How to Start an LLC in Massachusetts (2026): 7 Steps and the 3 Best LLC Services
Massachusetts Registered Agent.co ($199), MA Registered Agent.org ($199) and Mainstay Filing ($199) are our 2026 picks, in that order, for starting an LLC in Massachusetts. Then the lesson: 7 steps, with a $500 state filing fee and the Limited Liability Company Annual Report every year.
Read from each company's pricing on November 12, 2026. The $500 state fee is extra in every row.
How to form your Massachusetts LLC
Step1
Step 1: Choose a name and check it is free
A quick search of the state's business records tells you whether the name is free.
TipWrite down two backup names before you search.
Step2
Step 2: Choose who will be the resident agent
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. A Massachusetts resident, a Massachusetts corporation, or a corporation from another state authorized to do business in Massachusetts. State regulations (950 CMR 112.13) also allow other business entities authorized in Massachusetts.
The address has to be a street address in Massachusetts. A post office address is not sufficient.
TipAll of our picks include a resident agent.
Official source: Per sec.state.ma.us, last confirmed October 2026
Step3
Step 3: Decide how you will file
If you file yourself, budget $500. If a service files, add $199; our picks are ranked above.
Step4
Step 4: Send in the Limited Liability Company Certificate of Organization
Complete the Limited Liability Company Certificate of Organization, pay $500 and file it with the Massachusetts Secretary of State.
Official source: Per sec.state.ma.us, last confirmed October 2026
Step5
Step 5: Get the company's tax ID (EIN)
After the Massachusetts approval, the IRS issues an EIN, the number banks and payroll use for the LLC. Mainstay Filing files the EIN application as part of its price.
Step6
Step 6: Put an operating agreement in writing
Write down who owns the Massachusetts LLC and how decisions are made. This operating agreement stays with your records, not with the state.
Step7
Step 7: Keep up with Massachusetts's yearly filing
The LLC stays active by filing the Limited Liability Company Annual Report every year and paying $500; the deadline is on or before the anniversary date of filing of the certificate of organization.
For the three-year state total we add the filing fee, the reports in years two and three and any minimum yearly tax.
Why Massachusetts Registered Agent.co comes first
Lesson note: first place in Massachusetts came down to three-year cost, worth 30% of the grade.
Three years of Massachusetts Registered Agent.co cost $397, which leaves $200 in your pocket compared with Mainstay Filing.
Check your understanding
What does it cost to form an LLC in Massachusetts?
Filing costs $500. Add $199 if a service files it.
Which form creates the LLC?
Step 4 of this lesson: the Limited Liability Company Certificate of Organization, sent to the Massachusetts Secretary of State.
Is a resident agent required?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
What does Massachusetts require each year?
The Limited Liability Company Annual Report: $500, every year, due on or before the anniversary date of filing of the certificate of organization.
Can I form the LLC without a service?
Yes. The state accepts filings from owners directly; budget $500 plus a resident agent.
Which LLC service should a first-time founder use?
In order: Massachusetts Registered Agent.co, MA Registered Agent.org and Mainstay Filing. Massachusetts Registered Agent.co comes first because formation at $199 over the state fee, then a $99 agent renewal.