Start a Business by State › Pennsylvania
How to start an LLC in Pennsylvania: checklist (2026)
To start an LLC in Pennsylvania, file the Certificate of Organization (DSCB:15-8821) with the Pennsylvania Secretary of State for $125, 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
Pennsylvania checklist
- File the formation document. Certificate of Organization (DSCB:15-8821), Pennsylvania Secretary of State, $125.
- Name a registered agent. Office required. Pennsylvania does not require a registered agent. Every LLC keeps a registered office instead: an actual street address in Pennsylvania, or a Commercial Registered Office Provider named in its place by a company without a Pennsylvania address.
- Get an EIN. Free from the IRS online.
- Check licenses. Pennsylvania Business One-Stop Shop says: “Check with the local municipality concerning taxes, zoning requirements, local licenses and permits” (depends on the business).
- Keep it current. Annual Report, yearly: $7, due september 30.
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 Pennsylvania?
The state filing fee is $125 for the Certificate of Organization (DSCB:15-8821). The first Annual Report later costs $7.
Do I need a registered agent in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania requires a registered office (a Pennsylvania street address or a Commercial Registered Office Provider), not an agent.
Do I need a business license in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania Business One-Stop Shop says: “Check with the local municipality concerning taxes, zoning requirements, local licenses and permits” (depends on the business).
Sources
- 15 Pa.C.S. § 8821 (formation of limited liability company and certificate of organization); filing fee $125 per the Department of State fee schedule (15 Pa.C.S. § 153) (multira state research spine): www.pa.gov/agencies/dos/programs/business/types-of-filings-and-registrations/pennsylvania-limited-liability-company, checked August 12, 2026
- Pennsylvania formation fee: Filing fee, official source read 2026-10-01: www.pa.gov/agencies/dos/programs/business/fees-and-payments, checked October 1, 2026
- Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations (multira state research spine): www.pa.gov/agencies/dos/programs/business/types-of-filings-and-registrations/annual-reports, checked August 12, 2026
- Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations (multira state research spine): www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/dos/resources/business/forms/15-146%20annual%20report%20final%2012.4.2024%20with%20watermark.pdf, checked August 12, 2026
- Pennsylvania registered agent statute (15 Pa.C.S. § 8825): www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/15/00.088..HTM, checked October 20, 2026
- Pennsylvania Secretary of State: www.pa.gov/agencies/dos/, 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
- Pennsylvania Business One-Stop Shop (business license statement): business.pa.gov/register/registering-with-pennsylvania/basic-business-registration-overview/, checked October 21, 2026