State hub · Vermont
Vermont LLC true cost (2026)
Vermont state side: $155 formation filing, $45 for Annual Report (domestic LLC) in the 3-year model, ~$290 state fees over three years (methodology below) — #29 of 51 on the cheapest-states ranking. Provider markup is separate — use the table for formation/RA path + state fees.
Vermont state filing fees
These are state fees — not Northwest / ZenBusiness / Bizee / LegalZoom service fees. The collecting agency is Vermont Secretary of State – Business Services. Filings go through bizfilings.vermont.gov.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Articles / Certificate of Formation | $155 | Articles of Organization $155 (11 V.S.A. §4012; SOS fees page). |
| Annual Report (domestic LLC) | $45 | Domestic $45 / foreign $170 (11 V.S.A. §4012). |
| 3-year state subtotal (model) | $290 | Formation $155 + 3× domestic annual report $45 = $290. |
When Vermont actually bills you
Vermont's recurring filing is due Within three months after the end of the LLC fiscal 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 Vermont charges | Amount | Running total |
|---|---|---|---|
| At formation | Articles / Certificate of Formation | $155 | $155 |
| Year 1 cycle | Annual Report (domestic LLC) | $45 | $200 |
| Year 2 cycle | Annual Report (domestic LLC) | $45 | $245 |
| Year 3 cycle | Annual Report (domestic LLC) | $45 | $290 |
Provider + Vermont state (3-year)
Provider totals from the national comparison (formation + RA Y1–Y3, state fees excluded there) plus the Vermont state subtotal of $290.
| Provider | Plan | Provider 3-yr | + state |
|---|---|---|---|
| northwest | Formation $39 (RA Y1 included) | $289 | $579 |
| zenbusiness | Starter $0 + RA add-on | $497 | $787 |
| bizee | Basic $0 (RA Y1 free) | $298 | $588 |
| legalzoom | Basic $0 + RA $249/yr | $747 | $1,037 |
Partner link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices above are researched from public pages, not supplied by the provider. How this site makes money.
How Vermont ranks against the other 50 charters
Across the 51 jurisdictions covered on this site, Vermont sits at #29 — the 29th cheapest three-year state charter — at $290 in Secretary of State and revenue-department dollars. That is $255 more than Montana, the cheapest charter in the ranking ($35), $10 above the $280 median, and $2,220 less than California at $2,510. In plain terms, Vermont lands in the pricier half of the table.
- Just cheaper: North Dakota ($285), Wyoming ($280).
- Just pricier: Texas ($300), South Dakota ($315).
- 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 (Vermont)
- Designated agent / office in Vermont required.
Put the agent next to the state's own bill: three years of Vermont state fees is $290, 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 Vermont, is about 50% of your three-year outlay. Choosing the agent well is usually a bigger lever than choosing the state.
Gotchas (fact-based)
- Due date tracks fiscal year end (not a fixed statewide calendar date).
- Older third-party guides citing $35 annual are outdated — statute/SOS list $45.
Who Vermont is for / not for
Often a fit when…
- Vermont-domiciled LLCs needing a domestic formation.
Often a poor fit when…
- Cost-minimizers relative to lower-fee New England peers.
Orientation only — not legal advice.
Common questions about Vermont LLC cost
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Vermont?
$155 to Vermont Secretary of State – Business Services for the formation filing. Articles of Organization $155 (11 V.S.A. §4012; SOS fees page). 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 Vermont LLC fees after year one?
$45 for the Annual Report (domestic LLC), due Within three months after the end of the LLC fiscal year. Domestic $45 / foreign $170 (11 V.S.A. §4012). 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 Vermont LLC really cost over three years?
$290 in Vermont state fees, plus whatever your provider charges. With the cheapest tracked path that is $579 all-in over three years; with the most expensive it is $1,037 — a $458 difference that has nothing to do with Vermont.
Do I need a registered agent in Vermont?
Yes. Designated agent / office in Vermont required. Confirm Vermont's DIY-versus-commercial agent rules with Vermont Secretary of State – Business Services 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 Vermont figure above.
Is Vermont a cheap state to form an LLC?
On charter cost alone, Vermont ranks #29 of 51 at $290 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 Vermont three-year number is built
Formation $155 + 3× domestic annual report $45 = $290. Figures are re-derived from the cited Vermont sources rather than copied from other guides.
Deliberately excluded from the Vermont 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
- Provider checkout upsells: see the national comparison page.
- Re-check live Vermont Secretary of State – Business Services fee schedules — amounts change.
Sources (official)
Keep comparing
- Cheapest states to form an LLC (2026)
All 51 charters ranked by three-year state fees — see exactly where Vermont's $290 lands.
- LLC formation true 3-year cost: Northwest vs ZenBusiness vs Bizee vs LegalZoom
The provider side of the Vermont math, with the upsells worth skipping.
- All 51 state hubs
Same fee model, state by state.