How much does an LLC cost in Alabama? (2024 details)

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LLC Cost
Starting an LLC in Alabama comes with more costs than just filing the initial paperwork. But it doesn’t have to be as expensive as you think.

We explain all of the initial and ongoing Alabama LLC cost details below, as well as give you tips on how to save money.

How much does an LLC cost in Alabama?

It costs $200 to form an LLC in Alabama. This is a fee paid for the Certificate of Formation.

You’ll file this form with the Alabama Secretary of State. And once approved, your LLC will go into existence.

Need to save time? Hire a company to form your LLC:
Northwest ($39 + state fee) or LegalZoom ($149 + state fee)

(Learn why Northwest is #1 in Northwest vs LegalZoom)

In addition to this LLC filing fee, there are other costs to be aware of when forming an Alabama LLC (Limited Liability Company).

Costs to forming an Alabama LLC

There is a $200 one-time state filing fee to form an Alabama LLC.

There are also ongoing fees (like a $50 minimum Business Privilege Tax fee), which we discuss below.

LLC Costs in Alabama

RequirementCost
LLC Name Reservation$28
Registered Agent$0 or $125 per year
Certificate of Formation$200
Operating Agreement$0 (free on our site)
EIN Number$0 (free through IRS)
Annual Report & Business Privilege Tax Return$50 or more (every year)
Taxesvaries (filed and/or paid every year)

Alabama LLC Certificate of Formation Filing Fee ($200)

Starting an LLC costs $200 in Alabama. This is the state filing fee for a document called the Alabama Certificate of Formation.

The Certificate of Formation is filed with the Alabama Secretary of State. And once approved, this is what creates your LLC.

The $200 fee is a one-time fee. You don’t have to pay any monthly (or annual) fees to start your Alabama Limited Liability Company.

Note: LLCs are the most common business structure used in Alabama. They are the most popular business entity because they offer liability protection for the LLC owners.

Depending on the state, the Certificate of Formation form is sometimes called a Certificate of Organization or the Articles of Organization. Articles of Organization is the most common name, but Alabama calls the form a Certificate of Formation. Don’t worry, they all mean the same thing: the form used to create your LLC.

Alabama business name reservation cost ($28)

In Alabama, you must reserve your LLC name.

If you file your LLC online, it’s easy: your Alabama LLC Name Reservation is filed and approved immediately during the LLC formation filing process. The filing fee for an online Name Reservation is $28. This is a one-time filing fee that’s included in your online filing.

If you want to file your LLC by mail, however, you’ll have to file the Name Reservation separately. The fee for Alabama Business Name Reservations filed by mail is $25, but you must wait for the Name Reservation to be approved before you can file your LLC. So yes, it’s a few dollars cheaper to file by mail. But it takes longer to get your LLC.

How much does a DBA cost? ($30)

A DBA is filed online with the Secretary of State. In Alabama, a DBA costs $30.

Note: A DBA is sometimes called a Trade Name, Fictitious Name, Assumed Name or Fictitious Business Name. They all mean the same thing.

Tip: You aren’t required to get a DBA for your LLC. It’s optional. For more information, read our article: Do I need a DBA?

Alabama Registered Agent Fee ($0 or $125/year)

Alabama law requires that you designate a Registered Agent when forming your LLC.

An Alabama Registered Agent is a person or company who receives legal documents and state notices for your LLC. A Registered Agent needs a street address in Alabama and should generally be available during normal business hours.

There is no additional cost if you will be your own Registered Agent, or have someone you know be your LLC’s Registered Agent. That could be one of your business partners, or a friend or family member.

However, you have the option of hiring a Registered Agent service. This will cost you between $100 to $300 per year. But Registered Agent service companies offer other helpful business services and can protect your privacy.

Hiring a Registered Agent service is a good idea if:

  • You don’t have an address in the state (Alabama law requires Registered Agents to have a physical address in the state)
  • You want to keep your address off public record (depending on which company you hire, you may be able to use their address to keep your address private)

Special offer: Hire Northwest to form your LLC ($39 + state fee), and you'll get a free year of Registered Agent service.

(Why is Northwest the best? Read our Northwest Registered Agent review)

LLC Operating Agreement Fee ($0)

An Alabama LLC Operating Agreement is a written contract between the LLC Members. Operating Agreements include detailed information about LLC ownership, how the LLC is managed, and how profits are distributed.

Single-Member LLCs and Multi-Member LLCs should draft an Operating Agreement, keep it with their business records, and give a copy to each Member.

Most websites charge $50 to $200 for LLC Operating Agreements.

Here at LLC University®, we offer free LLC Operating Agreement templates for all types of LLCs.

Download a free LLC Operating Agreement:
Member-managed: Google DocWordPDF
Manager-managed: Google DocWord

(What's better? See Member-managed vs Manager-managed LLC)

LLC EIN Number Fee ($0)

An EIN Number is also known as an Employer Identification Number (EIN) or a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN).

This number is used to file income taxes, to open an LLC bank account, and to hire employees (if applicable).

Although many websites charge a service fee to get an EIN for your LLC, it can actually be done for free.

You can obtain an EIN for your LLC from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) at no cost. The online filing can be completed in a few minutes.

Alabama LLC Annual Report ($50/year or more)

Alabama requires you to keep your LLC’s information up to date by filing the Alabama Business Privilege Tax Return and Annual Report with the Alabama Department of Revenue.

This keeps your Alabama LLC in good standing and in compliance with state law so it can continue operating. You simply confirm the information on the Annual Report, file it with the Alabama Department of Revenue, and pay the amount due on your LLC’s Business Privilege Tax Return.

The Alabama LLC Annual Report costs at least $50 per year. The minimum amount of tax due is $50, but the actual amount you pay depends on the amount on your LLC’s federal tax return. This Annual Business Privilege Tax is paid every year for the life of your LLC.

Alabama Business License and Permit Fees (varies)

Depending on where your LLC does business in Alabama and the industry you’re in, you may need to obtain additional Business Licenses or Permits. For example, you may need to get a City Business Permit for the town where your LLC operates.

The costs for these other business licenses or permits will vary depending on location and industry, but usually the fees are not very high. Some licenses and permits are issued at the state level, and others are issued by a municipality (the town, city, or county).

LLC Taxes (varies)

There are many different types of Alabama LLC taxes that owners must pay, so this annual cost varies widely.

Some of the taxes LLC owners pay include:

  • Federal taxes
  • State income tax
  • Local income tax
  • Business taxes
  • Self-employment taxes
  • Sales and use tax
  • Payroll tax (if you have employees)
  • Property tax (if the LLC owns property)

Your Alabama LLC taxes depend on your industry and amount of business activity, so we’re not able to provide an estimate. Every business is different, and your specific circumstances determine what taxes apply to your LLC.

Note: By default, a Single-Member LLC is taxed like a Sole Proprietorship. And a Multi-Member LLC is taxed like a Partnership.

Hiring an Accountant

How much your small business pays in taxes is best determined by working with a qualified accountant in Alabama.

The amount you’ll pay your accountant will vary. However, most accountants will charge $300 per year for a simple tax return, or up to $900 for more detailed filings.

Note: We recommend speaking with a few accountants in Alabama to make sure they can help you meet all of your federal, state, and local tax obligations. We offer detailed tips on How to Find an Accountant.

Alabama Secretary of State

If you have any questions about the cost of opening an Alabama LLC, you can contact the Business Services Division of the Alabama Secretary of State.

Alabama LLC Secretary of State Business Services

(Alabama Secretary of State, Business Services Building)

Alabama LLC Costs FAQs

How much does it cost to open an LLC in Alabama?

It costs $236 to start an Alabama LLC. This is a one-time filing fee for the LLC Certificate of Formation, the LLC Name Reservation and the online filing fee.

If you file by mail, it’s a little bit cheaper: only $225 for the LLC Certificate of Formation and LLC Name Reservation. But filing by mail takes longer than filing online.

Some LLCs may need business licenses in Alabama. This depends on your industry and where your LLC is located. The cost of local business permits varies.

How much does an LLC in Alabama cost per year?

All Alabama LLCs need to pay $50 per year for the Annual Report and Alabama Business Privilege Tax. These state fees are paid to the Department of Revenue. And this is the only state-required annual fee. You have to pay this to keep your LLC in good standing.

If you hired a Registered Agent service, you’ll have an annual subscription fee to pay each year. This fee usually ranges from $100 to $200 per year.

Some LLCs may need a business license in Alabama. This depends on your industry and where your LLC is located. You’ll need to check with your municipality to see if there are any annual renewal fees for the business permit.

Should I hire an LLC formation service?

You aren’t required to hire a professional service company to form your Alabama LLC. You’re allowed to form your LLC yourself if you’d like.

However, if you want to save time and make sure your LLC is filed correctly, we recommend hiring Northwest Registered Agent.

Northwest Registered Agent has excellent customer service and they include Registered Agent services free for the 1st year. They also offer other services, like an Operating Agreement and filing your Annual Report.

Check out Best LLC Services for more suggestions.

Do I need to hire an attorney to form an LLC?

No, you aren’t required to hire an attorney to form your LLC in Alabama. You’re allowed to form your LLC yourself if you’d like.

However, some people may want to hire an attorney if their LLC has a complex ownership or management structure, has investors, or requires industry-specific documentation.

A business attorney usually charges between $800 and $2,500 to form an LLC.

How do I start an LLC in Alabama?

Here are the steps to starting an LLC in Alabama:

  1. Choose an LLC business name and make sure it’s available
  2. Choose who will be your Alabama Registered Agent
  3. File the Alabama Certificate of Formation
  4. Complete and sign an LLC Operating Agreement
  5. Get a Tax ID Number (EIN) from the IRS
  6. Open an LLC bank account
  7. Check whether you need a business or sales tax license in Alabama
What’s the cheapest way to start an LLC?

You can get an LLC cheaply by filing your formation documents yourself. You’ll also save money by being your own Registered Agent, and using our free LLC Operating Agreement template.

By forming your LLC yourself, being your own Registered Agent, and using our Operating Agreement template you can save over $400.

How long does it take to get an LLC in Alabama?

How long it takes to get an LLC in Alabama depends on how you file your Certificate of Formation.

You can get an LLC in Alabama approved immediately if you file online. On the other hand, filing by mail takes about 1-2 business days (plus mail time).

How much does an Alabama business bank account cost?

It varies. Some banks charge monthly fees ($10 to $20 per month), but these can sometimes be avoided by meeting certain requirements. For example, if you make a certain number of direct deposits or maintain a specified minimum balance, then they’ll waive the monthly fees.

And you might be able to find a bank that doesn’t charge any monthly fees.

Before you open your LLC business bank account, we recommend calling and asking if there are ways to avoid the monthly maintenance fees.

How much is a Foreign LLC in Alabama?

A Foreign LLC is an LLC formed in another state that must register (aka Foreign Qualify) in Alabama. This is because the LLC is doing business in both states.

The Alabama LLC cost for a Foreign LLC is $150.

If you form an LLC in Alabama, it is called a “Domestic LLC”. If you formed your LLC in another state, it would be a Foreign LLC once you register it in Alabama.

Is Alabama a good state for an LLC?

Yes, Alabama is a great state to start a business. Alabama doesn’t charge a state business license fee, has quick approval times and helpful representatives at the Secretary of State if you have questions.

However, the most important factors in deciding where to start a business are where you live and where you’re doing business.

Meaning, if you live in or do business in Alabama, then you should start your business in Alabama. While many websites talk about tax rates and advantages of certain states, none of that applies if it’s not the state where you live and do business. And just because a certain state has cheaper LLC fees doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to form your LLC there.

For example, if you form an LLC in Delaware, but live in and conduct business in Alabama, you’ll also need to register your Delaware LLC in Alabama (and pay fees). And you’ll end up paying Alabama taxes anyway. This ends up leading to more costs and more headaches with no advantages.

In summary, if you are an Alabama resident, then yes, Alabama is the best state to form an LLC. If you don’t live in and do business in Alabama, then no, Alabama probably isn’t a good state to start an LLC.

Matt Horwitz
Matt Horwitz
Matt Horwitz has been the leading expert on LLC education for the past decade. He founded LLC University in 2010 after realizing people needed simple and actionable instructions to start an LLC that other companies weren't offering. He's cited by Entrepreneur Magazine, Yahoo Finance, and the US Chamber of Commerce, and was featured by CNBC and InventRight.
 
Matt holds a Bachelor's Degree in business from Drexel University with a concentration in business law. He performs extensive research and analysis to convert state laws into simple instructions anyone can follow to form their LLC - all for free! Read more about Matt Horwitz and LLC University.

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4 comments on “Alabama LLC Costs”

Disclaimer: Nothing on this page shall be interpreted as legal or tax advice. Rules and regulations vary by location. They also change over time and are specific to your situation. Furthermore, this comment section is provided so people can share their thoughts and experience. Please consult a licensed professional if you have legal or tax questions.

  1. Hey I was wondering if yall can help me get a llc I’m trying to get my own diving company up and going and a few sites wants me to have a llc

  2. Great stuff I really appreciate it I was lost and didn’t know here to start this info has helped me tremendously

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