Connecticut LLC Cost: $120 to File (2026)

Fact-checked and updated September 14, 2026.

A Connecticut LLC costs $120 to form: that Certificate of Organization fee includes appointment of a statutory agent. The annual report costs $80 and is due in the calendar year after formation (file January 1–March 31). You can submit through Business.CT.gov or use ZenBusiness Starter for a $0 formation service fee plus the same $120 state fee. Optional services cost extra.

This guide is for creating a new Connecticut LLC. If you already have an LLC formed in another state, check Connecticut’s foreign-registration requirements before creating a second company.

Connecticut LLC costs: required fees and optional extras

Start with the Connecticut domestic LLC forms and fees page. These are government charges, separate from anything a formation company bills you.

Budget example: $120 to form plus $80 for the first annual report equals $200 across those two SOS filings. That is not an all-in business startup budget: permits, insurance, taxes, professional help, and subscriptions are separate.

No Secretary of the State franchise tax was identified for domestic LLCs on the fee pages reviewed here. Connecticut Department of Revenue Services entity-tax rules are separate from the $80 annual report—confirm current DRS guidance with a tax professional if needed, and do not treat the annual report as a substitute for tax accounts.

Should you file on Business.CT.gov or use ZenBusiness?

Choose DIY if you are comfortable completing the Certificate of Organization, obtaining the agent’s acceptance signature, and keeping your own records. Choose a filing service if you prefer a guided questionnaire and help preparing the paperwork. Either way, you decide ownership, addresses, and management.

ZenBusiness lists Starter at $0 without a base-plan renewal. Its optional first year of Worry-Free Compliance renews at $199/year; registered-agent service is listed at $199/year (intro pricing may show about $99 for the first year—confirm at checkout). EIN and operating-agreement services are separate Starter purchases. Check the current package terms and checkout selections.

A free introductory service can become a recurring expense. Before paying, review the initial total, renewal amounts, and cancellation terms. Keep a copy of your selections. A reminder is not confirmation that a required state filing was submitted, and the state filing fee remains separate.

Can you be your own Connecticut statutory agent?

Yes—an individual Connecticut resident, including a member or manager, may serve. A qualified Connecticut or foreign entity with a Connecticut address on file may also serve. The LLC cannot be its own agent, and the agent must sign accepting the appointment on the Certificate of Organization. Street/business and residence fields follow the form instructions (P.O. boxes are not accepted where a street address is required).

Consider whether you can reliably receive legal documents at the listed address. If your day is spent at customer sites or events, a commercial agent may be more practical. Compare delivery procedures and renewal costs before choosing.

Plan your address use before filing. Connecticut business records are publicly searchable. The agent address is one field; principal-office and mailing addresses are separate. Hiring an agent does not automatically make every address private. Supply accurate information—and a working email—because Connecticut uses email for annual report notices.

How to file your Connecticut LLC: a practical checklist

1. Check the name. Search Business.CT.gov and review similar names before ordering signs or a website. Include a required LLC designation. Filing acceptance is not a trademark clearance. Optional name reservation is $60.
2. Gather addresses, NAICS, and agent acceptance. Have the principal-office street address (no P.O. box), mailing address, statutory-agent details with acceptance signature, at least one member or manager, a six-digit NAICS code, and a working email ready.
3. Decide who manages the company. Agree on member versus manager roles before filling titles. Ask your bank what ownership documents it needs.
4. Review and submit. Prefer the Business.CT.gov online account (paper is slower and cannot use the $50 online expedite). Check names, addresses, and agent acceptance carefully, then pay $120.
5. Confirm acceptance. Save the acknowledgment and filed certificate, check the public record, and retain receipts. Most online filings auto-accept, but a payment alone is not proof every detail is correct.

How long does approval take?

Business.CT.gov states that most filings are automatically accepted; when expedite is offered it is $50 per transaction online only. There is no fixed day-count promise on the fee pages for every edge case—check the portal status. A service’s preparation time is separate from Connecticut’s acceptance. ZenBusiness lists standard preparation at 7–10 business days before state processing; faster service preparation does not guarantee immediate state approval.

If a lease, financing, or opening date depends on the LLC, leave room for name conflicts and corrections. Completing an online questionnaire is not the moment the company is approved.

Connecticut LLC annual report: what happens after formation?

The annual report updates or confirms the state’s business record; it is not an income-tax return. An active LLC must file even when its information has not changed. File online annually from January 1 through March 31. See Connecticut annual report forms and fees.

Example: an LLC formed in 2026 has its first report due in 2027 (after January 1 and before April 1 of the year following formation, per Certificate of Organization instructions and C.G.S. § 34-247k). The fee is $80. Set reminders for January and March, verify the contact email on file, and save the filing confirmation. If you buy compliance assistance, check that the report was actually submitted.

Failure to file can lead to administrative dissolution and inability to obtain a certificate of legal existence. Confirm any current late/penalty amounts with the Secretary of the State before relying on third-party summaries.

Starting near year-end? Confirm any delayed-effective options in the online flow or paper instructions at filing time. Choose the date around your actual business start; the formation calendar year drives when the first $80 report is due.

After filing: get the business ready to operate

• Document how the LLC works. An operating agreement can set ownership, contributions, decision-making, distributions, and exit arrangements. Connecticut’s filing office generally does not require you to file the agreement with the formation paperwork—keep it with your company records. For multiple owners, resolve disagreements before money or contracts are committed.
• Get an EIN when needed. Form the entity first, then use the free IRS application if eligible. An EIN service fee pays someone to assist; it is not an IRS charge. Save the confirmation for banking and tax records.
• Separate business finances. Ask the bank for its document checklist and establish a bookkeeping process. Use the correct legal business name on applications and contracts; keep any trade-name registrations consistent.
• Check taxes and operating permissions. LLC formation does not itself select S-corporation taxation or issue a professional license. The IRS explains LLC tax classifications. Identify the state and local requirements for your actual work before opening.
• Check the current BOI rule. As of this review, FinCEN exempts entities created in the United States from beneficial-ownership reporting. A newly created domestic LLC generally falls within that exemption. Consult FinCEN directly before buying a BOI filing add-on.

For a simple one-owner operation, organize these tasks into a short checklist. Where ownership, investors, or tax elections are complicated, formation paperwork alone will not resolve those decisions.

Match insurance to the work your LLC performs

Entity formation and insurance solve different problems. Ask the insurer to identify the correct business and operations; ask clients or landlords what coverage and certificate of insurance they require. Use the relevant guide to compare coverage:

• Connecticut cleaning business insurance
• Connecticut food truck insurance
• Connecticut HVAC insurance
• Connecticut landscaping insurance
• Connecticut daycare insurance

Continue with the Connecticut business guide for the broader startup process.

Connecticut LLC questions before you file

What is the cheapest way to form a Connecticut LLC?

The minimum state filing total is $120 for the Certificate of Organization (including appointment of the statutory agent). Filing directly avoids a third-party preparation charge; ZenBusiness Starter also advertises a $0 formation service fee. Optional expedite ($50) and later annual reports are additional.

Is the Connecticut annual report fee due when I form the LLC?

No. The first annual report is due in the calendar year after formation. File online from January 1 through March 31. The fee is $80.

Can the LLC be its own Connecticut statutory agent?

No. The LLC cannot be its own agent. A Connecticut resident individual (including a member or manager) or a qualified entity with a Connecticut address may serve, and the agent must accept the appointment.

Does forming an LLC give me a Connecticut business license?

No. Formation creates the entity with the Secretary of the State. Licenses, tax accounts, and local approvals for your work are separate; check your industry and location before opening.

Can I get an EIN without buying a service?

Yes. The IRS issues EINs free. Form the LLC first, then check eligibility for the IRS online application or use its alternative application instructions.