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Formation Facts

What the state wants, and what it costs.

LLC cost guide · Washington

Washington LLC Fees (2026): What the State Charges and the 2 Best LLC Services

Short version for Washington in 2026: Mainstay Filing ($199) and WA Registered Agent.org ($199), ranked best first, if you are starting a limited liability company. Here is what the state itself will ask of you: $200 to file, then $70 every year for the annual report. Across three years, that puts Washington at 37th of 50 on state cost.
Briefing by the Formation Facts team

What to know about Washington

37th

on the 50-state list of three-year state fees

States are ranked from lowest to highest. Open the full comparison

  • Fee the state takes at filing

    $200

    sos.wa.gov; we confirmed it in October 2026

  • Annual report

    $70 / yr

    Deadline, as the state states it: last day of the entity's anniversary month. sos.wa.gov; we confirmed it in October 2026

  • Cost of missing the deadline

    $25

    sos.wa.gov; we confirmed it in October 2026

  • What the state collects in 3 years

    $340

    Three years of fees paid to the state

Washington ranking

In order of weight: three-year fees, coverage, renewal terms, fit with Washington, a clear state fee (method).

Our #1

1. Mainstay Filing: best for having fewer yearly chores

$199 yearly, and you also pay the $200 state fee

Our first choice is Mainstay Filing. One $199 price a year handles the formation, the registered agent and the annual report for you.

WA Registered Agent.org is $200 lower over three years, but this provider takes more of the state paperwork off your plate, and that is what moves it up.

It files the annual report for you every year, and the $70 state fee is charged at cost.

What your money gets you

  • Prepares your formation papers and files them
  • Acts as your registered agent all year
  • Prepares and files your annual report
  • Applies for your EIN
  • The state fee is handed on as is

What works

  • A flat $199 a year
  • Renews at $199
  • It files your EIN application

What to weigh

  • Its renewal is $100 above WA Registered Agent.org's
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Washington only

2. WA Registered Agent.org: best for a thrifty first year

$199 for formation; $99 in later years

WA Registered Agent.org takes second place because you pay $199 plus the state fee, with your first agent year included, then $99 a year.

You will still be filing the annual report yourself, every year.

What your money gets you

  • Files your Washington formation
  • First year of agent service

What works

  • A year of agent service is in the price
  • $199 plus the state fee
  • $99 a year from year 2

What to weigh

  • Filing the annual report is something you do yourself
  • $99 more for the EIN
Visit WA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Washington picks in one table

RankWhoYou pay in year 1Then per yearTheir fees across 3 years
1Mainstay Filing$199$199/yr$597Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2WA Registered Agent.org$199$99/yr$397Visit WA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Each company's own price page was open in front of us on November 13, 2026. You will also owe the $200 state fee on every row.

LLC cost calculator

Pick how many years you want to total and which provider you would use. What the state takes is built from its own schedule: $200 when you form, then the annual report from year 2.
With Mainstay Filing, 3 years will cost you $937: $340 to the state and $597 to the provider.

How Washington compares with the states near it in the ranking

RankStateThree-year state fees
33rdOregon$300
33rdTexas$300
37thWashington$340
38thArkansas$345
38thMaine$345
You will find all fifty rows at LLC costs by state.

The Washington formation fee and the form you need

You will pay $200, and you file the Certificate of Formation - Limited Liability Company with the Washington Secretary of State, as RCW 25.15.071 provides. Every provider below adds it at cost.

The report Washington wants again and again

Your LLC has to file the annual report every year and pay $70; the deadline is last day of the entity's anniversary month. Filing late costs $25.

Our reasoning

In Washington, Mainstay Filing beat WA Registered Agent.org on upkeep the price covers (26%).

Filing the annual report for you tipped the score toward the bundle.

Your Washington questions answered

How much will Washington charge me to form an LLC?

The official fee is $200. A provider adds $199 to your bill.

What will I pay for the Washington annual report?

You pay $70, every year, and the deadline reads last day of the entity's anniversary month. Filing late costs $25.

Is Washington a low-cost state for LLCs?

Washington ranks 37th of 50 on three-year state fees, at $340. Rank 1 is the lowest total.

Will I need a registered agent in Washington?

Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.

Which LLC services does this page rank?

Mainstay Filing ($199) and WA Registered Agent.org ($199), from strongest to weakest.

Which LLC service should I choose?

Go with Mainstay Filing: you pay $199 once a year, and in return the formation, the registered agent and the annual report are all taken care of. After that: WA Registered Agent.org.

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Where this briefing comes from

  1. Behind the Washington Secretary of State, Corporations & Charities Division section is ccfs.sos.wa.gov, a page we reread in August 2026 before publishing.
  2. Behind the Washington Secretary of State, Corporations & Charities Division section is sos.wa.gov, a page we reread in August 2026 before publishing.
  3. Behind the Washington yearly filing: Annual report, official source section is sos.wa.gov, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
  4. Behind the Washington report due date section is app.leg.wa.gov, a page we reread in August 2026 before publishing.
  5. Behind the Washington formation fee: Filing fee, official source section is sos.wa.gov, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
  6. Behind the Washington formation fee: Filing fee, official source section is sos.wa.gov, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
  7. Behind the Washington registered agent statute section is app.leg.wa.gov, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
  8. Behind the ORS 63.044 and ORS 63.047 section is oregonlegislature.gov, a page we reread in August 2026 before publishing.
  9. Behind the Oregon formation fee: Filing fee, official source section is sos.oregon.gov, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
  10. Behind the Oregon Secretary of State, Corporation Division section is sos.oregon.gov, a page we reread in August 2026 before publishing.
  11. Behind the Oregon Secretary of State, Corporation Division section is sos.oregon.gov, a page we reread in August 2026 before publishing.
  12. Behind the Tex section is sos.texas.gov, a page we reread in August 2026 before publishing.
  13. Behind the Ark section is arkleg.state.ar.us, a page we reread in August 2026 before publishing.
  14. Behind the Arkansas formation fee: Filing fee, official source section is sos.arkansas.gov, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
  15. Behind the Arkansas yearly filing: Franchise tax report: what and section is sos.arkansas.gov, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
  16. Behind the Arkansas yearly filing: Franchise tax: amount and filing section is sos.arkansas.gov, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
  17. Behind the 31 M.R.S. sec. 1531 section is legislature.maine.gov, a page we reread in August 2026 before publishing.
  18. Behind the Maine formation fee: Filing fee, official source section is legislature.maine.gov, a page we reread in October 2026 before publishing.
  19. Behind the Maine Secretary of State section is maine.gov, a page we reread in August 2026 before publishing.
  20. Behind the Maine Secretary of State section is maine.gov, a page we reread in August 2026 before publishing.
  21. You can see Washington service page for Mainstay Filing on its own website, which we looked at on November 13, 2026
  22. You can see pricing page for WA Registered Agent.org on its own website, which we looked at on November 13, 2026