Pennsylvania LLC Formation

Start an LLC in Pennsylvania — $125 State Fee, Only $7/Year to Maintain

Pennsylvania is the 5th most populous state in the US and a major business hub — home to Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and a thriving economy spanning finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and tech. With a flat 3.07% personal income tax rate, one of the lowest in the Northeast, and just $7 per year to maintain your LLC, Pennsylvania offers excellent value for entrepreneurs. Brendat handles your Certificate of Organization, EIN, registered agent, and all compliance.

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Step-by-step guide

How to Form an LLC in Pennsylvania

Six clear steps — including Pennsylvania's unique Certificate of Organization and Decennial Report. Brendat handles all the filing.

Choose a Name for Your Pennsylvania LLC

Your Pennsylvania LLC name must be unique among all businesses registered with the Pennsylvania Department of State and must include a required designator.

Pennsylvania Naming Rules:

Must include: "Limited Liability Company," "LLC," or "L.L.C."
Cannot use: Words implying a government agency (e.g., "FBI," "State")
Restricted words: "Bank," "Insurance," "University" require additional approval
Must be distinguishable: From all existing Pennsylvania business names on file

Name Reservation Available

You can reserve your Pennsylvania LLC name for 120 days with the PA Department of State for $70. Brendat checks name availability before filing your Certificate of Organization.

Appoint a Pennsylvania Registered Agent

Every Pennsylvania LLC must designate a registered agent — an individual or company with a physical Pennsylvania street address — to receive legal documents and official state notices during business hours.

Who can be your registered agent?

Yourself: Must have a physical PA address and be available during business hours
A trusted individual: Any Pennsylvania resident with a physical address
A professional service: Like Brendat — keeps your personal address off public records

Brendat provides registered agent service in Pennsylvania

Our Pennsylvania address is listed on your Certificate of Organization. Included in Standard and Premium packages.

File Certificate of Organization with the Pennsylvania Department of State

Pennsylvania calls its LLC formation document a Certificate of Organization — filed with the Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations. You file online via the Pennsylvania Business One-Stop Shop.

Method	Fee	Processing Time
Online via PA Business One-Stop	$125	7–10 business days
By Mail	$125	4–6 weeks
Expedited (same day)	$125 + $100	Same business day

Pennsylvania calls it Certificate of Organization

Like Delaware and Washington, Pennsylvania uses "Certificate of Organization" rather than "Articles of Organization." Brendat files the correct document for Pennsylvania.

Create an Operating Agreement

Pennsylvania does not legally require an operating agreement, but it is strongly recommended. Without one, Pennsylvania's default LLC rules under the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes will govern your business.

Your operating agreement should cover:

Ownership structure: Each member's percentage and capital contribution
Profit distribution: How and when profits are divided
Management: Who makes decisions and how voting works
Member changes: Process for adding or removing members
Dissolution: Steps to close the LLC if needed

Included in Brendat Standard and Premium

Brendat provides a professionally drafted Pennsylvania operating agreement with your formation documents.

Get Your EIN (Employer Identification Number)

An EIN is your LLC's federal tax ID — required to open a business bank account, hire employees, and file taxes. You apply through the IRS for free.

US residents: Apply free online at IRS.gov — instant approval
Non-US residents: Apply by fax using IRS Form SS-4 — 4–6 weeks
Brendat handles this: Included in Standard and Premium packages

Open a business bank account right after

With your EIN and Certificate of Organization, open a dedicated Pennsylvania business bank account to keep personal and business finances separate.

File Your Pennsylvania Annual Report

Pennsylvania LLCs must file an annual report every year with the Pennsylvania Department of State. At just $7 per year, it's one of the lowest annual LLC fees in the entire country.

Annual report fee: $7/year
Due date: June 30 every year
Filing: Online via Pennsylvania Business One-Stop
Penalty for non-filing: Administrative dissolution after continued non-compliance

Decennial Report — Every 10 Years

Pennsylvania also requires a Decennial Report filed once every 10 years (in years ending in "1" — e.g., 2031, 2041). The fee is $70. This is separate from the annual report and is easy to miss. Brendat tracks this and sends reminders when it's due.

Transparent pricing

How Much Does a Pennsylvania LLC Cost?

Full breakdown — including Pennsylvania's uniquely low $7/year annual report.

State Filing Fee

$125

One-time fee paid to the Pennsylvania Department of State to file your Certificate of Organization

Annual Report Fee

$7/yr

Due June 30 every year. One of the lowest annual LLC maintenance fees in the entire US

Decennial Report

$70

Filed once every 10 years (years ending in "1"). One-time every decade — Brendat tracks and reminds you

Registered Agent

Included in Brendat Standard & Premium packages. Every PA LLC must maintain a registered agent

EIN (Federal Tax ID)

Free from the IRS. Included in Brendat Standard & Premium packages

Operating Agreement

Included in Brendat Standard & Premium packages

Total with Brendat Standard Plan

$149 + $125 state fee

$149 Brendat + $125 PA state fee · Annual report just $7/year due June 30 from year 2

Choose your plan

Pennsylvania LLC Formation Packages

All packages include accurate, state-specific filing. Pick what fits your needs.

Basic

Brendat service fee

+ $125 Pennsylvania state fee

Get Started Free

Certificate of Organization filed
Name availability check
Email support
Digital copy of filed documents

Standard

$149

Brendat service fee

+ $125 Pennsylvania state fee

Start for $149 →

Everything in Basic
EIN / Federal Tax ID
Operating Agreement
Registered Agent (1 year)
Annual & Decennial report reminders
Priority processing

Premium

$299

Brendat service fee

+ $125 Pennsylvania state fee

Get Premium

Everything in Standard
Business bank account setup
Compliance calendar & reminders
Annual report filing (year 1)
Dedicated account manager
Phone & priority support

State Comparison

Is Pennsylvania the Right State for Your LLC?

Pennsylvania is best if you live or operate there. Here's how it compares to nearby states.

Feature	Pennsylvania	New York	New Jersey	Delaware
State Filing Fee	$125	$200	$125	$90
Annual Report Fee	$7/yr	$9 biennial	$75/yr	$300/yr franchise tax
Publication Required	None	Yes ($300–$2000+)	None	None
State Income Tax	3.07% flat	4%–10.9%	1.4%–10.75%	None
Processing Time	7–10 days	~7 days	~5 days	~1 week
Best For	PA businesses	NY businesses	NJ businesses	Startups, investors

Pennsylvania vs New York — massive cost advantage

Forming in Pennsylvania instead of New York saves you the costly NY publication requirement ($300–$2,000+) and a much higher income tax rate. For businesses in the Philadelphia area especially, Pennsylvania is the smarter choice.

Why choose us

Why 10,000+ Entrepreneurs Choose Brendat

Fast Filing

We submit your Pennsylvania Certificate of Organization within 1 business day of your order. Standard processing takes 7–10 days — same-day expedited available for $100 extra.

100% Accuracy Guarantee

Every filing is reviewed before submission. If the Pennsylvania Department of State rejects your documents due to our error, we fix it at no charge.

Privacy First

Your home address stays off the public record. We list our Pennsylvania registered agent address on all your formation documents.

Annual & Decennial Reminders

We track both the $7 annual report (June 30) and the once-a-decade $70 Decennial Report. You'll never miss either deadline.

Non-US Residents Welcome

No citizenship or US residency required. We assist international entrepreneurs with the full process including EIN filing.

Real Support

Reach our team at (303) 246-8693 or by email. Plain English answers — no jargon, no runaround.

Our reviews

What Our Pennsylvania LLC Customers Say

Sarah K.

Consulting LLC, Philadelphia PA

"Only $7 a year to maintain my LLC — I couldn't believe it! Brendat set up my Philadelphia business quickly and explained the Decennial Report thing I'd never heard of. Great service."

Marcus D.

Tech LLC, Pittsburgh PA

"I was debating between Pennsylvania and Delaware. Brendat helped me understand why PA made more sense for my Pittsburgh-based business. Fast filing, no surprises."

Linda C.

E-commerce LLC, Allentown PA

"Forming my LLC in Pennsylvania was straightforward with Brendat. The 3.07% flat tax rate was a big reason I chose PA over New York. No regrets!"

Common questions

Pennsylvania LLC — Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the most common questions about forming and running an LLC in Pennsylvania.

Still have questions?

(303) 246-8693

How much does it cost to form an LLC in Pennsylvania?

The Pennsylvania state filing fee is $125. Brendat's service starts at $0 (Basic) or $149 (Standard, which includes EIN, operating agreement, and registered agent). Total first-year cost with Standard is $274. The annual report is just $7/year due June 30 — one of the lowest in the US. Every 10 years, a $70 Decennial Report is also required.

What is Pennsylvania's annual report fee for LLCs?

Pennsylvania's annual report fee is $7 per year — one of the lowest in the entire US. It is due by June 30 each year and filed online via the Pennsylvania Business One-Stop Shop. Pennsylvania also requires a Decennial Report every 10 years (in years ending in "1") for a $70 fee. Brendat tracks both deadlines and sends reminders.

What is a Decennial Report in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania requires all LLCs to file a Decennial Report once every 10 years — specifically in years ending in "1" (e.g., 2031, 2041). The fee is $70. The Decennial Report confirms your LLC is still active and updates your basic information with the state. Failure to file can result in administrative dissolution. Brendat tracks this 10-year cycle and reminds you when it's due.

What is the Pennsylvania income tax rate for LLCs?

Pennsylvania has a flat 3.07% personal income tax rate — one of the lowest flat rates in the Northeast. For single-member LLCs and multi-member LLCs taxed as pass-throughs, income flows to members' personal returns and is taxed at 3.07%. This is significantly lower than neighboring New York (up to 10.9%) and New Jersey (up to 10.75%).

Does Pennsylvania have a newspaper publication requirement?

No — Pennsylvania does not require LLCs to publish a notice of formation in any newspaper. Once your Certificate of Organization is approved, your LLC is fully formed. This is a major advantage over New York, where publication can cost $300–$2,000 or more.

Can a non-US resident form a Pennsylvania LLC?

Yes. There is no US citizenship or residency requirement to form a Pennsylvania LLC. Non-residents need a registered agent with a physical Pennsylvania address (Brendat provides this). For your EIN, non-residents must apply by fax using IRS Form SS-4. Brendat assists with this process.

Ready to Start Your Pennsylvania LLC?

$125 to form, $7/year to maintain, and a flat 3.07% income tax. Brendat handles your Certificate of Organization, EIN, registered agent, and all compliance reminders.

Form My Pennsylvania LLC

$149 + $125 PA fee · $7/yr annual report · 100% accuracy guarantee