Form your company in Massachusetts

Why form an LLC in Massachusetts?

Form in Massachusetts only if you operate here — it has the most expensive fee combo in the country ($500 to file plus $500 every year). A remote or non-US founder is almost always better served forming in Wyoming or New Mexico.

A quick reminder from us: forming in a state where you do not actually operate usually means you still have to register (foreign-qualify) in your home state, often with little or no tax benefit. If you are unsure, tell us how you plan to operate and we will recommend the right fit — free.

Costs and fees

The Massachusetts Secretary of State charges roughly $500 to file Articles of Organization, with an ongoing state cost of about $500/yr report. No franchise tax on LLCs (only C-corps pay the corporate excise); personal income tax is a flat 5% plus a 4% surtax on income over ~$1M. State fees are paid directly to the state and are separate from our service fee.

• Filing fee: $500 (approximate)
• Ongoing state cost: $500/yr report
• Typical processing time: 1–2 days online

Taxes and privacy

Personal state income tax in Massachusetts: Yes. Owner privacy on the public record is generally rated low.

Your federal tax obligations (and your EIN) are the same regardless of the state you choose — a single-member LLC is taxed as a pass-through by default, and we can obtain your EIN even if you do not have an SSN.

Pros of forming in Massachusetts

• Fast online formation, typically processed in 1–2 business days
• Credible home base if you actually operate in the Boston/Cambridge tech and biotech ecosystem
• LLCs are pass-through, so there's no separate corporate excise on a standard LLC
• Strong professional, legal and banking infrastructure locally

Things to weigh

• $500 filing fee ($520 online) is among the highest in the nation
• $500 annual report every year — the steepest recurring LLC fee of any state
• The Certificate of Organization and annual report make manager/authorized-person details public, so privacy is low
• Massachusetts levies a 5% personal income tax plus a 4% surtax on income above roughly $1M

Banking for your Massachusetts LLC

Banking is not restricted by formation state, so a Massachusetts LLC can use banks or fintechs anywhere in the US. Providers like Mercury, Wise and Relay accept Massachusetts LLCs from non-US owners; expect standard beneficial-owner identity checks regardless of state.

Whichever state you choose, we prepare the documents banks ask for and can obtain your EIN even without an SSN. Bank and provider approval is always their decision — we are not affiliated with any bank.

Is Massachusetts right for you?

Best for: Businesses genuinely based in Massachusetts. If you operate physically in Massachusetts, forming here keeps things simple. If you are a remote or non-US founder without a specific reason to choose Massachusetts, a low-cost, privacy-friendly state like Wyoming or New Mexico is often the better default.

Not sure? Start your application and we will confirm the best state for your situation before anything is filed.