How to start an LLC in Mississippi
Every step to form your LLC in Mississippi, with the state's fees and the official page for each. Checked against the state's own pages on September 30, 2026.
- Filing fee
- $50
- Regular report
- Free
- What you file
- Certificate of Formation
- Where
- The Mississippi Secretary of State
Get the free checklist It follows these steps with you, for your business, and keeps track of what's done.
What an LLC costs in Mississippi
| Filing Certificate of Formation with the Mississippi Secretary of State | $50 |
|---|---|
| The regular report that keeps it in good standing | Free |
| An EIN from the IRS | Free |
| A registered agent | Free if you're your own; a service charges a yearly fee |
The state's fees only. Card or handling fees, a registered agent service, local licenses and taxes come on top where they apply. Checked against official sources on September 30, 2026. It's general information, not legal or tax advice.
Step by step
In the order most owners do them. Each step says where it happens and links to the official page.
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With the state
Check your name is free
Search the Mississippi Secretary of State's business records to check no business already uses your name, or one too close to it. An LLC's name must also end with "LLC" or a similar ending.
-
Your records
Choose a registered agent
Every LLC and corporation in Mississippi needs a registered agent: a person or company with a street address in Mississippi who receives legal papers and state notices for it. You can be your own, or pay a registered agent service.
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With the state
File your Certificate of Formation
File it with the Mississippi Secretary of State through its online filing system; business documents can only be filed there. The state's fee is $50, paid online by card, e-check or ACH, or you can print the completed form and mail it with a check. Once it's filed, your business exists.
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Your records
Write an operating agreement
It sets out who owns the LLC, how decisions are made and what happens if someone leaves. It isn't filed with the state: keep it with your records. A lawyer can help you write one.
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With the IRS
Get an EIN from the IRS
An Employer Identification Number is your business's tax number, for taxes, hiring and a bank account. Apply once your Certificate of Formation are filed. It's free from the IRS: with a Social Security number or ITIN, you can apply on the IRS's own site and get it at once. Watch out for look-alike sites that charge for it.
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With the state
Register for state taxes
If you'll make retail sales, register for a sales tax permit with the Mississippi Department of Revenue; most taxes, including withholding, can be registered online through its Taxpayer Access Point (TAP). If you'll have employees, you may also need to register with the Mississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES) for unemployment insurance.
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City or county
Check local licenses and permits
Some businesses need a license, registration or certification from a state agency or board; the Secretary of State's startup guide lists many of them. Your city or county may need its own licenses, permits or zoning approval.
-
Your records
Open a business bank account
Keep the business's money apart from your own: it keeps your records clear at tax time, and keeps the LLC separate from you. Banks usually ask for your filed Certificate of Formation and your EIN.
-
With the state
Put the yearly report in your calendar
Every LLC in Mississippi files an annual report online with the Secretary of State between January 1 and April 15 each year. There's no fee. Failure to file may lead to administrative dissolution.
Questions about an LLC in Mississippi
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Mississippi?
The state's fee to file Certificate of Formation is $50. Its regular report is free. An EIN from the IRS is free.
Does Mississippi require a yearly report for an LLC?
Yes. Mississippi asks every LLC for a regular report to stay in good standing. It's free to file, and the step below says when it's due and where.
Can I form an LLC in Mississippi myself?
Yes. You file Certificate of Formation with the Mississippi Secretary of State and pay the state's fee, and the steps above show where. You don't need a lawyer, though one can advise on your situation. PressUp's free checklist follows these steps with you.
Is this legal or tax advice?
No. PressUp isn't a law firm or an accountant. This guide is general information from Mississippi's official pages, checked on September 30, 2026. For advice about your own situation, ask a lawyer or an accountant.
Where this comes from
Mississippi's official pages, read on September 30, 2026:
- sos.ms.gov/content/documents/Business/Services%20&%20Fees%20Document.pdf
- sos.ms.gov/business-services/annual-reports
- sos.ms.gov/business-services/business-faqs
- sos.ms.gov/business-services/fees-forms-directory
- corp.sos.ms.gov/corp/portal/c/page/corpnewfilings/portal.aspx
- sos.ms.gov/content/documents/pol_res/trade_name_registration/1trade-names-summary.pdf
- sos.ms.gov/content/documents/Business/Business%20Entities%20(Clean).pdf
- dor.ms.gov/business/sales-use-tax/register-taxes
- dor.ms.gov/business/sales-use-tax/registration-information-sales-and-use-tax-applicants
- dor.ms.gov/business/corporate-income-and-franchise-tax
- dor.ms.gov/business/business-tax-frequently-asked-questions
- mdes.ms.gov/employers/register-with-us/
LLC guides for other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming