How Much Does an LLC Cost in Nevada?​

The LLC State fee in Nevada is $75 for filing the articles of organization. You also need to file an initial list of managers and members and pay a $150 fee, and a $200 business license fee. You need to pay a 2.5% processing fee if you file online and can incur more costs depending on your business needs. Read more to understand how to plan your budget accordingly.

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Nevada LLC Costs - Summary

Here is a quick summary of your main NV LLC costs:

Fee

Cost

Articles of Organization

$75

Initial List of Members

$150

Business License

$200

Registered Agent Service (Optional)

$199-400 per year

Reserve Business Name (Optional)

$25 for 90 days

Filing a DBA (Optional)

$25

Operating Agreement (Optional)

Up to $1,000

Annual List

$150

There are good reasons to start an LLC in Nevdada. With no franchise fees and an excellent business environment, opportunities abound for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Still, there are a lot of setup costs to consider, not to mention annual fees and filings. These can be offset — to an extent — by tax write-offs, but it’s still important to be aware of both short and long-term costs. To help you predict how much you’ll pay, we’ve outlined these expenses in detail.

General Steps and Costs When Forming a Nevada LLC

Every step of the LLC formation process is accompanied by fees. These can be surprisingly modest at times, although some definitely add up. While the specific cost of forming a Nevada LLC will differ from one business to the next, the process typically involves the following procedures and expenses.

Naming your Nevada LLC

All Nevada LLCs must have distinguishable names. Determining whether your name is original enough can be complicated, but this typically involves a name search via the SIlverFlume portal. Name searches can be conducted free of charge.

If you’re determined to use a specific name, it may be worth your while to reserve it. If you submit a name reservation to the Nevada Secretary of State, you’ll be able to reserve your preferred LLC name for up to ninety days. First, however, you’ll need to pay a $25 fee.

Many LLCs also choose to file DBAs (Doing Business As). Also known as fictitious firm names (FFNs), these designations allow LLCs to conduct business under an alternate name. This step is completed at the county level, so exact procedures and documentation will depend on where your LLC is based. In Clark County, for example, it costs $25 for a registered entity to obtain an FFN.

Filing Articles of Organization

The cost of the articles of organization depends largely on whether you file this on your own or offload this task to a compliance service. Filing can also become more costly if you procrastinate (possibly necessitating an expedited fee) or file late.

The lowest possible cost for the articles of organization will be $75, assuming that you file yourself — on time and online. Keep in mind, however, that the articles of organization are followed by the initial list of members or managers. This involves a filing fee of $150.

Because these initial procedures can be difficult to keep straight, many businesses rely on compliance services to handle key filings on their behalf. This comes with an additional fee but delivers valuable peace of mind.

Appointing a registered agent

Registered agent designation occurs when you submit your articles of organization. If you opt for a registered agent from your LLC, this step is, technically speaking, free of charge — no matter who serves as the registered agent, you’d already have paid to file the articles of organization. That being said, acting as your own registered agent can lead to many hidden expenses, as it may be difficult to maintain consistent availability for the service.

These inconveniences can be avoided by using a registered agent service. This isn’t free, but the cost is nominal considering the peace of mind this approach provides.

Depending on what you need from your registered agent service, you could spend anywhere between $199 and $400 per year. Changing your registered agent can get costly: Nevada’s fee schedule for LLCs cites charges of $60 for changing a noncommercial registered agent or $100 when a registered agent resigns.

Creating an operating agreement

An operating agreement isn’t outright required, but it’s strongly encouraged. The cost of creating or adjusting this document depends on which approach you select. Nevada’s SilverFlume portal provides the unique opportunity to create a digital operating agreement free of charge, but not everybody is up to the task.

If you use a lawyer to create an operating agreement, this could cost up to $1,000. With an operating agreement service, you enjoy considerable savings but also streamline an otherwise time-consuming process. The long-term savings of avoiding disputes must be considered, however. Without the guidance of an operating agreement, you risk protracted legal concerns, which can get expensive quickly.

Other Annual and Additional Nevada LLC Costs

In addition to early filing fees, the state of Nevada requires LLCs to continue paying for the privilege of doing business. A variety of expenses must be handled on an annual basis, such as.

Business Licenses & Permits

Multiple licenses or permits may be required to lawfully run your LLC in Nevada. The basic business license fee is $200. This license is required of any business that also submits an annual list of officers.

Additionally, many businesses must obtain specialized certifications or permits. These vary based on the specific products or services that each business provides.

For example: businesses that produce or serve alcohol must maintain a liquor license. These fees range from a mere $75 for brewpubs and craft distilleries to $500 for importers of wine, beer, and spirits.

When in doubt, check with the State Department of Taxation, which can provide valuable insight into the requirements that are relevant in your industry. Further information is available from city or county licensing clerks, as well as SilverFlume’s New Business Checklist.

Annual Report

Known in Nevada as the annual or amended list, a yearly report must be provided to verify your continued status as an LLC. This costs $150 but may be even more expensive if you rely on expedited services or file late. Unfortunately, the cost of not filing the annual list is especially worrisome: the potential for your status to be revoked. If you need to get your LLC reinstated as a result, you’ll be forced to pay $300.

Which LLC Expenses Can you Write Off in NV?

Good news: there are many LLC expenses that you can write off at the federal level. Come tax time, these write-offs could prove incredibly helpful. Examples include:

  • Articles of organization. The IRS allows for several organizational expenses to be written off on a federal basis. Chief among these? The articles of organization. You may be able to write off both the filing fee and the cost of working with a compliance service.
  • Filing fees. Other filing fees may also be eligible for write-offs, such as the initial (or annual) list of managers or members.
  • DBA fees. Although modest, DBA fees are definitely worth adding to your write-offs if relevant. Remember: these are assessed at the county level, although reserving your name may take place through the state of Nevada.
  • Operating agreement costs. The cost of forming an operating agreement may be eligible for write-offs, especially if you rely on compliance services or lawyers to get this task completed.
  • Registered agent costs. While the cost of designating a registered agent is technically covered when filing your articles of organization, additional fees paid to commercial registered agents or registered agent services may also be deducted.
  • Attorney fees. If you choose to work with an attorney or compliance service while organizing your LLC, you may be able to write off the required fees.

These expenses add up quickly, but beware: the IRS sets deduction limits. In the first year of doing business, available deductions include $5,000 for operational expenses and $5,000 for startup costs.

Given these distinctions, it’s important to understand whether specific expenses constitute startup costs. The IRS defines these as any expenses incurred while creating active trades or investigating the creation thereof.

Nevada LLC State Fees

The following fees are taken from Nevada’s LLC schedule fee:

Fee Type

Fee Cost

Articles of Organization

$75.00

Registration of Foreign Limited-Liability Company

$75.00

Reinstatement Fee

$300.00

Certificate of Amendment

$175.00

Restated Articles

$175.00

Certificate of Correction

$175.00

Certificate of Termination (pursuant to NRS 86.226)

$175.00

Merger

$350.00

Termination Pursuant to NRS 92A

$350.00

Dissolution of Domestic Limited-Liability Company

$100.00

Dissolution of Foreign Limited-Liability Company

$100.00

Preclearance of any Document

$125.00

Ceremonial Charter

$100.00

Certificate of Good Standing

$50.00

Ceremonial Certificate of Good Standing

$100.00

Initial List of Managers or Members

$150.00

Annual or Amended List of Managers or Members

$150.00

24-Hour Expedite fee for  any of the above filings

$125.00

Apostille

$20.00 ($75 for a 24-hour expedite fee)

Name Reservation

$25.00 ($50 for a 24-hour expedite fee)

Change of Noncommercial Registered Agent

$60.00

Change of Registered Agent by Represented Entity

$60.00

Resignation of Manager or Managing Member

$75.00

Resignation of Registered Agent (plus $1.00 for each additional entity listed)

$100.00 ($25 for 24-hour expedite fee)

Certification of Documents – per certification

$30.00

Copies – per page

$2.00

Late Fee for List of Managers or Members

$75.00

Business License Fee

$200.00

Conclusion

By now, it should be clear that the cost of starting a Nevada LLC can vary dramatically from one business to the next. A lot depends on how much assistance you require along the way. Extra guidance can prove incredibly valuable over time, however, as it may prevent you from making potentially costly mistakes.

If you’re still struggling to keep all the typical LLC startup costs straight, this overview should help:

Remember: while forming a Nevada LLC may seem expensive at the outset, it’s tough to put a price on the protection from liability that LLC designation provides. With a strategic approach and the willingness to pay some modest upfront fees, you’ll be prepared to take on the many challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.