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LLC Straight Talk What it costs, what you have to file, who's worth paying.

Jargon

Articles of organization, decoded

Your LLC's founding paperwork. Nothing exists legally until the state signs off on it, so don't act like a company before then.
Straight from the LLC Straight Talk editorial team

Quick facts

The short of it
Sometimes called
Certificate of formation, certificate of organization
Related
Organizer and on top of that Registered agent and on top of that Operating agreement

Why you care

When the state approves it, you've got an LLC. Hang on to the approval, since banks and other states will ask for it.

Where states differ

Montana is the cheap one at $35. Massachusetts is the expensive one at $500. See all fifty fees.

Where this comes up

It shows up in: Forming an LLC: every state, Who needs a registered agent, state by state, Registering out of state: every state.

Keep going

Sources, so you can check

  1. Where Mont comes from: mca.legmt.gov, confirmed August 2026, and you can go look yourself
  2. Where Montana formation fee: Filing fee comes from: sosmt.gov, confirmed October 2026, and you can go look yourself
  3. Where Montana formation fee: Filing fee comes from: sosmt.gov, confirmed October 2026, and you can go look yourself
  4. Where M.G.L. c. 156C, sec. 12 comes from: sec.state.ma.us, confirmed August 2026, and you can go look yourself
  5. Where Massachusetts formation fee: Filing fee comes from: sec.state.ma.us, confirmed October 2026, and you can go look yourself
  6. Where Massachusetts formation fee: Filing fee comes from: sec.state.ma.us, confirmed October 2026, and you can go look yourself