LLC in DC Cost: Average Fees Explained

The District of Columbia is not a state, and its LLC costs show it. Fees come from the District's Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, the main recurring charge is a report every two years instead of every year, and a business with a physical location may need a Certificate of Occupancy.

The amounts below come from the sources named in each table and were checked on Oct 11, 2026. Confirm current fees with the District's business filing office before you pay.

The Articles of Organization create the LLC in the District.

Reserving a name costs $50. A foreign LLC from another state registers using Form FN-1 for $50. A Certificate of Good Standing costs $50, and a trade name registration costs $55.

The Certificate of Occupancy is listed starting at $72.60. This is not a formation fee. It applies to a business that operates from a physical location in the District, and the amount depends on the situation, so treat the figure as a starting point and ask the District what applies to your address.

DC does not use the annual report found in most states.

The biennial report costs $300, according to LegalZoom. It is due every two years, not each year, so the per-year equivalent is lower than the sticker price suggests. Still, the amount is larger than the formation fee, and it arrives in a single payment. Set money aside during the two years between filings.

Every LLC needs a registered agent with a District address. A member who lives or works in DC can serve. A commercial agent is quoted at $100 – $300/yr.

The agent charge recurs each year, while the report comes once every two years, so the two should be tracked on different calendars. Agent pricing comes from private companies, not the District, so shop around.

All three sources report the same filing fee, which suggests they are quoting the District's schedule directly. A formation service may add its own fee, so a quote that looks higher usually reflects the service.

Because the report comes every two years, the cleanest way to budget is across a two-year window. Start with the Articles of Organization. Add a registered agent for each year if you hire one. Add the biennial report when it comes due. If you rent or own space in the District, ask about the Certificate of Occupancy as well.

Over two years, the biennial report and a paid agent service together can exceed the formation fee several times over. Owners who budget only for formation miss that.

An owner who already has an LLC in Maryland or Virginia and wants to do business in the District has two paths. One is to register the existing LLC as a foreign LLC. The other is to form a new District LLC. The foreign registration is cheaper than the typical formation fee in this table, but the existing LLC keeps its own home-state costs. Those continue alongside the District's, so compare total yearly costs across both before deciding. A licensed attorney can help if the choice affects liability or taxes.

A business based at home still has to check the District's licensing requirements. Whether you need a business license depends on your activity, not simply on the LLC filing. The District's licensing agency can say what your business requires, and a licensed attorney can advise on zoning questions tied to the address.

When a service quotes a package, ask what portion is the District's fee and what is the company's. Ask whether the registered agent renews at the same price after year one. And ask whether the quote includes the biennial report or leaves it for you to handle later, since that is the largest single item in the table.

Filing directly keeps the cost at the District's fees. A service adds its own price for preparing the paperwork and sometimes includes an agent plan. For an LLC with a single owner, filing directly is often straightforward. With several owners, a licensed attorney can help draft the operating agreement.

The costs on this page are filing and service fees. District taxes, federal taxes, and payroll obligations are separate and depend on what the business does. A licensed CPA can explain what applies to your LLC.