Vermont LLC Formation

How to Start an LLC in Vermont

Vermont offers the lowest annual report fee in all of New England at just $35 per year. Known for its outdoor recreation, craft food and beverage industry, tourism, and growing remote work economy, Vermont is a straightforward state for LLC formation with no publication requirement and a clean filing process. Brendat handles your Articles of Organization, EIN, registered agent, and all compliance so you can focus on building your Vermont business.

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Step-by-step guide

How to Form an LLC in Vermont

Six simple steps. $155 to form, $35/year annual report due in your anniversary month. No publication requirement. Brendat handles everything.

Choose a Name for Your Vermont LLC

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

Vermont Naming Rules:

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

Name Reservation Available

You can reserve your Vermont LLC name for 120 days with the VT SOS for $20. Brendat checks name availability before filing your Articles of Organization.

Appoint a Vermont Registered Agent

Every Vermont LLC must designate a registered agent with a physical Vermont street address to receive legal documents and official state notices during regular business hours.

Who can be your registered agent?

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

Brendat provides registered agent service in Vermont

Our Vermont address is listed on your Articles of Organization. Included in Standard and Professional packages.

File Articles of Organization With the Vermont Secretary of State

The Articles of Organization officially creates your Vermont LLC. File it online via the Vermont Bizfilings portal or by mail.

Method	Fee	Processing Time
Online via Vermont Bizfilings	$155	3-5 business days
By Mail	$155	4–6 weeks
Expedited (24-hour)	$155 + $50	Next business day

No publication requirement in Vermont

Vermont does not require LLCs to publish a formation notice in any newspaper. Your LLC is fully formed once the SOS approves your Articles of Organization.

Create an Operating Agreement

Vermont does not legally require an operating agreement, but every Vermont LLC should have one. It defines ownership structure, profit sharing, and management rules while protecting your liability shield.

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 Professional

Brendat provides a professionally drafted Vermont 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 federal taxes.

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 Professional packages

File Your Vermont Annual Report: Only $35/Year

Vermont LLCs must file an annual report with the Secretary of State every year in their formation anniversary month. At $35 per year, Vermont has the lowest annual report fee in all of New England.

Annual report fee: $35/year
Due date: Your LLC's formation anniversary month every year
Filing: Online via Vermont Bizfilings portal
Late penalty: $25 late fee + risk of administrative dissolution

$35/year: Lowest annual report fee in New England

Vermont charges just $35/year to maintain your LLC, compared to $500/year in Massachusetts, $100/year in New Hampshire, $85/year in Maine, and $80/year in Connecticut. For New England businesses, Vermont has the lowest ongoing LLC cost.

Transparent pricing

How Much Does a Vermont LLC Cost?

Full breakdown. Vermont has the lowest annual report fee in New England at just $35/year.

State Filing Fee

$155

One-time Articles of Organization fee paid to the Vermont Secretary of State via Bizfilings portal

Annual Report Fee

$35/yr

Lowest in New England. Due in your formation anniversary month. $25 late fee if missed

Publication Cost

No newspaper publication required in Vermont

State Income Tax

3.35%–8.75%

Graduated personal income tax. LLC pass-through income taxed on members' personal returns

Registered Agent

Included in Brendat Standard and Professional packages

EIN (Federal Tax ID)

Free from the IRS. Included in Brendat Standard and Professional packages

Total with Brendat Standard Plan

$349 + $155 state fee

$349 Brendat + $155 VT state fee + $35 annual report. Only $35/year from year 2 onward.

Choose your plan

Vermont LLC Formation Packages

All packages include accurate, state-specific filing. Standard and Professional include EIN, registered agent, and operating agreement.

Basic

Brendat service fee

+ $155 Vermont state fee

Get Started Free

Articles of Organization filed
Name availability check
Email support
Digital copy of filed documents
Lifetime compliance alerts

Beginner

$149

Brendat service fee

+ $155 Vermont state fee

Start for $149 →

Everything in Basic
EIN / Federal Tax ID
LLC Operating Agreement
Registered Agent (1 year)
Lifetime support
Priority processing
November 15 annual report reminders

Standard

$349

Brendat service fee

+ $155 Vermont state fee

Get Standard

Everything in Beginner
Expedited filing (next business day)
Google Business Profile setup
Priority phone and email support
Dedicated account manager

Premium

$899

Brendat service fee

+ $155 Vermont state fee

Launch faster with tax & web support

Launch My LLC Fast

Everything in Standard
Federal tax return filed
S-Corp Election filing (Form 2553)
Tax strategy consultation
Domain Name + Business Email
Basic multi-page business website

State Comparison

Vermont vs Other New England States

Vermont is best if you live or operate there. Here's how it compares to other New England states on cost and requirements.

Feature	Vermont	Massachusetts	Maine	New Hampshire
State Filing Fee	$155	$500	$175	$100
Annual Report Fee	$35/yr	$500/yr	$85/yr	$100/yr
Publication Required	None	None	None	None
State Income Tax	3.35%–8.75%	5% flat	5.8%–7.15%	None
5-Year State Cost*	$265	$2,500	$515	$500
Operating Agreement	Recommended	Recommended	Required ⚠️	Recommended
Best For	VT businesses	MA businesses only	ME businesses	No income tax

Vermont 5-year state cost: $265 vs Massachusetts $2,500

For New England entrepreneurs who genuinely operate in Vermont, the state offers the lowest ongoing LLC costs in the region. Massachusetts is nearly 10x more expensive over 5 years in state fees alone.

Why choose us

Why 10,000+ Entrepreneurs Choose Brendat

Fast Filing

We submit your Articles of Organization within 1 business day of your order. Standard processing takes 3-5 business days via Vermont Bizfilings. 24-hour expedited available for $50 extra.

100% Accuracy Guarantee

Every filing is reviewed before submission. If the VT SOS rejects your documents due to our error, we fix it at no charge.

Anniversary Month Reminders

Vermont annual reports are due in your formation anniversary month. Brendat tracks your specific month and sends reminders so you never miss it or the $25 late fee.

Privacy First

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

$35/Year: Lowest in New England

Vermont's $35 annual report is the lowest in all of New England. Brendat tracks your anniversary month and sends reminders every year so this stays the only ongoing cost you face.

Non-US Residents Welcome

No citizenship or residency required. We assist international entrepreneurs with the full process including EIN via IRS Form SS-4 and registered agent service.

Our reviews

What Our Vermont LLC Customers Say

Sarah K.

Burlington, VT

"$35 a year is hard to beat in New England. I compared every state in the region. Brendat filed the Articles quickly and operating agreement was already sorted."

Jake M.

Montpelier, VT

"Craft brewery LLC setup was straightforward. No publication requirement made it much simpler than I expected. Approved in 4 days."

Rachel T.

Stowe, VT

"Anniversary month reminder came through on time. $25 late fee is avoidable with a bit of organization. Glad Brendat handles that for me."

Common questions

Vermont LLC — Frequently Asked Questions

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

Still have questions?

(303) 246-8693

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

The Vermont state filing fee is $155. Brendat's service starts at $0 (Basic) or $349 (Standard). Total first-year cost with Standard including the annual report is $474. The annual report is $35/year due in your formation anniversary month. Vermont has the lowest annual report fee in all of New England.

When is the Vermont LLC annual report due?

Vermont LLC annual reports are due in your formation anniversary month every year. The fee is $35/year: the lowest in New England. A $25 late fee applies if missed. Brendat tracks your specific formation month and sends reminders before your deadline each year.

Does Vermont require an LLC operating agreement?

No, Vermont does not legally require an operating agreement. However, every LLC should have one. It defines ownership percentages, profit distribution, management structure, and member exit processes. Without one, Vermont's default LLC statutes govern your business. Brendat's Standard and Professional packages include a drafted operating agreement.

Does Vermont require newspaper publication for LLCs?

No. Vermont has no newspaper publication requirement for LLCs. Your LLC is fully formed once the Secretary of State approves your Articles of Organization. No additional steps required after filing.

What is Vermont's income tax rate for LLCs?

Vermont has a graduated personal income tax ranging from 3.35% to 8.75%. For single-member LLCs and multi-member LLCs taxed as pass-throughs, income flows to members' personal returns and is taxed at these graduated rates based on taxable income level.

Can a non-US resident form a Vermont LLC?

Yes. No US citizenship or residency is required to form a Vermont LLC. Non-residents need a registered agent with a physical Vermont address: Brendat provides this. For EIN, non-residents apply by fax using IRS Form SS-4. Brendat assists with the complete process.

Ready to Start Your Vermont LLC?

$155 state fee, $35/year annual report (lowest in New England), no publication required. Brendat handles Articles of Organization, EIN, registered agent, and anniversary month reminders.

Form My Vermont LLC

$349 + $155 VT fee. $35/yr annual report. 100% accuracy guarantee.