How to Start an LLC in Massachusetts

Putting together a Massachusetts LLC is a fairly tight process — one main filing, one ongoing agent, and a small handful of annual tasks. $500 is paid to the state at filing, roughly a week is the wait you should plan for, and the post-formation costs are recurring. Below: the formation sequence, every cost item, and the way our service slots into the process.

Set Up Your Massachusetts LLC — $199

Pay $199 once and we handle everything: prep, review, submission to Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth. Roughly a week from filing to active.

Set Up Your Massachusetts LLC — $199

Why Form an LLC in Massachusetts

LLCs offer owners liability shielding similar to a corporation, paired with the tax simplicity of a partnership or sole proprietorship. Statewide in Massachusetts, owners pick LLCs over corporations whenever they want personal liability protection without the overhead of stock and board meetings.

All-In Massachusetts LLC Costs

Item	Cost
Our LLC formation service	$199 one-time
State filing fee (Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth)	$500 one-time
Registered agent (required for every Massachusetts LLC)	$99/year
State annual report fee	$500/year ($520 online)

Our part is $199 for the filing service. The state fee goes to Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth directly. RA service is its own line at $99/year.

Important Massachusetts-specific notes: Highest filing fee in the nation. $500 by mail, $520 online (includes $20 expedite fee). Yearly report $500 by mail, $520 online. Due on anniversary date. One of the most expensive states for LLC maintenance.

Massachusetts LLC Formation: Each Step

1. Select a Name That Meets Massachusetts Rules

Two boxes to check for naming: the name must contain an LLC designator, and it must not conflict with any entity already registered with Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth. Check availability with Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth's online business entity database before you order business cards or buy a domain.

Restricted words include 'bank,' 'insurance,' 'trust,' and anything suggesting a government agency. Pick a different angle if you aren't of those things.

2. Assign a Massachusetts Registered Agent

Every Massachusetts LLC is a requirement to maintain a continuously appointed agent with an in-state real address and reliable presence while the office is open. Whatever name and address you list goes on the public filings at Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth — accessible to anyone running an entity search.

Our agent service runs $99 per year in Massachusetts. The public-record entry shows our address, not yours.

3. Lodge Your Articles of Organization at Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth

This step formally establishes the LLC: file your Articles with Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth paying $500 at submission. What the form needs: your LLC's name, the LLC's main address, agent identity and address, whether members or managers run the LLC, and the organizer(s) initiating the filing.

Online filing through the Massachusetts business filings portal is the standard channel and usually moves faster than paper submissions.

Wait time from filing to approval is around roughly a week. Expedited tracks may be available for additional state fees.

4. Document the Operating Agreement

Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth won't ask for an operating agreement, but you'll need one for banking, member disputes, and any meaningful business operations. It establishes who owns what share, how money is distributed, who decides what, and what happens when members come or go. If no agreement exists, Massachusetts's statutory defaults govern. Those defaults aren't designed for your specific business.

5. Register for the LLC's EIN

The EIN serves as the LLC's federal-level tax identifier. You'll need it for banking, payroll, and federal tax filings. IRS.gov hosts the free application. The application is fast — under ten minutes from start to EIN.

Paid services for EINs are a poor use of money — the IRS issues EINs at zero cost via a quick form.

6. Manage the Recurring Obligations

Post-formation, you're responsible for the following ongoing items:

• Retain a current designated agent at a Massachusetts street address throughout the LLC's life
• Submit the annual state filing when it's due each year
• Enforce a true divide between company funds and personal funds (distinct banking, distinct records)
• Remain current with both federal and state tax responsibilities by their deadlines

Slip on any of those and Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth can administratively dissolve the LLC. Once that happens, the liability protection is gone until you bring everything current.

We'll handle it for $199. The Massachusetts formation filing is ours from start to finish.

Form My Massachusetts LLC — $199

Why the Registered Agent Rule Matters

The agent requirement applies to every LLC in Massachusetts — no exceptions, no workarounds. The agent must:

• Hold Massachusetts street-address coverage (PO boxes don't count on their own)
• Be at the address throughout the workday to handle legal service
• Relay legal documents and state notices within the same business day to preserve response time

Many founders self-appoint as agent, not realizing the address becomes public. Once it's listed, anyone running a Massachusetts entity search can find it.

For just $99 per year, our agent service covers Massachusetts. Our address appears, yours doesn't.

Massachusetts LLC FAQ

How much does it cost to form an LLC in Massachusetts?

Filing costs $500 at the state level. That's well above the national average. Above the formation cost, the yearly report charges $500/year ($520 online).

How long does it take to form an LLC in Massachusetts?

From submission to approval, expect around roughly a week.

Does Massachusetts require an annual report?

Yes. Plan on $500/year ($520 online) per year for the yearly report.

Do I need a registered agent for my Massachusetts LLC?

Yes, the agent rule applies to every Massachusetts LLC: a designated agent based at an in-state address. The agent has to be registered every single day the LLC exists.

Can I form an LLC in Massachusetts if I live in another state?

Yes. There's no Massachusetts residency requirement to form an LLC here. — and a Massachusetts agent is still required — our $99/year service is exactly that.

Start Your Massachusetts LLC the Right Way

Filing the Massachusetts LLC yourself with Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth is welcome via the Massachusetts business filings portal. The agent obligation remains regardless of how you file — $500 is the state's portion.

We're the agent you list on the form. For Just $99/year, puts our Massachusetts address on the public-record entry, sends scans the day documents arrive, and emails you before every filing deadline.

Form Your Massachusetts LLC — $199

Looking for the RA on its own? The standalone registered agent plan is $99 annually.

More questions about forming an LLC in Massachusetts or how the agent service works? Check the FAQ or contact us any weekday.