Sources and Method
Every figure has a source and a check date. Mainstay Filing is our best overall pick; it is named, not linked.
Fees, reports and agent rules
From each state’s statutes, fee schedules and forms, checked October 2026 and cross-checked or reconciled by hand.License note
Where a state’s own page states whether it has a general business license, we quote the sentence and link the page (26 of 50 states, read October 21, 2026). Where we could not confirm one, we say so and point to the city or county.EIN
IRS: Get an employer identification number, checked October 21, 2026.