Texas LLC or Nevada LLC?
If you run your business in Texas, here's what each route costs in state fees.
The short answer
For a business that operates in Texas, forming in Nevada costs about $2,275 more over five years in state fees alone — before paying for a registered agent in Nevada.
Form in Texas
Texas
Certificate of Formation (Form 205)$300
Public Information Report (Form 05-102, filed with the franchise tax report)$0
Franchise tax$0
Year one$300
Each year after$0
5-year total$300
Form in Nevada, register in Texas
Nevada
Articles of Organization (plus required $150 Initial List and $200 State Business License fee = $425 total)$75
Annual List of Managers or Members (with State Business License renewal)$150 / yr
State Business License fee$200 / yr
Commerce Tax$0
Texas (foreign registration)
Application for Registration of a Foreign Limited Liability Company (Form 304)$750
Public Information Report (Form 05-102, filed with the franchise tax report)$0
Franchise tax$0
Year one$1,175
Each year after$350
5-year total$2,575
What the fees don't show
- Forming in Nevada while operating in Texas means two sets of reports and two sets of deadlines, adding about $350 a year.
- You need a registered agent with a street address in Nevada. If you don't have one there, that's a paid service every year.
- Out-of-state formation makes the most sense when you raise outside investment, operate in many states, or have a specific legal reason — not as a default.
State fees only, from each state's official fee pages. Not legal or tax advice.