How much does it cost to form a Texas LLC?

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How much does it cost to form a Texas LLC?

Forming a Texas LLC costs $300, which is the Secretary of State's filing fee for the LLC's Certificate of Formation. If you hire our firm, the total is $800: our $500 flat fee plus the $300 state filing fee.

Our Flat-Fee LLC Formation Service

Our flat-fee Texas LLC formation service is $500 (plus the $300 state filing fee) and comes with an attorney consultation, a preliminary name availability search, preparation and filing of your Certificate of Formation, a customized Company Agreement, organizational and banking resolutions, a membership ledger, and a 10-page guidance letter on running your LLC. For an additional $75, we can obtain your LLC's EIN (federal tax ID), or we can provide step-by-step instructions to get it yourself at no charge.

DIY vs Hiring Us

Filing the Certificate of Formation is the easy part. The documents that protect you after formation are where DIY and hiring a lawyer differ.
Do It Yourself Copp Law Firm
Cost to form$300 filing fee$500 (plus $300 filing fee)
Who prepares your Certificate of FormationYouAn attorney
Name availability checkYou search on your ownAttorney review before filing
EIN (federal tax ID)You apply yourselfWe obtain it for $75
Company AgreementYou draft one or go withoutCustomized to your LLC
Organizational resolutions & banking resolutionsYou draft them or go withoutIncluded
Membership Transfer LedgerYou set one upIncluded
Guidance on running your LLCYou research it yourself10-page guidance letter
Legal adviceNoneAttorney consultation included

Texas LLC Filing Fees

Here are the state fees you may pay when forming a Texas LLC, per the Secretary of State's official fee schedule:
Filing SOS Form State Fee*
Certificate of Formation (LLC)205$300
Certificate of Formation (Series LLC)205 (with series language)$300
Certificate of Formation (PLLC)206$300
Texas Express Standard Expedited (optional, 2 to 3 business days)N/A$50 per document
Texas Express Next-Day (optional)N/A$500 per document
Texas Express Same-Day (optional)N/A$750 per document
Name reservation (120 days)501$40
* Fees paid by credit card in SOSPortal include a 2.25% + $0.25 convenience fee ($7.01 on the $300 filing fee). Any reference to an $8.10 convenience fee is outdated; that was the fee under SOSDirect, which SOSPortal replaced on September 29, 2026.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Does it cost more to form a multi-member LLC vs single-member LLC?

No. The state charges the same $300 filing fee for any LLC, and our flat fee is the same whether your LLC has one member or several. That said, a Company Agreement matters even more with multiple members, since it spells out each member’s ownership, who makes decisions, and what happens if someone wants out.

Do I need a Company Agreement, and what does it cost?

Texas doesn’t require a written Company Agreement, but every LLC should have one. Without it, your LLC is governed by the default rules in the Texas Business Organizations Code, which may not match how you want to run your business. Many banks also ask to see it before opening an account. A customized Company Agreement is included in our flat fee.

What does it cost to perform a name available search?

The best way to determine if the Texas Secretary of State will approve a new LLC name is to perform a name availability search. If you have a SOSPortal account, you can pay $1 per name availability search. If you don't have a SOSPortal account, you can call the state's name availability hotline (512-463-5555) and have them search for you (no charge).

What does it cost to reserve a business name in Texas?

If you discover the perfect LLC name but are not ready to form the LLC, you can reserve the name for up to 120 days by filing an Application for Reservation of an Entity Name (Form 501) and paying the $40 filing fee to the Secretary of State.

Does it cost extra if the LLC is not approved?

The $300 filing fee is charged only if the LLC is approved and filed, so you won't pay it if the state rejects the filing. The exception is Texas Express expediting. Same-Day ($750) and Next-Day ($500) fees are non-refundable and get charged when the state reviews the filing, even if it's rejected. The $50 Standard Expedited fee is charged only if the document is filed. If the state rejects a filing we prepared, we’ll fix and refile it at no additional charge.

Does it cost extra to expedite the formation of a Texas LLC?

Only if you choose to. The Secretary of State’s Texas Express program offers Same-Day, Next-Day, and Standard Expedited (2 to 3 business days) filing at checkout in SOSPortal; see the fee table above for prices. Same-Day and Next-Day filings must be received by noon. Most LLCs don’t need it, since SOSPortal filings are typically approved within 3 to 4 business days at no extra cost. We file all of our clients’ LLCs online, so you get that faster processing without paying to expedite.

How much does it cost to apply for an LLC's EIN?

An EIN (aka federal tax ID) is required to open an LLC bank account. You can fax file an EIN Application (IRS Form SS4), but most LLCs will apply for and receive an EIN via the IRS's online EIN Application. The EIN Application is free to file.

We can provide customized, step-by-step instructions on how to submit the EIN Application online (at no charge). We can also obtain the EIN for you for $75.

How much does a professional registered agent charge?

The annual fee for a professional registered agent ranges from less than $50 to more than $350 per year. Most LLCs do not need a professional registered agent as one of the members will serve in that role. Learn more about professional registered agents and see if you should hire one.

What does it cost for my LLC to use a different business name?

An LLC can do business under another name (a “DBA”) by filing an Assumed Name Certificate (Form 503) with the Secretary of State for $25. The certificate is good for up to 10 years and can be renewed. We can file a DBA for you for $175 (plus the $25 filing fee ).

Does a Texas LLC have annual fees or an annual report?

There are no annual or renewal fees to keep a Texas LLC active. The only annual filing is the Public Information Report with the Texas Comptroller, which is free and due May 15 each year. Don’t skip it: an LLC that fails to file can lose its right to do business in Texas.

Read more about the annual costs for a Texas LLC.

What state taxes does a Texas LLC pay?

Texas has no state income tax. The only state taxes a Texas LLC may owe are franchise tax, sales tax (if it sells taxable goods or services), and state unemployment tax (if it has employees). Franchise tax applies only if the LLC’s annualized total revenue exceeds the no-tax-due threshold, which is $2.65 million for 2026 reports (the threshold adjusts every two years). LLCs below the threshold still must file a Public Information Report each year.

Are LLC formation costs tax deductible?

Generally, yes. The state filing fee and legal fees to form your LLC are organizational costs, and the IRS allows most businesses to deduct up to $5,000 of them in the first year, with any remainder deducted over 15 years. For most LLCs, that means the full cost of formation, including our fee, is deductible in year one. Check with your CPA for how this applies to your situation.

What is the cost to correct a mistake in the Certificate of Formation?

The state charges $15 to file a Certificate of Correction (Form 403), which fixes an error in your filed Certificate of Formation, such as a misspelled member name or a wrong address. A correction only fixes information that was inaccurate when filed. To change something that was accurate at the time, you’ll need a Certificate of Amendment instead (see below). If we made the error, we’ll file the correction at no charge.

What is the cost to amend the Certificate of Formation?

A Certificate of Amendment (Form 424) has a filing fee of $150. A Certificate of Amendment can be used to modify, supplement or delete information found in the Certificate of Formation.

What does it cost to change registered agents?

There is a $15 filing fee to file a Statement of Change of Registered Agent (Form 401).

How much does it cost to register a Foreign LLC in Texas?

An LLC formed in another state that does business in Texas must register in Texas as a "Foreign LLC." The filing fee for the Application to Register Foreign LLC in Texas is $750 (+2.25% + $.25 convenience fee if paid with a credit card). If you'd like for us to register an existing foreign LLC in Texas, we charge a service fee of $100 (+ the filing and convenience fees).

Does a Texas LLC have to publish a notice of formation?

No. Only 3 states have publication requirements for LLCs: Arizona, Nebraska, and New York.

How much does it cost to form a Texas Series LLC?

The same as a regular LLC. The Secretary of State charges $300 to file a Series LLC’s Certificate of Formation, and our flat fee is $500. After formation, we charge $300 to create each series. A protected series requires no state filing, while a registered series also requires a $300 state filing fee.

Learn more about Texas Series LLCs.

How much does it cost to form a Texas PLLC?

The same as a regular LLC. The Secretary of State charges $300 to file a PLLC’s Certificate of Formation (Form 206), and our flat fee is $500. A PLLC is used by licensed professionals such as physicians, dentists, therapists, and CPAs.

See whether your profession requires a PLLC.

How much does it cost to form a veteran-owned LLC in Texas?

$0 in state filing fees, if every owner is an honorably discharged veteran. Texas waives the $300 filing fee for new LLCs owned entirely by veterans, along with certain other filing fees for the LLC’s first five years. To qualify, you must file a Texas Veterans Commission verification letter for each owner and Comptroller Form 05-904 with the Certificate of Formation. Qualifying LLCs are also exempt from franchise tax for their first five years. If we form your LLC, you pay only our $500 flat fee.

Read more about new veteran-owned LLCs. 

Zachary Copp, Esq.

Attorney at Copp Law Firm, PC

Zachary "Zac" Copp is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and the founder of the Copp Law Firm, PC. He has been licensed to practice law in Texas for 23 years and has personally formed over 3,750 Texas LLCs since 2015. He was recognized as a Rising Star by SuperLawyers® for seven straight years. See full bio →