How Much Does an LLC Cost in Kansas (What You Need to Know)
Forming an LLC in Kansas costs $85 if you file the Articles of Organization online, or $90 if you file by mail, with the Kansas Secretary of State.
Most owners pay more than that first fee. Kansas also charges a biennial Information Report, and you may add a registered agent service, an operating agreement, or a business license depending on what you do.
We pulled these numbers straight from the Kansas Secretary of State's current forms and fee schedule and checked each one twice, since the state cut several fees earlier this year and older guides online still quote the outdated prices.
Quick Summary
- Budget for a biennial Information Report on top of the filing fee. It's due every other year, not annually.
- A Kansas resident agent is required, but you can serve as your own for free instead of paying a service.
- Getting an EIN from the IRS costs nothing, and it's the last box most new owners still need to check.
| Cost Item | Amount | Frequency | Required? |
|---|---|---|---|
| LLC Formation Filing Fee | $85 online / $90 mail | One-time | Mandatory |
| Name Reservation | $35 | One-time | Optional |
| Biennial Information Report | $90 online / $110 mail | Every 2 years, due April 15 | Mandatory |
| Registered agent service | $0 (self) or $80 to $300 | Every year | Optional |
| Business license | Varies by profession | Varies | If applicable |
| State income tax | 5.20% to 5.58% | Every year | Mandatory |
| Sales tax | 6.5% (plus local rates) | Ongoing | Mandatory for retailers |
| Operating agreement | $0 (template) to $1,000+ (attorney) | One-time | Recommended |
| Certificate of Good Standing | $5 | As needed | Optional |
| Certified copies | $15 per document | As needed | Optional |
| EIN from the IRS | $0 (free at IRS.gov) | One-time | Recommended |
One-Time Costs to Form a Kansas LLC
Two fees cover the paperwork that actually creates your LLC. Everything else on this page is optional or comes later. A Kansas LLC formation service can handle the filing for you and catch mistakes before they cost you a resubmission.
1. LLC Formation Filing Fee ($85 Online / $90 Mail - Mandatory)
Online filings of the Kansas Articles of Organization process within minutes, and you can print your certified copy right away. Mailed filings take longer, since the office has to process the payment and mail your certified copy back to you.
2. Name Reservation Fee ($35 - Optional)
You don't have to reserve a name before you file. But if you want to lock one down while you finish your paperwork, the Temporary Reservation of Business Entity Name form holds it for 120 days for a $35 filing fee. Check the Kansas business name search first, since a name already on file with the state will bounce your reservation.
Recurring Costs to Keep a Kansas LLC in Good Standing
These are the ongoing LLC costs that don't end at formation. Miss one and Kansas can move your LLC to forfeited status.
1. Biennial Information Report ($90 Online / $110 Mail - Mandatory)
Kansas doesn't use an annual report. Instead, every LLC files an Information Report once every two years, and the fee is $90 online or $110 by mail. LLCs formed in an even year file again in the next even year, and LLCs formed in an odd year follow the odd-year cycle instead. For-profit LLCs owe theirs by April 15 of the filing year [1].
Miss the deadline and you get a three-month grace period before the state marks your LLC forfeited. A forfeited LLC can't file anything else with the state until it catches up on past reports and reinstates.
2. Registered Agent Service ($80-$300 a Year - Optional)
Kansas law uses the term resident agent, and every LLC must name one with a street address in the state to accept legal paperwork. You or a partner can do that job yourselves for free.
Paying for a registered agent service in Kansas, the industry's name for the same job, is what's optional. Owners who want privacy or a fixed business address typically pay $80 to $300 a year for it.
3. Business License (Varies - Mandatory if Applicable)
Kansas doesn't issue one general statewide business license. What you owe instead depends on your profession, since each regulated field answers to its own state licensing board with its own fee. Search the Kansas Business Center licensing tool to find out whether your line of work needs one and what it costs.
4. State Taxes (Ongoing - Mandatory if Applicable)
Kansas taxes individual and pass-through business income on two brackets: 5.20% up to $30,000 and 5.58% above that. The statewide sales tax rate is 6.5%, and cities and counties can add their own rate on top of it. Pay late and the state adds a 1%-per-month penalty, capped at 24% of what you owe.
Optional Costs for a Kansas LLC
None of these are required to keep your LLC active, but most owners buy at least one of them at some point, whether that's a bank asking for an operating agreement or a lender asking for proof the LLC is in good standing.
1. Operating Agreement ($0 Template / $100-$1,000+ Attorney - Recommended)
An operating agreement spells out how members vote, split profits, and handle a partner leaving. Kansas doesn't require you to file one with the state.
You can draft your own for free with a template, or pay an attorney anywhere from $100 to $1,000 or more for a custom version. Banks often ask to see one before they'll open a business account, so it's worth having even for a single-member LLC.
2. Certificate of Good Standing ($5 - Optional)
A Certificate of Good Standing confirms your LLC has filed everything it owes and is current with the state. Lenders, landlords, and out-of-state agencies often ask for one before they'll do business with you. The Secretary of State sells it exclusively online through the Business Center for $5.
3. Certified Copies ($15 - Optional)
If you need a certified copy of your Articles of Organization or another filing, order it online through the Business Center for $15 per document. The office no longer takes copy orders by mail or fax.
4. EIN from the IRS ($0 - Free)
An Employer Identification Number is free straight from the IRS website. You'll need one to open a business bank account, hire employees, or file federal taxes, even though Kansas itself doesn't charge anything for it.
FAQs
What Happens If I Pay My Kansas Taxes Late?
Late Kansas taxes start piling up a 1%-per-month penalty right away, plus interest currently around 8% a year. Set up a payment plan with the Department of Revenue if you can't pay in full, since that stops the penalty from growing further.
Can You Pay Kansas State Taxes with a Credit Card?
Yes. Kansas accepts credit card payments alongside checks, money orders, and debit cards, whether you're paying a filing fee or settling a tax bill.
How Much Does It Cost to Reinstate a Forfeited Kansas LLC?
Reinstating a forfeited Kansas LLC costs $35 for the filing fee plus an $85 penalty, plus $110 for each missing Information Report. One missing report totals $230. The maximum of five missing reports totals $670.
References:
- https://sos.ks.gov/businesses/information-reports.html
