- Filing fee
- $125
- Annual Report (Form DSCB:15-146)
- $7
- First-year gov. cost
- $125
- Publication
- Not required
The steps, in order
Pick a name Pennsylvania will accept
Name reservation is optional.
Search existing Pennsylvania business names before you commit. Pennsylvania naming rules in detail.
Appoint a registered agent
Referred to as the Registered Office. Must maintain a physical PA street address, no PO boxes, or contract with a Commercial Registered Office Provider.
File the Certificate of Organization (Form DSCB:15-8821)
Submit it to the Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations through the official filing portal and pay $125. Coupled with a New Entity Docketing Statement (Form DSCB:15-134A).
Processing: online Approximately 15 business days; by mail Approximately 15 business days. Expedite: Same-day submitted before 10 AM is $100, 3-hour service is $300, and 1-hour service is $1,000..
Write an operating agreement
Not filed; kept internally as an organizational framework.
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
File the Annual Report (Form DSCB:15-146) ($7), due Between January 1 and September 30. Not specified Pennsylvania report deadlines.
Every Pennsylvania LLC fee
| Filing | State fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Organization (Form DSCB:15-8821) | $125 | Coupled with a New Entity Docketing Statement (Form DSCB:15-134A). |
| Annual Report (Form DSCB:15-146) | $7 | annual, Between January 1 and September 30 |
| Name reservation (optional) | $70 | 120 days |
| Amendment | $70 | |
| Certificate of good standing | $40 | |
| Foreign Registration Statement | $250 | For LLCs formed in another state |
| Certificate of Dissolution and Certificate of Termination | $140 | |
| DBA / assumed name | $70 | state |
How Pennsylvania compares nationally
- Pennsylvania's filing fee of $125 is the 20th highest of 51 jurisdictions (median $104).
- Pennsylvania's first-year government cost of $125 is the 24th highest of 51 jurisdictions (median $125).
- Pennsylvania's yearly cost after that of $7 is the 12th 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 Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations costs $125 and nothing else, but you'll need a registered agent with a Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania's own fees:
| Route | Year one with Pennsylvania fee | 3-year service fees |
|---|---|---|
| File yourself, be your own agent | $125 | $0 |
| Northwest | $164 | $289 |
| Bizee Basic | $125 | $298 |
Bizee vs Northwest, compared · All LLC services ranked
State taxes to plan for
Standard LLCs pay no state franchise tax. Restricted Professional Companies must file a Certificate of Annual Registration costing $700 per licensed member. Flat personal income tax rate of 3.07%.
What's different about Pennsylvania
- The mandatory New Entity Docketing Statement during formation is a specific PA quirk.
- The mandatory tax clearance requirement makes Pennsylvania one of the slowest states in which to cleanly dissolve a business.
- Pennsylvania does not issue a general state business license; standard operations require a local license.
More Pennsylvania LLC guides
Pennsylvania LLC questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations charges $125 to file the Certificate of Organization (Form DSCB:15-8821). Counting mandatory first-year items, expect about $125 in government fees (Formation fee.).
How long does it take to form an LLC in Pennsylvania?
Online: Approximately 15 business days. By mail: Approximately 15 business days. Expedited: Same-day submitted before 10 AM is $100, 3-hour service is $300, and 1-hour service is $1,000..
Does a Pennsylvania LLC have to file an annual report?
Yes. Pennsylvania requires the Annual Report (Form DSCB:15-146), which costs $7, filed annual. Due: Between January 1 and September 30. Not specified
Can I be my own registered agent in Pennsylvania?
Usually, if you meet the requirements. Referred to as the Registered Office. Must maintain a physical PA street address, no PO boxes, or contract with a Commercial Registered Office Provider. Your agent's address becomes public record.
Does Pennsylvania require publishing a notice for a new LLC?
No. Pennsylvania has no newspaper publication requirement for LLCs, based on our latest check.
Is an operating agreement required in Pennsylvania?
Not filed; kept internally as an organizational framework.
What taxes does a Pennsylvania LLC pay to the state?
Standard LLCs pay no state franchise tax. Restricted Professional Companies must file a Certificate of Annual Registration costing $700 per licensed member. Flat personal income tax rate of 3.07%.
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: ra.self allowed, ra.change fee, report.late penalty.