How much does LLC formation cost in Connecticut?

Forming a Connecticut LLC costs $120 at the state level, the Certificate of Organization fee set by CGS § 34-243u. That puts Connecticut in the middle of the pack: well below Massachusetts, above Delaware's $110, and slightly above Wyoming, where articles of organization cost $100.

Beyond the state fee, your total depends on how complex the business is and how much of the work you outsource. Connecticut imposes no franchise tax on LLCs, and the old $250 biennial Business Entity Tax was repealed for income years beginning on or after January 1, 2020.

Mandatory Connecticut LLC formation costs

Two items are mandatory in Connecticut: the filing fee paid to the Secretary of the State (SOS) and a registered agent with a Connecticut address. The table also covers the operating agreement, which state law does not require you to put in writing but which costs nothing to self-draft.

The SOS fee page for domestic LLCs lists one $120 Certificate of Organization fee whether you file online or on paper, and the rest of the Connecticut LLC formation requirements follow from those two items. CGS § 34-243n requires every Connecticut LLC to maintain a registered agent. Under the SOS agent form, that agent can be a Connecticut-resident individual or a Connecticut or registered foreign business entity, and the LLC may not appoint itself.

Optional LLC formation costs in Connecticut

None of the services below are state-mandated, and the right mix depends on your timeline, ownership structure, and appetite for risk.

1. Professional services

Attorney formation packages with a tailored operating agreement run about $1,500 to $3,000, and tax advisors charge roughly $150 to $600 for an initial consultation. Both ranges are practitioner estimates, not published rates, though Clio's Connecticut rate data, drawn from its annual Legal Trends Report, puts corporate practice in the state at an average of $453 per hour. Online business formation services handle the state paperwork for a modest fee.

2. Additional filings

Which of these you need depends on your name, timeline, and industry:

• Name reservation costs $60 and holds your name for 120 days under CGS § 34-243l.

• Expedited service costs $50 per transaction and is available for online filings only.

• Trade name (DBA) certificates go to the town clerk, not the SOS, for a $20 fee, hand-signed and notarized. Under P.A. 24-111 they expire after five years, and an LLC using its exact registered name needs none.

• Certificates of Legal Existence cost $50 for the express or short-form version and $100 for the long form, which cannot be expedited.

• A federal EIN is free from the IRS; apply after the SOS approves the LLC.

• Industry licenses come from other agencies: home improvement contractors register with the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) for $220 per year, and a cottage food license from DCP is $50.

Processing times vary; contact the Business Services Division at 860-509-6003 for current estimates.

Ongoing annual costs for Connecticut LLCs

Connecticut LLCs carry a short list of recurring expenses, and the annual report is the one that most often catches owners off guard.

• Connecticut annual report filing: $80, filed online between January 1 and March 31 each year under CGS § 34-247k, a fixed calendar window that applies regardless of formation date. Missing it costs good standing, and once an LLC is more than one year in default, the Secretary of the State may send a notice and dissolve it by forfeiture if the report is not filed within three months, under CGS § 34-267g. Reinstatement afterward costs $120.

• Connecticut registered agent service: the commercial provider's annual fee, plus $50 at the SOS if you later file a change of agent.

• Address changes: $50 to update the business address on file with the SOS if your principal office moves.

• Interim notices: $20 each time you report a change of manager or member between annual reports.

• Business license renewals, such as the DCP home improvement registration that expires every March 31.

• Professional support for tax and legal questions.

The lack of an LLC franchise tax is Connecticut's main long-term saving next to California's $800 annual minimum tax or Delaware's $300 annual LLC tax, and the Connecticut franchise tax rules for LLCs explain what the state charges instead.

For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2024, an LLC taxed as a partnership or S corporation may elect the pass-through entity tax at 6.99% of an alternative tax base, which the Department of Revenue Services (DRS) calls optional and irrevocable for that year; members receive a personal income tax credit equal to 87.5% of their share of the tax paid. Rates and election rules can change, so confirm them against current DRS instructions each year.

Let Discern handle your Connecticut LLC formation

Discern forms Connecticut LLCs and checks addresses and state-specific formatting before submission, so the SOS has less reason to reject the filing. The $350 per state, per year subscription then covers registered agent service and annual report filing: the report is pre-filled ahead of the March 31 deadline, standing is monitored continuously, and changes of agent filings are free.

For companies with entities in several states, Discern handles registered agent coverage, annual report filings, and foreign registrations from a single platform, and one-click foreign registrations obtain the home-state certificate of good standing automatically. Customers with 200+ registrations spend 5 to 10 minutes annually on compliance.

Schedule a demo with Discern to see how it simplifies Connecticut compliance.

FAQs about LLC formation costs in Connecticut

These answers cover the fee and rule questions Connecticut LLC owners raise most often.

What unexpected fees might Connecticut LLC owners encounter?

The most common surprise is the $80 annual report due by March 31, followed by registered agent expenses if no member lives in Connecticut and can fill the role. Trade name renewals are new as well: certificates filed before January 1, 2025 expire December 31, 2029.

Does Connecticut refund filing fees for rejected applications?

The SOS fee pages do not clearly state a refund policy for rejected filings, so contact the Business Services Division before you file if a refund would matter to you. Checking name availability and agent details first is the cheapest way to avoid paying twice.

How do Connecticut costs compare regionally?

Connecticut's $120 formation fee sits between Delaware's $110 and the $500 Massachusetts charges, and above budget states like Wyoming. Over time the gap widens: Connecticut's $80 annual report compares with the $500 annual report Massachusetts law requires, and Connecticut levies no LLC franchise tax on top of it.

Which businesses face elevated formation costs in Connecticut?

A home improvement contractor registering as an LLC pays DCP $220 a year, and a temporary nursing services agency pays the Department of Public Health $500 to register, then $750 at each renewal. Professional service LLCs formed on or after July 1, 2017 pay the standard SOS fee but must carry "professional limited liability company," "P.L.L.C.," or "PLLC" in the name under CGS § 34-243h.