Washington LLC cost at a glance
| Cost | Washington amount |
|---|---|
| Cost to form | $180, including the initial report |
| Annual report | $70 |
| When it is due | Last day of the formation month, every year |
| State tax on the LLC | No franchise tax; B&O tax on gross receipts |
| First-year state fees (minimum) | $180 |
| Yearly state fees after that (minimum) | $70 |
| Registered agent | Required. Free if you act as your own; commercial services charge a yearly fee |
| EIN from the IRS | $0 |
Fees verified October 2026 against the Washington Secretary of State and other official Washington sources listed at the end of this page.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Washington?
The Washington Secretary of State charges $180 to file a Certificate of Formation for an LLC, online or on paper. The initial report is free when it goes in with the certificate, and costs $10 if filed separately.
Expedited service costs $100 for handling within about three working days or $150 for same-day handling, on top of the filing fee. A name reservation costs $30 and holds the name for 180 days. Washington’s $180 formation fee is among the ten highest in the country.
How much does a Washington LLC cost every year?
Every Washington LLC files an annual report for $70 by the last day of the month in which it was formed. The report can be filed up to 180 days early, and the first one is due at the end of the formation month one year after formation.
A Washington LLC also needs a state business license through the Department of Revenue once its gross income reaches $12,000 a year, among other triggers. The application processing fee is separate from the Secretary of State fees on this page.
What does a Washington LLC cost over the first three years?
The table below adds up the state fees a Washington LLC pays in its first three years, using the minimum amounts Washington charges. The second column adds the BusinessAnywhere registered agent service, which is free for the first year and $147 a year after that.
| Year | State fees only | With a registered agent service |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $180 | $180 |
| Year 2 | $70 | $217 |
| Year 3 | $70 | $217 |
| Three-year total | $320 | $614 |
Does Washington charge a franchise tax or income tax on LLCs?
Washington charges no franchise tax and no personal income tax, but it charges the business and occupation (B&O) tax on gross receipts. The B&O rate is 0.471% for retailing, 0.484% for wholesaling and 1.5% for services when prior-year gross income was under $1 million, rising to 1.75% and 2.1% above that.
The small business B&O credit removes or reduces the tax for low-revenue businesses. Washington has also enacted a 9.9% tax on individual income above $1 million under ESSB 6346, starting 1 January 2028.
How much does a registered agent cost in Washington?
Every Washington LLC must name a registered agent with a physical street address in Washington. Acting as your own agent costs nothing, but your address goes on the public record and you must be available at that address during business hours. Commercial registered agent services charge a yearly fee for the same role.
The BusinessAnywhere registered agent service is free for the first year and $147 a year after that, with every document scanned to your online dashboard the day it arrives.
Our Washington registered agent guide explains the state rules in full.
If you are weighing the free option, read can I be my own registered agent first.
Does a Washington LLC need an EIN, and what does it cost?
An EIN costs nothing when you apply directly with the IRS. A Washington LLC needs one to hire employees, to open a business bank account and whenever it has more than one member. US residents with an SSN or ITIN apply through the IRS online EIN application and receive the number at the end of the session.
Founders outside the United States cannot use the online tool. They apply by phone, fax or post with IRS Form SS-4, and do not need an SSN to do it. The BusinessAnywhere EIN application service handles that process for $97. Our guide on how to obtain an EIN for your LLC covers both routes.
What other Washington LLC fees should you budget for?
These fees apply only when you need the service. They are the Washington state charges as of October 2026.
| Item | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Name reservation | $30 | Name reservation, valid 180 days, not renewable |
| Expedited filing | $100 or $150 | $100 expedited (within about 3 working days) or $150 same day, per entity, plus filing fee |
| Certificate of good standing | $20 short form / $30 long form | Certificate of existence: $20 short form (good standing), $30 long form |
| Certified copy | $20 | Per certified copy |
| Amending the articles | $30 | Amended Certificate of Formation |
| DBA (assumed or trade name) | $5 plus license fee | Trade names are registered with the Department of Revenue: $5 per trade name plus the Business License Application processing fee |
| Changing registered agent | $0 | No fee to designate or change a registered agent |
| Foreign LLC registration | $180 | Foreign Registration Statement |
| Reinstatement after dissolution | $140 plus back fees | $140 reinstatement penalty plus all delinquent annual report fees; must be filed within 5 years of administrative dissolution (RCW 23.95.615) |
An operating agreement carries no state fee in Washington, and Washington does not collect it, but every LLC should have one to set out ownership and decision rights. BusinessAnywhere sells an operating agreement template for $97.
What happens if you miss a Washington LLC deadline?
A Washington annual report received after the due date carries a $25 late fee. If the report is still missing 120 days after the due date, the Secretary of State has grounds for administrative dissolution, and the LLC then has 60 days after notice to cure.
A dissolved LLC can reinstate within five years. Reinstatement costs a $140 penalty plus every overdue annual report fee.
If you intend to close the business, file formally instead of letting it lapse. Our guide on how to dissolve an LLC in Washington sets out the steps.
How does Washington compare with other states?
Washington is expensive to form and mid-priced to keep. Its $180 formation fee is close to double the $100 national median, while its $70 annual report costs less each year than Oregon’s $100 report and more than Montana’s free one.
| State | Formation fee | Yearly state fees (minimum) | What drives the cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $180 | $70 | $180 to form, $70 annual report |
| Oregon LLC cost | $100 | $100 | $100 to form, $100 annual report |
| California LLC cost | $70 | $800 | $800 annual tax from year one |
| Montana LLC cost | $35 | $0 | Cheapest formation fee; free annual report if filed by 15 April |
| Nevada LLC cost | $425 | $350 | $200 business license every year |
| Wyoming LLC cost | $100 | $60 | $60 minimum license tax, no income tax |
For all 51 jurisdictions side by side, see our full table of LLC cost by state.
How to form a Washington LLC for $0 plus state fees
BusinessAnywhere files your Washington LLC for $0 plus the $180 state fee. The filing comes with a free first year of registered agent service, so your first-year cost is the state fee and nothing else.
- Formation: $0 service fee plus the Washington filing fee.
- Registered agent: free for the first year, then $147 a year.
- EIN application: $97, with no SSN required for non-US founders.
- Compliance reminders: every Washington deadline on this page tracked in your dashboard.
- Virtual mailbox: a US street address with mail scanning, from $20 a month.
Start with our LLC formation service, or read the full guide on how to start an LLC in Washington first.
Washington LLC cost FAQs
How much does an LLC cost in Washington?
A Washington LLC costs $180 to form, including the initial report, and $70 a year for the annual report.
When is the Washington LLC annual report due?
By the last day of the month in which the LLC was formed, every year. It can be filed up to 180 days early.
What is the Washington annual report late fee?
$25. A report still missing 120 days after the due date gives grounds for administrative dissolution.
Does Washington have a franchise tax or income tax on LLCs?
No franchise tax and no personal income tax today, but Washington charges the B&O tax on gross receipts. A 9.9% tax on individual income above $1 million starts 1 January 2028.
How much does it cost to reinstate a Washington LLC?
A $140 reinstatement penalty plus every overdue annual report fee, within five years of dissolution.
How much does a Washington LLC cost over three years?
At the minimum, $320 in Secretary of State fees: $180 to form and two $70 annual reports. With a commercial registered agent from year two at $147 a year, the total is $614.
Sources
- Washington Secretary of State, LLC filing resource page
- Washington Administrative Code 434-112-085 (fees)
- Revised Code of Washington 23.95.605 (administrative dissolution)
- Washington Department of Revenue, B&O tax classifications
- Washington Department of Revenue, apply for a business license
- Washington Legislature, ESSB 6346 bill report
- Official Washington source: Name reservation fee
- Official Washington source: Expedited filing fee
- Official Washington source: DBA (assumed or trade name) fee
Fees change. Every figure on this page was checked against the official source in October 2026. Confirm the current amount with the Washington Secretary of State before you file.
