Step 1: Choose a name Massachusetts will accept
The name has to end with “Limited Liability Company”, “Limited Company”, “L.L.C.” or another form the state accepts. It also has to differ from the names already on the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth's records, and some words need another agency's approval. Check an LLC name in Massachusetts against those rules and the registered names we hold, then confirm it on the official search.
Not ready to file? A reservation holds the name: $30, for 60 days. See how to reserve an LLC name.
Step 2: Appoint a registered agent
The Certificate of Organization names a registered agent: a person or company with a street address in Massachusetts who receives lawsuits and official notices for the LLC during business hours. You can usually serve yourself if you live in the state, or pay a commercial agent a yearly fee.
Our sister site lists the registered agents Massachusetts companies use most, with how many companies each one serves.
Step 3: File the Certificate of Organization
File it with the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth. The fee is $500. File online, or on paper. The LLC exists once the state accepts the filing.
Step 4: Write an operating agreement
Massachusetts doesn't require one (M.G.L. c. 156C, § 2(9)), but without it the state's default rules decide how the LLC is run and how profits and votes are shared. It stays in the company's records; it isn't filed.
Make a free Massachusetts LLC operating agreement and download it as a Word file.
Step 5: Get an EIN
An EIN (employer identification number) is the LLC's federal tax ID: banks ask for it to open a business account, and the LLC needs one to hire. The IRS issues it free; apply online at irs.gov once Massachusetts has accepted the Certificate of Organization.
Step 6: File the Massachusetts LLC annual report
Fee: $500. Due: Each year on or before the anniversary date of the filing of the original certificate of organization. (Source: 950 cmr 112 limited liability companies (PDF), sec.state.ma.us.)
| After formation | Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| Recurring report | $500 each year |
| State tax or fee on LLCs | None |
| Proof of good standing | Certificate of Good Standing, $25 |
Missing the recurring filing is the most common way an LLC loses its good standing, and in time its existence. On our sister site, look up an LLC's status or see how to get a Massachusetts certificate of good standing.
What it costs to start an LLC in Massachusetts
| State fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Formation filing | $500 |
| First year, state fees | $500 |
| Each year after | $500 |
Over five years, Massachusetts's state fees come to $2,500. These are state fees only: a commercial registered agent, a publication notice and income taxes are extra. Compare every state's fees, with the options to reserve the name or file faster.
Sources
Corporations filing fees, sec.state.ma.us, checked 2026-10-08
Corporations limited liability company, sec.state.ma.us, checked 2026-10-07
M.G.L. c. 156C, § 3, malegislature.gov, checked 2026-10-07
950 cmr 112 limited liability companies, sec.state.ma.us, checked 2026-10-07
Starting a limited liability company LLC in massachusetts, mass.gov, checked 2026-10-07
M.G.L. c. 156C, § 4, malegislature.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Apply for an EIN online, irs.gov
How to start an LLC in Massachusetts
- Choose a name Massachusetts will accept and check it against the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth's records.
- Appoint a registered agent with a street address in Massachusetts.
- File the Certificate of Organization with the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth ($500).
- Write an operating agreement.
- Get a free EIN from the IRS.
- Keep up with the recurring filings and fees.
Common questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Massachusetts?
$500 to file the Certificate of Organization. The state's fees come to $500 in the first year and $500 a year after that; a registered agent service or a newspaper notice costs extra.
How long does it take to start an LLC in Massachusetts?
The Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth doesn't publish a processing time; its site shows how to file and check on a filing.
Do I need an operating agreement in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts doesn't require one (M.G.L. c. 156C, § 2(9)), but it's the document that says who owns the LLC and how it's run; banks and partners often ask for it.
Can I start an LLC in Massachusetts online?
Yes. The Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth takes the Certificate of Organization online, for $500.
When is the Massachusetts LLC annual report due?
Each year on or before the anniversary date of the filing of the original certificate of organization.
Does Massachusetts require an annual report for LLCs?
Yes. Massachusetts' recurring filing: $500 each year.