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Texas LLC cost guide · Updated August 28, 2026How much does an LLC cost in Texas in 2026?
The required state filing fee is $300. Your final total depends on optional name, payment, speed, registered-agent and professional-support choices.
The lowest normal government cost to create a standard Texas LLC is the $300 Certificate of Formation filing fee. That number does not include optional services, payment convenience fees or the work required to prepare the entity correctly and get it ready to operate.
What is the minimum cost to start a Texas LLC?
Texas currently charges $300 to file Form 205, the Certificate of Formation for a limited liability company. If you prepare the filing yourself, do not reserve the name, do not request expedited service and use a qualifying registered agent without hiring an outside provider, the state filing fee is the main required formation charge.
Credit-card payments to the Texas Secretary of State are subject to a 2.7% convenience fee. The IRS does not charge for an EIN. The IRS also warns applicants to avoid websites that charge merely to issue an EIN because the federal number is available directly from the IRS at no charge.
If you still need the full filing sequence, read How to start an LLC in Texas. If you are comparing entity types, see DBA vs LLC vs corporation in Texas.
Texas LLC cost table for 2026
| Cost | Current amount | Required? |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Certificate of Formation | $300 | Yes, for a standard new Texas LLC |
| Secretary of State credit-card convenience fee | 2.7% of the amount charged | Only when paying the state by credit card |
| Federal EIN | $0 from the IRS | Often needed for banking, payroll or tax administration |
| Entity name reservation | $40 | No; it is optional and lasts 120 days |
| Texas assumed name certificate | $25 at the Secretary of State | Only if the LLC will use an applicable assumed name |
| Standard expedited review | $50 plus the filing fee | No |
| Next-day Texas Express review | $500 plus the filing fee | No |
| Same-day Texas Express review | $750 plus the filing fee | No |
| Registered-agent service | Varies by provider | A registered agent and Texas office are required; a paid service is not always required |
| Professional formation support | Varies by scope | No, but it can reduce filing and setup mistakes |
Which optional costs might apply?
Name reservation: $40
A Texas entity name may be reserved for 120 days. Reservation can be useful when the name needs to be held before the formation document is ready, but it is not a required step for every LLC.
Assumed name certificate: $25 at the state level
An LLC that will do business under another name may need an assumed name certificate. The Secretary of State filing fee is currently $25. Other requirements or local costs can depend on the business and jurisdiction, so confirm the filings that apply before using the name.
Expedited review: $50, $500 or $750 extra
Texas Express currently offers standard expedited review, next-day review and same-day review at different prices. The advertised time is a review period, not a promise that a defective filing will be accepted. The fastest option is rarely necessary for an ordinary small-business formation.
Registered-agent service
Texas requires an LLC to continuously maintain a registered agent and physical registered office in the state. An eligible owner may be able to serve, but the public address, reliable availability and legal-notice handling should be considered before choosing the lowest-cost option.
What costs continue after the LLC is formed?
Texas does not charge a separate annual LLC renewal fee just to keep the Certificate of Formation on file. However, the LLC still has tax, information-report, registered-agent, bookkeeping, licensing and operational responsibilities.
- Texas franchise tax and information reporting: the annual due date is generally May 15. For the 2026 report year, the no-tax-due threshold is $2.65 million. An entity at or below the threshold may not need a Franchise Tax Report, but it must generally still file its Public Information Report or Ownership Information Report.
- Registered agent: keep the agent and registered office current. Provider pricing varies.
- Licenses and permits: costs depend on the activity and location. Texas does not use one general statewide business license for every business.
- Bookkeeping, payroll and tax preparation: these are operational costs, not part of the state formation fee.
- Insurance and contracts: the right coverage and documents depend on the business risk and ownership arrangement.
Should you file the LLC yourself or pay for help?
A simple single-owner LLC with a clear name, straightforward management and no unusual legal or tax issues may be manageable as a do-it-yourself filing. The risk is not only rejection. A filing can be accepted while still reflecting the wrong governing structure, a poor privacy choice or an incomplete operating setup.
| Approach | What you handle | Typical starting total |
|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself | Name review, registered agent, Form 205, governing document, EIN and all follow-through | $300 state fee, plus applicable optional costs |
| Mr. Argo standard package | Provide the required business and owner information through the secure process | $595 total, including the $300 state fee |
Multi-owner companies, unequal ownership, licensed activities, outside investors, disputed ownership, immigration issues and unusual tax objectives can require advice beyond a standard formation service. The Texas Secretary of State states that its forms satisfy minimum statutory filing requirements and do not replace legal or tax advice.
What is included in Mr. Argo’s $595 package?
- The standard $300 Texas LLC state filing fee
- Preparation and filing support for a standard Texas LLC
- Applicable governing documents, including an Operating Agreement when applicable
- EIN acquisition when the responsible party has an SSN or ITIN
- Bilingual guidance on the formation and immediate next steps
- Texas registered-agent service at $0 per year for eligible formation-bundle clients under the written agreement
If the responsible party does not have an SSN or ITIN, the required manual Form SS-4 service is an additional $100, making the total $695. Expedited and non-standard requests are quoted separately before payment. Taxpayer identification numbers are collected through the secure intake process, never ordinary email.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Texas LLC fee really $300?
Yes. The Texas Secretary of State currently lists a $300 filing fee for the Certificate of Formation of a standard Texas LLC.
Is an EIN free?
Yes. The IRS issues EINs directly at no charge. A service provider may charge for preparation or handling, but the IRS does not charge an EIN issuance fee.
Does Texas charge an annual LLC fee?
Texas does not list a flat annual renewal charge for every LLC. Franchise-tax and information-report requirements still apply, and tax, registered-agent, license and professional costs depend on the facts.
Is the $595 Mr. Argo price plus the $300 state fee?
No. The standard $595 Texas LLC package already includes the $300 state filing fee.
Official sources
- Texas Secretary of State: Form 205 instructions and $300 fee
- Texas Secretary of State: Filing and payment options
- Texas Secretary of State: Name reservation
- Texas Secretary of State: Assumed name certificate
- Texas Secretary of State: Texas Express fees
- IRS: Get an EIN for free
- Texas Comptroller: 2026 franchise tax requirements
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Reviewed by Arnulfo Gonzalez
Arnulfo is the founder of Mr. Argo and a bilingual Houston business advisor with experience across business formation, accounting, tax and operations. Read his background.
Want one clear price for the standard filing?
The Mr. Argo standard Texas LLC package is $595 total, including the standard $300 state filing fee and the listed formation support.