The state filing fee to form an LLC in Texas is $300. Annual maintenance costs include no annual report ($0) plus a registered agent. Calculate your total first-year and ongoing costs below.
Texas charges a $300 initial filing fee. Texas has no annual report for LLCs. However, Texas has a state franchise tax (0.375% of revenue for most LLCs — a lower 'EZ rate'). LLCs with total revenue under $2.47M are exempt from the franchise tax. No state income tax. Texas is popular for business formation despite the higher filing fee.
| Cost Item | Amount | When Due |
|---|---|---|
| State Filing Fee | $300 | One-time at formation |
| No annual report | $None | Not required |
| State franchise tax (0.375% for most) | $300 | Annually |
| Registered Agent Service | $49–$300/year | Annually (at renewal) |
| Operating Agreement | $0–$1,500 | One-time (recommended) |
| EIN (Federal Tax ID) | Free | One-time (IRS.gov) |
| Business Bank Account | $0–$50/month | Monthly or free |
| Period | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| First Year (state fees + $49 RA) | $649 |
| Ongoing Annual (state fees + $49 RA) | $349/year |
| 5-Year Total Cost (+ RA) | $2,045 |
Northwest Registered Agent provides registered agent service in Texas for $49/year — the lowest price in the industry. They also include a free year of registered agent service when you use them to form your LLC. Vanderflip Financial's preferred partner for LLC formation.
Form Your LLC with Northwest →FTC Disclosure: Vanderflip Financial may earn a commission if you use this link. We only recommend services we've evaluated.
The Texas state filing fee is $300. In the first year, total costs including a registered agent (~$49) and annual state fees ($0) amount to approximately $649. Ongoing annual costs are approximately $349/year.
Yes — Texas requires all LLCs to maintain a registered agent with a physical Texas address. You can serve as your own registered agent if you have a Texas address, or hire a professional service. Professional services (~$49-$300/year) keep your personal address off public records and ensure you receive legal documents even when you're unavailable.
No annual report: $None required Franchise/privilege tax: State franchise tax (0.375% for most) $300. Plus registered agent service (~$49/year). Total ongoing: approximately $349/year.
For most small businesses that operate in Texas, forming in Texas is the right choice. If you form in Delaware or Wyoming and do business in Texas, you'll likely need to register as a foreign LLC in Texas — paying fees in both states. Delaware and Wyoming make sense for businesses seeking venture capital, planning complex ownership structures, or operating entirely online without a home state nexus.
Standard LLC formation in Texas typically takes 5–15 business days. Expedited processing is available for an additional fee and can reduce processing to 1–3 business days in most states. Online filing through the Secretary of State's website is the fastest option. Using a registered agent service like Northwest can also expedite the process.