- Filing fee
- $208
- Ongoing report
- $0
- First-year gov. cost
- $236
- Publication
- Not required
The steps, in order
Pick a name Alabama will accept
Must include LLC designator. Restricted words like Bank or Insurance require licensing. Mandatory Certificate of Name Reservation required before forming.
Search existing Alabama business names before you commit. Alabama naming rules in detail.
Appoint a registered agent
Physical Alabama street address required.
You can serve as your own agent, but your address will be public. Compare Alabama registered agent options.
File the Certificate of Formation
Submit it to the Alabama Secretary of State through the official filing portal and pay $208. $200 by mail or $208 online ($100 county, $100 state, $8 portal fee)
Processing: online 1 to 2 business days; by mail Standard processing. Expedite: No separate expedited option listed for entity formation.
Write an operating agreement
Not required to be filed. Can be written, oral, or implied.
Get an EIN from the IRS
An Employer Identification Number is free from IRS.gov. You'll need it for a business bank account and, if you hire, for payroll.
Stay in good standing
Alabama doesn't require a recurring LLC report, based on our latest check. Alabama report deadlines.
Every Alabama LLC fee
| Filing | State fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Formation | $208 | $200 by mail or $208 online ($100 county, $100 state, $8 portal fee) |
| None required | $0 | none, None |
| Name reservation (optional) | $28 | 120 days |
| Change of registered agent | $100 | |
| Amendment | $100 | |
| Certificate of good standing | $28 | |
| Foreign Entity Registration | $150 | For LLCs formed in another state |
| Domestic LLC Articles of Dissolution | $150 | |
| DBA / assumed name | UNCONFIRMED | county |
How Alabama compares nationally
- Alabama's filing fee of $208 is the 6th highest of 51 jurisdictions (median $104).
- Alabama's first-year government cost of $236 is the 10th highest of 51 jurisdictions (median $125).
- Alabama's yearly cost after that of $0 ties for the lowest of 51 jurisdictions (median $45).
See every state side by side in our LLC cost by state table.
File it yourself or use a service?
Filing directly with the Alabama Secretary of State costs $208 and nothing else, but you'll need a registered agent with a Alabama street address, and that address goes on the public record. A formation service files for you and acts as your agent. Here's what that adds over three years, before Alabama's own fees:
| Route | Year one with Alabama fee | 3-year service fees |
|---|---|---|
| File yourself, be your own agent | $208 | $0 |
| Northwest | $247 | $289 |
| Bizee Basic | $208 | $298 |
Bizee vs Northwest, compared · All LLC services ranked
State taxes to plan for
Business Privilege Tax (BPT) based on net worth. Fully exempt from paying and filing if calculated BPT is $100 or less (effective after Dec 31, 2023). Personal income tax graduated up to 5%, corporate flat 6.50%.
What's different about Alabama
- Mandatory paid name reservation required prior to filing formation document.
- Dissolution paperwork must be processed through local county Judge of Probate before Secretary of State.
- Allows formation of Series LLCs.
More Alabama LLC guides
Alabama LLC questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Alabama?
The Alabama Secretary of State charges $208 to file the Certificate of Formation. Counting mandatory first-year items, expect about $236 in government fees ($208 online formation plus $28 mandatory name reservation).
How long does it take to form an LLC in Alabama?
Online: 1 to 2 business days. By mail: Standard processing. Expedited: No separate expedited option listed for entity formation.
Does an Alabama LLC have to file an annual report?
Alabama doesn't require a recurring report for LLCs, based on our latest check. Standalone Secretary of State annual report repealed effective October 1, 2024.
Can I be my own registered agent in Alabama?
Yes. Physical Alabama street address required. Your agent's address becomes public record.
Does Alabama require publishing a notice for a new LLC?
No. Alabama has no newspaper publication requirement for LLCs, based on our latest check.
Is an operating agreement required in Alabama?
Not required to be filed. Can be written, oral, or implied.
What taxes does an Alabama LLC pay to the state?
Business Privilege Tax (BPT) based on net worth. Fully exempt from paying and filing if calculated BPT is $100 or less (effective after Dec 31, 2023). Personal income tax graduated up to 5%, corporate flat 6.50%.
Sources and verification
Last checked against official state sources on . States change fees with little notice, so confirm on the filing portal before you pay. How we verify.
Still being confirmed with the state: dba fee.