Texas LLC Formation Cost Calculator
Estimate the total cost to form your LLC in Texas, including the state filing fee and optional services.
What does it cost to form an LLC in Texas?
Forming a Limited Liability Company in Texas starts with a state filing fee — the cost of submitting your Articles of Organization (or Certificate of Formation) to the Texas Secretary of State. That fee is currently around $300 in Texas. This one-time fee is mandatory and non-negotiable; there is no way to form a legal LLC in Texas without paying it.
Registered agent service in Texas: do you need it?
Every LLC formed in Texas must designate a registered agent — a person or company available at a physical address in the state during business hours to receive legal documents and state correspondence. You can serve as your own registered agent for free if you have a physical address in Texas and are reliably available, but many business owners pay a commercial registered agent service (typically around $100-150 per year) for privacy, convenience, or because they don't reside in Texas.
Operating agreements: DIY, template, or attorney-drafted
An operating agreement outlines how your Texas LLC is owned, managed, and how profits are distributed. Texas likely doesn't legally require one for every LLC, but it's strongly recommended for any LLC with more than one member, and even useful for single-member LLCs to reinforce liability protection. A free or low-cost template can work for a very simple, single-owner LLC, but multi-member LLCs, or those with complex profit-sharing or management structures, often benefit from an attorney-drafted agreement (typically a few hundred dollars) to avoid disputes down the road.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Texas?
The Texas state filing fee is currently around $300. Add optional costs like a registered agent service (~$125/year) or an attorney-drafted operating agreement (~$300) and total upfront costs often land between $300 and $725 in Texas.
What is the Texas LLC filing fee?
The current Texas LLC filing fee is approximately $300, paid directly to the Texas Secretary of State (or equivalent agency) when you submit your Articles of Organization. Fees can change, so confirm the current amount before filing.
Do I need a registered agent in Texas?
Yes, every LLC formed in Texas is legally required to have one, but you can serve as your own registered agent for free if you have a physical address in Texas and are available during business hours. Many owners pay for a commercial service instead, for privacy or convenience.
Do I really need an operating agreement in Texas?
Most states, including likely Texas, don't legally require one, but it's still strongly recommended, especially for multi-member LLCs, since it clarifies ownership, management, and profit-sharing and helps reinforce your liability protection.
Should I form my LLC in Texas or a state like Delaware or Wyoming?
Delaware and Wyoming are popular for their business-friendly laws, but if you operate primarily in Texas, you'll likely need to register there as a foreign LLC anyway, effectively paying two states' fees. For most small, single-state businesses operating in Texas, forming there directly is simpler and cheaper.
Are there ongoing costs after forming an LLC in Texas?
Many states, potentially including Texas, require an annual report fee or franchise tax to keep your LLC in good standing, and registered agent services typically renew annually if you use one. These recurring costs are separate from the one-time formation fee estimated above — check Texas's specific requirements.
Can I form an LLC myself in Texas without a formation service?
Yes. Filing the Articles of Organization directly with the Texas Secretary of State is straightforward for most simple, single-member LLCs, and it avoids paying a formation service's markup on top of the $300 state filing fee.