LLC by State Guide

LLC by State Guide › Kentucky

The Kentucky LLC guide (2026)

A Kentucky LLC is formed by filing the Articles of Organization - Profit Limited Liability Company (KLC) with the Kentucky Secretary of State. The state filing fee is $40. Kentucky LLCs file an Annual Report every year, due on or before June 30, for $15. Every Kentucky LLC must keep a registered agent with a Kentucky street address.

  • Official sources, checked October 20, 2026
  • Prices verified October 2026

Kentucky LLC fees and rules

State filing fee
$40
Formation document
Articles of Organization - Profit Limited Liability Company (KLC)
Yearly filing
Annual Report, every year, $15
Due
On or before June 30
Registered agent
Required. A Kentucky resident, or an entity qualified to do business in Kentucky, whose business address is the registered office. The agent signs or files a written acceptance.
Agent address
The address has to be a physical registered office in Kentucky that matches the agent's business address. A P.O. box is not enough.
Other required costs
Limited Liability Entity Tax: a $175 minimum each year to the Department of Revenue.
Filing fee rank
2nd lowest of 50 (1 states charge less, 48 charge more)

Kentucky compared with neighboring states

StateFiling feeYearly filing
Kentucky$40$15 / yr
Illinois$150$75 / yr
Indiana$95$32 / 2 yrs
Missouri$50None
Ohio$99None
Tennessee$300$300 / yr
Virginia$100$50 fee
West Virginia$100$25 / yr

All 50 states

How to form an LLC in Kentucky

  1. Pick a name with “LLC” or “Limited Liability Company” in it, and check that it’s free on the Kentucky Secretary of State business records.
  2. Name a registered agent: a Kentucky resident, or an entity qualified to do business in Kentucky, whose business address is the registered office. The agent signs or files a written acceptance.
  3. File the Articles of Organization - Profit Limited Liability Company (KLC) with the Kentucky Secretary of State and pay $40.
  4. Get an EIN from the IRS. It is free and comes after the LLC is formed.
  5. Sign an operating agreement among the members. It sets ownership and voting rules and stays with your records.
  6. File the yearly report. Kentucky LLCs file an Annual Report every year, due on or before June 30, for $15.

Mainstay Filing takes care of the agent, the filing, the EIN application and each annual report for $199 a year plus Kentucky’s fees.

Best overall for a Kentucky LLC

Mainstay Filing

Our rating: 4.9 out of 5

$199 / year, all-in, plus state fees

$199 a year plus Kentucky’s $40 filing fee, which is passed through at cost.

  • LLC formation, prepared and filed
  • Registered agent, all year
  • EIN application (with an SSN or ITIN)
  • Annual report, prepared and filed every year it’s due
  • Compliance reminders

The same $199 at renewal. Already have an LLC and only need an agent? Mainstay Filing’s registered agent service alone is $149 a year.

Prices verified October 21, 2026 on Mainstay Filing’s pricing and FAQ pages.

Kentucky LLC questions

How much does it cost to start an LLC in Kentucky?

$40 to the state to file. Kentucky LLCs file an Annual Report every year, due on or before June 30, for $15. With Mainstay Filing, the formation filing, registered agent, EIN application and annual reports are $199 a year on top of the state fees.

Does Kentucky require an annual report for LLCs?

Yes. Kentucky LLCs file an Annual Report every year, due on or before June 30, for $15.

Do I need a registered agent in Kentucky?

Yes. A Kentucky resident, or an entity qualified to do business in Kentucky, whose business address is the registered office. The agent signs or files a written acceptance.

Can I form a Kentucky LLC myself?

Yes. You can file the Articles of Organization - Profit Limited Liability Company (KLC) directly with the Kentucky Secretary of State and pay the $40 fee. A service such as Mainstay Filing files it for you and adds the registered agent, EIN application and annual reports for $199 a year.

Other formation services

  • Northwest Registered Agent: $39 plus the state fee, with its registered agent service included the first year, then $125 a year; annual report filing is an extra $100 plus the state fee.
  • ZenBusiness: Starter package $0 plus the state fee; Pro is $199 a year with the EIN and annual-report filing, and its registered agent is a separate $199 a year that no package includes.
  • Bizee: Basic package $0 plus the state fee (Standard $199, Premium $299), with one free year of its registered agent, which is $149 a year after that.
  • LegalZoom: Basic package $0 plus the state fee (Pro $249, Premium $299); its registered agent is $249 a year for first-time agent customers.

Prices from each company’s own pages, checked October 20, 2026. Plus the state fee in every case.

Sources