The numbers
The Kentucky Secretary of State takes $40 at formation[2], and then bills $15 for each Annual Report[3]. For ongoing state fees, 15 states charge less and 33 charge more.
Mainstay Filing will file it for you for $199 a year plus Kentucky's $40 fee, with the Kentucky registered agent and the Annual Report included[1].
Updated October 29, 2026. Fees from official sources; prices from providers' own pages.
Kentucky fees at a glance
| Filing | Fee | When | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formation (Form KLC) | $40 | Once | [2] apps.legislature.ky.gov, updated October 29, 2026 |
| Annual Report | $15 | Every year | [3] sos.ky.gov, updated October 29, 2026 |
| Change of registered agent | $10 | When filed | [4] sos.ky.gov, updated October 29, 2026 |
Fees paid to Kentucky agencies only; card and portal charges and expedite options are not included.
Add it up for a Kentucky LLC's first five calendar years and the formation fee is the one fixed number; report fees depend on when the first Annual Report falls due.
Businesses in Kentucky
Kentucky had 68,553 employer firms and 328,057 nonemployer businesses in the Census Bureau's 2022 counts. Of the business locations that opened in Kentucky between April 2019 and March 2020, 54.1% were still open in March 2025.
Kentucky against nearby states
Kentucky comes to $15 a year in ongoing state fees. Nationally the median is $30; 15 states charge less and 33 charge more. Next door, Missouri and Ohio cost less per year.
| State | Formation | Report | Per year (avg.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | $40 | $15 / yr | $15 |
| Illinois | $150 | $75 / yr | $75 |
| Indiana | $95 | $32 / 2 yrs | $16 |
| Missouri | $50 | None | $0 |
| Ohio | $99 | None | $0 |
| Tennessee | $300 | $300 / yr | $300 |
| Virginia | $100 | $50 / yr | $50 |
| West Virginia | $100 | $25 / yr | $25 |
Filing-office fees only, per each state's own fee schedule as of August 12, 2026; biennial fees are shown halved in the last column.
The recurring filing: Annual Report
Every Kentucky LLC files the Annual Report every year. The details, as the state sets them:
- Filing: Annual Report
- Filed with: Kentucky Secretary of State
- Fee: $15, every year[3]
- Deadline: On or before June 30[5]
- How to file: online or on paper
The fee stays $15 whether or not the filing is late. An LLC that keeps missing it loses good standing, and Kentucky law then allows the state to end its registration[5].
Paying someone to handle it
The state does not charge for naming a registered agent, but a commercial agent charges every year. Owners who live in Kentucky qualify as individuals and can take the registered agent role themselves.
At Mainstay Filing, Kentucky registered agent service alone is $149 a year[1]. The $199 package covers formation, the EIN application and the $15 Annual Report filing (state fee at cost) as well. State fees are passed through at cost.
5 other agent services published Kentucky prices on October 20, 2026. They started at $99 and went up to $249 for year one, with renewals of $125 to $249.
Questions
How much is the Kentucky LLC Annual Report?
$15, every year[3]. It is due on or before June 30.
What happens if a Kentucky LLC misses the deadline?
The LLC loses good standing with the Kentucky Secretary of State, and continued non-filing can end in administrative dissolution or revocation.
Can a service handle these Kentucky filings?
Yes. Mainstay Filing's $199 yearly price covers the Kentucky formation filing, registered agent service and the EIN application[1]. The $15 Annual Report fee is passed through when it is filed.
Is Kentucky an expensive state for an LLC?
On the $40 it charges to form an LLC, one state charges less and 48 charge more. For ongoing fees ($15 a year on average), 15 states charge less and 33 charge more.
Sources
- Mainstay Filing pricing, registered agent and FAQ pages. Updated October 29, 2026.
- KRS 275.025 (contents of articles of organization); RA/office requirements incorporated from KRS 14A.4-010; $40 filing fee per SOS fee schedule. apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=39663. Updated October 29, 2026.
- Kentucky Secretary of State: Annual Report rules and fee. www.sos.ky.gov/bus/business-filings/Pages/Annual-Reports.aspx. Updated October 29, 2026.
- Statement of Change of Registered Agent and Office fee. www.sos.ky.gov/bus/business-filings/Pages/Fees.aspx. Updated October 29, 2026.
- KRS § 14A.6-010; KRS § 275.190 (LLC act cross-reference). apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=47075. Updated October 29, 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Statistics of U.S. Businesses 2022 and Nonemployer Statistics 2022. www.census.gov/programs-surveys/susb.html. Updated October 29, 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Business Employment Dynamics, Establishment Age and Survival, Table 7 (data through March 2025). www.bls.gov/bdm/bdmage.htm. Updated October 29, 2026.