Washington LLC cost
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A Washington LLC costs $180 to form by mail or $200 online, and $70 a year after that for the Annual Report. If your business grosses $12,000 or more a year, add the $50 Department of Revenue business license application when you start. That makes a realistic do-it-yourself first year $230 to $250, and every year after $70. The cost Washington founders underestimate is B&O tax: it's charged on gross receipts, not profit, at 1.5% for most service businesses.
- To form
- $180
- Cheapest way to file
- Year one total
- $250
- $200 online filing + $50 business license; $230 by mail
- Every year after
- $70/yr
- Annual Report, plus B&O tax on gross receipts
Our recommendation
Budget $250 for year one and $70 for year two
File online for $200 and include the free Initial Report in the same filing, so you don't pay $10 for it later. Apply for the $50 business license when you start billing, not before. Skip the $100 expedite unless you have a deadline; standard online filings typically clear in about five business days. Pay for a registered agent only if you don't want your home address on the public record.
Every Washington 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 Formation (mail) | $180 | Yes (one filing path) | Base public organic record fee |
| Certificate of Formation (online) | $200 | Yes (one filing path) | Includes online processing fee |
| Initial Report | $0 with formation / $10 later | Yes | Due within 120 days |
| Name reservation | $30 | Optional | Useful only if not ready to form |
| Registered agent service | $50-$200/yr | Optional | Self-file for $0 if eligible |
| Expedited filing | +$100 | Optional | Generally processed within three business days |
| Same-day front-counter service | +$100 today ($150 listed) | Optional | Front-counter filings before 3:30 PM; SOS will give 30 days' notice before charging $150 |
| EIN | Free | Recommended | IRS direct |
| Operating agreement | Free if you draft it yourself | Recommended | Internal document; not filed |
| WA Business License Application processing fee | $50 to open/reopen a business | Conditional | Endorsements and trade names can add fees |
| Annual Report | $70/yr | Yes (recurring) | Due anniversary month |
| Delinquent annual report fee | +$25 | Only if late | $95 total if delinquent |
| Reinstatement after administrative dissolution | $140 + missed annual report fees | Only if dissolved | Available for 5 years after dissolution |
| Certificate of Existence / Good Standing | $20 | Optional | Sometimes requested |
| B&O tax | Varies | Conditional | Gross receipts tax by business classification |
| Total (bare minimum DIY) | $200 formation only / about $250 with DOR license processing | — | Uses online filing and current $50 open/reopen business license processing fee |
| Total (typical first year with commercial agent) | $300-$450+ | — | Online filing + typical registered agent + license processing when required |
What you pay Washington, and when
The recurring dates are the ones people miss. Put each one on your calendar the day the LLC is approved.
- Certificate of Formation
- $180 / $200
- When you form. $180 by mail, $200 online with the processing fee.
- Initial Report
- $0
- File it with the Certificate of Formation. Filed separately within 120 days, it costs $10.
- Business License Application
- $50+
- When you start doing business, if you gross $12,000 or more a year, collect sales tax, hire, or use a trade name. Endorsements add fees.
- Annual Report
- $70
- By the last day of your anniversary month, every year. Late adds $25.
- B&O tax
- 1.5%
- Of gross receipts for most service businesses under $1 million, filed with your DOR tax returns.
Washington registered agent cost
Washington puts your registered agent and principal office addresses on the public record, and a noncommercial agent needs a real Washington street address. If you have one and you're there during business hours, you can be your own agent for free. A professional registered agent, usually $50 to $200 a year, makes sense if you work from home and don't want that address public, travel often, or live outside Washington. It doesn't add legal protection. It keeps your address private and makes sure legal notices reach you.
Washington LLC cost vs nearby states
Cheaper elsewhere doesn't mean cheaper for you. If you live and work in Washington, an out-of-state LLC still has to register here and pay Washington's fees too.
FAQ
How much does an LLC cost in Washington?
$180 to file the Certificate of Formation by mail, or $200 online. Most operating businesses also pay the $50 business license application fee to the Department of Revenue, so a realistic first year is $230 to $250 if you serve as your own registered agent. After that, the Annual Report is $70 a year.
What is the Washington LLC annual fee?
The Annual Report costs $70 and is due by the last day of your formation anniversary month every year. You can file it up to 180 days early. A late report adds a $25 delinquency fee, and if you never file, the state can administratively dissolve the LLC. Reinstatement costs $140 plus the missed annual report fees.
Do I need a Washington business license for my LLC?
Most operating LLCs do. You need the Business License Application if you gross $12,000 or more a year, collect sales tax, hire employees, use a trade name, need endorsements, or owe DOR taxes or fees. The processing fee is $50 to open a business, and city or state endorsements add their own fees. DOR says online applications take about 10 business days.
Does Washington have a franchise tax or income tax for LLCs?
No franchise tax, and no individual income tax until a 9.9% tax on income over $1 million starts January 1, 2028. What Washington does charge is B&O tax on gross receipts: 1.5% for most service businesses under $1 million, 0.471% for retailing, and 0.484% for wholesaling and manufacturing (both 0.5% from January 1, 2027).
How much is a registered agent in Washington?
Free if you serve yourself: you need a Washington street address where you're available during business hours, and that address goes on the public record. A commercial registered agent usually costs $50 to $200 a year.