Start an LLC by State

Start an LLC by State › Massachusetts

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

To start an LLC in Massachusetts, file the Limited Liability Company Certificate of Organization with the Massachusetts Secretary of State and pay the $500 state fee. Massachusetts LLCs file a Limited Liability Company Annual Report every year, due on or before the anniversary date of filing of the certificate of organization, for $500. Every Massachusetts LLC must keep a resident agent with a Massachusetts street address.

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

How to form an LLC in Massachusetts

  1. Pick a name with “LLC” or “Limited Liability Company” in it, and check that it’s free on the Massachusetts Secretary of State business records.
  2. Name a resident agent: a Massachusetts resident, a Massachusetts corporation, or a corporation from another state authorized to do business in Massachusetts. State regulations (950 CMR 112.13) also allow other business entities authorized in Massachusetts.
  3. File the Limited Liability Company Certificate of Organization with the Massachusetts Secretary of State and pay $500.
  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. File the yearly report. Massachusetts LLCs file a Limited Liability Company Annual Report every year, due on or before the anniversary date of filing of the certificate of organization, for $500.

Mainstay Filing takes care of the agent, the filing, the EIN application and each annual report for $199 a year plus Massachusetts’s fees.

Massachusetts LLC fees and rules

State filing fee
$500
Formation document
Limited Liability Company Certificate of Organization
Yearly filing
Limited Liability Company Annual Report, every year, $500
Due
On or before the anniversary date of filing of the certificate of organization
Registered agent
Required. A Massachusetts resident, a Massachusetts corporation, or a corporation from another state authorized to do business in Massachusetts. State regulations (950 CMR 112.13) also allow other business entities authorized in Massachusetts.
Agent address
The address has to be a street address in Massachusetts. A post office address is not sufficient.
Filing fee rank
50th lowest of 50 (49 states charge less, 0 charge more)
Best overall for a Massachusetts LLC

Mainstay Filing

Our rating: 4.9 out of 5

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

$199 a year plus Massachusetts’s $500 filing fee, which is passed through at cost.

  • LLC formation, prepared and filed
  • Registered agent, all year
  • EIN application (with an SSN or ITIN)
  • Annual report, prepared and filed every year it’s due
  • 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.

Massachusetts compared with neighboring states

StateFiling feeYearly filing
Massachusetts$500$500 / yr
Connecticut$120$80 / yr
New Hampshire$100$100 / yr
New York$200$9 / 2 yrs
Rhode Island$150$50 / yr
Vermont$155$45 / yr

All 50 states

Massachusetts LLC questions

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

$500 to the state to file. Massachusetts LLCs file a Limited Liability Company Annual Report every year, due on or before the anniversary date of filing of the certificate of organization, for $500. With Mainstay Filing, the formation filing, registered agent, EIN application and annual reports are $199 a year on top of the state fees.

Does Massachusetts require an annual report for LLCs?

Yes. Massachusetts LLCs file a Limited Liability Company Annual Report every year, due on or before the anniversary date of filing of the certificate of organization, for $500.

Do I need a registered agent in Massachusetts?

Yes. A Massachusetts resident, a Massachusetts corporation, or a corporation from another state authorized to do business in Massachusetts. State regulations (950 CMR 112.13) also allow other business entities authorized in Massachusetts.

Can I form a Massachusetts LLC myself?

Yes. You can file the Limited Liability Company Certificate of Organization directly with the Massachusetts Secretary of State and pay the $500 fee. A service such as Mainstay Filing files it for you and adds the registered agent, EIN application and annual reports 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