Wyoming LLC Cost Breakdown: Filing Fees, Annual Reports, and Hidden Costs
Wyoming has a reputation as the cheapest, most private place to form an LLC. Some of that reputation is earned. Some of it comes from marketing.
This guide breaks down the real Wyoming LLC cost in 2026: the filing fee, the annual report, and the optional and hidden costs that decide what you actually pay in year one and every year after.
The Short Answer
If you file yourself and act as your own registered agent, a Wyoming LLC costs $100 to form and $60 per year to maintain. That is the honest minimum.
Most out-of-state owners hire a registered agent, which adds $100 to $300 per year. A realistic first-year total for a DIY filer is $200 to $400, and $160 to $360 per year after that.
| Cost item | Amount | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization | $100 | One-time |
| Annual report (license tax) | $60 minimum | Yearly |
| Registered agent | $0 to $300 | Yearly |
| EIN from the IRS | Free | One-time |
| Operating agreement (DIY) | Free | One-time |
| Name reservation (optional) | $60 | One-time |
Filing the Articles of Organization
Forming a Wyoming LLC starts with filing the Articles of Organization with the Wyoming Secretary of State. The filing fee is $100, and online filings are typically approved very fast, often the same day.
You file through the Secretary of State website at sos.wyo.gov. The form asks for your LLC name, registered agent, principal address, and organizer details. That is the entire state filing. Wyoming does not pile on extra formation paperwork.
What the $100 covers
The $100 is a flat fee. It does not change based on your number of members, your industry, or your revenue. One LLC, one fee.
A small online convenience fee of a few dollars is added when you file electronically. If you want your chosen name held before you file, name reservation costs $60 and holds the name for 120 days.
Registered Agent Costs
Every Wyoming LLC must maintain a registered agent with a physical address in Wyoming. This is the person or company that receives legal documents on your behalf.
If you live in Wyoming, you can serve as your own agent for free. If you live anywhere else, you will need a commercial registered agent, which typically costs $100 to $300 per year. Some formation companies bundle the first year free and charge around $125 per year after that.
Do not skip this. Losing your registered agent can trigger administrative dissolution, and reinstating a dissolved LLC costs $100, or $350 if the dissolution was tied to losing the agent. Staying compliant is cheaper than fixing noncompliance.
The Annual Report and License Tax
Wyoming requires every LLC to file an annual report. The fee that comes with it is technically a license tax based on the value of your LLC assets located and employed in Wyoming.
For almost every small LLC, the bill is the $60 minimum. The tax is calculated at $0.0002 per dollar of Wyoming assets, and it only exceeds $60 once your in-state assets pass $300,000. Assets held outside Wyoming do not count.
When your report is due
Wyoming uses an anniversary due date, not a fixed calendar date. Your annual report is due on the first day of the month in which your LLC was formed.
Form on May 15, 2026, and your first report is due May 1, 2027. You do not file one in your formation year. Missing the deadline can lead to dissolution, so calendar it the day you form.
Optional One-Time Costs
A few costs are optional but worth knowing about before you budget. None of them go to the state except the name reservation.
Operating agreement
Wyoming does not require an operating agreement by law, but running an LLC without one is asking for trouble. It defines ownership, profit splits, voting, and what happens if a member leaves.
A single-member LLC can use a solid template for free. Multi-member LLCs should consider an attorney-drafted agreement, which typically runs $500 to $2,000. Our guide to LLC formation costs across all states puts these extras in context: LLC filing fees by state in 2026.
EIN from the IRS
Your Employer Identification Number is free when you apply directly at irs.gov. It takes about five minutes online. Never pay a third party for an EIN.
What Wyoming Does Not Charge
Wyoming has no corporate income tax and no personal income tax. It also has no franchise tax and no general state business license fee. That is part of why the total cost stays low year after year.
Many states make up for a low filing fee with a yearly franchise tax. Arkansas charges $150 every year. California charges $800. Wyoming annual cost stays at the $60 minimum for nearly every small LLC, which keeps the five-year total far below those states.
Hidden Costs That Surprise Owners
The state fees are the easy part. These are the costs that catch new owners off guard.
Foreign qualification in your home state
This is the big one. If you form in Wyoming but live and work in another state, that state will likely require you to register as a foreign LLC and pay its fees too. You can end up paying in two states instead of one.
For most small businesses that operate in one state, forming in the home state is cheaper overall. The Wyoming vs home state math is worth doing before you file: Wyoming LLC vs your home state.
Business licenses and permits
Wyoming has no general state business license, which keeps things simple. But your city or county may require a local license, and regulated industries need professional licenses.
These vary too much to quote here. Check with your city clerk and your industry regulator before you assume licenses cost nothing.
Late fees and reinstatement
Wyoming is unforgiving about missed annual reports. Administrative dissolution means your liability protection is gone until you reinstate, and reinstatement costs $100 plus any back fees.
Set a recurring reminder for your anniversary month. It is the cheapest insurance your LLC will ever buy.
Wyoming vs Other Low-Cost States
Wyoming is affordable, but it is not the cheapest state on paper. Here is how it compares on state fees alone.
| State | Formation fee | Annual cost |
|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | $100 | $60 minimum |
| New Mexico | $50 | $0 |
| Delaware | $110 | $400 |
| Nevada | $425 | $350 |
New Mexico beats Wyoming on pure fees, with no annual report at all. Wyoming wins on the combination of low fees, no state income tax, and strong privacy protections. Delaware costs more each year but offers the court system startups want; see our Delaware LLC fees breakdown and the head-to-head Wyoming vs Delaware comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Wyoming LLC cost in total for the first year?
The state minimum is $100 to form. Add a registered agent ($100 to $300 per year if you do not live in Wyoming) and your realistic first-year total is $200 to $400. The $60 annual report is not due until the year after formation.
Is the Wyoming annual report really only $60?
For most LLCs, yes. The fee is a license tax of $0.0002 per dollar of assets located in Wyoming, with a $60 floor. Unless your LLC holds more than $300,000 of assets in Wyoming, you pay $60.
Does Wyoming have an annual franchise tax?
No. Wyoming has no franchise tax, no corporate income tax, and no personal income tax. The annual report license tax is the only recurring state charge, which is one reason Wyoming is popular for holding companies.
Can a non-resident form a Wyoming LLC?
Yes. Non-residents, including foreign nationals, can form Wyoming LLCs. You must maintain a Wyoming registered agent, and you should check whether your home state or country creates extra tax or registration obligations.
What happens if I miss the annual report deadline?
Wyoming can administratively dissolve your LLC. You lose good standing and, effectively, your liability shield until you reinstate. Reinstatement costs $100, or $350 if the dissolution involved losing your registered agent.
Is Wyoming really the cheapest state to form an LLC?
Not on state fees alone. New Mexico ($50 to form, no annual fee) is cheaper. Wyoming is competitive because it combines reasonable fees with no income tax and strong privacy. See our ranking of the cheapest states to form an LLC in 2026.
Wyoming earns its reputation, but only when it fits your situation. Budget the full picture: filing fee, registered agent, annual report, and any home-state registration. If you want to understand how we research every guide on this site, read about LLC Lane. For a broader look at business structures, the SBA guide to choosing a business structure is a solid starting point.
