Compare State LLC Costs Side-by-Side
Wondering whether to incorporate in your home state, Wyoming, Delaware, or Nevada? Select any 2 to 4 states below to compare the total 5-year financial commitment, mandatory franchise taxes, privacy levels, and foreign qualification penalties.
Compare Any Two States Instantly
Select any pair of US states to model 5-year franchise taxes, annual reports, privacy ratings, and out-of-state penalties.
Multi-State Side-by-Side Comparison Engine
Compare up to 4 states simultaneously. (Modeled with baseline partner registered agent $39/yr & $150k revenue).
| Metric / Policy | CaliforniaDeep-Dive | WyomingDeep-Dive | DelawareDeep-Dive |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5-Year Estimated Total | $4,325~$849/yr ongoing | $535~$99/yr ongoing | $2,305~$439/yr ongoing |
| Year 1 Setup Total | $929 | $139 | $549 |
| Articles of Organization Fee | $70 | $100 | $110 |
| Recurring Annual Report | $20 (biennial) | $60 (annual) | $0 (No annual report) |
| Franchise / Privilege Tax | $800/yr minThe standard $800 annual LLC tax applies in the first year for a typical LLC formed in 2026. The broad 2021-2023 first-year exemption has expired. Additional LLC fees apply when California total income reaches $250,000; special exceptions are outside this estimate. | $0 (None)No franchise tax. Annual report fee is $60 or $0.0002 per dollar of assets located in Wyoming, whichever is greater. | $400/yr minThe annual LLC tax is $400 for tax year 2026 onward. Liability for a tax year is due June 1 of the following calendar year; Delaware LLCs do not file an annual report with the Division of Corporations. |
| Special Mandates (Publication, etc.) | Initial Statement of Information (Form LLC-12) (~$20) | None | None |
| Public Record Privacy | Public | High (Anonymous) | High (Anonymous) |
| State Personal Income Tax | 1% to 13.3% (highest in US) | 0% (No state personal or corporate income tax) | 2.2% to 6.6% (0% on out-of-state income) |
| Approval Turnaround | 3-5 business days online | Instant online | 5-10 business days (or same day expedited) |
| Foreign LLC Registration Fee | $70 initial + $820/yr | $150 initial + $60/yr | $200 initial + $400/yr |
| Founder Verdict | Even if you form a Delaware or Wyoming LLC, if you live or do business in California, you MUST register as a Foreign LLC in CA and pay the $800/yr anyway! | Wyoming is the #1 legitimate choice for online digital nomads and privacy-conscious founders who don't have a physical nexus in an expensive home state. | Delaware LLC is rarely worth it for small lifestyle businesses operating outside DE. You may pay fees in Delaware plus foreign qualification costs in your home state. |
Popular State-to-State Comparisons
California imposes an $800/yr minimum franchise tax even with $0 revenue. Wyoming charges $0 franchise tax and $60/yr annual reports with complete member privacy.
Delaware is favored for venture capital investor alignment; California is the necessary domestic home for California-based physical operations.
Texas has no personal state income tax and exempts businesses under $2.47M from franchise taxes. California taxes all income and levies an $800 minimum franchise fee.
Florida has no state personal income tax and no franchise tax, saving high earners significantly compared to California's statutory burdens.
Nevada offers strong corporate officer privacy and zero personal income tax, but has high recurring state business license fees ($350/yr).
Wyoming provides complete ownership privacy on public records and a $100 filing fee; Texas charges $300 upfront but has no annual report filing fee.
Delaware attracts outside venture capital; Texas is the ultimate low-tax operational headquarters for local and online businesses.
Florida is cheaper to form ($125 vs $300), but Texas is cheaper to maintain annually ($0 vs $138.75 report fee) for businesses under $2.47M revenue.
Wyoming protects member privacy from public registry databases; Florida makes all LLC managers and members public records on Sunbiz.
Florida charges $138.75/yr with zero personal income tax; Delaware charges a $400 annual LLC tax from tax year 2026 and is preferred by institutional investors.
New York mandates an expensive Section 206 newspaper publication requirement ($300-$1,200+); Wyoming has zero publication requirements.
NY businesses forming in Delaware must still pay NY foreign qualification fees ($250) and comply with NY newspaper publication rules.
Florida has 0% state income tax and no publication mandate; New York has progressive income taxes and an expensive Section 206 publication law.
California charges an $800/yr minimum annual franchise tax; New York requires an upfront Section 206 newspaper publication ($300-$1,200).
Wyoming delivers equivalent charging order protection and privacy at a fraction of Nevada's fees ($100 initial + $60/yr vs $425 initial + $350/yr).
Delaware specializes in large corporate governance and venture funding; Nevada prioritizes aggressive owner liability protections.
Operating an out-of-state Delaware LLC from Illinois requires paying Illinois's $150 foreign qualification fee and annual replacement taxes.
Wyoming provides strict anonymity and zero state taxes; Illinois requires full manager disclosure and levies a 1.5% personal property replacement tax.
Washington has no personal income tax but levies a Business & Occupation (B&O) gross receipts tax; Wyoming has neither income nor gross receipts taxes.
Georgia has lower annual report fees ($50 vs $138.75) but levies state income tax; Florida has 0% personal state income tax.
NJ business owners operating in-state can avoid Delaware's additional annual LLC tax and foreign-qualification overhead by forming locally.
Pennsylvania only requires an informational report once every 10 years ($70), making domestic maintenance dramatically simpler than Delaware's annual tax.
Massachusetts has one of the highest annual report fees in the nation ($500/yr), whereas Delaware charges a $400 annual LLC tax from tax year 2026.
Colorado is one of the cheapest states in the nation ($50 initial + $10/yr), but public filings reveal business details; Wyoming guarantees anonymity.
Arizona has zero annual report fees for life, but requires newspaper publication in non-Maricopa/Pima counties. Wyoming has complete member privacy.
Florida has zero state personal income tax and a $138.75 annual fee; North Carolina charges $200/yr for annual reports plus state income tax.
Ohio is exceptionally low-cost ($99 upfront, $0 annual report); Delaware is favored strictly when raising outside venture capital.
Texas charges $300 upfront with $0 annual report fees under $2.47M revenue; Nevada charges $425 upfront and $350+/yr in ongoing business licenses.