A Massachusetts LLC is formed by filing a Certificate of Organization with the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Corporations Division. The fee is $500 by mail or hand delivery, or $520 when filed online, because electronic filings carry a required $20 expedite fee (as of October 2026). You’ll need a resident agent at a Massachusetts street address, and every year the LLC files an annual report, which costs the same $500, or $520 online, by the anniversary of its formation.
Massachusetts has some of the highest LLC fees in the country, so the most useful planning number is roughly $1,000 to $1,040 over the first year and a half: one formation filing and one annual report. Budget for it before you file.
Updated October 2026.
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Best LLC Formation Services in Massachusetts (2026)
Comparing services for forming an LLC in Massachusetts? Start with this ranked shortlist; details for each pick follow the table.
| Rank | Provider | Best for | Price | What’s included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | Forming an LLC with the agent, EIN and annual report included | $199/year + state fee at cost | LLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing |
| 2 | MA Registered Agent.org | Massachusetts registered agent service only | $99/year | $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
| 3 | Massachusetts Registered Agent.co | Massachusetts registered agent service only | $99/year | in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
1. Mainstay Filing
Mainstay Filing is our top pick in Massachusetts. It costs $199/year + state fee at cost and covers lLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing. The price stays the same every year, with no add-on menu.
2. MA Registered Agent.org
MA Registered Agent.org is a Massachusetts registered agent service at $99/year. It provides $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
3. Massachusetts Registered Agent.co
Massachusetts Registered Agent.co is a Massachusetts registered agent service at $99/year. It provides in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
Massachusetts LLC at a glance
| Item | Massachusetts (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Filing office | Secretary of the Commonwealth, Corporations Division |
| Formation document | Certificate of Organization |
| Filing fee | $500 by mail or in person; $520 online or by fax |
| Annual report | $500 by mail; $520 online; due on or before the anniversary date |
| Agent | Resident agent with a Massachusetts street address (no P.O. box) |
| Agent change | Free online; $25 on paper |
| Publication | Not required |
Fees come from the Corporations Division’s filing fee schedule and its LLC filing page. Mainstay Filing’s Massachusetts LLC cost page lays out state and service fees together.
Is an LLC the right choice in Massachusetts?
Because both formation and the annual report cost $500 or more, some small Massachusetts businesses start as sole proprietorships and form an LLC once revenue justifies it. Others decide the liability protection is worth the cost from day one, especially if they sign leases, hire employees or work with clients who expect a formal entity.
There’s no single right answer, but it’s worth deciding deliberately. Our guide on how to start a business in Massachusetts compares the structures.
Step 1: Choose your Massachusetts LLC name
The name must include “Limited Liability Company,” “Limited Company,” or an abbreviation such as “LLC,” “L.L.C.,” “LC” or “L.C.,” and it must be distinguishable from other names on the Corporations Division’s records.
Use the namechk business name generator for ideas, then check availability in the Corporations Division’s business entity search. Our Massachusetts business name search guide explains how to search effectively.
Also:
- Search the USPTO trademark database.
- Check the domain and social handles with namechk.
Step 2: Appoint a resident agent
Massachusetts calls the registered agent a “resident agent.” Under M.G.L. chapter 156C, section 5, the agent can be an individual who lives in Massachusetts, a domestic corporation, or a foreign corporation authorized to do business in the Commonwealth; the Corporations Division’s regulations at 950 CMR 112.13 also allow other qualified business entities.
The regulation is specific about the address: “The office address of the resident agent must be a street address. A post office address is not sufficient.” The LLC must also keep an office in Massachusetts where its required records are maintained.
You can act as your own resident agent if you live in Massachusetts. Many owners use a professional service instead to keep their home address private and ensure legal papers are received. Mainstay Filing includes resident agent service for the first year in its formation package. Our Massachusetts registered agent guide covers the rules, and changing agents later is free online.
Step 3: File the Certificate of Organization
File online through the Corporations Division’s filing system, by fax, or on paper using the official Certificate of Organization form, which cites chapter 156C, section 12. Massachusetts asks for more than many states:
- The LLC’s name
- The address of its office in Massachusetts
- A general description of the business
- The resident agent’s name and street address
- The names and business addresses of any managers
- The names of people authorized to sign documents filed with the Corporations Division, and anyone authorized to sign real estate documents
- An optional later effective date
The fee is $500 by mail or in person. Online and fax filings cost $520, since the Division’s fee schedule applies a $20 expedite fee to electronic filings.
Step 4: Draft an operating agreement
Massachusetts doesn’t require an operating agreement to be filed, but you should have one. It records ownership, contributions, management, voting, distributions and what happens when a member leaves. Make sure the people the agreement authorizes to act for the LLC match the authorized signers listed in your Certificate of Organization.
Step 5: Get an EIN and register for Massachusetts taxes
Apply for an EIN on the IRS website; it’s free. Then register with the Massachusetts Department of Revenue through MassTaxConnect if you’ll collect sales tax or withhold wages, and with the Department of Unemployment Assistance if you’ll have employees.
With the EIN in hand, open a business bank account in the LLC’s exact legal name. Banks usually ask for the filed Certificate of Organization, the IRS EIN letter and often the operating agreement. Keeping business money separate from personal money is one of the simplest ways to protect the liability shield you’re paying $500 a year to maintain.
FinCEN’s beneficial ownership page states that U.S.-formed companies are exempt from BOI reporting under the final rule effective August 2026.
Step 6: File the annual report by your anniversary date
Massachusetts LLCs file an annual report every year on or before the anniversary of the date their Certificate of Organization was filed, under 950 CMR 112.22. The fee is $500 by mail or $520 online. The report updates the LLC’s office, agent, managers and authorized signers.
Missing the report can lead to administrative dissolution by the Corporations Division. Since the fee is the same whether you file early or on the deadline, file a few weeks ahead of your anniversary.
Step 7: Check local licenses and permits
Massachusetts has no general statewide business license. Many cities and towns require a business certificate or local permits, and regulated professions are licensed by state boards. Contact your city or town clerk before you open.
How much does a Massachusetts LLC cost?
| Item | By mail | Online |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Organization | $500 | $520 |
| Annual report (each year) | $500 | $520 |
| Change of resident agent | $25 | $0 |
Massachusetts LLC FAQs
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Massachusetts?
The Massachusetts Corporations Division charges $500 to file a Certificate of Organization by mail or in person, or $520 online or by fax, where a $20 expedite fee applies, as of October 2026. The annual report costs the same $500 or $520 each year, which makes Massachusetts one of the most expensive states for LLCs.
When is the Massachusetts LLC annual report due?
A Massachusetts LLC’s annual report is due on or before the anniversary of the date its Certificate of Organization was filed, under 950 CMR 112.22. The fee is $500 by mail or $520 online. LLCs that don’t file can be administratively dissolved by the Corporations Division.
What is a resident agent in Massachusetts?
A resident agent is the Massachusetts term for a registered agent: the person or company that accepts service of process for the LLC. It can be a Massachusetts resident, a domestic corporation or a qualified foreign corporation or other entity, and its office must be a street address, not a P.O. box.
Why does filing online cost $520 in Massachusetts?
The Corporations Division’s fee schedule adds a $20 expedite fee to filings submitted electronically or by fax. A Certificate of Organization costs $500 by mail or hand delivery and $520 online, and the annual report follows the same split. The $20 is charged on every electronic filing, so it isn’t an optional rush service.
What does the Massachusetts Certificate of Organization require?
Besides the name, office address and resident agent, the Massachusetts Certificate of Organization asks for a general description of the business, the names and addresses of any managers, and the people authorized to sign filings and real estate documents. It’s filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Corporations Division.
Does Massachusetts require newspaper publication for a new LLC?
No. Massachusetts doesn’t require a new LLC to publish notice of its formation in a newspaper. Once the Corporations Division files the Certificate of Organization, the LLC exists. The remaining steps are an operating agreement, an EIN, state tax registration, local permits and the annual report each year.
Can I be my own resident agent in Massachusetts?
Yes, if you’re a Massachusetts resident with a street address where you can accept legal papers during business hours. That address becomes public. Many owners hire a professional resident agent for privacy and reliability. Changing your resident agent later is free when filed online, or $25 on paper.
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