D.C. LLC Cost: $99 to File + $300 Biennial Report (2026)

Fact-checked and updated September 14, 2026.

A Washington, D.C. LLC costs $99 to form for the certificate of organization with the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) Corporations Division. The recurring DLCP filing is a biennial report at $300 (late fee $100). The first report is due April 1 of the year after registration, then every two years. You can file through BOSS (CorpOnline) or use ZenBusiness Starter for a $0 formation service fee plus the same $99 District fee. Optional services cost extra.

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

D.C. LLC costs: required fees and optional extras

Start with the DLCP Limited Liability Company fee schedule. These are government charges, separate from anything a formation company bills you.

Budget example: $99 to form plus $300 for the first biennial report equals $399 across those two DLCP filings (for an LLC registered in 2026, the first report is due April 1, 2027). That is not an all-in startup budget: permits, insurance, Office of Tax and Revenue accounts, professional help, and subscriptions are separate.

The $99 and $300 figures are DLCP Corporations Division fees—not a franchise tax. D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue generally requires a nonexempt unincorporated business with more than $12,000 of D.C. gross receipts to file Form D-30; see the tax section below for the rate, minimums, deadline, and exemptions.

Should you file with DLCP or use ZenBusiness?

Choose DIY if you are comfortable using BOSS/CorpOnline, supplying the correct information, 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 D.C. registered agent?

D.C. entities must maintain a registered agent in the District. A member may serve if they meet D.C. registered-agent eligibility, including physical District address requirements. Confirm current rules in the BOSS filing flow and D.C. Code Title 29. Change-of-agent filings have separate fees on the LLC schedule ($50 listed).

Consider whether you can reliably receive legal documents at that District address. If your day is spent at client sites or outside D.C., a commercial agent may be more practical. Compare delivery procedures and renewal costs before choosing.

Plan your address use before filing. DLCP records are publicly searchable. The registered-agent address is one field; principal-office and other required addresses are separate. Hiring an agent does not automatically make every address private. Supply accurate information in every field.

How to file your D.C. LLC: a practical checklist

1. Check the name. Search BOSS/CorpOnline and include an LLC designator. Optional name reservation/transfer is $50 on the LLC fee schedule. Filing acceptance is not a trademark clearance.
2. Gather addresses and agent details. Have the District registered-agent information, principal-office details required on Form DLC-1 / the online questionnaire, and organizer information ready.
3. Decide who manages the company. Agree on ownership and management before banking or contracts. Ask your bank what documents it needs.
4. Review and submit. Prefer BOSS online filing (credit card or e-check). Walk-in customers are charged the $100 one-day expedite in addition to regular fees. Mail is slower.
5. Confirm acceptance. Save the acknowledgment and filed documents, check the public record, and retain receipts. A payment receipt alone is not proof every detail was accepted correctly.

How long does approval take?

DLCP FAQs describe non-expedited online filings as typically processed within about 5 business days; expedite options are posted at $50 (3-day) and $100 (1-day). Walk-in equals mandatory same-day expedite. A service’s preparation time is separate from DLCP review. ZenBusiness lists standard preparation at 7–10 business days before state processing; faster service preparation does not guarantee immediate District approval.

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

D.C. LLC biennial report: what happens after formation?

The biennial report updates or confirms the District’s business record; it is not an income-tax return. An active LLC must file even when its information has not changed. See the DLCP domestic LLC page and D.C. Code § 29-102.11.

Example: an LLC whose public organic record becomes effective in 2026 has its first biennial report due April 1, 2027, then April 1 every two years thereafter. The fee is $300; late fee $100. Set reminders, verify the contact email, and save the filing confirmation. If you buy compliance assistance, check that the report was actually submitted.

Continued nonfiling can lead to administrative dissolution. Budget OTR tax registrations separately from this DLCP biennial fee.

Starting near year-end? First-report timing keys off the calendar year the public organic record became effective. Choose any delayed effective date (if offered) around your actual start—not only around the fee calendar.

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. D.C.’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:

• D.C. cleaning business insurance
• D.C. food truck insurance
• D.C. HVAC insurance
• D.C. landscaping insurance
• D.C. daycare insurance

Continue with the D.C. business guide for the broader startup process.

D.C. unincorporated-business franchise tax

The $300 DLCP biennial report is separate from tax. A nonexempt unincorporated business with more than $12,000 of D.C. gross receipts generally files Form D-30 and pays tax at 8.25%. The minimum is $250 when D.C. gross receipts are $1 million or less and $1,000 when they exceed $1 million. A calendar-year D-30 is generally due April 15.

Important exemptions include a business deriving more than 80% of gross income from members’ personal services when capital is not a material income-producing factor, and certain businesses that cannot legally or ethically incorporate. Review OTR’s franchise-tax rates and exemptions and the current D-30 instructions for your facts.

D.C. LLC questions before you file

What is the cheapest way to form a D.C. LLC?

The minimum DLCP filing total is $99 for the certificate of organization when filed without expedite. Filing directly avoids a third-party preparation charge; ZenBusiness Starter also advertises a $0 formation service fee. Walk-in same-day service adds a mandatory $100 expedite. Optional services and the later $300 biennial report are additional.

When is the first D.C. biennial report due?

The first biennial report is due April 1 of the calendar year after the year of registration/effective formation. Subsequent reports are due April 1 every two years. The fee is $300; the late fee is $100.

Can I be my own D.C. registered agent?

A member may serve if they meet District registered-agent eligibility, including a qualifying D.C. address. Confirm current agent rules in the BOSS filing flow and D.C. Code Title 29.

Does forming an LLC give me a D.C. business license?

No. Formation creates the entity with DLCP Corporations Division. Basic business licenses, tax accounts, and industry approvals are separate; check your activity 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.