How Much Does an LLC Cost in Kansas

Written by: Mary Gerardine

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The minimum Kansas LLC cost is $165, which covers the processing fee for filing your LLC formation documents (known as the Articles of Organization).

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

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

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Kansas LLC Cost

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

                                                         
RequirementFee
Articles of Organization$160-$165
Registered Agent$0-$150+
LLC Name$0-$35
Operating Agreement$0+

Kansas LLC Filing Fee ($160+)

To form your LLC in Kansas, you will need to submit the necessary formation documents with the Secretary of State.

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

You will be required to pay a filing fee of $165 in order to submit either one of these documents with the Kansas Secretary of State (via mail).

If you’re registering a domestic LLC, you’ll also have the option to file online, which costs $160 and has the benefit of immediate processing.

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 Kansas’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 offerings.

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

Kansas Resident Agent ($0-$150+)

You will need to appoint a resident agent in order to form your LLC in Kansas — commonly known as a registered agent in other states.

This is a person or business entity that you must assign to receive tax, legal, and governmental correspondence on behalf of your Kansas LLC.

While you can act as your own resident 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.

The cost of a resident agent service varies depending on the provider in question and the level of features and support offered, but is generally around $150 per annum.

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More than 84% of our readers form their LLC through a specialized LLC formation service in order to save time and avoid potential penalties.

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

Naming Your Kansas LLC ($0-$35)

When forming your Kansas 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

You have the option of reserving your preferred name for your LLC prior to starting your business.

To do this, you will need to fill out the Temporary Reservation of NR Business Entity Name form and mail it to the Kansas Secretary of state.

Keep in mind that you will be required to pay a filing fee of $35 in order for your application to be processed.

Once approved, your chosen name will be reserved for a period of 120 days.

We recommend conducting a Business Entity Name Search on the Kansas Secretary of State’s website in order to ensure your preferred name is available before reserving it.

Note: Name reservations in Kansas cannot be renewed, and any reservation submitted before the expiration of a current one will be rejected.

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.

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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 a Doing Business As (DBA) name.

It should be noted that the state of Kansas does not require you to register a DBA name, nor does it have a formal process for such filings.

This means that you will be able to select any name for your business operations as long as it isn’t already being used by another entity.

Having said that, it’s important to remember that local government or county-level regulations may still apply.

Therefore, we recommend consulting with your county clerk’s office to determine if there are specific local procedures or permits required for your DBA.

Additionally, while selecting a DBA name that’s already used by an existing business is not restricted by state law, it’s wise to consider the potential challenges that can develop as a result of doing so.

These can include confusion among your customers, difficulty in establishing a distinct brand identity, or issues with securing a matching domain name.

Kansas LLC Operating Agreement ($0+)

While not mandatory, it’s good practice for LLCs to have an operating agreement — also known as a company 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 Kansas Secretary of State — it’s purely an internal document.

Additional Kansas LLC Formation Costs

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

We’ve summarized some of these additional costs below:

Local Business Licenses

In order to comply with the local-level regulations of your city and county, your business may be required to obtain some 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.

For example, an LLC that manages rental units in Lawrence would be required to obtain a Rental Property License from the city at a cost of $25 per unit for initial registration and $15 per unit for subsequent renewals.

Certificate of Good Standing

A Kansas Certificate of Good Standing is a document often required to open a business bank account; it can also be requested by various lenders in order to check that your LLC is properly registered and legally authorized to conduct business in the state.

You can obtain this certificate online from the Secretary of State’s Office by visiting the Certificate of Good Standing page and paying a $10 processing fee.

After paying the required fee, you will be able to immediately print the certificate from the website.

Certified Copies of Business Documents

You may need certified copies of your business documents if you’re dealing with financial institutions, regulatory bodies, or are involved in legal proceedings.

To obtain certified copies of your business’s documents, you will need to pay a fee of $15 per document plus $1 per additional page.

This can be done by completing this Copy Order Form and sending it along with your payment either by mail or fax to the Office of the Secretary of State.

Recommended: More than 84% of our readers form their LLC through a specialized LLC formation service in order to save time and avoid being caught up in procedural rigmarole.

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Cost to Maintain an LLC in Kansas

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

We’ve outlined these recurring costs associated with maintaining a Kansas LLC below.

Biannual Information Report

All businesses in Kansas are required to submit an Information Report to the Secretary of State every two years.

The cost of filing is $100 for online submissions and $110 for reports filed via mail.

Keep in mind that there’s a three-month grace period after the report’s due date where you’ll be able to submit without penalty.

Having said that, if you miss this window your business will be placed in delinquent status and will lose its good standing with the state.

Resident Agent Maintenance

If you decide to take advantage of a professional resident 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 resident 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 Kansas 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

Kansas vs Other States

When comparing the costs of LLC formation, Kansas is arguably on the more expensive side.

Having said that, the state’s biennial report filing fee is actually quite modest and places Kansas on the lower end of the spectrum when it comes to ongoing maintenance fees.

For example, in Nevada, the annual report fee of $150 is three times as expensive.

Regardless, 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.

LLC Cost in Kansas FAQ

What do I need to start an LLC in Kansas?

To start an LLC in Kansas, you’ll need to file your Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State and pay a filing fee of $160 (online filings) or $165 (mail submissions). Depending on your niche, you may also be required to obtain an EIN from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and apply for a business license.

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

Starting an LLC costs a minimum of $160, which is the processing fee for filing your formation document (i.e., the Kansas LLC Articles of Organization) online. This is $165 for submissions done via mail. Other LLC costs may include fees for hiring a registered agent service, getting a business license or permit, and purchasing business insurance. For more details — including the potential Kansas tax implications you’ll be subjected to — please refer to our How Much Does it Cost to Start an LLC article.

Does Kansas require an operating agreement for LLC?

Kansas does not legally require LLCs to have an operating agreement. Having said that, LLC owners are generally almost always recommended to have one. For more information on starting your Kansas business, you can have a look at our How to Start an LLC in Kansas guide.

Can you be your own registered agent for an LLC in Kansas?

Yes, as an LLC business owner in Kansas, you will be able to act as your own registered agent. Having said that, this is generally not recommended as it offers less privacy and can lead to fines as a result of non-compliance with state mandates. Generally speaking, appointing a professional Kansas registered agent is the recommended path for most small business owners.

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