How to Form an LLC in Pennsylvania
Full-service Pennsylvania LLC formation for $199 plus the state's $125 filing fee — we prepare and file with the Department of State. Once your LLC is on the books, ongoing registered agent coverage runs $99/year.
Forming a Pennsylvania LLC condenses into one core filing, one registered office on the record, and a light annual rhythm after that. The state's document is the Certificate of Organization, the official filing fee is $125, and the new annual report adds $7 a year. Up next: the fee, the form, the numbered steps, and where our $199 service plugs in.
Open Your Pennsylvania LLC — $199
$199 buys end-to-end filing service through the Pennsylvania Department of State. We prepare the Certificate of Organization and the docketing statement, submit them, and hand you the approved entity.
The Pennsylvania LLC, Briefly Explained
An LLC separates business obligations from personal assets: creditors and lawsuits generally pursue the company, not its owners. Pennsylvania small businesses lean on the structure for that shield plus minimal ongoing paperwork.
All-In Pennsylvania LLC Costs
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Our LLC formation service | $199 one-time |
| State filing fee (Pennsylvania Department of State) | $125 one-time |
| Registered agent (required for every Pennsylvania LLC) | $99/year |
| State annual report fee | $7/year |
Our $199 is just the prep-and-file work. The state fee is paid directly to the Pennsylvania Department of State. The registered agent plan runs separately at $99/year.
Pennsylvania LLC Filing Fee: $125
The official Pennsylvania LLC filing fee is $125, set by the Department of State fee schedule at 15 Pa.C.S. § 153. It is a flat charge, identical for every LLC, and it accompanies the Certificate of Organization. Budget separately for the recurring items: the $7 annual report each year and your registered office coverage.
The Certificate of Organization (Form DSCB:15-8821)
Pennsylvania's formation document is the Certificate of Organization, form DSCB:15-8821. Many guides borrow the generic phrase "Articles of Organization" from other states, but the document Pennsylvania actually puts on file is the Certificate of Organization. The formation statute, 15 Pa.C.S. § 8821, lets one or more organizers create the company by delivering that certificate to the Department for filing.
Two pieces of paper matter: the certificate itself and the New Entity Docketing Statement (DSCB:15-134A), which the Department requires alongside it. Details and instructions live on the Department of State's Pennsylvania LLC page.
How Pennsylvania LLC Formation Works
- Pick a name the Department of State will accept. You need an LLC designator and clearance from conflicting names already registered. The state's entity search settles availability in seconds. Skip terms implying a bank, insurer, or government body unless you hold the proper license.
- Line up your registered office. Every Pennsylvania LLC continuously maintains a registered office, or names a commercial registered agent (a CROP) in its place. Whatever you list becomes public information. We fill this role for $99/year, with our address on the record instead of yours.
- File the Certificate of Organization with the docketing statement. Submit DSCB:15-8821 and DSCB:15-134A to the Pennsylvania Department of State with the $125 fee, online through Business Filing Services or by mail. Online submissions move through the queue faster than paper.
- Document the operating agreement. Pennsylvania does not ask for one, but banks, partners, and dispute resolution all do. Cover ownership stakes, distributions, management structure, voting, and exits, or Title 15's default rules will decide those questions for you.
- Get the free EIN from the IRS. Roughly ten minutes at IRS.gov, issued immediately on submission. Never pay a third party for a form the government provides free.
- Handle ongoing compliance. Keep the registered office continuously on record, file the $7 annual report during the January 1 to September 30 window, maintain true separation between LLC banking and personal banking, and stay current on federal and state taxes.
Done with paperwork? Pay $199 and our team handles the Pennsylvania formation filing.
The Pennsylvania Registered Agent Rule
Pennsylvania phrases the requirement its own way: the statute calls for a registered office (15 Pa.C.S. § 8825) rather than an agent, and a commercial registered agent, recognized as a CROP under § 109, satisfies it. The obligations behind the label:
- A Pennsylvania address stated with street and number (a PO box by itself is refused), or a CROP named in lieu of an address
- Continuous maintenance from formation onward
- Prompt handling of service of process and state notices so response windows stay open
Whatever goes on the certificate is publicly searchable from day one. Sign up for our $99/year agent product and our address goes on the form instead of yours.
Pennsylvania's New Annual Report
Act 122 of 2022 replaced the old ten-year Decennial Report with an annual report starting in 2025. For LLCs it is $7 per year, filed between January 1 and September 30 on form DSCB:15-146. Non-filers face administrative dissolution beginning with reports not filed in 2027. Our compliance reminders cover this deadline.
FAQs
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Pennsylvania?
The one-time state filing fee is $125, paid to the Pennsylvania Department of State with the Certificate of Organization. The recurring state charge is the $7 annual report.
How long does it take to form an LLC in Pennsylvania?
Timelines vary with the Department's workload. Online filings through Business Filing Services generally clear faster than mailed paperwork, and the Department publishes its current processing times.
Does Pennsylvania require an annual report?
Yes. Since 2025, every LLC files a $7 annual report during the January 1 to September 30 window.
Do I need a registered agent for my Pennsylvania LLC?
Every Pennsylvania LLC must continuously maintain a registered office, and most fill it with a commercial registered agent (CROP). The duty starts at formation and never lapses while the LLC exists.
Can I form an LLC in Pennsylvania if I live in another state?
Yes. Owners can live anywhere; the LLC itself needs the in-state registered office, which our $99/year service supplies. Pennsylvania doesn't require LLC owners to be residents.
Start Your Pennsylvania LLC the Right Way
Self-filing with the Pennsylvania Department of State is fully available through Business Filing Services. The state collects $125 either way, and the registered office still has to be on the record.
We're the registered agent that goes on your formation document. Pricing: Just $99/year — your filing carries our Pennsylvania address, legal mail is scanned into your portal the day it arrives, and we ping you before every compliance date.
Need only a registered agent? Our agent plan on its own totals $99/year on its own.
Got other questions about Pennsylvania LLCs or how our service handles the agent role? Visit the FAQ page or send a message via contact.
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