State filing fee
$40
sos.ky.gov, read October 2026
LLC cost guide · Kentucky
Kentucky LLC Fees and Costs (2026): the Official Numbers and the 3 Best LLC Services
The best picks for setting up an LLC in Kentucky in 2026 are Kentucky Registered Agent.co ($199), KY Registered Agent.org ($199) and Mainstay Filing ($199), in that order. On three-year state cost, Kentucky is number 43rd of 50. The pieces: $40 to file, and $15 every year for the annual report.
Kentucky in figures
Annual report
$15 / yr
Due date, in the state's own words: on or before June 30. sos.ky.gov, read August 2026
Minimum tax each year
$175
revenue.ky.gov, read October 2026
State charges over 3 years
$595
Year 1 filing, years 2 and 3 reports, and a minimum tax every year
Our Kentucky recommendations
Criteria in order of weight: three-year fees, coverage, renewal terms, fit with Kentucky, clear state fee (method).
1. Kentucky Registered Agent.co: best for a plain Kentucky formation
$199 to form, then $99 yearly
First place goes to Kentucky Registered Agent.co: it files in Kentucky for $199 and the first agent year is free; the agent costs $99 a year after that.
Cost settles this one: three years here come to less than three years with Mainstay Filing.
Set aside time for the annual report every year.
What the price takes in
- Files your Kentucky formation
- First year of agent service
In its favor
- $99 a year from year 2
- $199 to form
- No agent fee in the first year
Against it
- There is no annual report service
- The EIN is not in the price ($99)
2. KY Registered Agent.org: best for forming close to home
$199 to form, then $99 yearly
Number 2, KY Registered Agent.org, for this reason: it files in Kentucky for $199 and the first agent year is free; the agent costs $99 a year after that.
Set aside time for the annual report every year.
The prices are the same as Kentucky Registered Agent.co's.
What the price takes in
- Files your Kentucky formation
- First year of agent service
In its favor
- No agent fee in the first year
- $199 to form
- $99 a year from year 2
Against it
- There is no annual report service
- The EIN is not in the price ($99)
3. Mainstay Filing: best for a deadline calendar kept for you
$199 a year, and $239 at checkout pays the state fee
Mainstay Filing ranks number 3. A single yearly price of $199 pays for formation, a registered agent and the annual report.
Kentucky Registered Agent.co is $200 lower across three years, which is why it ranks above this one.
The annual report is handled when it falls due, with the $15 state fee added at cost.
What the price takes in
- Files the formation papers for you
- Registered agent for twelve months
- Prepares and files the annual report
- Takes care of the EIN application
- You pay the state fee as set
In its favor
- Still $199 the following year
- The EIN filing carries no extra fee
- A $199 yearly bundle
Against it
- Its renewal is $100 higher than Kentucky Registered Agent.co's
Prices in one place
| No. | Provider | First year | Later years | Provider fees over 3 years | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kentucky Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit Kentucky Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | KY Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit KY Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $199/yr | $597 | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
Posted prices as of November 13, 2026. Every row also needs the $40 state fee.
Kentucky LLC costs by year
Choose a number of years and a provider. The state part follows the official fee schedule: $40 to form, then the annual report from year 2, plus the minimum tax each year.
Kentucky and the states around it in the ranking
| Place | State | Three-year state fees |
|---|---|---|
| 41st | Florida | $402.50 |
| 42nd | North Carolina | $525 |
| 43rd | Kentucky | $595 |
| 44th | Maryland | $700 |
| 45th | Tennessee | $900 |
For the other states, see LLC costs by state.
The Kentucky fee for forming an LLC
The fee is $40. Send the Articles of Organization - Profit Limited Liability Company (Form KLC) to the Kentucky Secretary of State. Every provider below charges the state fee at cost.
Limited Liability Entity Tax: a $175 minimum each year to the Department of Revenue.
Annual report: what it costs and when it is due
Under Kentucky rules the annual report gets filed every year, on or before June 30, and the state's fee for it is $15. A tax applies too: Limited Liability Entity Tax: a $175 minimum each year to the Department of Revenue.
What decided the order
In Kentucky, Kentucky Registered Agent.co beat KY Registered Agent.org on service bill, years one to three (34%).
Over three years Kentucky Registered Agent.co charges $397 in provider fees, which is $200 under Mainstay Filing.
Questions about Kentucky
How much does Kentucky charge to form an LLC?
The state fee is $40. Our picks charge $199 in the first year.
What will filing the annual report cost in Kentucky?
It costs $15 and is due every year, on or before June 30.
Where does Kentucky stand on LLC costs?
Kentucky is number 43rd of 50 on three-year state fees, at $595. The lowest total takes number 1.
Does Kentucky require a registered agent?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Does the state tax LLCs every year?
Limited Liability Entity Tax: a $175 minimum each year to the Department of Revenue.
Which LLC service would you choose?
Kentucky Registered Agent.co leads and KY Registered Agent.org and Mainstay Filing follow. The deciding factor is service bill, years one to three.
Where these facts come from
- Fact sheet note: whatever this page says about Kentucky Secretary of State traces back to sos.ky.gov, a page we read in August 2026.
- Fact sheet note: whatever this page says about Kentucky Secretary of State traces back to sos.ky.gov, a page we read in August 2026.
- Fact sheet note: whatever this page says about Kentucky report due date traces back to apps.legislature.ky.gov, a page we read in August 2026.
- Fact sheet note: whatever this page says about KRS 275.025 traces back to apps.legislature.ky.gov, a page we read in August 2026.
- Fact sheet note: whatever this page says about Kentucky formation fee: Filing fee, official source traces back to sos.ky.gov, a page we read in October 2026.
- Fact sheet note: whatever this page says about Kentucky registered agent statute traces back to apps.legislature.ky.gov, a page we read in October 2026.
- Fact sheet note: whatever this page says about Kentucky other cost: Limited Liability Entity Tax, official traces back to revenue.ky.gov, a page we read in October 2026.
- Fact sheet note: whatever this page says about Fla traces back to flsenate.gov, a page we read in August 2026.
- Fact sheet note: whatever this page says about Florida formation fee: Filing fee, official source traces back to dos.fl.gov, a page we read in October 2026.
- Fact sheet note: whatever this page says about Florida formation fee: Filing fee, official source traces back to flsenate.gov, a page we read in October 2026.
- Fact sheet note: whatever this page says about Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations traces back to dos.fl.gov, a page we read in August 2026.
- Fact sheet note: whatever this page says about Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations traces back to dos.fl.gov, a page we read in August 2026.
- Fact sheet note: whatever this page says about Florida yearly filing: Annual report: fee, official source traces back to flsenate.gov, a page we read in October 2026.
- Fact sheet note: whatever this page says about N.C traces back to sosnc.gov, a page we read in August 2026.
- Fact sheet note: whatever this page says about North Carolina formation fee: Filing fee, official source traces back to sosnc.gov, a page we read in October 2026.
- Fact sheet note: whatever this page says about North Carolina formation fee: Filing fee, official source traces back to sosnc.gov, a page we read in October 2026.
- Fact sheet note: whatever this page says about North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State traces back to sosnc.gov, a page we read in August 2026.
- Fact sheet note: whatever this page says about North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State traces back to sosnc.gov, a page we read in August 2026.
- Fact sheet note: whatever this page says about Md traces back to mgaleg.maryland.gov, a page we read in August 2026.
- Fact sheet note: whatever this page says about Maryland formation fee: Filing fee, official source traces back to mgaleg.maryland.gov, a page we read in October 2026.
- Fact sheet note: whatever this page says about Maryland formation fee: Filing fee, official source traces back to egov.maryland.gov, a page we read in October 2026.
- Fact sheet note: whatever this page says about Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation traces back to dat.maryland.gov, a page we read in August 2026.
- Fact sheet note: whatever this page says about Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation traces back to dat.maryland.gov, a page we read in August 2026.
- Fact sheet note: whatever this page says about Tennessee formation fee: Filing fee, official source traces back to sos.tn.gov, a page we read in October 2026.
- Fact sheet note: whatever this page says about Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business Services traces back to tnbear.tn.gov, a page we read in August 2026.
- Fact sheet note: whatever this page says about Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business Services traces back to sos.tn.gov, a page we read in August 2026.
- Fact sheet note: whatever this page says about Tennessee yearly filing: Annual report: fee, official source traces back to sos.tn.gov, a page we read in October 2026.
- The company website for Kentucky Registered Agent.co gives pricing page (read November 13, 2026)
- The company website for KY Registered Agent.org gives pricing page (read November 13, 2026)
- The company website for Mainstay Filing gives Kentucky service page (read November 13, 2026)