State hub · Kentucky
Kentucky LLC true cost (2026)
Kentucky state side: $40 formation filing, $15 for Annual Report (SOS) in the 3-year model, ~$610 state fees over three years (methodology below) — #42 of 51 on the cheapest-states ranking. Provider markup is separate — use the table for formation/RA path + state fees.
Kentucky state filing fees
These are state fees — not Northwest / ZenBusiness / Bizee / LegalZoom service fees. The collecting agency is Kentucky Secretary of State. Filings go through sos.ky.gov/bus/business-filings/Pages/default.aspx.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Articles / Certificate of Formation | $40 | Articles of Organization $40 (KY SOS Fees page). County clerk recording of articles in the registered-office county may add a separate local recording fee (varies by county; not in SOS baseline). |
| Annual Report (SOS) | $15 | All entities must file; $15 fee. Missing June 30 can lead to administrative dissolution for domestic entities. |
| Limited Liability Entity Tax (LLET) minimum | $175 | Most LLCs pay LLET. Small-business relief: if total gross receipts or total gross profits ≤ $3 million, minimum LLET is $175. Larger entities use receipts/profits formulas (can exceed $175). |
| 3-year state subtotal (model) | $610 | Formation $40 + 3 × $15 SOS annual report + 3 × $175 LLET minimum = $610. County recording fees and LLET above the minimum excluded. |
When Kentucky actually bills you
Kentucky's recurring filing is due Between January 1 and June 30 each year — put it in a calendar the day you form, because the state will not chase you before it penalises you.
| Point in time | What Kentucky charges | Amount | Running total |
|---|---|---|---|
| At formation | Articles / Certificate of Formation | $40 | $40 |
| Year 1 cycle | Annual Report (SOS) | $15 | $55 |
| Year 2 cycle | Annual Report (SOS) | $15 | $70 |
| Year 3 cycle | Annual Report (SOS) | $15 | $85 |
Provider + Kentucky state (3-year)
Provider totals from the national comparison (formation + RA Y1–Y3, state fees excluded there) plus the Kentucky state subtotal of $610.
| Provider | Plan | Provider 3-yr | + state |
|---|---|---|---|
| northwest | Formation $39 (RA Y1 included) | $289 | $899 |
| zenbusiness | Starter $0 + RA add-on | $497 | $1,107 |
| bizee | Basic $0 (RA Y1 free) | $298 | $908 |
| legalzoom | Basic $0 + RA $249/yr | $747 | $1,357 |
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How Kentucky ranks against the other 50 charters
Across the 51 jurisdictions covered on this site, Kentucky sits at #42 — the 42nd cheapest three-year state charter — at $610 in Secretary of State and revenue-department dollars. That is $575 more than Montana, the cheapest charter in the ranking ($35), $330 above the $280 median, and $1,900 less than California at $2,510. In plain terms, Kentucky lands in the pricier half of the table.
Ranking caveat for Kentucky: County clerk recording fee amounts vary and were not fixed to a single statewide figure.
- Just cheaper: Alaska ($600), Florida ($541.25).
- Just pricier: District of Columbia ($699), North Carolina ($725).
- Full table: all 51 states ranked by 3-year state fees — including where the ranking flips once you add a professional registered agent.
Registered agent (Kentucky)
- Kentucky registered agent/office required; principal office and agent confirmed on the annual report.
Put the agent next to the state's own bill: three years of Kentucky state fees is $610, while the cheapest provider path in our national 3-year comparison runs $289 (Formation $39 (RA Y1 included)) and the most expensive runs $747 (Basic $0 + RA $249/yr) — a $458 spread for the same statutory job. On the cheapest path the service, not Kentucky, is about 32% of your three-year outlay. Choosing the agent well is usually a bigger lever than choosing the state.
Gotchas (fact-based)
- Low SOS formation fee is offset by mandatory LLET ($175 minimum for most small LLCs).
- Annual report and LLET are different agencies (SOS vs Department of Revenue).
- County recording of articles may be required after SOS filing.
Who Kentucky is for / not for
Often a fit when…
- Kentucky-operating LLCs that want cheap SOS formation and can absorb LLET.
Often a poor fit when…
- Zero-revenue side entities seeking near-$0 ongoing state cost (LLET still applies to LLCs).
Orientation only — not legal advice.
Common questions about Kentucky LLC cost
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Kentucky?
$40 to Kentucky Secretary of State for the formation filing. Articles of Organization $40 (KY SOS Fees page). County clerk recording of articles in the registered-office county may add a separate local recording fee (varies by county; not in SOS baseline). That is the state charge only. A formation service is a separate bill on top: Formation $39 (RA Y1 included) works out to $39 in year one, versus $249 on the most expensive path we track.
What are the ongoing Kentucky LLC fees after year one?
$15 for the Annual Report (SOS), due Between January 1 and June 30 each year. All entities must file; $15 fee. Missing June 30 can lead to administrative dissolution for domestic entities. Recurring state charges are what make a low formation fee misleading — they are the reason this site models three years instead of one.
What does a Kentucky LLC really cost over three years?
$610 in Kentucky state fees, plus whatever your provider charges. With the cheapest tracked path that is $899 all-in over three years; with the most expensive it is $1,357 — a $458 difference that has nothing to do with Kentucky.
Do I need a registered agent in Kentucky?
Yes. Kentucky registered agent/office required; principal office and agent confirmed on the annual report. Confirm Kentucky's DIY-versus-commercial agent rules with Kentucky Secretary of State before you file — a home address here becomes public record. On the money side, the four providers tracked here charge $0–$249 in year one for formation plus the agent, then $125–$249 a year in agent renewal after that — separate from every Kentucky figure above.
Is Kentucky a cheap state to form an LLC?
On charter cost alone, Kentucky ranks #42 of 51 at $610 over three years, against a $35 floor and a $2,510 ceiling. But cheapest charter is not the same as cheapest outcome: if you operate somewhere else you will likely foreign-qualify there and pay that state's fees and taxes too. See the full 3-year state fee ranking for the comparison.
How the Kentucky three-year number is built
Formation $40 + 3 × $15 SOS annual report + 3 × $175 LLET minimum = $610. County recording fees and LLET above the minimum excluded. Figures are re-derived from the cited Kentucky sources rather than copied from other guides.
Deliberately excluded from the Kentucky state subtotal:
- Professional registered agent fees (same shopping problem in every state)
- County newspaper publication (NY, AZ, and similar — variable)
- Card / portal convenience fees unless fixed on the SOS schedule
- Expedites, name reservations, certified copies, foreign qualification
- Income / sales / payroll taxes and variable gross-receipts tiers above a stated floor
Unverified / confirm before filing
- item: unverified — check source —
- Re-check live Kentucky Secretary of State fee schedules — amounts change.
Sources (official)
- Kentucky SOS Fees (LLC Articles $40; Annual Report $15)
- Kentucky SOS Annual Reports page
- Kentucky DOR Corporation Income and LLET overview
- Kentucky DOR Corporation/LLC/Pass-Through Tax FAQs
Keep comparing
- Cheapest states to form an LLC (2026)
All 51 charters ranked by three-year state fees — see exactly where Kentucky's $610 lands.
- LLC formation true 3-year cost: Northwest vs ZenBusiness vs Bizee vs LegalZoom
The provider side of the Kentucky math, with the upsells worth skipping.
- All 51 state hubs
Same fee model, state by state.