Washington LLC Cost in 2026: $180 to Form, $70 a Year to Renew and the $100 Expedite Fee
Washington LLC Cost in 2026: $180 to Form, $70 a Year to Renew and the $100 Expedite Fee
The Washington Secretary of State charges $180 to file a Certificate of Formation for an LLC, $70 for each annual report, and $100 if you want expedited processing. Those are the numbers most people search for, and they are accurate. The costs that catch first-time owners come from the rest of the process: the state business license, trade name registration, city B&O tax, and the occupational licenses your trade may require. This guide covers the Washington LLC cost in 2026 line by line so you can budget the full first year, not just the filing fee.
Washington LLC Fees at a Glance
These are the Secretary of State and Department of Revenue fees that most LLCs will see. Confirm each one on the agency page before you pay, because fees and processing rules can change.
| Item | Fee | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Formation with Initial Report | $180 | Once, when you form the LLC |
| Initial report filed later | $10 | Only if not filed with the certificate |
| Annual Report | $70 | Every year, by the last day of your formation month |
| Late annual report | $95 total | Includes the delinquency fee |
| Expedited service | $100 per entity | Optional, generally processed within three business days |
| Name reservation | $30 | Holds a name for 180 days, mail or in person only |
| Amendment | $30 | Changing information on file |
| Reinstatement | $140 plus missed annual report fees | Reinstating a delinquent LLC |
| Dissolution | $0 | Closing the LLC |
| Change of registered agent | $0 | Switching your registered agent |
| Business License Application | $50 to open, then $5 a year per location | State business license through the Department of Revenue |
The $180 Certificate of Formation
You form an LLC by filing a Certificate of Formation through the Corporations and Charities Filing System (CCFS) at ccfs.sos.wa.gov. The $180 fee includes the initial report when you file both together, so filing the initial report with the certificate adds nothing to the cost. If you file the initial report later, it costs $10. For most people, filing everything at once is the simplest route.
Your LLC name must include Limited Liability Company, Limited Liability Co., L.L.C., or LLC. It must be distinguishable from every other business name on record with the Secretary of State. It also cannot contain the words bank, banking, banker, or trust, or the word cooperative, or certain combinations of industrial and loan, building, savings, loan, home, association, and society. The rule appears in RCW 23.95.305. Search the business search before you file.
If you need time to file, you can reserve a name for 180 days for $30. The reservation must be sent by mail or filed in person, so you cannot do it through the online portal.
Every LLC must also name a registered agent with a physical street address in Washington. Under RCW 23.95.415, the agent must consent to serve and supply an email address. PO Boxes and private mailbox addresses are not accepted. You can serve as your own registered agent if you have a qualifying Washington street address. If you use a commercial agent, the fee varies by provider, so compare quotes directly. Changing your registered agent costs $0.
The $70 Annual Report and the $95 Late Version
The annual report costs $70 and is due by the last day of the month in which your LLC was originally formed, every year. You may file it up to 180 days early. If you miss the deadline, a delinquency fee brings the total for that late filing to $95.
For example, an LLC formed in October 2026 would normally file its annual report by October 31 each year, starting with the first renewal in 2027. Check the exact due date in your CCFS account. Over five years, the annual report alone adds up to $350, so put it on your calendar when you form the company.
The $100 Expedite Fee and the Same-Day Question
Expedited service costs $100 per business entity and is generally processed within three business days. You can add it at checkout when you file online. If you file by mail, add the $100 fee and mark the envelope EXPEDITE.
The Secretary of State fee schedule lists same-day service at $150 per entity. The LLC filing page says that $150 fee is not currently charged. Front-counter same-day filings received before 3:30 p.m. are charged the $100 expedited rate instead. The agency has said it will give 30 days notice on its website before the $150 fee starts. Check the Secretary of State page before you pay, especially if you plan to file in person.
The Secretary of State does not publish a standard turnaround for online business filings. Filings are worked in the order received, and expedited and same-day orders move through a separate priority queue. If timing matters for a bank account, a lease, or a contract, the $100 is usually worth paying.
Other Secretary of State Fees
Most LLCs will never pay these fees, but you should know them. An amendment to change information on file costs $30. Dissolving the LLC costs $0. If your LLC is administratively dissolved for missing annual reports, reinstatement costs $140 plus every missed annual report fee. Missing the annual report is the most expensive mistake in this list, so set a reminder.
The State Business License: $50 to Open
Washington does not have a traditional state income tax on businesses, but it does have a general state business license. The Business Licensing Service, inside the Department of Revenue, issues the Business License Application. That single application produces your 9-digit Unified Business Identifier (UBI) and handles state and city endorsements. The fee to open a business is $50, plus separate endorsement fees. The Department of Revenue lists $5 a year per location after that, so confirm the current renewal amount on its site.
An LLC must file with the Secretary of State before it submits the Business License Application. You need the state business license if any of these apply:
- You need city, county, or state endorsements.
- You operate under a name other than your full legal name.
- You plan to hire employees within 90 days.
- You sell anything subject to sales tax.
- Your gross income is $12,000 or more per year.
- You owe any tax or fee to the Department of Revenue.
- You buy or process specialty wood products.
- You meet a nexus threshold for state tax.
Online applications take about 10 business days. If city or state endorsements need approval, add two to three weeks. Mailed applications can take up to six weeks. Most LLCs that sell to customers will meet at least one of these triggers, so plan on this step.
Trade Names: $5 Each
If your LLC does business under a name other than its legal name, you must register that trade name. Trade names are registered with the Department of Revenue through the Business Licensing Service, not the Secretary of State or your county. Each trade name costs $5. The Business License Application processing fee applies too: $50 to open or reopen a business, or $10 when the filing is for another purpose, such as adding a trade name to an existing business. Details are on the Department of Revenue trade name page.
Taxes: No Franchise Tax, but B&O Applies
Washington has no state franchise tax, no corporate income tax, and no personal income tax. Instead, most businesses pay the state business and occupation (B&O) tax. It is a gross receipts tax with more than 50 activity classifications, and it allows no deduction for labor, materials, or other costs. The B&O tax is separate from every filing fee in this guide. The state sales tax rate is 6.5%.
About 54 cities also levy their own B&O tax. The Department of Revenue does not administer those local taxes, so check with your city. Washington has 39 counties and 281 incorporated cities and towns, and local rules vary.
Costs This Guide Cannot Give You
Many trades need an occupational license from a state agency, and those fees are set by each agency. This guide does not list them, so check with the agency that governs your trade:
- Contractors and electrical or plumbing work: Department of Labor and Industries (L&I)
- Real estate, cosmetology, notaries, security, and tow operators: Department of Licensing (DOL)
- Health professions, home care, and lodging: Department of Health (DOH)
- Cottage food, food processors, and pesticides: Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA)
- Liquor, cannabis, and tobacco: Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB)
- Child care: Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF)
- Adult family homes: Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS)
- Moving companies and charter operators: Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC)
Cities and counties may also require their own business licenses, and local health districts may issue permits for food and other regulated activities. Ask each one for its fee schedule before you open.
A Realistic First-Year Budget
Here is a simple example for a standard Washington LLC with no trade name and no occupational license:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Certificate of Formation with Initial Report | $180 |
| Business License Application (to open) | $50 |
| Subtotal, standard processing | $230 |
| Expedited service (optional) | $100 |
| Subtotal, with expedited service | $330 |
| First annual report, due one year after formation | $70 |
Add your registered agent fee if you use a commercial service, any city B&O or local license fees, and any occupational license fees. Those costs depend on your location and trade, so they are not included above.
Where to Confirm Each Figure
Before you file, check the current numbers on these official pages:
- Secretary of State Corporations and Charities Division: sos.wa.gov/corporations-charities
- Corporations and Charities Filing System: ccfs.sos.wa.gov
- Department of Revenue business license: dor.wa.gov/open-business/apply-business-license
- Department of Revenue overview: dor.wa.gov
- Washington Small Business Development Center, for planning help: wsbdc.org
Important Note
This article is informational only. It is not legal or tax advice. Fees, deadlines, and processing rules can change, and your situation may need a different answer. If you have multiple owners, plan to raise outside money, hold professional licenses, or have a complicated tax position, consult a qualified Washington attorney and a CPA before you form the LLC.