The cost to start an LLC in Michigan is $50, paid once to the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) when you file the Articles of Organization. After that, you’ll owe $25 every year to keep the LLC in good standing. Those two fees are the only ones the state requires. Most owners end up spending more because of optional services, expedited processing, or a professional resident agent, but nothing beyond the $50 is mandatory to get the entity on the books.
The $50 Formation Filing
Every Michigan LLC starts with the Articles of Organization, filed on Form 700 with LARA’s Corporations, Securities & Commercial Licensing Bureau.1Michigan.gov. Filing Fees The $50 fee is non-refundable. If LARA rejects your filing for missing information or an unavailable name, you don’t get the money back.2Michigan Legislature. Michigan Limited Liability Company Act – Section 5101 A fillable PDF of Form 700 is on the LARA website.3State of Michigan. CSCL/CD 700 – Articles of Organization
You can submit online through LARA’s COFS system or mail the paper form to Lansing. Online is faster. If you pay by credit card, a convenience fee of about 2.3% is added on top of the $50.
Paying More for Faster Processing
Standard review takes several business days. If you need the LLC on file sooner, Michigan sells expedited tiers under MCL 450.4104, and the premiums are significant:4Michigan Legislature. Michigan Limited Liability Company Act – Section 450.4104
- One-hour processing, same day: $1,000
- Two-hour processing, same day: $500
Additional tiers with longer turnaround times carry lower fees. Expedited charges are added to the $50 base, not substituted for it. Once LARA approves the filing, you’ll receive an endorsed copy showing the official formation date.
The $25 Annual Statement
Every Michigan LLC must file an Annual Statement to stay in good standing. The fee is $25, and the deadline is February 15 each year.5State of Michigan. Annual Reports and Annual Statements One exception helps new filers: if your LLC was formed after September 30, you skip the February 15 that follows and file your first statement the February 15 after that.6State of Michigan. Annual Filings
LARA mails a pre-printed statement to your registered office about 90 days before the due date, so a current address means a reliable reminder.6State of Michigan. Annual Filings
Miss the deadline and a $50 penalty is tacked on, bringing the bill to $75.5State of Michigan. Annual Reports and Annual Statements Keep ignoring it and the cost grows. After two years without filing, the state can administratively dissolve the LLC. You lose rights to the business name and any assumed names on file. Restoring the entity requires a Certificate of Restoration of Good Standing at $50, plus every back fee and penalty you owe.7State of Michigan. Restore My LLC
Optional and Situational Fees
None of the following are required to form the LLC, but most owners run into at least one.
Name Reservation ($25)
If you want to lock in a name before you’re ready to file, a reservation holds it through the end of the sixth full calendar month after the application.8Michigan Legislature. Michigan Limited Liability Company Act – Section 450.4205 The reservation can also be transferred if your plans change.
Assumed Name or DBA ($25)
To operate under a name different from the official LLC name, file an assumed name on Form 541.1Michigan.gov. Filing Fees
Amendment to the Articles ($25)
Changing the LLC’s name, registered agent, or purpose after formation costs $25 per amendment.2Michigan Legislature. Michigan Limited Liability Company Act – Section 5101
Certificate of Good Standing ($10)
Banks, lenders, and business partners sometimes ask for one. Each request costs $10.9Michigan Legislature. Michigan Limited Liability Company Act – Section 450.4909
Resident Agent Service ($50 to $300 per Year)
You can serve as your own registered agent for free if you have a Michigan street address and can accept legal documents during business hours. A professional service typically charges $50 to $300 per year. The upside is privacy and reliability; the downside is a recurring cost that compounds over the life of the LLC.
Operating Agreement ($0 to Several Hundred Dollars)
Michigan doesn’t require an operating agreement and doesn’t charge a fee for one, because it’s an internal document you keep rather than file.10U.S. Small Business Administration. Basic Information About Operating Agreements Drafting it yourself costs nothing. Hiring an attorney for a straightforward agreement runs a few hundred dollars, more for complex ownership structures.
Federal Costs
A federal Employer Identification Number is free from the IRS, and you can get one online in minutes.11Internal Revenue Service. Get an Employer Identification Number Third-party sites that charge for this are selling something the IRS gives away.
Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting under the Corporate Transparency Act used to be a concern for new LLCs, but as of 2025 domestic entities are fully exempt. The requirement now applies only to foreign companies registered to do business in the United States.12FinCEN. Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting
Closing the LLC
If you decide to shut the business down, filing a Certificate of Dissolution with LARA costs $10.1Michigan.gov. Filing Fees That’s only the state fee. Winding down usually also means a final tax return, settling debts, and canceling licenses. If your Annual Statement is already past due, you’ll clear that late penalty first. Dissolving before year-end can spare you another $25 and any penalty for the next cycle.
What You’ll Actually Spend
Here’s the full fee picture:
- Articles of Organization (Form 700): $50, one-time
- Annual Statement: $25 per year
- EIN from the IRS: free
- Name reservation: $25, optional
- Assumed name (DBA): $25, optional
- Amendment to the Articles: $25 per change
- Certificate of Good Standing: $10 per request
- Expedited processing: $500 or $1,000, optional
- Professional resident agent: $50 to $300 per year, optional
- Certificate of Dissolution: $10, when closing
At the floor, a Michigan LLC costs $50 to form and $25 a year to maintain. An owner who reserves a name, files an assumed name, and hires a resident agent service generally spends somewhere around $150 to $400 in year one, with $75 to $325 in recurring annual costs after that.