One-Time LLC Formation Costs
The operating agreement is required by Mercury and Relay to open a US business account. Skipping it is not an option if you plan to bank in the US.
The EIN is required to open a Mercury or Relay business account and to file Form 5472 annually. No shortcuts here.
Every LLC must have an active registered agent in the formation state at all times. This is a legal requirement — not optional.
Ongoing Annual LLC Costs
Additional Costs for Foreign-Owned LLCs
Non-US residents face two mandatory annual federal compliance obligations that domestic LLC owners do not. These are not optional and failure to comply is expensive:
IRS Form 5472 is due March 31 every year — regardless of whether your LLC had any income. The penalty for missing it is $25,000 minimum. This is the most expensive cost mistake foreign LLC owners make.
Hidden Costs Nobody Talks About
Name reservation fee
Most states allow you to reserve a business name for 60–120 days before filing. Not required if you file immediately, but useful if you need time to prepare other documents.
Expedited processing
Standard processing is 24–72 hours in most states. Same-day or next-business-day processing is available for additional fees. Delaware charges $50–$100 for expedited service.
Registered agent change filing
If you switch registered agent providers, you must file a Statement of Change with the state. This fee is typically $15–$50 depending on the state.
Articles of Organization amendment
Changing your LLC name, registered agent, or management structure after formation requires an Amendment filing. Costs $25–$150 depending on state.
Foreign LLC registration ("foreign qualification")
If your LLC operates physically in a state other than its formation state (employees, office), you must register as a "foreign LLC" in that state. This is separate from the original formation and adds cost.
Annual report late fees
Florida charges a $400 late fee after May 1. Wyoming adds fees for late annual reports. These are 100% avoidable with a compliance tracking system.
5-Year Total LLC Cost by State
The real comparison is not the formation fee — it is the total cost of keeping your LLC alive and compliant over 5 years. These calculations assume: no expedited processing, registered agent service included (Monezzi), Form 5472 filed annually at $250/year, no amendments required:
What Monezzi Charges — Transparent Pricing
Monezzi's LLC formation packages are designed to eliminate surprise fees. Every package includes:
LLC Formation Cost — Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC?
The minimum cost to form an LLC is $50 — the New Mexico state filing fee. In practice, the first-year total for a non-US resident using a complete formation service (state fee + registered agent + operating agreement + EIN) ranges from $200–$600 depending on the state and service. Wyoming typically costs $100–$300 in formation fees depending on service tier. The cheapest sustainable option for a non-resident is New Mexico with Monezzi: $50 state fee, no annual report fee, registered agent and operating agreement included.
What is the cost to register an LLC per year?
The annual cost to maintain an LLC consists of: (1) Annual report fee — $0 (New Mexico), $60 (Wyoming), $138.75 (Florida), $300+ (Delaware); (2) Registered agent renewal — $0 (included in Monezzi) or $29–$129 standalone; (3) Form 5472 filing — $200–$500 for foreign-owned LLCs. For a Wyoming LLC with Monezzi, the total annual cost is approximately $60 (annual report) + Form 5472 filing. For a New Mexico LLC, it is $0 annual report + Form 5472 filing.
What is the cost to form an LLC in Wyoming?
Wyoming LLC formation cost: $100 state filing fee (Articles of Organization). First-year total with Monezzi (state fee + registered agent + operating agreement + EIN): see Monezzi pricing page. Annual ongoing cost: $60 Wyoming annual report fee. Wyoming has no state income tax and member names are not listed in public records. Over 5 years, Wyoming costs roughly $400–$500 in state fees alone, making it one of the most cost-effective premium states for non-US residents.
Is there a free way to form an LLC?
No — the state filing fee is mandatory and is paid directly to the state. The minimum fee is $50 (New Mexico). You can reduce formation costs by filing the Articles of Organization yourself through the state's website and handling the operating agreement and EIN application directly. However, for non-US residents, the IRS Form SS-4 for EIN requires specific procedures that benefit from professional handling. Monezzi's formation packages are designed to make the total process affordable while eliminating the risk of errors that create expensive problems later.
What is the cheapest state to form an LLC?
New Mexico is the cheapest state to form and maintain an LLC: $50 one-time formation fee and $0/year (no annual report ever). Over 5 years, the only state fees are $50 total. Wyoming is the second cheapest at $100 formation + $60/year = $400 over 5 years. Delaware at $90 formation + $300/year = $1,590 over 5 years is the most expensive of the popular states for a small operational LLC.
Does forming an LLC have tax costs?
State formation itself is not a tax — it is a filing fee. However, LLCs have annual tax compliance obligations for foreign owners: (1) IRS Form 5472 with pro forma Form 1120 must be filed by March 31 every year — the penalty for missing this is $25,000 minimum; (2) State franchise tax or annual report fee must be paid to maintain good standing (varies by state, from $0 in New Mexico to $800+ in California). There is no federal income tax on the LLC itself for disregarded entities — income passes through to the owner's personal return.
What is the total cost of an LLC formation service?
LLC formation services range from "budget" ($49–$99 for just the state filing) to "complete" services that include registered agent, operating agreement, and EIN. Budget services are deceptive — they typically add separate charges for the registered agent annually and do not include the operating agreement, meaning the real cost is significantly higher. Monezzi's pricing covers the full formation including all required components, allowing you to know the complete cost upfront. See the Monezzi pricing page for current rates.
The real cost to form and maintain an LLC for a non-US resident includes: state filing fee ($50–$125 for practical states), registered agent ($0 with Monezzi), operating agreement ($0 with Monezzi), EIN ($0 with Monezzi), annual report ($0–$300/year depending on state), and Form 5472 annual compliance ($200–$500/year). The cheapest 5-year total is New Mexico (~$1,300 total, mostly Form 5472 filing). The most popular balance of cost and quality is Wyoming (~$1,650 total).
Monezzi's formation packages include registered agent, operating agreement, and EIN with no hidden annual add-ons. View complete pricing → or start your LLC today →