Connecticut LLC Filing Requirements and Fees

How Much Does It Cost to Form an LLC in Connecticut?

Legal registration — and keeping your business in good standing — involves some necessary expenses. Some of these costs are payable to the Connecticut Secretary of State (SOS), while others are payable to other state entities or the federal government. We’ve summarized some of the most common requirements and fees here.

Note that Connecticut business license and permit fees may need to be paid when you first form your business, on an ongoing schedule, or on an ad hoc basis. Find more details below.

Initial Connecticut LLC Fees

When you first form your business in Connecticut, you’ll need to file as an LLC with the Secretary of State and pay a filing fee. Here are the current fees and filing times:

When you form through Bizee, we collect this fee from you and forward it to the Secretary of State when we file your formation paperwork.

Employer Identification Number

Every LLC in the U.S. should obtain a unique Employer Identification Number (EIN). This is provided by the Internal Revenue Service, and you use it when you file taxes, open a business bank account, and pay employees. You can get one yourself at no cost from the IRS, or have Bizee do it for you.

Foreign LLCs

If you want to do business in a state other than the one where your business is based, you must create a Foreign LLC.

Connecticut Foreign LLC Registration

Before you can bring an arm of your business from another state into Connecticut, you must request Connecticut Foreign Qualification. This means the state gives you permission to conduct business there.

To request registration of a Connecticut Foreign LLC, you must complete a Foreign Registration Statement form and pay a processing fee of $120. The state may have additional requirements, so contact the Connecticut SOS for more information.

Foreign Qualification to Operate in Another State

If you plan to expand your Connecticut LLC into another state, you’ll first need Foreign Qualification or a Certificate of Authority from that state. This is necessary if you'll have a physical presence, employees, or banking in that state.

You'll likely be required to complete an application and pay a filing fee, but each state has different requirements. To plan ahead, compare state filing times and state filing fees first. Then contact the state government entity that administers business (usually the Secretary of State) to confirm their requirements and get specific instructions.

If you need assistance, Bizee provides complete Foreign Qualification service for all states.

Annual Report Requirements

Most states — including Connecticut — require businesses to file an annual (or other periodic) report with the Secretary of State. When you file your annual report, you’ll need to pay a fee of $80.

Important: Your Connecticut annual report must be filed online. If you need to file by mail, you can request a waiver to do so. You're also required to confirm or update your Registered Agent information in your annual report.

Here are the annual filing requirements for Connecticut:

Note: The annual report filing fee increased from $20 to $80 as of July 1st, 2020.

Connecticut Business License and Permit Requirements

As a business owner, you must ensure you have the proper state, federal, or local business licenses to operate your business. Some of the associated fees only need to be paid once, while others have ongoing charges.

Operating Agreements

The state does not require you to have a Connecticut LLC Operating Agreement in place.

An Operating Agreement is a document that details how the business will be run, how managers and members are chosen, the rights and duties of members, and several other key areas.

This document can be extremely helpful in making sure you’re organized and prepared for any future events that may affect your business.

Other Potential Connecticut LLC Fees or Requirements

You may need to pay and meet several other fees and requirements during the life of your LLC. These ad hoc fees will only be payable in specific circumstances, which we’ve listed below.

Obtaining a Trade Name or DBA

To establish a Connecticut DBA (trade name), you must file a form with the town clerk in the town where the business is transacted. You’ll need to pay a filing fee, which varies based on the town you file in.

Changing the Registered Agent

Your LLC needs a Connecticut Registered Agent, which must be appointed when you file your Certificate of Organization. You can also switch to a new Registered Agent later by filing a Change of Agent Name by Registered Agent form and paying a $50 filing fee.

Reserving a Name for Your LLC

If you don’t want to form your LLC right away, you can reserve a business name for 120 days by filing an Application for Reservation of Name and paying a fee of $60. First, perform a Connecticut business search and learn about business name rules to ensure you choose a name that meets state requirements.

Amending Facts About Your LLC

Your business formation documents state certain facts about your Connecticut business when it was formed. Over time, these facts may change. If they do, you'll need to file a Certificate of Amendment form with the Connecticut SOS and pay a fee of $120. You can do this yourself or have Bizee complete the filing on your behalf.

Getting a Connecticut Certificate of Good Standing

Some organizations will request that you prove your LLC’s compliance with laws and tax requirements. To prove that you've met your commitments, you’ll need a Certificate of Good Standing from the Secretary of State. In Connecticut, it's called a Certificate of Legal Existence.

You can obtain one by filing a Request for Certificates/Legal Existence form. The fee will be either $50 or $100, depending on whether you request an express, short-form, or long-form certificate.

The fees listed above detail many charges a standard LLC will be required to pay. In some unusual circumstances, there may be other one-off, periodic, or ad hoc fees not listed above.

Of course, your LLC will also probably need to pay self-employment, payroll, federal, state, and sales taxes. More information about taxes can be found on the Connecticut Business Taxes page.