By StartBusinessByStatePublisher: Robert SmithResearch process
Make your Connecticut business official. Have your LLC paperwork prepared and filed so you can focus on getting your business off the ground.
- Your business name checked before filing.
- Your formation paperwork prepared and submitted.
- Your formation documents together in an online account.
$0 service fee + $120 state filing fee
Filing service by ZenBusiness. Choose Starter for the $0 service fee. State follow-up charges and optional services and renewals are separate.
We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no additional cost to you.
Get the paperwork handled and your company underway
With ZenBusiness, you provide the details and its team handles the Connecticut formation filing. You get electronic documents and customer support by phone, chat and email.
Use your approved LLC records to open a company bank account, organize your ownership agreement and do business under the company name. The state-specific costs and next steps below help you plan what comes after approval.
What it costs to start a Connecticut LLC
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).
Start with the Connecticut domestic LLC forms and fees page. These are government charges, separate from anything a formation company bills you.
| Expense | Amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Organization | $120 | Required when forming the LLC (includes statutory agent appointment) |
| Minimum formation total | $120 | Excludes optional purchases and operating expenses |
| Annual report | $80 | Each year Jan 1–Mar 31; first in the year after formation |
| Expedited service | $50 | Optional; online only when offered |
| Name reservation (optional) | $60 | Optional hold before filing |
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.
Choose the services you want with your filing
Starter’s base formation service does not renew. Registered-agent service, an EIN service, an operating agreement and faster preparation are optional purchases.
The preselected website-builder trial renews at $15/month after 30 days; you can remove it at checkout. Optional Worry-Free Compliance is free for the first year and renews at $199/year. Registered-agent service is listed separately at $199/year; first-year promotions may differ.
Review the services and renewal terms in your order. Provider details checked October 14, 2026 against ZenBusiness’s formation plans.
How to start your Connecticut LLC
Use your company details to get the formation paperwork prepared and submitted. Here is how the filing service works:
- Enter your business details. Choose Connecticut, your company name and the information requested for the filing.
- Review your services and order. Select Starter for the $0 base service fee. ZenBusiness prepares and submits the formation document from your answers.
- Save your approved company records. Once the filing office accepts the paperwork, use the documents to finish your banking and business setup.
Your Connecticut filing checklist and required next steps
- 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.
- 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.
- Decide who manages the company. Agree on member versus manager roles before filling titles. Ask your bank what ownership documents it needs.
- 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.
- 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.
Check your proposed name in the Connecticut business search.
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; state review follows the service’s preparation.
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.
Can I file directly with Connecticut?
Yes. You can prepare and submit the filing yourself through the Connecticut official LLC filing service. A formation service handles preparation and submission from the information you provide. The government charges and required follow-up steps above still apply.
Choose your 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. Ask which address fields the agent service covers. Supply accurate information—and a working email—because Connecticut uses email for annual report notices.
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.
Get your Connecticut LLC filing underway
Put the formation paperwork in ZenBusiness’s hands. Starter has a $0 service fee plus the applicable Connecticut charges detailed above.
Continue to ZenBusiness to enter your details and review your order. Optional services and renewal details.
We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no additional cost to you.
Put your approved LLC to work
- 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.Use the basic LLC operating agreement tool as a starting point.
- Get an EIN when needed. Form the entity first, then use the free IRS application if eligible. A paid EIN service handles the application for you. Save the confirmation for banking and tax records.
- Open your business bank account. 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.
- Complete taxes and operating approvals. 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 for the current rule.
Insurance guidance for your Connecticut business
Match coverage to your services, employees, equipment and client contracts. Start with the relevant guide:
Continue with the Connecticut business guide for the broader startup process.
Connecticut LLC questions before you start
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). You can file directly or use ZenBusiness Starter, which offers 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?
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.
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.
Page updated October 14, 2026. State-source review: September 14, 2026. ZenBusiness package terms checked October 14, 2026.