Pennsylvania LLC Filing Fees and Requirements
Learn the exact fees and requirements to form an LLC in Pennsylvania — $125 state filing fee, annual report due September 30, registered office rules, and more.
Bizee Editorial Staff
Editorial Team
Pennsylvania LLC at a glance
Filing fee: $125 (Certificate of Organization, Form DSCB:15-8821)
Processing time: Online filings process faster than paper; paper filings may experience delays
State agency: Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations
Annual report due: September 30 each year; $7 filing fee
State tax rate: Pennsylvania does not impose a separate franchise tax on LLCs; standard state income tax rates apply
Pennsylvania LLC filing fees and requirements
Forming an LLC in Pennsylvania requires filing a Certificate of Organization with the Pennsylvania Department of State and paying a $125 state fee. After formation, you'll maintain a registered office, file an annual report by September 30 each year for $7, and meet any applicable business license requirements. Pennsylvania's ongoing costs are among the lowest in the country.
How much does it cost to form a Pennsylvania LLC?
The required state fee to form a Pennsylvania LLC is $125, paid when you file your Certificate of Organization with the Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations. That's the only mandatory formation fee — the accompanying Docketing Statement (Form DSCB:15-134A) doesn't add to the cost.
Pennsylvania also offers a fee waiver on the $125 formation fee for LLCs that qualify as veteran- or reservist-owned small businesses under the state's exemption program. If that applies to you, check the Department of State's fee schedule before filing.
Certificate of Organization (Form DSCB:15-8821): $125 state fee
Docketing Statement (Form DSCB:15-134A): no additional fee
Name reservation (optional, Form DSCB:15-208): $70, holds the name for 120 days
Annual report: $7 per year, due September 30
Registered office: no state fee, but a Commercial Registered Office Provider charges its own service fee
Certificate of Organization and Docketing Statement
A Pennsylvania LLC is legally formed when the Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations accepts your Certificate of Organization (Form DSCB:15-8821). You file it alongside a completed Docketing Statement (Form DSCB:15-134A). Both documents are required — the Certificate creates the LLC, and the Docketing Statement provides supplemental organizational information.
You can file online through the Pennsylvania Department of State's Business Filing Services portal or by mailing paper forms to the Bureau. Online filing is faster — paper submissions may experience processing delays. Either way, the $125 fee is the same.
Registered office requirement
Pennsylvania uses the term "registered office" rather than registered agent, but the function is the same. Every Pennsylvania LLC must list a registered office on its Certificate of Organization and keep one continuously to stay in good standing. The address must be a physical Pennsylvania street address — a P.O. Box won't work.
Someone must be available at that address during normal business hours to receive lawsuits, tax notices, and other official government correspondence. The registered office address is part of the public record. Many business owners use a Commercial Registered Office Provider (CROP) to keep their personal address off public filings.
Annual report requirement
Starting with reports due in 2025, all Pennsylvania LLCs — domestic and foreign — must file an Annual Report with the Department of State by September 30 each year. The filing fee is $7. Pennsylvania's annual report fee is one of the lowest in the country, which catches some people off guard after dealing with higher fees in other states.
The report must include your LLC's name, jurisdiction of formation, registered office address, principal office address, entity number, and at least 1 governor's name (a member or manager). Nonprofit LLCs are exempt from the $7 fee but still need to file.
Employer Identification Number
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a unique tax ID issued by the IRS. You'll need one to open a business bank account, file federal taxes, and hire employees. Single-member LLCs with no employees can use a Social Security number in some situations, but an EIN keeps your personal number off business documents and is free to get at irs.gov/ein.
Operating agreement
Pennsylvania does not require an LLC to have a written operating agreement, and you don't file one with the state. It's an internal document that defines how your business is run — ownership percentages, management structure, how profits are split, and how decisions get made.
Even though it's optional, having one in place protects you. Without a written agreement, Pennsylvania's default LLC rules govern your business — and those defaults may not match what you and your co-owners actually want. A legal professional can help you draft one that fits your situation.
Business licenses and permits
Pennsylvania doesn't issue a single general "business license" — licensing requirements depend on your industry, location, and the type of work you do. Some licenses are one-time; others require annual renewal. Local municipalities often have their own permit requirements on top of state-level ones.
Common examples include professional licenses for regulated industries (healthcare, construction, real estate), sales tax permits from the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, and local zoning or occupancy permits. A tax professional or legal professional can help you figure out which licenses apply to your specific business.
Name reservation
Name reservation is optional in Pennsylvania — you can file your Certificate of Organization directly without reserving the name first. If you want to hold a name while you prepare your formation documents, file Form DSCB:15-208 with the Department of State. The fee is $70 and the reservation holds the name for 120 days. It can't be renewed — after 120 days, the name becomes available to anyone.
FAQ
The required state fee is $125 to file your Certificate of Organization with the Pennsylvania Department of State. That's the only mandatory formation cost. After that, you'll pay $7 per year for the annual report, due September 30. Optional costs include a $70 name reservation fee and any registered office provider fees.
It depends. Pennsylvania doesn't issue a single general business license with a flat fee. Costs vary by industry, license type, and municipality. Some professional licenses cost a few hundred dollars; local permits vary widely. The Pennsylvania Department of State and Department of Revenue are the starting points for figuring out which licenses your business needs.
Pennsylvania LLCs pay a $7 annual report filing fee, due September 30 each year. This requirement started with reports due in 2025. Nonprofit LLCs are exempt from the $7 fee but still need to file the report. Pennsylvania doesn't impose a separate franchise tax on LLCs, so the annual report fee is the primary ongoing state cost.
Yes, though Pennsylvania calls it a registered office rather than a registered agent. Every Pennsylvania LLC must maintain a registered office — a physical Pennsylvania street address where someone is available during business hours to receive legal and government correspondence. You can use your own address or hire a Commercial Registered Office Provider to handle it for you.
Yes. The Pennsylvania Department of State accepts LLC formation filings through its online Business Filing Services portal. You'll complete the Certificate of Organization (Form DSCB:15-8821) and Docketing Statement (Form DSCB:15-134A) electronically and pay the $125 fee online. Online filing is faster than mailing paper forms, which may experience processing delays.
No. Pennsylvania does not require LLCs to have a written operating agreement, and you don't file one with the state. That said, having one is worth doing — it defines ownership, management, and how decisions get made. Without it, Pennsylvania's default LLC rules apply, which may not reflect what you and your co-owners actually agreed to.
Mistakes that come up often include missing the September 30 annual report deadline, using a P.O. Box as your registered office address (Pennsylvania doesn't allow it), and skipping an operating agreement when you have co-owners. Getting any of these wrong can mean late fees, loss of good standing, or disputes with no written rules to fall back on.
