Start a Business by State › Kentucky
How to start an LLC in Kentucky: checklist (2026)
To start an LLC in Kentucky, file the Articles of Organization - Profit Limited Liability Company (KLC) with the Kentucky Secretary of State for $40, name a registered agent, get a free EIN and check your local licenses. Mainstay Filing, our best overall pick, does the filing, the agent, the EIN application and the report for $199 a year.
- Official sources, checked October 20, 2026
Kentucky checklist
- File the formation document. Articles of Organization - Profit Limited Liability Company (KLC), Kentucky Secretary of State, $40.
- Name a registered agent. Required. A Kentucky resident, or an entity qualified to do business in Kentucky, whose business address is the registered office. The agent signs or files a written acceptance.
- Get an EIN. Free from the IRS online.
- Check licenses. Kentucky Secretary of State says: “Review Kentucky local occupational license fee information by county and city” (general licenses are issued locally).
- Keep it current. Annual Report, yearly: $15, due on or before june 30. Also: Limited Liability Entity Tax: a $175 minimum each year to the Department of Revenue.
Mainstay Filing
$199 / year, same at renewal
- LLC formation, prepared and filed
- Registered agent, all year
- EIN application (with an SSN or ITIN)
- Annual report filed every year it is due where the state requires one
- Compliance reminders and stored documents
Price from the Mainstay Filing pricing and FAQ pages, checked October 21, 2026. State fees are passed through at cost and shown before you pay.
Questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Kentucky?
The state filing fee is $40 for the Articles of Organization - Profit Limited Liability Company (KLC). The first Annual Report later costs $15.
Do I need a registered agent in Kentucky?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Do I need a business license in Kentucky?
Kentucky Secretary of State says: “Review Kentucky local occupational license fee information by county and city” (general licenses are issued locally).
Sources
- KRS 275.025 (contents of articles of organization); RA/office requirements incorporated from KRS 14A.4-010; $40 filing fee per SOS fee schedule (multira state research spine): apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=39663, checked August 12, 2026
- Kentucky formation fee: Filing fee, official source read 2026-10-01: www.sos.ky.gov/bus/business-filings/Pages/Fees.aspx, checked October 1, 2026
- Kentucky Secretary of State (multira state research spine): www.sos.ky.gov/bus/business-filings/Pages/Annual-Reports.aspx, checked August 12, 2026
- Kentucky Secretary of State (multira state research spine): www.sos.ky.gov/bus/business-filings/OnlineServices/Pages/default.aspx, checked August 12, 2026
- Kentucky report due date (multira state research spine, due dates verified 714/714): apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=47075, checked August 12, 2026
- Kentucky other cost: Limited Liability Entity Tax (LLET), official source read 2026-10-01: revenue.ky.gov/Forms/INSTR_Form%20725.pdf, checked October 1, 2026
- Kentucky registered agent statute (KRS 14A.4-010): apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=36549, checked October 20, 2026
- Kentucky Secretary of State: www.sos.ky.gov/, checked October 20, 2026
- IRS: Get an employer identification number: www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/get-an-employer-identification-number, checked October 21, 2026
- Kentucky Secretary of State (business license statement): www.sos.ky.gov/bus/business-filings/Pages/default.aspx, checked October 21, 2026