Connecticut LLC Costs: Detailed Breakdown In Mar. 2026

The state of Connecticut is a great place to form a Limited Liability Company (LLC) for small and mid-sized companies. Once your LLC is formed, you have straightforward compliance rules and good legal protections.

To get started, you need to file your Certificate of Organization, which costs $120. Following this, you must complete several mandatory state filings before your LLC is fully operational.

For example, you must file your Annual Report each year and pay the $80 filing fee. Additional compliance costs depend on your business location, industry, and chosen filing methods.

Quick answer: Expect to spend approximately $320 to $420 in your first year of operating.

In this article, I’ve broken down the main Connecticut LLC costs and provided the essential contact information for each step. You’ll learn about the costs, processing times, and required steps.

You can check out my full guide on the Connecticut LLC Timelines if you want to learn more.

Below is a summary table that you can use as a quick reference if you don’t have time to read the entire guide.

Tip: Check out my guide to the Best LLC Services In Connecticut if you want someone else to take care of the entire process.

Connecticut LLC Cost Breakdown: A Detailed Analysis

Forming your Connecticut LLC requires you to complete several mandatory state filings before becoming legally compliant. Your total formation and operational costs depend on your operating location, chosen industry, and processing methods.

I’ve broken down the main Connecticut LLC formation costs below. You’ll also learn about the ongoing compliance costs to maintain your good standing with the state.

1. Reserving Your Connecticut LLC Name ($60: Optional)

Before completing any of your required formation and operational filing requirements, you need to choose an appropriate LLC name. This must be unique and distinguishable compared to existing state businesses.

You can reserve your desired LLC name for up to 120 days if your name is available, but you’re not ready to file your Certificate of Organization.

It costs $60 to make a name reservation. This must be submitted directly to the Connecticut Secretary of the State.

You can use two different reservation methods:

• Online: File your name reservation online using Connecticut’s Official State: Business name reservation portal. This is a quick filing method and gives you the fastest name confirmation.
• Offline: Mail or deliver your completed BUS-002 (Application for Reservation of Name-All entities application form and payment check to the Secretary of State’s Business Services Division. Their business address is: 165 Capitol Avenue, Suite 1000, Hartford, CT 06106 or P.O. Box 150470, Hartford, CT 06115-0470 (USPS mail).

2. Appointing A Registered Agent ($0-$199 Per Year)

You must appoint and maintain an official Registered Agent when operating in Connecticut. This is an individual or official company designated to receive and process state regulatory notices, legal filings, and service of process on behalf of your LLC.

Your Registered Agent must:

• Have a physical Connecticut street address.
• Be available during normal business hours.

According to the Connecticut General Statutes § 34-243n, you have flexibility when choosing your Registered Agent. You can choose between nine different types of individuals or entities to serve as your LLC’s Registered Agent.

Your Registered Agent can be yourself, a friend, a family member, an LLC member, or a professional third-party Registered Agent service.

You should expect to pay around $100 to $300 per year for a reputable service. Many providers cost around $199.

You can check out my full comparison guide on Connecticut’s Best Registered Agent Services.

3. Completing Your Certificate Of Organization Filing

You must file your Certificate of Organization with the Connecticut Secretary of State to officially form your LLC. This is a mandatory filing under the Connecticut General Statutes § 34-247. Once accepted, your LLC legally comes into existence.

The state allows both online and mail filings:

• Online filings: 2–3 business days.
• Mail filings: 1–2 weeks.

Read my article on the Connecticut LLC Certificate Of Organization for a full walkthrough of your filing process.

4. Making Your Connecticut LLC Operating Agreement ($0)

Filing your Connecticut Certificate of Organization officially recognises your LLC as a separate business entity. However, your internal Operating Agreement states how it will be managed and operated.

A well-made Operating Agreement should include details on:

• How your LLC is managed.
• How profits and losses are allocated.
• How company ownership is divided.
• How major business decisions are made.

You’re not required to file and maintain an Operating Agreement with the Connecticut Secretary of State. However, I highly recommend that you make one, regardless of whether you’re a single-member LLC or a multi-member LLC.

Maintaining a high-quality Operating Agreement separates your personal and business assets, maintains your limited liability protection, and helps prevent potential disputes and misunderstandings between LLC members.

Your Operating Agreement is totally free ($0) if you draft it yourself. You may need to pay an additional cost if you hire an attorney to prepare a custom agreement. This is not necessary for most normally operating LLCs.

I’ve linked my free Operating Agreement templates below, one for a member-managed and a manager-managed LLC. You can also read my comprehensive guide on the Connecticut LLC Operating Agreement.

5. Acquiring Your Connecticut Employment Identification Number ($0)

An EIN is a unique 9-digit business identifier number issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It works like a Social Security Number (SSN) but for entities. You’re required to get one for important LLC operations, including:

• Opening a dedicated business bank account.
• Hiring employees.
• Filing federal taxes.
• Complying with mandatory licensing requirements.

Once approved, your EIN is issued in the form of a Confirmation Letter (CP 575), which is provided as a downloadable PDF and should be securely stored for future use.

You have 2 main ways to obtain your EIN.

Your EIN is completely free ($0) when you apply directly through the official IRS website. You can only get the EIN after your LLC is approved. Applying before the state approves your LLC can cause delays or even rejection.

If you want to learn how to get your EIN, read my article on How To Get An EIN For Your Connecticut LLC.

6. Securing Your Applicable State And Local Business Licenses

You do NOT need a Statewide Business License when operating as an LLC in Connecticut. Your licensing requirements primarily depend on what you sell, where you operate, and if you perform taxable activities.

In your first operating year, your total Connecticut licensing costs range from $100 to $300. You may need to pay more depending on your professional and local requirements, especially in regulated industries.

a. Sales & Use Tax Permit ($100)

You must obtain a sales and use tax permit from the Department of Revenue Services (DRS) if you sell taxable goods or provide taxable services. Once acquired, your LLC can charge, collect, and remit Connecticut sales and use Tax. This is required under the Connecticut General Statutes § 12-409.

It costs $100 to obtain your sales and use tax permit from the state. You must apply online and complete Form REG-1 (Business Tax Registration) using the myconneCT website. This is mandated under the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services guidelines.

The state should approve your application within 1–2 business days.

When filing your Permit application, the system will automatically generate a Connecticut Tax Registration Number (CT REG) if you’ve never interacted with the DRS before. This is used as your Sales Tax identifier, Withholding Tax, Room Occupancy Tax, and any other applicable taxes.

For a step-by-step guide, you can read my article: How To Apply For Sales & Use Tax Permit And Getting Your Connecticut Tax Registration Number.

b. Additional Licenses ($50–$300 Per Year)

Your Connecticut LLC may need to obtain local permits and state-issued professional licenses (Depending on your business location and business type).

• Most municipal (Local) permits have an upfront cost of around $50 to $300, with most requiring annual renewals.

These are your typical local license requirements:

• Zoning approval: Approximately $60 to $150 in cities such as Hartford and New Haven. Generally speaking, this is a one-time fee, unless you change locations.
• Local health permits: Approximately $150 to $300 for cafes, restaurants, and bakeries. This is usually renewed annually.
• Fire and safety inspections: Approximately $50 to $100 for office spaces and retail shops. This is sometimes renewed annually.
• Sign permits: Approximately $50 to $200 for storefronts. This is often a one-time fee unless your sign changes.

Furthermore, certain industries, such as real estate professionals, electricians, cosmetology services, and home-based daycares, require occupational licenses. Your renewal schedule and associated fees depend on your chosen profession.

Visit the Connecticut Business Licenses and Permits for a full list of license requirements. I’ve also written a comprehensive guide on How To Obtain Business Licenses & Permits For Your Connecticut LLC.

7. Filing Your Connecticut LLC Annual Report ($80 per year)

As stated in Connecticut General Statutes § 34-247k, all Connecticut LLCs must file an Annual Report with the Secretary of State once a year.

This is the state’s primary compliance requirement, keeping them up-to-date on your key business details. If you don’t file, you face state fees and potential administrative dissolution.

• Your Annual Report must be filed between January 1 and March 31 every year after the year of your LLC formation.
• You must complete your online filing using the Business.CT.gov dashboard. The state immediately updates your public record once your report is submitted.

Your Connecticut Annual Report costs $80 per year to file. This applies to all LLCs regardless of location and business activities.

For more details, you can check out my detailed guide here: Connecticut LLC Annual Report.

8. Meeting Your Applicable State And Municipal Tax Obligations.

Once your LLC is officially formed, you must determine your required local, state, and federal tax requirements. These are the common tax categories:

• State income tax: LLC Members must pay state income tax based on their profit share (Unless your LLC elects corporate taxation).
• Sales and use tax: Required if you sell taxable services and goods.
• Local municipal taxes: This may apply to businesses with physical locations and tends to vary by city.
• Employer-related taxes: Applies if your LLC has employees.

Your taxes depend on industry requirements, business activities, and federal tax classification (Single-member LLC, partnership, C-Corporation, and S-Corporation). Because of this, I can’t provide a general estimate to fit every LLC. Read my detailed tax guides and references to get a clearer picture.

Key Connecticut Contact Information

You can contact the Business Services Division if you require assistance when forming and operating your LLC. They handle the LLC formation process, the Certificate of Organization, the Annual Report, and business records.

• Visit their office at 165 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106. Their business hours are 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. ET (Monday to Friday).
• Their mailing address is P.O. box 150470, Hartford, CT 06115-0470.
• They can be reached at 860-509-6003.

If you need help with your state tax registration, withholding tax, sales and use tax, and the Pass-Through Entity Tax, you can contact the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services. They’ll also help you with the myconneCT system.

• Their office is located at 450 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford, CT 06103.
• Mail is handled through P.O. box 2937, Hartford, CT 06104-2937.
• Contact them at 860-297-5962 during the same business hours.

Conclusion

The Connecticut LLC formation process is straightforward enough when following the steps above. However, your total cost extends far beyond the $120 mandatory Certificate of Organization filing fee.

You also have the $80 Annual Report fee, Registered Agent cost, state tax registration, and any applicable industry-specific and local permits. With this, your total first-year cost to form an LLC in CT can range anywhere between $320 and $420, with your ongoing compliance costs depending on your business.

Understanding your LLC costs ahead of time helps you stay organized with your important state filing. This helps you avoid delays, penalties, and maintain your good standing with the state. By using my step-by-step guide, you can navigate each step correctly with confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions