Deal alert! Northwest will form your LLC for $39 (60% discount). See details.
How much does an LLC cost in Nevada?
The initial cost to set up an LLC in Nevada is $425. Then, the annual costs are $350 per year.
In most states, you just have to file a single LLC formation document. However, in Nevada, you have to file an Articles of Organization as well as a State Business License and Initial List of Managers or Managing Members.
These two extra documents are mandatory and you can’t form a Nevada LLC without them.
The $425 Nevada LLC cost breaks down as follows:
- $75 for the Articles of Organization form
- $200 for the State Business License
- $150 for the Initial List of Managers or Managing Members
Need to save time? Hire a company to form your LLC:
Northwest ($39 + state fee) or LegalZoom ($149 + state fee)
(Learn why Northwest is #1 in Northwest vs LegalZoom)
Besides the $425 LLC fee in Nevada, there are a few other costs to consider before forming an LLC. Things like whether or not you want to hire a Registered Agent and the LLC’s Annual Requirements (Annual List of Managers or Managing Members and the State Business License Renewal).
The table below shows all the fees for forming an LLC in Nevada. Further down in the article, you’ll find more detailed explanations of each cost.
Nevada LLC Cost:
| Requirements | Cost |
|---|---|
| LLC Name | $0 |
| Registered Agent | $0 or $125 per year |
| Articles of Organization | $75 |
| State Business License | $200 |
| City or County License | Varies |
| Initial List of Managers/Members | $150 |
| Operating Agreement | $0 |
| EIN Number | $0 |
| State Business License Renewal | $200 (per year) |
| Annual List of Managers/Members | $150 (per year) |
| Taxes | Varies (paid each year) |
Nevada LLC Name ($0)
There is no cost associated with naming your Nevada Limited Liability Company. You are not required to file a Name Reservation or anything like that.
You’ll simply just enter your desired LLC name on the Articles of Organization. Once the state approves your filing, your Nevada LLC name goes into existence.
Make sure you review the Nevada LLC name rules and requirements.
How much does a DBA cost? (varies)
In Nevada, a DBA is filed with the County Clerk. So the cost varies depending on which county (or counties) your LLC does business in. But this cost isn’t required for all LLCs, because getting a DBA is optional.
Note: A DBA is sometimes called a Trade Name, Fictitious Name, Assumed Name or Fictitious Business Name. They all mean the same thing.
Tip: You aren’t required to get a DBA for your LLC. It’s optional. For more information, read our article: Do I need a DBA?
Nevada Registered Agent ($0 or $125/year)
Nevada law requires that you designate a Registered Agent when forming your LLC. There is no registered agent fee to pay when you file your LLC paperwork with the state, however.
A Nevada Registered Agent is a person or company who receives legal documents and state notices for your LLC. A Registered Agent needs a street address in the state and should generally be available during normal business hours.
There is no additional cost if you will be your own Registered Agent, or have someone you know be the Registered Agent for your business entity. This could be one of your business partners, or a friend or family member.
However, you have the option of hiring a Registered Agent service. This will cost you between $100 to $300 per year. But Registered Agent service companies offer other helpful business services and can protect your privacy.
Hiring a Registered Agent service as your LLC’s registered agent is a good idea if:
- You don’t have an address in the state (Nevada law requires Registered Agents to have a physical address in the state)
- You want to keep your address off public record (depending on which company you hire, you may be able to use their address to keep your address private)
Special offer: Hire Northwest to form your LLC ($39 + state fee), and you'll get a free year of Registered Agent service.
(Why is Northwest the best? Read our Northwest Registered Agent review)
Nevada LLC Articles of Organization ($75)
The main document that forms your Nevada LLC is the Articles of Organization. The filing fee for the Nevada Articles of Organization is $75.
Along with the Articles of Organization, you must also file the Nevada State Business License application ($200) and the Initial List of Managers or Managing Members ($150) in order to complete the LLC formation process.
All of these filings are mandatory to make your business compliant with state law.
These documents can be filed together by mail or online, but we recommend the online filing as it’s much easier and the Nevada LLC approval time is much quicker.
Nevada LLC State Business License ($200)
The Nevada Business License grants your LLC the privilege to do business in the state. The License costs $200.
As mentioned above, it must be filed at the same time you file your LLC’s Articles of Organization ($75) and Initial List of Managers ($150).
The State Business License also needs to be renewed each year for $200. It will be filed along with your Annual List of Managers or Managing Members. Both filings are required to keep your Nevada LLC in good standing.
Learn more about the Nevada LLC Annual Fees.
City Business Permit (varies)
In addition to the State License, you must check for municipal business licenses. Your Nevada LLC may also need to pay an annual license fee in the city or county where it does business.
For example, the City of Las Vegas, as per Chapter 6.04 of the Code of Ordinances, requires businesses to pay an annual fee based on the type of business activities and the business’ gross sales. The Las Vegas annual fees range from $55 to $700.
Nevada has a helpful tool called Common Business Registration, which is a part of SilverFlume. This tool helps determine any licensing or permit requirements your LLC may have. You can find more information here: Nevada LLC business licenses and permits.
Nevada LLC Initial/Annual List of Managers or Managing Members ($150)
The Nevada LLC Initial List of Managers or Managing Members tells the state who the LLC Members or Managers are.
- Related article: Member-managed vs Manager-managed LLC
The Initial List of Managers or Managing Members has a $150 filing fee.
As mentioned above, it must be filed at the same time you file your LLC’s Articles of Organization. The first time you file the list, it’s called the Initial List of Managers or Managing Members.
The List must be filed each year and the cost is $150 per year. This acts as the annual report for your LLC (Nevada doesn’t have a traditional LLC annual report like other states do).
The name changes slightly when you file it each year after you open your LLC. For the life of your LLC, it’s called the Annual List of Managers or Managing Members. The filing is required to keep your LLC in good standing.
Learn more about the Nevada LLC Annual Fees.
Nevada LLC Operating Agreement ($0)
A Nevada LLC Operating Agreement is a written contract between the LLC Members. Operating Agreements include detailed information about LLC ownership, how the LLC is managed, and how profits are distributed.
Single-Member LLCs and Multi-Member LLCs should draft an Operating Agreement, keep it with their business records, and give a copy to each Member.
Most websites charge $50 to $200 for LLC Operating Agreements.
Here at LLC University®, we offer free LLC Operating Agreement templates for all types of LLCs.
Nevada LLC EIN Number ($0)
An EIN Number is also known as an Employer Identification Number (EIN) or a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) or Federal Tax ID Number.
This number is used to file income taxes, to open an LLC bank account, and to hire employees (if applicable).
Although many websites charge a service fee to get an EIN for your LLC, it can actually be done for free.
You can obtain an EIN for your LLC from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) at no cost. The online filing can be completed in a few minutes.
Nevada LLC Taxes (varies)
There are many different types of Nevada LLC taxes that owners must pay, so this annual cost varies widely.
Some of the taxes LLC owners pay include:
- Federal taxes
- State income tax
- Local income tax
- Business taxes
- Self-employment taxes
- Sales and use tax
- Payroll tax (if you have employees)
- Property tax (if the LLC owns property)
Your Nevada LLC taxes depend on your industry and amount of business activity, so we’re not able to provide an estimate. Every business is different, and your specific circumstances determine what taxes apply to your LLC.
Check with the Nevada Department of Revenue for more information about state taxes.
Note: By default, a Single-Member LLC is taxed like a Sole Proprietorship. And a Multi-Member LLC is taxed like a Partnership.
Hiring an Accountant
How much your small business pays in taxes is best determined by working with a qualified accountant in Nevada.
The amount you’ll pay your accountant will vary. However, most accountants will charge $300 per year for a simple tax return, or up to $900 for more detailed filings.
Note: We recommend speaking with a few accountants in Nevada to make sure they can help you meet all of your federal, state, and local tax obligations. We offer detailed tips on How to Find an Accountant.
Nevada Secretary of State
If you have any questions about the cost of opening a Nevada LLC, you can contact the Nevada Secretary of State.
Nevada LLC Cost FAQs
How much does it cost to open a Nevada LLC?
It costs $425 to start a Nevada LLC. This is a one-time expense that includes the filing fees for the LLC Articles of Organization ($75), State Business License ($200), and Initial List of Managers or Managing Members ($150).
All Nevada LLCs need a state business license, but some LLCs may also need an occupation specific business license or a local business permit. This depends on your industry and where your LLC is located. The cost of local business permits varies. And depending on what your LLC does, you may need to obtain business insurance.
How much does an LLC in Nevada cost per year?
All Nevada LLCs need to pay $150 to file the List of Members/Managers each year, and $200 to renew their State Business License every year. You have to pay these annual fees to keep your LLC in good standing. There is no “annual report” like in other states, just the List of Managers.
If you hired a Registered Agent company, you’ll have an annual subscription fee to pay each year. This is usually about $125 per year.
Some LLCs may need a business license in Nevada. This depends on your industry and where your LLC is located. You’ll need to check with your municipality to see if there are any annual renewal fees for the business permit.
Should I hire an LLC formation service?
You aren’t required to hire a professional service company to form your Nevada LLC. You’re allowed to complete the LLC formation process yourself if you’d like – you can form your own LLC.
However, if you want to save time and make sure your LLC is filed correctly, we recommend hiring Northwest Registered Agent.
Northwest Registered Agent has excellent customer service and they include Registered Agent services free for the 1st year. They also offer other services, like an Operating Agreement and filing your Biennial Report.
Check out Best LLC Services for more suggestions.
Do I need to hire an attorney to form an LLC?
No, you aren’t required to hire an attorney to form your LLC in the state of Nevada. You’re allowed to form your LLC yourself if you’d like.
However, some people may want to hire an attorney if their LLC has a complex ownership or management structure, has investors, or requires industry-specific documentation.
A business attorney usually charges between $800 and $2,500 to form an LLC.
How do I start a Nevada LLC?
Here are the steps to starting an LLC in Nevada:
- Choose an LLC business name and make sure it’s available
- Choose who will be your Nevada Registered Agent
- File the Nevada Articles of Organization, State Business License, and Initial List of Managers/Managing Members
- Complete and sign an LLC Operating Agreement
- Get a Tax ID Number (EIN) from the IRS
- Open an LLC bank account
- Check whether you need a business or sales tax license in Nevada
What’s the cheapest way to start an LLC?
You can get an LLC cheaply by filing your formation documents yourself, since you only pay the required Nevada LLC fees and don’t pay any service fees to a company. You’ll also save money by being your own Registered Agent, and using our free LLC Operating Agreement template.
By forming your LLC yourself, being your own Registered Agent, and using our Operating Agreement template you can save over $400.
How long does it take to get a Nevada LLC?
How long it takes to get an LLC in Nevada depends on how you file your Certificate of Organization.
You can get an LLC in Nevada approved in 1 business day if you file online. On the other hand, filing by mail takes about 3-4 weeks (plus mail time) – but you can pay for expedited processing, if you want your LLC faster.
How much does a Nevada business bank account cost?
It varies. Some banks charge monthly fees ($10 to $20 per month), but these can sometimes be avoided by meeting certain requirements. For example, if you make a certain number of direct deposits or maintain a specified minimum balance, then they’ll waive the monthly fees.
And you might be able to find a bank that doesn’t charge any monthly fees.
Before you open your LLC business bank account, we recommend calling and asking if there are ways to avoid the monthly maintenance fees.
How much is a Foreign LLC in Nevada?
A Foreign LLC is an LLC formed in another state that must register (aka Foreign Qualify) in Nevada. This is because the LLC is doing business in both states.
The Nevada Foreign LLC cost is $425, broken down as follows:
- $75 for the Registration of Foreign LLC
- $200 for the State Business License
- $150 for the Initial List of Managers or Managing Members
If you form an LLC in Nevada, it is called a “Domestic LLC”. If you formed your LLC in another state, it would be a Foreign LLC once you register it in Nevada.
Is Nevada a good state for an LLC?
Yes, Nevada is a great state to start a business. Nevada has quick approval times and helpful representatives at the Secretary of State if you have questions.
But you might be looking at the costs of a Nevada LLC and thinking that it’s pretty expensive.
The truth is, the most important factors in deciding where to start a business are where you live and where you’re doing business.
Meaning, if you live in or do business in Nevada, then you should start your business in Nevada. Even if it’s a little more expensive than another state. While many websites talk about tax rates and advantages of certain states, none of that applies if it’s not the state where you live and do business. And just because a certain state has cheaper LLC fees doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to form your LLC there.
For example, if you form an LLC in Wyoming, but live in and conduct business in Nevada, you’ll also need to register your Wyoming LLC in Nevada (and pay fees). And you’ll end up paying Nevada taxes anyway. This ends up leading to more costs and more headaches with no advantages.
In summary, if you are a Nevada resident, then yes, Nevada is the best state to form an LLC. If you don’t live in and do business in Nevada, then no, Nevada probably isn’t a good state to start an LLC.
References
Nevada Secretary of State: LLC fees
Nevada Secretary of State: Forms and Fees
Nevada Legislature: 2017 Assembly Bill 123
Nevada Secretary of State: Business Resources
Nevada Secretary of State: Commercial recordings
Nevada Secretary of State: Notice of 2017 Legislative Impacts
Nevada Department of Taxation: Taxpayer Information Packet
Matt holds a Bachelor's Degree in business from Drexel University with a concentration in business law. He performs extensive research and analysis to convert state laws into simple instructions anyone can follow to form their LLC - all for free! Read more about Matt Horwitz and LLC University.
Hello,
Is CTA, Certificate of Tax Authorization, need to be paid at LLC formation in Nevada? OR this CTA is an annual fee?
I am a YouTuber and I wanted to know if I needee to get a LLC if I am going to get a trademark copyright
Hi Amber, keep in mind that a federal trademark is different than copyright. Also, you’re not required to form an LLC, but you certainly can if you’d like to take advantage of the benefits of operating a business with an LLC. I think this guide will be helpful: Sole Proprietorship vs LLC.
You forgot to mention that you will ALSO have to pay the local government a fee for having a business there. For example, Las Vegas expected me to pay another $250 a year on top of the $350 for the state just to register my business with a registered agent in the city of Las Vegas. INCFile did not help me with this at all. In fact dealing with them was the WORST experience in this horror show. Cost me a lot of money for their package and I got nothing but headaches from them. Do not use INCFile!
Hi Dolly, that sounds extremely frustrating. We apologize for any confusion. We updated this page to make it more clear about the city or county licensing requirements.
I’ve had the same Exact exp with them! They’re insane. I had to let an LLC go bad as I was Literally fighting for My life, I get an Outrageous Bill from them after the New Yr, a Huge Registered Agent fee, They kept harassing Me. I told them I have Bigger problems than keeping an LLC in “Good Standing” & as My Accountant & Even a different Company told Me that Them Automatically assigning themselves, (especially when I informed them of my health & The LLC crashed) was NOT legal. That was 3 yrs ago, I’m Still fighting for My life, in need of a Heart Transplant, & Nervous System is Destroyed & Guess who called me the other day? YEP! They left a message about My account isn’t in “Good Standing” & they’d like to “Help Me fix that.” Don’t go anywhere Near them! They are Ruthless & Coldhearted.
Oh my goodness. This is horrible Giovanni. We’re so sorry to hear about this.
I want to start a specialty finish carpentry business what type of insurance would I need for this LLC?
Hi Paul, we don’t specialize in insurance, so we can’t say for sure. You can start with general liability insurance though. Hope that helps.
My husband and I want to be Santa and mrs claus. Can you help me start an Llc so we can advertise for private visits to homes and businesses?
Hi Rosette, in what state do you reside? And in what state will you be doing business?
Will I still need to file for a business license in Nevada each year even if my business is in Texas?
Hi Laura, yes, all Nevada LLCs must renew the State Business License and file an Annual List of Managers or Managing Members every year to remain in good standing regardless of where they do business. For more information, please see Nevada LLC annual fees. Furthermore, if your Nevada LLC is doing business in Texas, you need to register your Nevada LLC as a foreign LLC in Texas. Hope that helps.
Hello,
I am thinking of forming an LLC in Nevada. Is it advisable to also open a business bank account in Nevada versus staying with my current bank in California for tax purposes? In other words, could I still get taxed for my business in California if I do all my banking in California?
Thank you,
Eddie