The minimum Idaho LLC cost is $100, which covers the processing fee for filing your Certificate of Organization.

Having said that, the total cost of forming an Idaho LLC will depend on several factors, including your personal preferences and business needs.

In our How Much Does an LLC Cost in Idaho article, we’ve broken down everything you need to know about the different costs associated with launching and maintaining an LLC.

Idaho LLC Cost

In the table below, you can find a summary of the main requirements of forming an Idaho limited liability company (LLC) and their associated fees.

                                                         

Requirement	Fee
Certificate of Organization	$100-$120
Registered Agent	$0-$150+
LLC Name	$0-$85
Operating Agreement	$0+

Idaho LLC Filing Fee ($100+)

To officially register your LLC, you’ll need to submit the required incorporation documents with the Idaho Secretary of State.

The specific document you will need to file will depend on whether you’re registering a domestic LLC (formed in Idaho) or a foreign LLC (formed outside of Idaho):

• Domestic LLCs: Must file a Certificate of Organization
• Foreign LLCs: Must file a Foreign Registration Statement

The processing fee is $100 for online submissions or $120 for in-person or mail filings, regardless of whether you are registering a domestic or a foreign LLC.

Having said that, if you choose to use an LLC formation service, the cost will be a little higher as it will include a small service fee in addition to Idaho’s state filing fee.

The fees for an LLC formation service can range significantly, but can start from as low as $29, increasing if you decide to purchase any additional services.

Note: For more details on the formation process, you can check out our Idaho LLC Formation guide.

Idaho Registered Agent ($0-$150+)

As part of filing your LLC’s Articles of Organization, you will need to appoint a registered agent.

This is an individual or business entity that you must assign to receive tax, legal, and governmental correspondence on behalf of your Idaho LLC (e.g., service of process).

Keep in mind that your registered agent will need to have a physical address in Idaho — P.O. boxes will not be accepted.

While you can act as your own registered agent at no extra cost, it’s often recommended to hire a professional service so you avoid any potential penalties or legal issues caused by non-compliance with state regulations.

Hiring a third-party service can also be a great way of ensuring that your personal information remains private (as your own address will not become publicly available).

The cost of a registered agent service will depend on the provider you choose — as well as the level of service you require — but will generally be around $150 per year.

Alternatively, you can find some of the top recommendations for professional RA services in our Best Registered Agent Services of 2024 article.

Naming Your Idaho LLC ($0-$85)

When forming your Idaho LLC, you’ll be required to pick a suitable name that’s available to use.

There are two potential costs to be aware of when naming your LLC.

Reserving Name

Prior to filing your Certificate of Organization with the Secretary of State, you have the option of reserving your LLC’s name ahead of time.

To do this, you will need to fill out the Application For Reservation of Legal Entity Name form and submit it via mail or in-person to the Secretary of State alongside a $40 filing fee.

This can also be done online for a reduced fee ($20).

Note: Before submitting your reservation, it’s advised to conduct a search through the Idaho Secretary of State’s website in order to ensure your preferred LLC name is available.

When choosing a name for your LLC, it’s important to select one that corresponds to an available domain. This is because a matching domain ensures consistency between your LLC’s name and its online presence, which helps to strengthen its brand recognition and credibility.

Doing Business As (DBA) Name

If you plan to operate your business under a name that differs from your LLCs official one, you’ll need to obtain a Doing Business As (DBA) name — which is also known as a Assumed Business name in this state.

To do this, you can either file online using the Idaho Secretary of State’s SOSbiz website or download and submit a hard copy of the Certificate of Assumed Business Name form by mail or in person.

To complete this process, you will need to pay a $25 fee for online submissions or a $45 fee for hard copy filings.

It should be noted that DBA names in Idaho do not expire and as such do not need to be renewed.

Idaho LLC Operating Agreement ($0+)

While not mandatory, it’s good practice for LLCs to have an operating agreement.

This document defines the roles and responsibilities of the members or managers in your LLC and will help prevent and solve any business disputes that may arise later on.

While you can opt to hire an online service or business attorney to draft this document for you (which typically costs at least a few hundred dollars), it’s actually quite straightforward to do it yourself at no extra cost.

It’s also important to note that this doesn’t actually need to be filed with the Idaho Secretary of State — it’s purely an internal document.

Additional Idaho LLC Formation Costs

On top of the more common fees outlined above, there are a number of additional formation costs that LLCs in Idaho may encounter depending on their circumstances.

We’ve summarized some of these additional costs below:

Expedited Idaho LLC Filing

The Idaho Secretary of State offers expedited filing services for businesses seeking quicker processing times for their filings.

These services include:

• Expedited service: By adding an additional $40 to your filing fee, your documents will be processed within eight working hours
• Same day service: For an additional $100 fee, your documents will be processed on the same day they are received

Keep in mind that the normal processing period for standard filings is between 7 and 10 business days.

Local Business Licenses

In order to comply with the local-level regulations of your city and county, your business may be required to obtain one — or several — local business licenses.

While very few municipalities impose a general licensing requirement for businesses operating within their limits, your LLC might need a municipal license if it’s involved in certain activities.

In Boise, for instance, an LLC wishing to operate a sidewalk cafe will be required to obtain a local business license from the city, which costs $109.75.

Certificate of Existence

An Idaho Certificate of Existence is a document often required to open a business bank account; it can also be requested by lenders in order to check that your LLC is properly registered and legally authorized to conduct business with the state.

You can obtain a Certificate of Existence by using this Certificate Request form — which is available on the Idaho Secretary of State’s website.

Keep in mind that this request will incur a $10 fee.

Note: You can use the same form in order to request certified copies of your business’s documents, which come at a cost of $10 per document plus $0.25 per page.

Cost to Maintain an LLC in Idaho

In addition to the cost of forming an LLC in Minnesota, there are also several ongoing costs you’ll be responsible for paying each year.

We’ve outlined these recurring costs associated with maintaining an Idaho LLC below.

Annual Report

All LLCs in Idaho are required to file an Annual Report with the Secretary of State.

This is meant to ensure that the state has up-to-date information in relation to your business (e.g., registered agent’s name, business address, LLC member changes, etc.).

You will need to file your Annual Report every year by the end of the anniversary month of your LLC’s initial registration.

For instance, if your LLC was formed on March 20, 2023, you would need to file your Annual Report by March 31 of each subsequent year.

The process for filing your annual report is straightforward and can be completed online via the SOSBiz website free of charge.

Note: Failing to file your report within 60 days of its due date can result in your LLC losing its good standing with the state, which can lead to its administrative dissolution.

Registered Agent Maintenance

If you decide to take advantage of a professional registered agent in order to handle your legal documents, you’ll be required to pay an annual fee in return for their services. This fee commonly ranges between $45 and $300 depending on the provider and features you select.

While you’re not required to use a professional registered agent service, it’s highly recommended.

Taxes

In addition to the federal taxes your LLC is required to pay regardless of the state it’s based in, there are a variety of state-specific taxes in Idaho you need to be aware of, including:

• Sales tax
• Employment taxes
• Business privilege taxes
• Property taxes

Additionally, there are various local taxes your LLC may need to pay depending on the municipality or county it’s based in, such as:

• Sales and use taxes
• Property tax

Idaho vs Other States

Idaho’s initial setup cost for LLCs is neither exceptionally high nor remarkably low, offering a moderate financial commitment for those looking to establish their business.

Having said that, Idaho truly stands out for its annual maintenance costs, which are among the lowest compared to even other cost-effective states.

For instance, neighboring Wyoming’s annual filing fee is a minimum $60, in stark contrast to Idaho’s annual report fee of $0.

Ultimately, however, it’s important to understand that the best state to form your LLC will generally be the one in which you plan to primarily operate your business from.

This is because this makes it far easier to stay legally compliant on a number of levels, including taxation, licensing, and filing requirements, as you’ll only need to deal with one state’s set of rules.