How Much Does It Cost to Get an LLC in Texas? (Price Guide)

To create a limited liability company in Texas, you file a certificate of formation with the Texas Secretary of State. That one filing fee is the only state charge required to form the LLC. Name reservations, faster processing, certified copies, and later changes each cost extra, and you only pay for the ones you use.

All fees on this page come from the Texas Secretary of State's own instructions and fee schedule, published by the Texas SOS and checked on Oct 11, 2026. The state can change its fees, so confirm the current amounts on sos.state.tx.us before filing. This page lists filing fees only; for help choosing a business structure or handling taxes, consult a licensed attorney or CPA.

The certificate of formation for a limited liability company is Form 205, filed online through SOSDirect or by mail, fax, or in person. The fee is $300 whichever filing method you use. The Secretary of State's fee schedule charges an LLC the same as a for-profit corporation for most filings, so the rows below apply to both.

Optional Filings Before and After Formation

• Name reservation costs $40. You don't need it to form an LLC, but it holds a name while you prepare your paperwork.
• Preclearance costs $50. The office reviews a draft document before you file it officially.
• Certificate of amendment costs $150. You file it later if you change the LLC's name, purpose, or other details in the certificate of formation.
• Change of registered agent or office costs $15.
• Certificate of termination costs $40 when you close the LLC.
• Reinstatement after the state forfeits an entity for tax reasons costs $75, on top of any taxes and reports you still owe the Comptroller.

Standard processing times at the Secretary of State vary with workload. If you need the LLC formed quickly, for example to open a bank account or sign a lease, you can pay an expedite fee of $25 for each document.

Check the current processing times on the Secretary of State's site before paying to expedite. When routine processing is already fast, the fee may not save you much time.

Banks, lenders, and other states sometimes ask for official proof that your LLC exists and is in good standing.

A certificate of status costs $15. Certified copies of your filed documents are charged $1 per page, plus a separate certificate fee for each certified copy.

Online payments by credit card include a convenience fee. It is 2.25% of the total fees, plus a small flat amount, as shown in the table.

On a single formation filing, the card fee adds only a little. The Secretary of State accepts other payment methods too; the filing instructions list them.

The Secretary of State doesn't charge Texas LLCs an annual report fee. Instead, LLCs deal with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, which handles the state franchise tax. Every LLC must file franchise tax reports each year, and many small LLCs owe no tax because of the no-tax-due threshold, though they still have to file. Missing these reports can lead to forfeiture, which is why the reinstatement fee exists.

Other costs depend on your business:

• Every Texas LLC must name a registered agent with an address in Texas. You can act as your own agent at no charge, or pay a commercial registered agent service.
• If the LLC does business under a name other than its legal name, it must file an assumed name certificate with the state, and fees apply.
• Cities and counties charge their own license and permit fees, which vary by industry and location.