Free incorporation cost calculator. Estimate first-year and multi-year incorporation costs including filing, service or attorney fees, registered agent, franchise tax, and setup expenses.
This worksheet estimates what it may cost to form and maintain a corporation or similar entity during the first year. The live calculator combines the state filing fee, attorney or filing-service cost, registered-agent service, corporate kit or seal, initial franchise tax, EIN filing cost, and any other formation expenses you enter.
It is best used as a budgeting tool, especially when comparing a DIY filing, an online service, and attorney-led formation. The one-time and recurring outputs matter more than the label on the service package because recurring items like registered-agent service and franchise tax are often what drive the longer-term cost difference.
A low filing fee can hide a much higher first-year or five-year cost once service fees, registered-agent charges, and franchise taxes are included. This page helps you compare formation paths on the same worksheet instead of relying on headline prices alone.
One-Time Cost = State Filing Fee + Attorney or Service Fee + Corporate Kit + EIN Filing Fee + Other Costs Recurring Annual Cost = Registered Agent + Initial or Ongoing Franchise Tax Year 1 Cost = One-Time Cost + Recurring Annual Cost 5-Year Cost = One-Time Cost + (Recurring Annual Cost x 5)
Result: $2,225
State filing $300 + attorney fees $1,500 + registered agent $150 + corporate kit $75 + initial franchise tax $200 = $2,225 total first-year incorporation cost.
The calculator separates one-time formation spending from recurring annual maintenance. That makes it easier to see whether the real cost driver is formation help up front or the state and agent charges that continue after the entity is formed.
This page is strongest as a comparison tool: DIY versus online service, one state versus another, or corporation versus LLC using the same assumptions for agent service and internal setup. It is less useful as a legal recommendation about which entity you should choose.
The calculator does not attempt to price accounting work, tax return preparation, payroll setup, securities-law compliance, foreign qualification, or investor-side diligence. Those items can easily exceed the basic formation budget, so treat the result here as the incorporation worksheet rather than the full business-launch cost.
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This worksheet separates one-time incorporation costs from recurring annual maintenance. It adds the state filing fee, attorney or filing-service cost, corporate kit, EIN-related service cost, and any other entered setup charges into a one-time total, then layers in the registered-agent and franchise-tax amounts as recurring annual costs to show first-year and five-year comparisons.
The result is a budgeting estimate only. It does not determine whether a corporation is the right entity choice, whether an S corporation election is available or advisable, or what the live filing office and tax authority will charge in a specific state.
A C Corp pays corporate income tax and shareholders pay tax on dividends (double taxation). An S Corp passes income through to shareholders who pay personal tax only (no double taxation). S Corp election has eligibility requirements: max 100 shareholders, one class of stock, US shareholders only.
Delaware incorporation is beneficial for companies seeking venture capital, multiple shareholders, or eventual public offering. For single-owner small businesses operating in one state, incorporating in your home state is usually simpler and cheaper.
Articles of incorporation (or certificate of incorporation) is the document filed with the state to create the corporation. It includes: corporation name, purpose, registered agent, authorized stock, and incorporator information.
Yes. Bylaws govern internal corporate operations: shareholder meetings, board structure, officer roles, voting procedures, and record-keeping. While not filed with the state, they are essential for corporate governance and may be required by banks and investors.
Annual costs include: franchise tax ($0–$800+), annual report filing ($25–$200), registered agent ($50–$300), corporate income tax preparation ($500–$2,000), and potentially payroll processing if officers are employees. Review your results periodically to ensure they still reflect current conditions.
Yes. Most states allow single-person corporations. You can serve as the sole shareholder, director, and officer. However, you must still maintain corporate formalities (meetings, minutes, separate finances) to preserve liability protection.