The Real Cost of Starting a Business in the USA

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One of the most common questions from entrepreneurs looking to start a U.S. LLC is: "How much does it actually cost?" The answer depends on which state you choose, which services you use, and the nature of your business. But we can give you a complete, transparent breakdown of every cost involved.

One-Time Formation Costs

State Filing Fee (Articles of Organization)

This is the fee you pay the state to legally create your LLC. It's a one-time cost at formation:

State	Filing Fee	Processing Time
Wyoming	$100	1-2 business days
Delaware	$90	7-10 business days (same-day $50 extra)
Florida	$100 + $25 RA designation	3-5 business days
New Mexico	$50	1-3 weeks
Nevada	$425 (includes initial list)	3-5 business days

Registered Agent Service

Every LLC needs a registered agent. Professional services cost:

Budget options: $50-$70/year (adequate for most)
Mid-range: $100-$150/year (good service + compliance tools)
Premium: $200-$300+/year (multi-state, enhanced features)

Many formation services include the first year of registered agent service in their package.

EIN Application

Free directly from the IRS. Online for U.S. residents, by fax/mail for non-residents. Third-party EIN services charge $50-$100 but are unnecessary if you're comfortable doing it yourself.

Operating Agreement

DIY template (free from many sources online)
Attorney-drafted: $300-$1,500 depending on complexity

Formation Service (Optional)

Instead of doing everything yourself, you can use a formation service that handles the state filing, provides a template operating agreement, and often includes registered agent service:

Budget formation packages: $0-$99 + state fees
Mid-range: $149-$299 + state fees
Premium with attorney review: $500+

One-Time Formation Cost Summary (Wyoming Example)

Item	DIY Cost	Service-Assisted
State filing fee	$100	$100
Registered agent (year 1)	$50-$150	Often included
EIN application	$0	$0-$100
Operating agreement	$0 (template)	Included
Formation service fee	$0	$50-$299
Total (Year 1)	$150-$250	$200-$500

Annual Ongoing Costs

Annual Report Filing Fee

Wyoming: ~$60/year
Delaware: $300/year franchise tax
Florida: $138/year

Registered Agent Service (Annual Renewal)

$50-$150/year (ongoing)

Business Banking

Mercury, Relay, Bluevine: $0/month (no monthly fees)
Traditional banks: $12-$35/month

Accounting Software

Wave: Free (for simple businesses)
QuickBooks Simple Start: ~$30/month
FreshBooks: ~$17-$55/month

Annual Tax Preparation

Single-member LLC with pass-through income: $200-$500 with a CPA
Complex LLC with multiple members or transactions: $500-$2,000+

Typical Annual Ongoing Cost Summary (Wyoming LLC)

Item	Annual Cost
Annual report filing	~$60
Registered agent	$50-$150
Business banking	$0 (Mercury/Relay)
Accounting software	$0-$360
Tax preparation (CPA)	$300-$1,000
Total Annual Minimum	$410-$570

Additional Costs Depending on Your Business

Business licenses: Varies by industry and state ($0-$500+/year)
Domain and website: $15/year (domain) + $0-$300+/year (hosting)
Business insurance: $500-$5,000+/year depending on industry and coverage
Employer costs: If you hire employees, add payroll taxes, workers' comp, etc.
Professional services: Attorney consultations, contractor services

Bottom Line: Is Starting a U.S. LLC Affordable?

Yes — and surprisingly so. For most non-resident entrepreneurs running an online business, the first-year all-in cost of forming and operating a Wyoming LLC is $300-$600. Annual ongoing costs are typically $400-$700/year (not counting your own professional services).

Compare that to the benefits: legal liability protection, access to U.S. business banking, the ability to build business credit, and the credibility of operating as a legitimate U.S. entity — the return on investment is substantial.