Michigan LLC Cost: $50 to File Articles (2026)

Fact-checked and updated September 14, 2026.

A Michigan LLC costs $50 to file Articles of Organization (Form CSCL/CD-700) with LARA’s Corporations Division. Most LLCs then file a $25 Annual Statement by February 15 (with an exception if formed after September 30). File on the MiBusiness Registry Portal or use ZenBusiness Starter for a $0 formation service fee plus the same $50 state fee. Optional services cost extra.

This page is for founders who want LARA’s Articles fee and February 15 Annual Statement rules in one place before they create a MiLogin account and file Form CSCL/CD-700.

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

Michigan LLC costs: required fees and optional extras

Start with the LARA LLC page and the annual statements guide.

Budget example: $50 to form plus $25 for the first Annual Statement is a lean LARA path before Treasury registration, insurance, or local licenses. No Michigan franchise tax is identified for a standard LLC. Expedited processing is optional. If you need a filed LLC for a lease or bank appointment, confirm current CSCL/CD-272 expedite tiers rather than assuming same-day acceptance on the standard channel.

Michigan’s combination of a $50 formation fee and a $25 Annual Statement is relatively inexpensive among Great Lakes states. The main risk is missing February 15—not a high recurring tax disguised as an SOS fee. Before you open, decide whether you need assumed-name (DBA) filings, professional licensing, or local permits. None of those replace the $50 Articles filing, and none of them are included in the $25 Annual Statement.

Should you file on MiBusiness or use ZenBusiness?

Choose DIY if you can complete CD-700, appoint a Michigan resident agent, and calendar February 15. Choose a filing service for guided preparation. Michigan’s combination of a $50 formation fee and a $25 Annual Statement is relatively inexpensive among Great Lakes states. The main risk is missing February 15—not a high recurring tax disguised as an SOS fee. Read renewal and cancellation terms for any optional compliance product before you pay.

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 Michigan resident agent?

Yes, if you continuously maintain a Michigan registered-office street address and meet LARA resident-agent rules. A member may serve when those conditions are met.

If you travel or work from customer sites, a commercial agent may be more reliable for service of process. Compare delivery procedures and renewal pricing.

Plan addresses before filing. LARA records are public—enter accurate registered-office and agent information in each field.

LARA uses “resident agent” language. The registered office must be a Michigan street address capable of receiving service of process during ordinary business hours expectations.

How to file your Michigan LLC: a practical checklist

1. Check the name in LARA’s business entity search and include a proper LLC designator. Acceptance is not trademark clearance.
2. Appoint a resident agent with a Michigan street address and obtain consent.
3. Decide management (member-managed vs manager-managed) for the Articles.
4. File Articles online at MiBusiness / corpfileonline (CSCL/CD-700) and pay $50.
5. Confirm acceptance and calendar the Annual Statement rules for February 15.

How long does approval take?

Online filings are often processed quickly, but the LLC exists only when LARA accepts the Articles. ZenBusiness’s 7–10 business day preparation estimate is separate from state review. Leave buffer for name conflicts. Online filing requires a MiLogin for Business account. Build a few minutes into your plan for account creation before you start Form CSCL/CD-700.

Michigan LLC Annual Statement: $25 by February 15

Michigan LLCs file an Annual Statement with LARA. The standard LLC fee is $25, due not later than February 15. If formed after September 30, you generally skip the February 15 immediately succeeding formation, then follow the ordinary cycle.

Professional LLCs use a combined Annual Statement and Report ($75) with a $50 late penalty after February 15 on LARA’s annual page—confirm PLLC rules if you practice a licensed profession.

Example: formed June 2026 → plan for February 15, 2027. Formed October 2026 → generally skip February 15, 2027, then file by February 15, 2028. Verify your portal status.

If you form late in the year (after September 30), do not assume you skip forever—you only skip the February 15 immediately succeeding formation. Mark the following February 15 as soon as Articles are accepted.

Keep the email on file with LARA current; impending dissolution notices and statement reminders go to the registered contact path the bureau uses.

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. Michigan’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.

After filing, check Michigan Department of Treasury registration needs for sales, withholding, or other accounts that apply to your actual operations.

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:

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

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

Annual-statement late penalty

An ordinary Michigan LLC’s annual statement costs $25 and is due February 15, subject to the existing exception for an LLC formed after September 30 of the preceding year. LARA imposes a $50 penalty when the statement is received after February 15; this is not limited to PLLCs. See LARA’s annual reports and statements guidance.

Michigan LLC questions before you file

What is the cheapest way to form a Michigan LLC?

Articles of Organization cost $50 with LARA. Filing directly avoids a third-party preparation charge; ZenBusiness Starter also advertises a $0 formation service fee plus the same $50 state fee. Budget $25 for the Annual Statement. Always separate state fees from any optional registered-agent or compliance add-ons you choose at checkout.

When is the Michigan LLC Annual Statement due?

Not later than February 15 each year. If the LLC is formed after September 30, it is not required on the February 15 immediately succeeding formation.

Can I be my own Michigan resident agent?

Yes, if you maintain a Michigan registered-office street address and meet LARA resident-agent rules.

Does forming an LLC give me a Michigan business license?

No. Formation is with LARA. Treasury tax accounts, industry licenses, and local approvals are separate.

Can I get an EIN without buying a service?

Yes. The IRS issues EINs free after the LLC is formed, if you are eligible for the online application.