state filing fee plus $7 in recurring state fees ($70 every 10 years) for the first year. After that it costs $7 per year, for a 5-year state total of $160. That makes Pennsylvania the 14th cheapest state to form an LLC — the national average Year 1 cost is $220 and the median is $160.
Pennsylvania LLC Fee Breakdown
| Fee | Cost |
| State filing fee (one-time) | $125 |
| Recurring state fees — $70 every 10 years | $7 / yr |
| Year 1 total (filing fee + first year) | $132 |
| 5-year total (filing fee + 5 × annual) | $160 |
How Pennsylvania Compares to Other States
- Rank: Pennsylvania is the 14th cheapest state to form an LLC — #14 of 51 jurisdictions by 5-year state cost ($160).
- Year 1 vs the nation: $132 in Year 1 — $88 less than the national average of $220 (median $160).
- 5-year vs the nation: $160 over five years, against a national average of $586 and a median of $350.
- Recurring fee: $70 every 10 years ($7/yr) — no separate franchise tax on top.
- Cheapest in the US: Arizona at $50 over 5 years. Most expensive: California at $4,120.
Pennsylvania LLC Annual Fees & Franchise Tax
Pennsylvania charges $7 per year in recurring state fees ($70 every 10 years). Over five years that is $35 in recurring fees alone — $160 including the one-time filing fee.
No. Pennsylvania does not charge LLCs a separate franchise tax. The recurring state cost is an annual filing or report fee of $7 per year ($70 every 10 years), which is what the Year 1 and 5-year totals on this page are built from.
How to Form an LLC in Pennsylvania (Step by Step)
- Choose a name. Pick a distinguishable name that includes "LLC" and check it is available on the Pennsylvania Secretary of State website before you file.
- Appoint a registered agent. Name a person or service with a physical street address in Pennsylvania who can receive legal mail during business hours — be your own for free, or hire one (see our registered agent guide).
- File your formation document. File the Articles of Organization (called a Certificate of Formation in some states) with the Pennsylvania Secretary of State and pay the $125 filing fee.
- Create an operating agreement. Not filed with the state, but it records who owns what and how the LLC is run — banks and partners will ask for it.
- Get an EIN. Apply free on the IRS website in about 10 minutes — see our EIN guide. You need it to hire, pay taxes, and open a business account.
- Open a business bank account and stay compliant. Keep business money separate (see our business bank account guide), then keep up with Pennsylvania's recurring fees — $70 every 10 years — so the LLC stays in good standing (see our annual reports guide).
Good to Know About Pennsylvania LLC Costs
Pennsylvania's decennial report is $70 once a decade — just $7/yr annualized, the lowest recurring burden in America. (PA has moved toward annual filings in recent legislation; confirm the current cadence before filing.)
File on the official Pennsylvania Secretary of State site →
Fees verified against official state sources — last checked October 26, 2026.
Pennsylvania LLC Cost FAQs
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Pennsylvania?
The state filing fee in Pennsylvania is $125. Adding the first year of recurring state fees ($70 every 10 years) brings the Year 1 state cost to $132. Optional extras — a registered agent service, an operating agreement template, or a formation service — cost extra, but the state itself charges $132 in Year 1.
How much does an LLC in Pennsylvania cost every year?
Pennsylvania charges $7 per year in recurring state fees ($70 every 10 years). Over five years that is $35 in recurring fees alone — $160 including the one-time filing fee.
Does Pennsylvania charge LLCs a franchise tax?
No. Pennsylvania does not charge LLCs a separate franchise tax. The recurring state cost is an annual filing or report fee of $7 per year ($70 every 10 years), which is what the Year 1 and 5-year totals on this page are built from.
Do I need a registered agent for an LLC in Pennsylvania?
Yes. Every LLC in Pennsylvania must name a registered agent with a physical street address in the state who can receive legal and official mail during business hours. You can be your own agent if you live in Pennsylvania and are reliably available, or hire a service — typically around $125 per year — to keep your own address off the public record.
What is the cheapest way to form an LLC in Pennsylvania?
File it yourself on the official Pennsylvania Secretary of State website, linked on this page. Filing direct costs just the $125 state filing fee (plus the $70 every 10 years recurring fee) and skips formation-service markups. Use the free LLC cost calculator on this site first so you know your exact Year 1 and 5-year totals before you file.