Start an LLC by State

Start an LLC by State › Alabama

Starting an LLC in Alabama: step by step (2026)

To start an LLC in Alabama, file the Domestic Limited Liability Company Certificate of Formation with the Alabama Secretary of State and pay the $236 state fee. Online total: $208 for the Certificate of Formation ($200 by mail) plus the required name reservation, $28 online ($25 by mail). Alabama LLCs file no annual report with the Secretary of State. The Department of Revenue's business privilege tax return (Form PPT) is required only when the tax, which is based on net worth, comes to more than $100, and it is due with the federal income tax return. Every Alabama LLC must keep a registered agent with an Alabama street address.

  • Official sources, checked October 20, 2026
  • Prices verified October 2026

How to form an LLC in Alabama

  1. Pick a name with “LLC” or “Limited Liability Company” in it, and check that it’s free on the Alabama Secretary of State business records.
  2. Name a registered agent: an Alabama resident, or a business entity formed in Alabama or registered to do business there. The agent keeps a business office at the registered office address.
  3. File the Domestic Limited Liability Company Certificate of Formation with the Alabama Secretary of State and pay $236.
  4. Get an EIN from the IRS. It is free and comes after the LLC is formed.
  5. Sign an operating agreement among the members. It sets ownership and voting rules and stays with your records.
  6. Stay in good standing. Alabama LLCs file no annual report with the Secretary of State. The Department of Revenue's business privilege tax return (Form PPT) is required only when the tax, which is based on net worth, comes to more than $100, and it is due with the federal income tax return.

Mainstay Filing takes care of the agent, the filing, the EIN application for $199 a year plus Alabama’s fees.

Alabama LLC fees and rules

State filing fee
$236
Online total: $208 for the Certificate of Formation ($200 by mail) plus the required name reservation, $28 online ($25 by mail).
Formation document
Domestic Limited Liability Company Certificate of Formation
Yearly filing
None with the Secretary of State
Registered agent
Required. An Alabama resident, or a business entity formed in Alabama or registered to do business there. The agent keeps a business office at the registered office address.
Agent address
The address has to be a street address in Alabama where papers can be handed to the agent. P.O. boxes are not accepted, and an agent cannot work only through a virtual office or a mail-forwarding service.
State tax note
Alabama LLCs file no annual report with the Secretary of State. The Department of Revenue's business privilege tax return (Form PPT) is required only when the tax, which is based on net worth, comes to more than $100, and it is due with the federal income tax return.
Filing fee rank
45th lowest of 50 (44 states charge less, 5 charge more)
Best overall for a Alabama LLC

Mainstay Filing

Our rating: 4.9 out of 5

$199 / year, all-in, plus state fees

$199 a year plus Alabama’s $236 filing fee, which is passed through at cost.

  • LLC formation, prepared and filed
  • Registered agent, all year
  • EIN application (with an SSN or ITIN)
  • Compliance reminders

The same $199 at renewal. Already have an LLC and only need an agent? Mainstay Filing’s registered agent service alone is $149 a year.

Prices verified October 21, 2026 on Mainstay Filing’s pricing and FAQ pages.

Alabama compared with neighboring states

StateFiling feeYearly filing
Alabama$236None
Florida$125$138.75 / yr
Georgia$110$60 / yr
Mississippi$50$0 / yr
Tennessee$300$300 / yr

All 50 states

Alabama LLC questions

How much does it cost to start an LLC in Alabama?

$236 to the state to file. Online total: $208 for the Certificate of Formation ($200 by mail) plus the required name reservation, $28 online ($25 by mail). Alabama LLCs file no annual report with the Secretary of State. The Department of Revenue's business privilege tax return (Form PPT) is required only when the tax, which is based on net worth, comes to more than $100, and it is due with the federal income tax return. With Mainstay Filing, the formation filing, registered agent and EIN application are $199 a year on top of the state fees.

Does Alabama require an annual report for LLCs?

No. Alabama LLCs file no annual report with the Secretary of State. The Department of Revenue's business privilege tax return (Form PPT) is required only when the tax, which is based on net worth, comes to more than $100, and it is due with the federal income tax return.

Do I need a registered agent in Alabama?

Yes. An Alabama resident, or a business entity formed in Alabama or registered to do business there. The agent keeps a business office at the registered office address.

Can I form a Alabama LLC myself?

Yes. You can file the Domestic Limited Liability Company Certificate of Formation directly with the Alabama Secretary of State and pay the $236 fee. A service such as Mainstay Filing files it for you and adds the registered agent, EIN application and compliance reminders for $199 a year.

Other formation services

  • Northwest Registered Agent: $39 plus the state fee, with its registered agent service included the first year, then $125 a year; annual report filing is an extra $100 plus the state fee.
  • ZenBusiness: Starter package $0 plus the state fee; Pro is $199 a year with the EIN and annual-report filing, and its registered agent is a separate $199 a year that no package includes.
  • Bizee: Basic package $0 plus the state fee (Standard $199, Premium $299), with one free year of its registered agent, which is $149 a year after that.
  • LegalZoom: Basic package $0 plus the state fee (Pro $249, Premium $299); its registered agent is $249 a year for first-time agent customers.

Prices from each company’s own pages, checked October 20, 2026. Plus the state fee in every case.

Sources