State hub · Washington
Washington LLC true cost (2026)
Washington state side: $180 formation filing, $70 for Annual Report in the 3-year model, ~$390 state fees over three years (methodology below) — #35 of 51 on the cheapest-states ranking. Provider markup is separate — use the table for formation/RA path + state fees.
Washington state filing fees
These are state fees — not Northwest / ZenBusiness / Bizee / LegalZoom service fees. The collecting agency is Washington Secretary of State, Corporations & Charities Division. Filings go through ccfs.sos.wa.gov.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Articles / Certificate of Formation | $180 | Certificate of Formation — $180 base SOS fee; online filings add an online processing fee (commonly bringing total to $200). Initial Report may be included with online COF or filed separately ($10 if deferred/separate). |
| Annual Report | $70 | Profit business entities including LLCs: $70 (fee includes online processing fee per SOS instructions). Delinquency fee +$25 if status is Delinquent. |
| 3-year state subtotal (model) | $390 | Certificate of Formation $180 + Annual Report $70×3. Excludes optional $20 online processing on formation and optional Initial Report $10 if filed separately. |
When Washington actually bills you
Washington's recurring filing is due Last day of the month of original formation (expiration date); may file up to 180 days before — put it in a calendar the day you form, because the state will not chase you before it penalises you.
| Point in time | What Washington charges | Amount | Running total |
|---|---|---|---|
| At formation | Articles / Certificate of Formation | $180 | $180 |
| Year 1 cycle | Annual Report | $70 | $250 |
| Year 2 cycle | Annual Report | $70 | $320 |
| Year 3 cycle | Annual Report | $70 | $390 |
Provider + Washington state (3-year)
Provider totals from the national comparison (formation + RA Y1–Y3, state fees excluded there) plus the Washington state subtotal of $390.
| Provider | Plan | Provider 3-yr | + state |
|---|---|---|---|
| northwest | Formation $39 (RA Y1 included) | $289 | $679 |
| zenbusiness | Starter $0 + RA add-on | $497 | $887 |
| bizee | Basic $0 (RA Y1 free) | $298 | $688 |
| legalzoom | Basic $0 + RA $249/yr | $747 | $1,137 |
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How Washington ranks against the other 50 charters
Across the 51 jurisdictions covered on this site, Washington sits at #35 — the 35th cheapest three-year state charter — at $390 in Secretary of State and revenue-department dollars. That is $355 more than Montana, the cheapest charter in the ranking ($35), $110 above the $280 median, and $2,120 less than California at $2,510. In plain terms, Washington lands in the pricier half of the table.
Ranking caveat for Washington: SOS states $180 plus an online processing fee; secondary sources commonly cite +$20 — exact online add-on should be confirmed at CCFS checkout
- Just cheaper: Illinois ($375), Connecticut ($360).
- Just pricier: New Hampshire ($400), Oregon ($400).
- 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 (Washington)
- Washington registered agent required (RCW 23.95); physical street address in WA for agent (no PO Box/PMB).
Put the agent next to the state's own bill: three years of Washington state fees is $390, 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 Washington, is about 43% of your three-year outlay. Choosing the agent well is usually a bigger lever than choosing the state.
Gotchas (fact-based)
- Online formation typically $200 ($180+$20 processing) — use $180 base for apples-to-apples
- Initial Report due within 120 days if deferred at formation
- B&O tax (Department of Revenue) is separate from SOS annual report — not in subtotal
- Expedite +$100 optional
Who Washington is for / not for
Often a fit when…
- Washington-based businesses needing domestic LLC registration
Often a poor fit when…
- Out-of-state shells seeking minimal annual cost; those avoiding WA B&O exposure should get tax advice
Orientation only — not legal advice.
Common questions about Washington LLC cost
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Washington?
$180 to Washington Secretary of State, Corporations & Charities Division for the formation filing. Certificate of Formation — $180 base SOS fee; online filings add an online processing fee (commonly bringing total to $200). Initial Report may be included with online COF or filed separately ($10 if deferred/separate). 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 Washington LLC fees after year one?
$70 for the Annual Report, due Last day of the month of original formation (expiration date); may file up to 180 days before. Profit business entities including LLCs: $70 (fee includes online processing fee per SOS instructions). Delinquency fee +$25 if status is Delinquent. 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 Washington LLC really cost over three years?
$390 in Washington state fees, plus whatever your provider charges. With the cheapest tracked path that is $679 all-in over three years; with the most expensive it is $1,137 — a $458 difference that has nothing to do with Washington.
Do I need a registered agent in Washington?
Yes. Washington registered agent required (RCW 23.95); physical street address in WA for agent (no PO Box/PMB). Confirm Washington's DIY-versus-commercial agent rules with Washington Secretary of State, Corporations & Charities Division 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 Washington figure above.
Is Washington a cheap state to form an LLC?
On charter cost alone, Washington ranks #35 of 51 at $390 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 Washington three-year number is built
Certificate of Formation $180 + Annual Report $70×3. Excludes optional $20 online processing on formation and optional Initial Report $10 if filed separately. Figures are re-derived from the cited Washington sources rather than copied from other guides.
Deliberately excluded from the Washington 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
- onlineProcessingFeeExact: unverified — check source — SOS states $180 plus an online processing fee; secondary sources commonly cite +$20 — exact online add-on should be confirmed at CCFS checkout
- initialReportFee: unverified — check source — $0 when filed with online COF; $10 if filed separately — confirm current CCFS amount at filing
- Re-check live Washington Secretary of State, Corporations & Charities Division fee schedules — amounts change.
Sources (official)
- WA SOS — Start Domestic LLC Online (Certificate of Formation $180 + online processing fee)
- WA SOS — File Annual Report Online ($70 LLC)
- WA Corporations and Charities Filing System (CCFS)
Keep comparing
- Cheapest states to form an LLC (2026)
All 51 charters ranked by three-year state fees — see exactly where Washington's $390 lands.
- LLC formation true 3-year cost: Northwest vs ZenBusiness vs Bizee vs LegalZoom
The provider side of the Washington math, with the upsells worth skipping.
- All 51 state hubs
Same fee model, state by state.