Pennsylvania LLC cost
Last verified
A Pennsylvania LLC costs $125 to file, online or by mail, and the required Docketing Statement is free. After that, the annual report is $7 a year, due every September 30, starting the year after you form. That makes Pennsylvania one of the cheapest states to keep an LLC active. The cost that changes your total is the registered office: list your own Pennsylvania street address for free, or pay a Commercial Registered Office Provider (CROP) $49 to $300 a year. The other cost people miss is local tax, especially in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
- To form
- $125
- Cheapest way to file
- Year one total
- $125
- Certificate of Organization, using your own registered office
- Every year after
- $7/yr
- Annual report; add $49-$300 if you use a CROP
Our recommendation
Budget $125 for year one and $7 for year two
File online for $125 and skip the expedite. Typical processing is 3-5 business days, and recent averages have been closer to one. If you have a Pennsylvania business address you're comfortable publishing, list it as your registered office and your state cost is $125, then $7 a year. If you work from home or live outside Pennsylvania, a CROP at $49 to $300 a year is the one add-on worth paying for. Put September 30 on your calendar every year.
Every Pennsylvania LLC fee, line by line
What's required, what's optional, and where the total climbs past the filing fee.
| Item | Cost | Required? | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Organization (DSCB:15-8821) | $125 | Yes | One-time state filing fee |
| New Entity Docketing Statement (DSCB:15-134A) | $0 | Yes | Required with the Certificate |
| Name reservation | $70 | Optional | Holds name for 120 days |
| Commercial Registered Office Provider | $49-$300/yr | Optional | Use for privacy or if you lack a PA address; verify provider pricing before purchase |
| Fictitious name / DBA | $70 | Optional | Publication only when an individual is named as a party |
| DBA publication, when applicable | ~$50-$300 | Conditional | Applies to fictitious-name registration when an individual is a party |
| Expedited same-day | +$100 | Optional | Online or in person, received before 10 a.m. |
| Expedited 3-hour | +$300 | Optional | Online or in person, received before 2 p.m. |
| Expedited 1-hour | +$1,000 | Optional | Online or in person, received before 4 p.m. |
| EIN | Free | Recommended | Get it directly from the IRS |
| Operating agreement | Free if DIY | Recommended | Internal document, not filed with PA |
| Sales/use tax license | $0 | Conditional | Register through myPATH if you sell taxable goods or services |
| Philadelphia Commercial Activity License | $0 | Conditional | Required if doing business in Philadelphia |
| Annual report | $7/yr | Yes (recurring) | Due September 30 for for-profit LLCs |
| Change of registered office | $5 | Only when changing | Filed with the Department of State |
| Certified copies | $55 + $3/page | Optional | Plain copies are $15 + $3/page |
| Total (bare-minimum DIY, year 1) | $125 | — | State filing only; first annual report due the next year |
| Total (with CROP, year 1) | $174-$425 | — | Filing fee plus typical registered-office provider pricing |
| Total (recurring, year 2+) | $7-$307/yr | — | Annual report plus optional CROP renewal |
What you pay Pennsylvania, and when
The recurring dates are the ones people miss. Put each one on your calendar the day the LLC is approved.
- Certificate of Organization
- $125
- When you form. Same fee online or by mail; the Docketing Statement is free.
- Annual report
- $7
- By September 30 every year, starting the year after you form.
- Missed annual report
- Dissolution
- Beginning with 2027 reports, an LLC more than six months late can be administratively dissolved.
- Reinstatement
- $35 + $15
- Only if dissolved. $35 online plus $15 for each missed annual report.
- Local taxes
- Varies
- Local Earned Income Tax in many municipalities. Philadelphia adds BIRT and Net Profits Tax, plus a free Commercial Activity License.
Pennsylvania registered office or CROP cost
Pennsylvania doesn't use the usual registered agent model. You list a registered office address, and it goes on the public record. If you work from home, live outside Pennsylvania, or don't want your street address public, use a Commercial Registered Office Provider instead. They usually cost $49 to $300 a year, so compare price, privacy policy, and renewal terms before you buy. If you have a Pennsylvania business address you're comfortable publishing, you don't need one.
Pennsylvania LLC cost vs nearby states
Cheaper elsewhere doesn't mean cheaper for you. If you live and work in Pennsylvania, an out-of-state LLC still has to register here and pay Pennsylvania's fees too.
| State | Upfront cost | Ongoing state cost |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $125 | $7/yr |
| Ohio | $99 | $0 annual report fee |
| North Carolina | $125 | $200/yr |
| Wyoming | ~$100 | $60+/yr |
| Delaware | $110 | $400/yr |
FAQ
How much does an LLC cost in Pennsylvania?
$125 to file the Certificate of Organization, and the required New Entity Docketing Statement has no separate fee. If you list your own Pennsylvania address as the registered office, that is the whole first-year state cost. Starting the next year, the annual report is $7. A CROP adds about $49 to $300 a year if you use one.
What is the Pennsylvania LLC annual fee?
$7 a year for a for-profit LLC, paid with the annual report due September 30. An LLC formed in 2026 files its first report by September 30, 2027. Pennsylvania replaced the old decennial report with this annual report beginning in 2025, so older guides may not mention it.
What happens if I miss the Pennsylvania annual report?
Beginning with 2027 reports, an LLC that files more than six months after the September 30 deadline can be administratively dissolved and can lose protection of its name. Reinstatement costs $35 online plus $15 for each missed report. If another business takes your name in the meantime, you have to pick a new one.
Do Pennsylvania LLCs pay local taxes?
Often, yes. Many municipalities and school districts impose a local Earned Income Tax. In Philadelphia, plan for BIRT and the Net Profits Tax, and get the free Commercial Activity License before you do business there. Pittsburgh and other municipalities have their own business taxes, so check local registration before you invoice customers.
How much is a Commercial Registered Office Provider in Pennsylvania?
Usually $49 to $300 a year. Pennsylvania doesn't use a registered agent. You list a registered office, which can be your own Pennsylvania street address for free. It goes on the public record. A CROP lets you list the provider instead, which matters if you work from home or live outside Pennsylvania.