Business Formation
Turn your idea into a registered business, one step at a time. Choose your state and how to set it up, and PressUp gives you a checklist of what to do, where to do it, and what it costs.
How it works
From an idea to a business on file
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1
Choose your state and structure
An LLC, a sole proprietorship, a partnership or a corporation. Not sure yet? Compare them in plain words first.
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2
Follow your checklist
Each step says what to do, where (the state, the IRS, your city or county), what it costs, and links to the official page.
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3
Register it, then the rest
File it yourself with the checklist as your guide, or have PressUp file your LLC. Once it's registered, the steps that follow open: your agreement, EIN, taxes and bank account.
Sign in and your checklist is kept with your business in your dashboard, under Documents, beside its name, domain, brand and website.
Ways to set it up
LLC, sole proprietorship, partnership or corporation
A plain summary of each. It's general information, not advice: an accountant or lawyer can tell you which suits you.
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Limited liability company
A company of its own, separate from you. Its debts are generally its own, not yours. You form it by filing with the state, and in many states it files a report each year.
Often used for Small service businesses with one owner or a few.
Keep in mind A state filing fee, and in many states a yearly report. Keep its money apart from your own.
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Sole proprietorship
You and the business are the same in law. There's nothing to file with the state to start, though you may need to register a business name.
Often used for Trying an idea on your own, simply.
Keep in mind Your own savings and property can be on the line for the business's debts.
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General partnership
Two or more people in business together, without forming a company. The partners are personally responsible for its debts.
Often used for Two or more people starting simply.
Keep in mind Put in writing who owns what and how you decide. Each partner can be responsible for what the others do for the business.
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Corporation
A company owned by shareholders, run by directors and officers, with bylaws and records to keep. It's taxed on its own profit unless it chooses S corporation status with the IRS.
Often used for Businesses raising money from investors, or planning to.
Keep in mind More paperwork to start, and more to keep up each year.
What's in the checklist
Every step, in order, with the official links
- Checking your business name is free in your state
- Choosing a registered agent
- Filing with the Secretary of State, with the current fee
- Your EIN, free from the IRS
- Your operating agreement, bylaws or partnership agreement
- State tax registration, if you'll need it
- Local licenses, permits and zoning
- Your business bank account
- The yearly report that keeps your business in good standing
Where
Every US state, and Washington, DC
Each state's steps, forms and fees come from its own official pages, checked on September 30, 2026. Here's what each state charges to form an LLC and a corporation.
- Alabama LLC $200 · Corp. $200
- Alaska LLC $250 · Corp. $250
- Arizona LLC $50 · Corp. $60
- Arkansas LLC $50 · Corp. $50
- California LLC $70 · Corp. $100
- Colorado LLC $50 · Corp. $50
- Connecticut LLC $120 · Corp. from $250
- Delaware LLC $110 · Corp. from $109
- District of Columbia LLC $99 · Corp. from $99
- Florida LLC $125 · Corp. $70
- Georgia LLC $110 · Corp. $110
- Hawaii LLC $50 · Corp. $50
- Idaho LLC $100 · Corp. $100
- Illinois LLC $150 · Corp. $150
- Indiana LLC $95 · Corp. $95
- Iowa LLC $50 · Corp. $50
- Kansas LLC $85 · Corp. $85
- Kentucky LLC $40 · Corp. from $50
- Louisiana LLC $125 · Corp. $95
- Maine LLC $175 · Corp. $145
- Maryland LLC $100 · Corp. from $120
- Massachusetts LLC $500 · Corp. from $265
- Michigan LLC $50 · Corp. from $60
- Minnesota LLC $135 · Corp. $135
- Mississippi LLC $50 · Corp. $50
- Missouri LLC $50 · Corp. from $58
- Montana LLC $35 · Corp. $35
- Nebraska LLC $100 · Corp. $100
- Nevada LLC $75 · Corp. from $75
- New Hampshire LLC $100 · Corp. $100
- New Jersey LLC $100 · Corp. $100
- New Mexico LLC $50 · Corp. from $100
- New York LLC $200 · Corp. $125
- North Carolina LLC $125 · Corp. $125
- North Dakota LLC $135 · Corp. $100
- Ohio LLC $99 · Corp. from $99
- Oklahoma LLC $100 · Corp. from $50
- Oregon LLC $100 · Corp. $100
- Pennsylvania LLC $125 · Corp. $125
- Rhode Island LLC $150 · Corp. from $230
- South Carolina LLC $110 · Corp. $135
- South Dakota LLC $150 · Corp. $150
- Tennessee LLC from $300 · Corp. $100
- Texas LLC $300 · Corp. $300
- Utah LLC $59 · Corp. $59
- Vermont LLC $155 · Corp. $155
- Virginia LLC $100 · Corp. from $75
- Washington LLC $180 · Corp. $180
- West Virginia LLC $100 · Corp. $100
- Wisconsin LLC $130 · Corp. $100
- Wyoming LLC $100 · Corp. $100
Questions
Before you start
Is this legal or tax advice?
No. PressUp isn't a law firm or an accountant. The checklist is general information from official sources, so you know what to do and where. For advice about your own situation, ask a lawyer or an accountant.
Does PressUp file for me?
For an LLC in the US, yes, if you'd like: PressUp files the papers that form it with the state through its filing partner. You pay the state's fee and PressUp's $149 when you order, and your filed documents arrive in your checklist. Its yearly compliance is included for the first year, then $149 a year until you turn it off. Otherwise, the checklist links you to where you file yourself.
What does it cost?
The checklist is free. The state and your city or county charge their own fees, which the checklist shows. An EIN from the IRS is free.
Will you ask for my Social Security number?
Only if you have PressUp get your EIN with your filing: the IRS needs the Social Security number or ITIN of the person responsible for the business. It goes straight to PressUp's filing partner, Palm, which keeps it for the IRS application, and PressUp doesn't keep it. The checklist itself never asks for it, and you can always get your EIN free on the IRS's own site instead.
Does it work outside the US?
Not yet. It covers all 50 US states and Washington, DC, and each state's steps are checked against its own official pages.
Start free
Describe your business and see your site before you sign up. Your first site is free, with 20 credits to change it by chat.