District of Columbia LLC cost
Forming an LLC in District of Columbia costs $349 in state fees in year one, then about $400 a year to stay in good standing.
Forming a District of Columbia LLC
You file Articles of Organization (Form DLC-1) with the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP), Corporations Division. The state fee is $99. See the official fee.
File it yourself with the state →
Every year after
- Two-Year (Biennial) Report: $300, filed every two years. Due: April 1 every two years.
- First one: April 1 of the year after formation.
- If you're late: $100 late fee if filed after April 1; continued failure can lead to administrative dissolution (revocation).
- Official report page
State taxes that apply even to a small LLC
- Unincorporated business franchise tax minimum: $250 — 8.25% of DC taxable income, minimum $250 if DC gross receipts are $1 million or less ($1,000 above). Filing required only when gross receipts exceed $12,000; businesses earning more than 80% of gross income from members' personal services (capital not material) are exempt. LLCs taxed as corporations pay the corporate franchise tax instead source
Worth knowing
- Formation costs $99 for an LLC or small corporation and $80 for a nonprofit.
- Biennial reports are due April 1 every two years starting the year after formation: $300 for LLCs and corporations, $80 for nonprofits.
- DC franchise tax has a $250 minimum for businesses with $1 million or less in DC gross receipts.
- Most businesses also need a separate DC Basic Business License from DLCP ($99 for 2 years for the general license fee, before endorsement and other fees).
Registered agent
District of Columbia requires a registered agent. Must designate a registered agent (commercial or noncommercial) with a physical address in the District of Columbia. You can serve as your own agent if you have a qualifying address; paid services usually charge a yearly fee.
| Other filings | State fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Name reservation | $50 | 120 days; $40 for nonprofit corporations |
| DBA / assumed name (state) | $55 | Trade name registration with DLCP, valid two years; $55 renewal due April 1 of the second year, plus $55 late fee |
| Expedited processing | $50 | 3-day $50; same-day $100, in addition to filing fees. Walk-in filings at the Business License Center must pay the expedited fee; limited for mail-in filings |
| Foreign LLC registration | $220 | Foreign Registration Statement |
Fees last checked 2026-10-20 against DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP), Corporations Division and the state revenue department. States change fees — confirm on the linked page before you file.
Thinking about forming somewhere else?
If you operate in District of Columbia, an out-of-state LLC also has to register here as a foreign entity. See both costs side by side: