Forming a limited liability company (LLC) in Connecticut costs $120 to file the Certificate of Organization. Maintaining it costs $80 per year for the annual report. These fees are current for 2026 per the Connecticut Secretary of the State fee schedule.
Everything else is optional or conditional. This guide breaks down every cost, separates one-time from recurring fees, and names the source for each figure.
How Much Does It Cost to Start an LLC in Connecticut? (2026 Breakdown)
The minimum cost to start an LLC in Connecticut is $120 if you file yourself and act as your own registered agent. A realistic first year with a commercial registered agent runs about $220 to $420. The $120 Certificate of Organization is the only mandatory formation fee, and the Connecticut Secretary of the State charges it whether you file online or by mail.
| Item | Cost | Required or optional | One-time or recurring | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Organization | $120 | Required | One-time | CT Secretary of the State |
| Annual report | $80/year | Required | Recurring | CT Secretary of the State |
| Registered agent | $0 DIY or ~$100–$300/year | Required (service optional) | Recurring | Bizee Connecticut registered agent page |
| Name reservation | $60 | Optional | One-time | CT Secretary of the State |
| EIN | Free | Required for most LLCs | One-time | IRS |
| Operating agreement | $0 with a template | Optional | One-time | CT Uniform LLC Act |
| DBA / trade name | Town-set fee | Optional | One-time | CT Gen Stat § 7-34a |
| Sales & Use Tax Permit | $100 | Only if selling taxable goods or services | One-time (renews every 2 years) | CT DRS |
| Expedited service | $50 per transaction | Optional | One-time | CT Secretary of the State |
| Certified copies | $55 per document | Optional | One-time | CT Secretary of the State |
What Is the Connecticut LLC Filing Fee for the Certificate of Organization?
The Connecticut LLC filing fee is $120 to file the Certificate of Organization with the Connecticut Secretary of the State, and the fee is the same online or by mail. The state does not refund the fee if it rejects your filing for errors. Optional expedited processing costs $50 per transaction on top of the base fee.
Connecticut forms an LLC with a Certificate of Organization, not a Certificate of Formation, which is the term Delaware uses. Online filings process fastest through the business.ct.gov portal, per the Connecticut Secretary of the State. The $50 expedited option is available for filers who need a faster turnaround, per the Connecticut Secretary of the State expedited services schedule.
How Much Does a Registered Agent Cost in Connecticut?
A registered agent costs $0 if you serve as your own agent. Connecticut requires every LLC to name and maintain a registered agent with a physical Connecticut street address available during business hours, per Conn. Gen. Stat. § 34-243n. A Connecticut resident age 18 or older can serve at no cost, so hiring a service is optional.
Commercial registered agent services in Connecticut generally range from about $100 to $300 per year, per Bizee’s Connecticut registered agent page. Budget providers sit lower, as the table below shows.
| Provider | Price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ZenBusiness | $99 first year, $199/year renewal | ZenBusiness registered agent pricing |
| Bizee | Free year one with formation, then $119/year | Bizee Connecticut registered agent page |
| Northwest Registered Agent | $125/year flat | Northwest Registered Agent Connecticut page |
What Is the Connecticut LLC Annual Report Fee?
The Connecticut LLC annual report fee is $80 per year, filed online with the Connecticut Secretary of the State. The report is due each year in the January 1 to March 31 window, per Connecticut General Statutes § 34-247k. Missing the report risks penalties and, after two consecutive years, administrative dissolution of your LLC.
The $80 fee applies to every domestic LLC regardless of formation date, per the Connecticut Secretary of the State annual report page. Filing online is the fastest way to stay in good standing.
How Much Does an EIN Cost for a Connecticut LLC?
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is free directly from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and most online applicants receive it immediately. You need an EIN to file taxes, open a business bank account, and hire employees. Never pay a third party for it, since the IRS issues it at no cost.
Apply through the official IRS EIN page rather than any paid intermediary. Some formation services bundle EIN application help, which is convenient but not required.
How Much Does a Connecticut LLC Operating Agreement Cost?
A Connecticut LLC operating agreement costs $0 if you use a template. Connecticut does not legally require an operating agreement to form or run an LLC. Attorneys charge for drafting one, and fees rise for multi-member agreements that cover profit distribution and exit terms. Even single-member LLCs benefit from one for liability separation.
An operating agreement clarifies member roles and protects the legal separation between personal and business assets. See the operating agreement requirements by state guide for what to include.
What Is the Connecticut LLC Name Reservation Fee?
The Connecticut LLC name reservation fee is $60, which holds your chosen name for 120 days before you file, per the Connecticut Secretary of the State. Name reservation is optional and skippable if you file your Certificate of Organization immediately. It is useful when you need time to gather documents or arrange financing.
Under Connecticut General Statutes § 34-243l, an approved reservation holds the name for the applicant’s exclusive use for 120 days and is transferable by signed notice to the Connecticut Secretary of the State. The name must meet the § 34-243k rules, including an “LLC” or “Limited Liability Company” designation.
Does Connecticut Require a Business License for an LLC?
Connecticut has no statewide general business license for LLCs. Licensing depends on your industry and your town. LLCs that sell taxable goods or services must register for a Sales & Use Tax Permit with the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services (DRS), which carries a $100 non-refundable registration fee, per DRS. Most LLCs that do not sell taxable items need no state permit.
The $100 permit is valid for two years and renews, per the Connecticut DRS sales tax information page. For industry and local permits, check the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection and your town clerk.
How Much Does a DBA Cost in Connecticut?
A DBA (doing business as), called a trade name in Connecticut, is filed with your town clerk, not the state, under Connecticut General Statutes § 7-34a. Fees are set by each municipality and vary by town, so there is no single statewide amount. You file a DBA when your LLC operates under a name different from its registered name.
Confirm the exact fee and renewal timeline with your town clerk, since both differ by municipality under the statute.
What Is the Total Cost to Maintain an LLC in Connecticut?
The mandatory recurring cost to maintain an LLC in Connecticut is $80 per year for the annual report. Add about $100 to $300 per year if you use a registered agent service, plus any industry license renewals. The hidden cost of skipping the annual report is administrative dissolution.
| Recurring cost | Amount | Frequency | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual report | $80 | Yearly (Jan 1–Mar 31) | CT Secretary of the State |
| Registered agent service | ~$100–$300 | Yearly | Bizee Connecticut registered agent page |
| Sales & Use Tax Permit renewal | $100 | Every 2 years (if selling taxable goods) | CT DRS |
Correction for readers of older guides: Connecticut repealed the $250 Business Entity Tax (BET) for tax periods beginning on or after January 1, 2020, under Public Act 19-117, per the Connecticut DRS. The old biennial tax no longer applies to LLCs.
What Are the Requirements to Start an LLC in Connecticut?
Connecticut has three core requirements to start and keep an LLC. First, name a registered agent with a Connecticut address. Second, file a Certificate of Organization for $120. Third, file an $80 annual report every year. All three go through the Connecticut Secretary of the State.
The filing steps run in order: choose a compliant name, appoint your registered agent, file the Certificate of Organization on business.ct.gov, get an EIN from the IRS, then calendar the annual report. For a full walkthrough, see the Connecticut LLC formation process page.
How Much Does It Cost for Non-Residents to Form a Connecticut LLC?
Non-residents pay the same $120 formation fee and $80 annual report as residents. The difference is the registered agent. Without a Connecticut address, a commercial registered agent at roughly $100 to $300 per year is effectively mandatory. No US residency, visa, or office is required to own a Connecticut LLC.
Non-residents without a Social Security Number (SSN) apply for an EIN using IRS Form SS-4 by mail or fax, which processes slower than the online route. You may also need to foreign-qualify in your home state if you operate there. See the best state to start an LLC guide to weigh your options.
What Does a Foreign LLC Pay to Register in Connecticut?
An out-of-state LLC doing business in Connecticut files a Certificate of Authority for $120, per the Connecticut Secretary of the State foreign LLC fee page. It must also keep a Connecticut registered agent and file the same $80 annual report. Foreign registration is triggered when your LLC transacts business in Connecticut beyond isolated activity.
If Connecticut is your primary base, forming here may cost less than maintaining registration in two states. See how to move an LLC or corporation to another state for the form-here versus register-here decision.
How Commenda Helps You Start a Connecticut LLC
Commenda’s incorporation service handles your Connecticut LLC end to end. It files the Certificate of Organization, provides a registered agent, applies for your EIN, and tracks the $80 annual report so every Connecticut deadline is met with certainty. That means no missed filings and no surprise dissolution.
Founders running multiple entities or states can use Commenda’s entity management platform to keep every formation and filing in one place, and the compliance calendar to track deadlines by entity. Book a demo to get a flat, all-in quote for your Connecticut LLC formation and first-year compliance.
