Business Law Questions, Answered State by State

Fact-checked by the LegalGlass editorial team against primary sources · Last updated Aug 20, 2026

Most questions a US small business asks have fifty different answers, because the rule is set by the state rather than by Washington. These 1062 pages answer one question for one state, cite the agency that publishes the rule, and show how every other state answers the same question.

Compare all states at once

Llc Filing Fees By State · Llc Annual Report Deadlines By State · Registered Agent Requirements By State · Llc Dissolution Fees By State · Dba Filing Fees By State · Foreign Llc Registration Fees By State · Business License Requirements By State · Ein Requirements By State

Questions by topic

How much does it cost to start an LLC in your state?

Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming

Is the your state business entity search free?

Alabama · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wyoming

Does a your state LLC need a registered agent?

Alabama · Alaska · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming

What form do I file to create a your state LLC?

Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming

Can I be my own registered agent in your state?

Alabama · Alaska · Arkansas · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · North Carolina · North Dakota · Oklahoma · Oregon · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin

How much does it cost to register a foreign LLC in your state?

Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Mississippi · Missouri · Nevada · New Jersey · New York · North Dakota · Ohio · Oregon · Pennsylvania · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming

How much does an EIN cost in your state?

Alaska · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · Tennessee · Texas · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin

Does a your state LLC pay state income tax?

Arizona · Arkansas · Connecticut · Delaware · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Montana · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oregon · Rhode Island · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Washington · Wyoming

What is the self-employment tax rate in your state?

Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maryland · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming

Does your state require a general business license?

Arizona · California · Connecticut · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · Texas · Vermont · Wisconsin · Wyoming

Is an operating agreement required for a your state LLC?

Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Delaware · Florida · Georgia · Indiana · Iowa · Kentucky · Maine · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · New Jersey · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · South Carolina · South Dakota · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin

Do I have to register a sole proprietorship in your state?

Alaska · California · Connecticut · Delaware · Georgia · Idaho · Illinois · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · Ohio · Oregon · Pennsylvania · South Dakota · Tennessee · Vermont · Virginia · West Virginia · Wisconsin

Does a single-member your state LLC need an operating agreement?

Arizona · California · Colorado · Florida · Georgia · Idaho · Indiana · Iowa · Kentucky · Maine · Maryland · Michigan · Minnesota · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · New Jersey · New York · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Washington · Wisconsin · Wyoming

How much does it cost to dissolve an LLC in your state?

Alabama · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Florida · Indiana · Iowa · Kentucky · Maine · Michigan · Minnesota · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Washington · Wisconsin · Wyoming

Does your state have a Certificate of Formation?

Arizona · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Florida · Idaho · Iowa · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Missouri · Nevada · New Mexico · New York · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · South Carolina · Tennessee · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · West Virginia · Wisconsin

How is a your state LLC taxed?

California · Colorado · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Kansas · Louisiana · Maryland · Massachusetts · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · Ohio · Pennsylvania · South Carolina · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin

What form dissolves a your state LLC?

Alaska · Arizona · Connecticut · Hawaii · Illinois · Kansas · Maine · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Montana · Nevada · New Jersey · New York · Oklahoma · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming

Does a your state sole proprietor need an EIN?

Arkansas · Georgia · Hawaii · Illinois · Indiana · Kansas · Maryland · Minnesota · Missouri · Montana · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · Ohio · Pennsylvania · South Carolina · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming

What happens if a your state LLC has no operating agreement?

Alabama · Arizona · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Florida · Georgia · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maryland · Massachusetts · Minnesota · Montana · Nebraska · New Jersey · New Mexico · North Carolina · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · South Carolina · Tennessee · Utah · Washington · Wisconsin

Where do I file a DBA in your state?

Alaska · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · Georgia · Indiana · Iowa · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Mississippi · Missouri · New Hampshire · North Carolina · North Dakota · Rhode Island · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin

How do I change my registered agent in your state?

Alabama · Arkansas · Colorado · Connecticut · Georgia · Hawaii · Illinois · Indiana · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Mississippi · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Mexico · North Dakota · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Vermont · Virginia · Washington

When is the your state LLC annual report due?

Alaska · Arkansas · Connecticut · Florida · Idaho · Illinois · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Massachusetts · Montana · New Hampshire · North Carolina · North Dakota · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · Tennessee · Utah · Vermont · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin

Does a your state LLC file an annual report?

Arizona · Delaware · Florida · Illinois · Iowa · Louisiana · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Missouri · New Jersey · New Mexico · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Wisconsin

What is a foreign LLC in your state?

Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Connecticut · Delaware · Florida · Georgia · Idaho · Iowa · Louisiana · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Nevada · New York · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · South Carolina · South Dakota · Vermont

How much does it cost to start a business in your state?

Alaska · California · Connecticut · Delaware · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kentucky · Maryland · Michigan · Missouri · Montana · New Mexico · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · West Virginia · Wisconsin

How do I check if a business name is available in your state?

Alaska · Connecticut · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Michigan · Minnesota · Missouri · Nebraska · New Mexico · North Carolina · Ohio · Oregon · Rhode Island · South Carolina · West Virginia · Wyoming

Does a single-member LLC in your state need an EIN?

Alaska · Arkansas · California · Connecticut · Delaware · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Maine · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · New Mexico · New York · South Carolina · South Dakota · Utah · Wyoming

How long does it take to form a your state LLC?

Arizona · Arkansas · Delaware · Florida · Illinois · Indiana · Kansas · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Mississippi · Nevada · New York · North Carolina · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Utah · Virginia · Wisconsin

How much does it cost to form a your state LLC?

Alabama · Arizona · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Georgia · Iowa · Kentucky · Maryland · Massachusetts · Missouri · Nevada · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · Oklahoma · Tennessee · Utah · Wisconsin

What is a DBA called in your state?

Alabama · Arkansas · Florida · Hawaii · Illinois · Indiana · Kentucky · Louisiana · Montana · Nebraska · New Jersey · New York · Ohio · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington

Who can be a registered agent in your state?

Connecticut · Georgia · Hawaii · Illinois · Louisiana · Minnesota · Mississippi · Nebraska · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Rhode Island · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Vermont · Virginia

When is the your state annual report due?

Connecticut · Florida · Hawaii · Idaho · Kentucky · Mississippi · Montana · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · North Carolina · North Dakota · Rhode Island · South Dakota · Tennessee · Vermont · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming

How much does a DBA cost in your state?

California · Colorado · Iowa · Louisiana · Maryland · Michigan · Mississippi · Missouri · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · South Carolina · South Dakota · Utah · West Virginia · Wisconsin

How much does it cost to file your state Articles of Organization?

Arizona · Florida · Indiana · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maryland · Michigan · Minnesota · Nevada · New York · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Rhode Island · South Carolina · Virginia · Wyoming

Do I file my your state operating agreement with the state?

Arizona · Arkansas · Colorado · Connecticut · Iowa · Maine · Maryland · Minnesota · Missouri · Montana · New Hampshire · Ohio · Oklahoma · Pennsylvania · Utah · Virginia · Washington · Wisconsin

How much does it cost to dissolve a your state LLC?

Alaska · Delaware · Georgia · Illinois · Kansas · Louisiana · Maryland · Massachusetts · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New York · Oregon · South Dakota · Virginia · West Virginia

Does a your state single-member LLC need an EIN?

Alabama · Alaska · Colorado · Hawaii · Kansas · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Missouri · Montana · New Mexico · North Carolina · North Dakota · Oregon · South Dakota · Texas · Virginia · Wisconsin

How much does it cost to trademark a business name in your state?

Alabama · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Georgia · Illinois · Maine · Massachusetts · New Jersey · New York · North Carolina · Ohio · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Tennessee · Texas · West Virginia · Wisconsin

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