Step 1: Choose a name Pennsylvania will accept
The name has to end with “Limited Liability Company”, “Company”, “Limited” or another form the state accepts. It also has to differ from the names already on the Pennsylvania Department of State's records, and some words need another agency's approval. Check an LLC name in Pennsylvania 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: $70, for 120 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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania companies use most, with how many companies each one serves.
Step 3: File the Certificate of Organization
File it with the Pennsylvania Department of State. The fee is $125. File online, or on paper. The LLC exists once the state accepts the filing.
How long it takes. Faster service: same day $100 (received by 10 a.m.), three hours $300 (by 2 p.m.), one hour $1,000 (by 4 p.m.); not by mail. (The office's page.)
Step 4: Write an operating agreement
Pennsylvania doesn't require one (15 Pa.C.S. § 8815(a)-(b)), 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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania has accepted the Certificate of Organization.
Step 6: File the Pennsylvania LLC annual report
Fee: $7 for for-profit LLCs ($0 for LLCs with a not-for-profit purpose); restricted professional companies also file a Certificate of Annual Registration by April 15 with a separate fee. Due: Between January 1 and September 30 each year, starting the year after formation (annual reports began in 2025). Beginning with reports due in 2027, an LLC that does not file faces administrative dissolution six months after the due date and loses protection of its name; reinstatement costs $35 online ($40 paper) plus $15 per missed report. (Source: Annual reports, pa.gov.)
| After formation | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Recurring report | $7 each year (due January 1 to September 30) |
| State tax or fee on LLCs | None |
| Proof of good standing | Subsistence certificate, $40 |
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 Pennsylvania certificate of good standing.
What it costs to start an LLC in Pennsylvania
| State fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Formation filing | $125 |
| First year, state fees | $125 |
| Each year after | $7 |
Over five years, Pennsylvania's state fees come to $153. 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
Fees and payments, pa.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Name availability, pa.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Annual reports, pa.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Fictitious names, pa.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Filing guidelines, pa.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Business guide (PDF), pa.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Frequently asked questions, pa.gov, checked 2026-10-07
19 Pa. Code § 17.3, pacodeandbulletin.gov, checked 2026-10-09
15 Pa.C.S. chapter 2, palegis.us, checked 2026-10-07
Capital stock and foreign franchise taxes, pa.gov, checked 2026-10-08
Expedited services, pa.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Apply for an EIN online, irs.gov
How to start an LLC in Pennsylvania
- Choose a name Pennsylvania will accept and check it against the Pennsylvania Department of State's records.
- Appoint a registered agent with a street address in Pennsylvania.
- File the Certificate of Organization with the Pennsylvania Department of State ($125).
- 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 Pennsylvania?
$125 to file the Certificate of Organization. The state's fees come to $125 in the first year and $7 a year after that; a registered agent service or a newspaper notice costs extra.
How long does it take to start an LLC in Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania Department of State doesn't post a standard time. Faster service: same day $100 (received by 10 a.m.), three hours $300 (by 2 p.m.), one hour $1,000 (by 4 p.m.); not by mail.
Do I need an operating agreement in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania doesn't require one (15 Pa.C.S. § 8815(a)-(b)), 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 Pennsylvania online?
Yes. The Pennsylvania Department of State takes the Certificate of Organization online, for $125.
When is the Pennsylvania LLC annual report due?
Between January 1 and September 30 each year, starting the year after formation (annual reports began in 2025). Beginning with reports due in 2027, an LLC that does not file faces administrative dissolution six months after the due date and loses protection of its name; reinstatement costs $35 online ($40 paper) plus $15 per missed report.
Does Pennsylvania require an annual report for LLCs?
Yes. Pennsylvania's recurring filing: $7 each year (due January 1 to September 30).